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

Hi Vivica, can you talk to us a bit about the social impact of your business?

My offerings as a Yoga Instructor and Teacher Trainer, as well as an Ayurveda Wellness Counselor impacts people on various levels that often reveal where they are or have been stuck. People often come to Yoga to become more flexible or get physically fit, and find themselves leaving my classes realizing that they feel calmer, more relaxed, more open to receive and more accepting of outer circumstances. I invite my Yoga students to inquire within, to introspect their attention to feel where the tension lives in the physical body, and to use the breath to move prana (which is universal life-force) through the subtle channels in their body. The result is often a profound state of inner peace and equanimity. I spend a lot of time teaching breath awareness, raising consciousness of our inner state and how we can influence it with different breathing patterns. Most people identify with their thoughts and emotions, and hearing that we are not our thoughts or emotions, but that which is experiencing them, is often a ground breaking insight that moves us from a sense of overwhelm to a state of open ended awareness, a state of being (not doing), which is the state of Yoga. When I bring in the ancient wisdom of Ayurveda into my teachings, the connection to the cycles of Nature with our own inner state, create a whole new shift of consciousness. We often don’t realize that we are Nature, we are not just part of Nature, we are the microcosm of the macrocosm, which is the universe. Living in harmony with the cycles of nature brings us closer to experiencing a sense of ease and contentment. Each person I teach these ancient practices of Yoga & Ayurveda to, has their own unique journey and ability to apply these time-tested principles in their own life. All move away from a more un-conscious approach to life to a more sattvic way of living, which is one that is rooted in truth, balance, equanimity, and light. When we do our own work on the mat, whether its the practice of physical postures, sitting or walking meditation, and make life-style changes and adjust our eating habits, we raise our own levels of consciousness, which then inspires others to do their own work. That way communities are uplifted, one person at a time. Staying with our own practice has an effect on the people around us, because they can feel how we are changing from being more reactive to responding more wisely to the challenges of life.

Please tell us more about your career. We’d love to hear what sets you apart from others, what you are most proud of or excited about. How did you get to where you are today professionally. Was it easy? If not, how did you overcome the challenges? What are the lessons you’ve learned along the way. What do you want the world to know about you or your brand and story?
I took my first Yoga class in 1998 in NYC and it was nothing short of a revelation. Moving and breathing in order to create space inside and open pathways of energy, rather than moving the body to make it look pretty for the spectator (as in dance performance) was new to me. I left changed and curious about what had created the shift. My journey into the ancient art of self-transformation had begun, and my life took a different turn. I moved to Los Angeles in 2002 and explored various influential teachers in the Yoga “scene”. This led me to the Yogaworks Teacher Training by founders Maty Ezraty and her partner Chuck Miller in 2004. I started teaching out of a small gym in Santa Monica before the turning was over. My teaching changed and morphed through the birth of my 3 daughters in 2006 and 2009. It made me more compassionate, less pushy, more inquisitive and led me to offering more options/variations as a teacher. My teaching at that point was pointed at guiding the students toward self-inquiry, and to listen to what wants/needs to emerge and move/breathe accordingly. At some point in my career I noticed that there was one particular feedback that I kept receiving from my students: my voice, and the calming and grounding effect it had on the emotional well-being. I realized how many in our modern culture suffer from anxiety, depression, stress and lack of self-worth. It became clear to me that I can help many by focusing my teachings on creating a safe and calming environment that leads to the introspection, forgiveness and self-love. My tools are art of voice, sequencing, the use of music, and pacing. It is not enough to teach poses, after all, we teach people first, poses secondly. I realize and feel blessed and honored to have the opportunity to teach and educate students about the deeper dimensions of both Yoga & Ayurveda, following in the footsteps of Krishnamacharya and many other lineage based teachers. The obvious challenges I had, was to balance my teaching with raising my 3 daughters , while also being a spouse and house holder. Allowing my self to be human, not always being perfect, failing at parenting and relationship and learning how to be better at both. My lessons are always about slowing down, acknowledging what is present, allowing it to be there, and choosing an action to move forward. After completing my Ayurveda training in 2015 I continue to be immersed in the advanced teachings of Ayurveda with several mentors that guide me towards my NAMA certification. I help many achieve greater physical, mental and emotional ease through basic principles of Ayurveda. Along the way I have developed Viveka Essential Oils, a collection of Ayurvedic Balancing Essential Oil blends, as well as created mala bead necklaces in collaboration with a group of underserved women in India. I am excited to launch my first digital program in February: VIVEKA YOGA & AYURVEDA ACADEMY, a roadmap to becoming established in Self through ancient practices that lead to inner balance and greater contentment.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Hiking. Period. There are so many incredible hikes in the Santa Monica mountains. Time for connection with each other, movement, and Nature immersion, all in One!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My shoutout goes to all the incredible teachers and mentors that have shaped me and my career, such as: Annie Carpenter, Maty Ezraty, Chuck Miller, James Bailey, Indu Arora, Arun Deva, Dr Suhas Kshirsagar, and my three beautiful daughters!

Website: www.vivicaschwartz.com
Instagram: @vivekayogaandayurveda
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vivica.schwartz/

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