Dharma Shakti

She describes her name rather succinctly: “Righteous strength.” And Dharma plans on fulfilling this strength through the art and practice of yoga, which she has single-handedly altered within Long Beach when she began offering not just donation-based yoga classes at her Trilogy Yoga Studio, but also created the incredibly popular free yoga classes at Bluff Park in 2007. Having over 450 students a week, the “Yogalution” takes a hold of Long Beach every day of the week — after a simple campaign where her and a friend printed and posted fliers.

“Being a Yogi Shiromani,” she says, using the technical term for instructor, “has been a majestic gem in my life — it has helped me blossom in so many ways. Free yoga was and still is my way of giving back to the community. Initially it started out as an idea — I had many friends who wanted to come and practice at the studios but could not afford it on a regular basis, which only encouraged the idea of a weekly class that I wanted to teach for free.”

There is a beautiful simplicity to the way in which she tells her story — and the excitement with which she expresses it. Her face lights up, her eyes dance, and there is a clear sense of authenticity. “I cannot express with words the joy it brings me to teach this class every Saturday and Sunday. To see the community build and connect with one another is such blessing in my life.”

Dharma Shakti trained at the Sivananda Ashram and teaches a classic Hatha Yoga style, as well as blending the spice of influential teachers that have challenged her own practice.