We had the good fortune of connecting with Sheetal Kandola and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Sheetal, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
I was working in the mental health and social development space for over 10+ years. I had gone to the best universities and worked with the best NGOs. However, I saw one common trait amongst people working in this sector – the stress, burn out, and overall resentment towards their chosen fields. Parallel to my professional work, I had developed a deep interest in exploring the mind, body and breathe and how to help people holistically heal. After years of watching my relatives dedicate time to connect with the divine, I had started creating space for my spiritual gifts to naturally grow. As i developed language to articulate my spiritual practice, I started sharing it with co-workers and creating workshops dedicated to stress management. I began sharing the ancient, indigenous practices of my culture in USA prisons, schools, and community center. In 2019, I had a strong intuitive message to give up everything in the USA and leave. I left my comfortable, cozy 100k job, swanky apartment in the heart of New Orleans, and my Mercedes Benz. My last offering was a “Decolonizing Yoga” workshop in February 2020. My plan was to travel in India for a few months and then begin my PhD at King’s College London (the same place i completed my MSc). However, the universe had other plans, and I got locked down in the Himalayas. Luckily, my Guruji had an ashram high in the remote Himalayas so I began running the ashram, teaching kids Yoga, English and Science and supporting young women to develop confidence and life skills. I partnered with the biggest ashram in Rishikesh and the UN and I was carrying out life skills projects for young women and children. Working with the UN, showed me how powerful and impactful I truly had the potential to be. People had already started reaching out to me about yoga sessions, therapy and general advise about how to life bigger and better. In 2022, after several requests from people and completing an online coaching certification, i dropped the self-doubt, and stepped into my power. I started my business because I knew I had to power and potential to impact much more people with my business than collaborating with organization who may have other interests involved. My mission and aim was simple – let go of limiting beliefs and step into your limitless nature. However, my main target was to cater to people like me. As a Indian American woman, I saw very little to few people in the online coaching and spiritual world sharing their medicine. It took me an immense amount of inner work, but I can proudly say the work has affected 100s of people around the world. My clients have been everyone from white men in the USA to Indian women living in rural settings. I do my best to offer a sliding scale and offer scholarships to people who genuinely are invested in their growth and evolution. I offer 1:1 and group coaching & workshops around yoga, tantra, Ayurveda, trauma, stress, healing and growth. In addition, I host retreats that are focused on healing and expansion and yatras (spiritual pilgrimage) that focus on experiencing the divine. At times, I still offer consulting for mental health organizations in India that feel aligned and are doing good work. I have been in my business for over 2 years and I have created so much freedom, peace and love in my life. I feel very proud of myself and whenever my clients or participants send me messages regarding the impact of our work together

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I was working in the mental health and social development space for over 10+ years. I had gone to the best universities and worked with the best NGOs. However, I saw one common trait amongst people working in this sector – the stress, burn out, and overall resentment towards their chosen fields. Parallel to my professional work, I had developed a deep interest in exploring the mind, body and spirit and how to help people holistically heal. After years of watching my relatives dedicate time to connect with the divine, I had started creating space for my spiritual gifts to naturally grow. As i developed language to articulate my spiritual practice, I started sharing it with co-workers and creating workshops dedicated to stress management. I began sharing the ancient, indigenous practices of my culture in USA prisons, schools, and community center. In 2019, I had a strong intuitive message to give up everything in the USA and leave. I left my family/friends, comfortable, cozy 100k job, swanky apartment in the heart of New Orleans, and my Mercedes Benz. My last offering was a “Decolonizing Yoga” workshop in February 2020. My plan was to travel in India for a few months and then begin my PhD at King’s College London (the same place i completed my MSc). However, the universe had other plans, and I got locked down in the Himalayas. Luckily, my Guruji had an ashram high in the remote Himalayas so I began running the ashram, teaching kids Yoga, English and Science and supporting young women to develop confidence and life skills. I partnered with the biggest ashram in Rishikesh and the UN and I was carrying out life skills projects for young women and children. Working with the UN, showed me how powerful and impactful I truly had the potential to be. People had already started reaching out to me about yoga sessions, therapy and general advise about how to life bigger and better. In 2022, after several requests from people and completing an online coaching certification, i dropped the self-doubt, and stepped into my power. I started my business because I knew I had to power and potential to impact much more people with my business than collaborating with organization who may have other interests involved. My mission and aim was simple – let go of limiting beliefs and step into your limitless nature.  However, my main target was to cater to people like me. As a Indian American woman, I saw very little to few people in the online coaching and spiritual world sharing their medicine. It took me an immense amount of inner work, but I can proudly say the work has affected 100s of people around the world. My clients have been everyone from white men in the USA to Indian women living in rural settings. I do my best to offer a sliding scale and offer scholarships to people who genuinely are invested in their growth and evolution. I offer 1:1 and group coaching & workshops around yoga, tantra, Ayurveda, trauma, stress, healing and growth. In addition, I host retreats that are focused on healing and expansion and yatras (spiritual pilgrimage) that focus on experiencing the divine. At times, I still offer consulting for mental health organizations in India that feel aligned and are doing good work. I have been in my business for over 2 years and I have created so much freedom, peace and love in my life. I feel very proud of myself and whenever my clients or participants send me messages regarding the impact of our work together 

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I am location independent but i am mostly based between Goa and the Himalayas. I often come back to the USA for workshops and events. However, India is my home. At the moment, I am based in Bir, Himachal Pradesh, India. If someone was to come visit me. I would like them on long sunrise and sunset walks in my villages amongst the cows, chickens, goats and dogs. During the heat of the day, I would bring them along a natural river stream and waterfall to swim with the Himalayan catfishes. We would spend the day in nature and admiring the natural beauty of the land and her rhythms. I would feed them local, organic and vegetarian food straight from our farms and gardens. In the evening, I would show them the most beautiful sunsets they have ever witnessed in their life with people flying in the sky. Bir is world famous for paragliding and people from all over the world come to experience the magic of a flight. After sunset, we could go visit a Buddhist monastery for some evening prayers and meditation. We would end the day with. a delicious meal at one of the various unique cafes in Bir.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My father, Dr.Jaswinder Kandola

Website: https://www.sheetalkandola.com

Instagram: @sheetalkandola

Linkedin: Sheetal Kandola

Facebook: Sheetal Shakti Devi Kaur

Image Credits
Sneha Reginald & Harshita Balraj

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