Meet Dharma Shakti

We recently connected with Dharma Shakti and have shared our conversation below.

Dharma , we’re thrilled to have you on our platform and we think there is so much folks can learn from you and your story. Something that matters deeply to us is living a life and leading a career filled with purpose and so let’s start by chatting about how you found your purpose.

I have found that when you pursue what interests you, or what makes your heart expands, the path to your purpose unfolds for you. And thats what happened to me. Each pursuit of interest molded and shaped me with knowledge, experience and perspective. And even though I thought some pursuits were the final and ultimate destination, looking back now, I see how each pursuit was allowing me to build the tool box of skills and expertise that help me feel purposeful as I do work that I know is my purpose and what I meant to be doing in this world. And as the late great Wayne Dyer says, “when you show up on purpose, your purpose will find you” !! And I have found being intentional, having intentions, moving through the days and weeks and months purposefully ultimately navigates you to discovering and uncovering your path in life that feel purpose-full!

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

I have spent the last 20 years getting as many people to practice yoga as possible, my vision was to transform the city I live in to be not only known for Snoop Dogg, but also for for Down Dog! I have been running a donation based yoga studio for the last 15 years, with a mission to make yoga accessible for everybody and every body! I also started a outdoor class on grassy bluff that overlooks the ocean, that is free for our community. Again, with the mission to get as many people practicing yoga, regulating their nervous systems and connecting with community and making it as accessible as possible. and 18 years later, we have one class a day 7 days a week with hundreds in attendance! its such a beautiful sight and experience!
And of course, I cant do this all by myself, it takes team work to make the dream work. So i have also spent the last 10 years training, mentoring and certifying students into Yoga Teachers, or as we call them, Peace Ambassadors! Offering a 4 month long Yoga Teacher Training Program is one of my favorite things to do, We get to dive deep into the philosophy and traditions that go way beyond the Yoga mat and Yoga poses.
I have committed the next 20 years of my life and my lifes mission, to get as many people feeling empowered as I possibly can. I love to do one on one coaching as well as my group coaching online called The Empowered Way.
Having had to work through a lot of my own wounds of deep insecurity and constant self doubt, thanks to my upbringing, I feel very called to help guide others in their own healing journey to become the Empowered Soul so they too can live their purpose and contribute to the world in a positive and beneficial way
I also have two teenage boys whom I love being a role model for. I love watching them grow and come into their own sense of self as they also carve out their own path and discover their purpose in this world

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

1. Believing in my ability to figure things out. I grew up as a latch key kid and was on my own to figure things out for myself a lot. I didnt get much guidance or mentorship growing up, and being the oldest of 3 children, I didnt have older siblings to show me the way either. But I realize that my belief in myself that I may not KNOW, but I know I can figure things out !

2. Not giving in to feeling stuck, and believing there is always a way out. Being resigned about things and settling has never been something I have been good at. This requires resource-fullness and a willingness to adapt ! Letting go of your attachment to how you thought it was suppose to go, or turn out, and just go!

3. A strong desire or willingness to learn and grow. Its important that you learn about what interests you, what you are curious about, what expands your awareness and perspectives about yourself and life. And learning doesnt always happen in conventional formats either, I went to half a semester of community college, and I remember the day I got up and walked out because I just knew that environment for learning, that pathway or topics of learning, was not for me. I didnt know what I wanted to study yet, but I knew it wasnt that or there. And thats part of the process, your willingness to try something and see if its a good fit, if it aligns with you. And, your willingness to continue on and keep trying and keep pursuing. The biggest gift in my life has been the study of and knowledge I have acquired through the teachings and philosophy of Yoga, not the physical practice, but the actual teachings, which in essence, are trying to teach you the nature of your true self, the nature of this world, and the source of it all, and how to harmoniously unite (yoga) them all for the purpose of your growth and evolution!

Awesome, really appreciate you opening up with us today and before we close maybe you can share a book recommendation with us. Has there been a book that’s been impactful in your growth and development?

I love reading books, its amazing that someone can spend a lifetime studying or learning something and share that lifetime of wisdom in a book you can read in a week or a month!
here are my top most impactful books I always reccomend to my clients and students

1. The Untethered Soul by Michael Singer
2. Spiritual Liberation by Michael Beckwith
3. Gifts of Imperfection by Brene Brown (ANY BOOK BY BRENE BROWN!!)
4. Motivation Manifesto by Brendon Burchard
5. The Journey Home by Radhanath Swami
6. The Bhagavad Gita translated by Eknath Eswaran
7. Zen Mind Beginners Mind by Shunriyo Suzuki
8. You Can Heal Your LIfe by Lousie Hay

every single one of these books has profoundly helped me change and transform myself and my life

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.yogalutionmovement.com
• Instagram: @dharmashakti
• Facebook: DharmaShakti
• Youtube: DharmaShakti
• Other: my personal page on my wesbite https://www.yogalutionmovement.com/Dharmashakti

Image Credits

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