Today we’d like to introduce you to Chocolako.
Chocolako, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I started practicing yoga in 2005, while I was a graduate student at UC Berkeley. A friend invited me to a yoga class as a study break and stress reliever. At the time, I had no clue what to expect. I just wanted a “break” from everything – life, bills, school, work, my poor health, the city…everything! By the end of my first 60-minute class, I realized I got much more than I bargained for. I had moved into a new level of self-awareness, one that continues to expand each and every time I’ve rolled out my yoga mat since.
Initially, the aim was to workout, sweat and occupy my mind with something other than stress from the day. Eleven years later, my yoga practice has evolved and is teaching me how to co-exist with curve balls and everything else life throws my way. Physical movement is important to me, but so is the mental, emotional and spiritual connection I experience on and off my yoga mat. Through yoga practice and meditation, I’ve learned the difference between life and life’s situations.
Often times when a situation yields an unexpected outcome, a client will tell me their life is doomed and it’s been this way ever since “X” or “Y” happened. There are situations (or as I like to call them: distractions) that tend to steer us off path, but when you’re consciously aware of these obstacles and how they operate, they will no longer have a strong hold on your mind. When you know better, you’ll do better – but if you’re not doing better, life has a way of sending more signals until you awaken.
Since becoming a certified yoga teacher in 2010, I’ve observed the progress of several students who yearn for the benefits of yoga. The journey is different for everyone, but one thing is certain: you’ll never walk away from a 60-minute yoga session feeling the same way you did before yoga practice started.
Has it been a smooth road?
The ups and downs seem endless, but look on the bright side: if there are no ups and downs in your life, you’re no longer living.
Low moments complement high moments, it’s part of the cycle, but what happens when your attention is only on low moments? Stress creeps in and eventually takes everything over. The state of the mind and that of the body are intimately intertwined. If the mind is stressed, the muscles in the body will also be stressed. If the mind is relaxed, the muscles in the body will also be relaxed. I prefer to remain relaxed, therefore I meditate daily and try to focus on the present moment continuously. To be an entrepreneur is challenging. To follow your passion and do what you love is bliss.
How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
An influx of conscious behavior guided by love + mindful people living and connecting across the globe. Most particularly across Africa. The continent is the next frontier for yoga lifestyle and wellness guides
What would you say has been the biggest challenge for you over the course of your career?
Challenges are of the mind. If the mind doesn’t design obstacles then obstacles don’t exist. Only infinite possibilities exist.
What advice do you wish to give to those thinking about pursuing a path similar to yours?
Do what you love and love what you do. You are limitless.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.chocolako.com
- Email: choc@chocolako.com
- Instagram: @Chocolako
- Facebook: @ChocolakoYoga
- Other: Twitter: @Chocolako_
