Meet Kandice Shaw

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Kandice Shaw. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Kandice, thanks so much for taking the time to share your insights and lessons with us today. We’re particularly interested in hearing about how you became such a resilient person. Where do you get your resilience from?
I think there are many things that contribute to resilience. I am innately cheerful, and that has really served me. Growing up I had many opportunities to develop my resilience. For example, my mom wasn’t the most grounded person and it manifested in many ways. A big one was that she moved us around a lot. Sometimes, more than once a year. It takes a good deal of resilience to move through that sort of instability as a child. Some people come out scarred in unhealthy ways. I believe my natural cheerfulness and optimism helped me to become really resilient and build a life that positively affects me and those around me.

In high school and after, I became dedicated to creating stability for myself. This is when I picked up tools that helped me refine and develop my resilience. The practices of Yoga helped me to develop discipline, compassion for myself and others, a sense of self beyond my experiences, and willingness to ask for and accept help when I need it. It also gave me a deep understanding that all things will pass.

My resilience was really tested in the last few years. Taking care of my grandparents and helping them both pass while still living in their home was stressful. I also was working a full-time job and building heart centered community via Sangha, my studio. It was ALOT. I leaned hard on mantra, meditation, my herbal allies, body work, and my close friends and partner. I cried often and wondered how I would continue. Every time I wanted to give up, I wiped the tears, remembered that this would pass and continued on. Let me tell you, I’m glad I did. The view from this place is amazing!

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
On the surface we could say I own a business, but to me it’s so much more. It’s the result of the dream I’ve been dreaming and working toward for almost two decades. The foundational purpose of Sangha is to build a diverse community that offers a welcoming space for each individual to gain tools to assist them as they grow into deeper alignment with their authentic self and the life they want to build.

We offer with love, from a place of experience. Clients take what serves them and leave what doesn’t. It’s beautiful to watch people blossom as the are given space to. We’re deep into our first 200hr Yoga Teacher Training and the difference in each of our participants is already manifesting. Some are finding the softness they needed, others are finding new levels of motivation, all of them are doing it through the process of identifying, understanding, and lovingly moving toward change that exploring the full practice of yoga offers. They’ve each found aspects that work for them and have begun to employ those tools. Outside of our 200hr program, we offer yoga both in person and live via zoom, opportunities for community, ceremony, and creative expression, reiki therapy in person and distance, and ayurvedic lifestyle coaching.

Clients who join me for one on one ayurvedic lifestyle coaching enjoy a personalized exploration of better health. We work together as copilots to create change that leads to greater vitality in every aspect of their lives. Clients can choose to be supported in many ways including copiloting weekily grocery shopping trips, and personalized menus as they learn to navigate the kitchen in a healthier way. In the coming year, we will be opening up other holonic coaching opportunities, and I am so excited to share that magic!

Another tool that I love and that we explore in the studio community is the use of ceremonial grade cacao. Cacao is a brilliant plant that can be so incredibly supportive of the the heart both from an energetic/emotional view and from more scientifically from a physical perspective. I personally experienced the benefits of cacao while moving through the incredibly stressful time of my grandmother passing. I enjoyed creating a daily ritual around it that allowed me to relax and feel nourished. It helped me to calm the anxiety that I was experiencing. We offer education and ceremony around cacao at the studio, mostly during the cooler months of the year. In the last three months of the year we offer several ceremonies that can be enjoyed independently or as a three session series. In the series we recognize and honor where we’ve come from, where we are, and where we are going. It’s a beautiful progression, and the process of cacao from fruit to cup is a fitting metaphor for the work in this series. We also offer private cacao ceremonies.

As we move into the next year, I’m so excited to begin to offer several new opportunities through Sangha! There will be two group coaching opportunities involving microdosing and ayurveda, continued education for yoga teachers, a day retreat offering reiki attunements, and many beautiful creative opportunities. I’m really proud to tell you that will begin offering destination retreats. Our first will be held in north central Minnesota in June of 2024, we’re lovingly referring to it as Sangha Summer Camp. If you’ve never been to the north woods, its an incredible peaceful experience. The retreat will be a beautiful celebration of community, personal growth, and relaxation. Registration for that launches in early November.

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?
Resilience is certainly important! Keep going, honestly so often what feels like a setback can be a really incredible opportunity.

Take the time to develop your own understanding. First of where you want to go. Everyone is going to have an opinion, and the only one that really matters is yours. If you are working towards being in a position of leading, learn the concepts that you are preaching! Really understand them and do your best to live them. This is where I found my wisdom.

I also think that taking time to learn from experts in your field is a priceless investment, especially if you are considering moving into wellness of any kind. In my line of work, it’s easy to simply declare ones self ready to teach. But if you haven’t done the work, and don’t continue doing the work, you can cause real harm.

Accept assistance. This one might seem contrary to the last statement of your opinion is the only one that matters. But it’s all about balance, right? For me, I saw an incredible amount of growth in my business and in my life when I really embraced the concept of accepting the support of others. I’m not saying outsource your dream, but when people you trust offer to help, ACCEPT their help.

Who has been most helpful in helping you overcome challenges or build and develop the essential skills, qualities or knowledge you needed to be successful?

My grandparents, John and Lucy, were an incredible wealth of support. My grandpa believed firmly that I could do anything and he told me so regularly. Both he and my grandmother offered me a stable place to land in my youth, and as I matured they made sure that I was encouraged. My grandfather often stepped in and helped to finance parts of my training with generous gifts on my birthday and around holidays. He would tell me how proud he was of all that I was learning and what I would do with it some day.

I have been so blessed to find wonderfully supportive teachers. My first 200hr yoga teacher training instructor recognized that I had been trying to participate in her training for several years, and the dates never worked. Finally, they did. When we met to discuss the training and if I would be a good fit, we realized there was a weekend missing. She graciously asked me what weekend that month was best for me. In truth, only one was available for me. She scheduled that as the weekend the group would meet. I cried the whole way home for her kindness. Heather helped to set me on my path and has been a wealth of knowledge and support.

I found the teacher who has made the biggest impact on my professional life when I was ready to complete my 500hr training. Adi has taken me to India to study with her teacher, coached me one on one, and offered me inspiration. She has also generously offered and used the tools available to her to help me succeed in my endeavor to build a life supporting others and creating heart-led community. Adi is a brilliant leader she upholds and supports the people who surround her and I am so grateful to learn from her.

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