We’re looking forward to introducing you to Dominique Arnel DaCosta. Check out our conversation below.
Dominique Arnel, it’s always a pleasure to learn from you and your journey. Let’s start with a bit of a warmup: Have any recent moments made you laugh or feel proud?
I wanted to give myself time to settle in to ATL before offering classes, and after a year of moving to here, I decided to offer a FREE yoga class in the park. The number of interest was so large that I am actively looking for a big space to hold indoor class and wellness activations just in case of inclement weather or when my students and I feel like doing classes in some A/C. The last time I spoke to VoyageATL I mentioned trying not to offer free classes because of bills and student loans, but God stepped in and my undergraduate federal student loans was cleared shortly after that offering. So, I felt proud trusting in God and following the path that I was set on.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Dominique Arnel DaCosta, I am a wellness professional who offers yoga, sound baths, and other wellness related activations that bring the community together. My brands motto is Release. Ground. Evolve. guides everything I do and teach. We release what no longer serves us. Ground ourselves in our truth. And from that space, evolve into our highest self. I think what makes my practice interesting is that I welcome beginners and newcomers into a space where they can just be, as I learn new things and gain new experiences-being a student of life, I hope to teach my students something new as well.
Being new to Atlanta, I am currently working on building community. Recently after going viral on my TikTok @dominiquearnel, offering a free yoga class, I was able build a community of “ATL Girlies” who are looking forward to “(We)llness Outside”. I’m currently building a plan to ensure that we can consistently practice wellness, build community, and hopefully in the future… expand to retreats both at home and out of the country.
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?
Before I share my story, I always like to preface this — your practice is your practice. I believe in one God, I read the Bible, and I believe in Jesus. I also have tarot cards, crystals, and I’m a yoga instructor. These things have been tools in my healing and growth, and I encourage curiosity over judgment.
I’ve been drawn to spirituality since high school — I remember painting a floor-to-ceiling Hamsa in my room and hanging a Ganesha tapestry that I still have today. Over time, I learned I was a Life Path 7, which explained a lot about my natural pull toward introspection and seeking truth.
But in college, I pushed my spirituality aside. I partied a lot, drank to quiet that inner voice, and put more focus on the flesh than the soul. Between 2016 and 2018, I went through some of the hardest years of my life. It all eventually built up to what I now understand as spiritual psychosis, or a nervous breakdown.
Leading up to that moment, I was reconnecting with my higher self through fasting, studying my ancestry, and exploring spiritual tools. I felt aligned and high-vibrational — but I was also learning to set boundaries. During a trip to see friends at a homecoming, I broke my fast, drank heavily, and smoked. That moment triggered a rapid shift in my consciousness — like being pulled into another dimension. What my friends saw looked like a complete psychotic break. I ended up in the hospital and spent weeks grounding myself again.
Looking back, I understand that what came out of me were unprocessed traumas — my “demons,” so to speak — from childhood to young adulthood. That experience shaped how I see the world because it taught me that spiritual and mental health are deeply intertwined. What one person calls divine connection, another might call delusion. And both perspectives matter.
The biggest lesson I took from it? Start with the shadow work. Face your fears and your pain. Because if you don’t, they will surface in ways you can’t control.
What fear has held you back the most in your life?
The fear of being seen has held me back the most and I am just now getting used to stepping into the light. I realized how many people I can help just by sharing my story or my perspective, I realize how many people follow my lead when doing positive things. I used to dim my light just so others can shine, feel imposter syndrome, and feel like I was not good enough. Until I realized, it’s a selfless act to lead positively by example.
I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. What do you believe is true but cannot prove?
I believe that “It is written.” Everything that has or will happen is written in God’s plan, and we have a duty as spiritual beings having a human experience, to align with our greatest good, the God within us, to fulfill our destiny.
Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. If you knew you had 10 years left, what would you stop doing immediately?
I honestly would completely stop caring what people think and start preaching what I keep in my head. I am the true definition of a Gemini, but with a Capricorn moon and Libra rising. I have a LOT of self-control unlike Kanye, and very strategic like my fellow Libra rising Beyonce. BUT…if I knew I only had 10 years… might as well call me Azealia Banks because I am chatting!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://dominiquearnelwellness.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dominiquearnel/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@DominiqueArnel
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@dominiquearnel
