Today we’d like to introduce you to Dominique Arnel DaCosta.
Hi Dominique Arnel, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
My wellness journey began over a decade ago, back in high school, when I first started practicing meditation and breathwork. I didn’t know it then, but it was never just about self-care. It was about breaking generational curses. As I grew up and evolved, I realized that healing myself could open doors for the people I love. So I intentionally decided to shift the patterns I saw growing up and create a new legacy rooted in mindfulness, movement, and spirituality.
Over the past 10+ years, I’ve devoted my life to wellness practices that support not only the body but also the spirit and mind. In 2021, I completed my yoga teacher training to deepen my practice. My first students were my family. We practiced together, breathed together, and began to heal together. Since then, I’ve had the honor of teaching people across generations, from children to seniors, creating spaces for people to return to themselves through stillness, awareness, and strength.
I’m originally from New York and now based in Atlanta, where I serve as a Complex Director and Student Staff Development Coordinator at Emory University. I support over 100 student leaders and developed a framework called GROW: Guidance, Resources, Opportunity, and Wellness. GROW is more than just an acronym. It’s a metaphor for how we take care of ourselves and each other, like watering a plant. My 9 to 5 has been an important part of my journey, helping me understand business, leadership, and how to develop and fund my passion.
I’ve built a wellness brand through my platforms, @dominiquearnel and @releasegroundevolve, where I share yoga flows, breathwork, journaling prompts, and wellness resources. My motto, Release, Ground, Evolve, guides everything I do. We release what no longer serves us. Ground ourselves in our truth. And from that space, evolve into our highest self.
Whether I’m teaching, mentoring, or just showing up online, my goal is to create healing spaces that feel real, safe, and sacred. To me, wellness is how we come back to ourselves. It’s how we break cycles, hold space for others, and build an intentional life, inside and out.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Balancing entrepreneurship in the wellness space, especially when it’s rooted in spirituality, can be tough. I’ve had to be realistic when it comes to making money. To be honest, I have bills and student loans to pay. There was a time when I offered free classes because I thought that was the right thing to do, but that wasn’t honoring myself or my needs. Imagine being in debt but offering free services. That doesn’t make sense in most industries. That’s why having a 9 to 5 is important, but even that comes with its own challenges, especially when it comes to consistency. Having a packed schedule leads to another challenge I face in the digital world. With social media being such a big part of building a business, it can be hard to juggle responsibilities and still create content. I love creating, but I sometimes get caught up in work, inconsistency, and the algorithm. Still, I’m so grateful for the students and supporters I’ve had both on and offline. I once received a message from someone who said a breath-work video I posted helped them calm down to make a life-changing decision. That moment reminded me that it’s not about going viral — it’s about impact.
The best part of this work is that the same tools I offer to others are the tools I use for myself. Whether it’s a deep breath, a grounding pose, or simply rest, I’ve learned that these are essential tools for success. My ultimate goal is to have a studio in Atlanta, NYC, and host accessible weekend wellness retreats in different cities and countries, and that vision helps me stay focused.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’m a multi-faceted wellness professional who creates accessible, grounding spaces for people to reconnect with themselves. My background in public health allows me to build workshops, classes, and offer resources rooted in research, statistics, and facts. I later pursued education in business to expand my reach, with a focus on intentional leadership and sustainable wellness promotion.
My work goes beyond asanas or poses. I guide experiences using meditation, breathwork, and sound healing to help people feel regulated, restored, and fully present. Whether through group classes, mentorship, or 1:1 coaching, I make wellness feel intuitive, not intimidating. Whether I’m working with a student, a professional, or a creative, I’m known for offering a calm and affirming presence that meets people exactly where they are.
Client testimonials often speak to transformational experiences that extend far beyond the mat or a single one-on-one session.
What sets me apart is the intention behind everything I do. I don’t believe wellness has to look a certain way. It’s not one-size-fits-all. My strength lies in personalizing practices to fit the unique needs of each individual or group. And while some may consider me a healer, I don’t see myself that way. My mission is to help people access healing on their own terms, offering the tools and space to meet themselves where they are.
I’m most proud of how I’ve built a practice that reflects this philosophy—staying true to who I am and honoring the people I serve, while continuing to grow and learn alongside them.
Risk taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
I see risk-taking as facing your fears, and that’s something I practice often. A major risk I took was moving to Atlanta last year. Before I made the move, I was at a high point in my wellness career in New York. I had just led a wellness workshop with Samsung in collaboration with PVO, was volunteering in Harlem, and had more opportunities lined up.
But I had always wanted to move to Atlanta. Every time I visited, it felt like a whole new world filled with endless possibility. So when the chance came, I followed my heart—even though I was afraid of leaving those opportunities behind. One thing about me, I’m going to do what feels right in my soul.
That choice came with a lot of uncertainty. Like I said, making money in the wellness space isn’t always easy. In addition to following what feels aligned, I had to follow the coin. Financial freedom is an important part of my journey, and having multiple streams of income is key.
Even though it’s been less than a year, this decision has already revealed new layers of growth. It’s been fruitful—not just materially, but soulfully. I’ve found healing, community, and a deeper purpose.
They say, “no risk, no reward.” For me, it’s about trusting my spirit and remembering that evolution often lives on the other side of a tough decision.
Pricing:
- $15 Moonrise Flow (Evening Mindfulness & Movement Workshop)
- $15 Sunrise Flow (Morning Mindfulness & Movement Workshop)
- $111 1-0n-1 Wellness Coaching
Contact Info:
- Website: https://linktr.ee/dominiquearnel
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dominiquearnel/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@DominiqueArnel
Image Credits
N/A
