Today we’d like to introduce you to Masood Ali Khan.
Hi Masood, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Lake Balboa is the urban sanctuary that so many Angelenos have never heard of. I laugh every time I see the blank stare and feel thrilled when people know of it and come to the park. My family moved to Lake Balboa in 2021 after 7 years in Topanga, where we were enjoying the mountains and trees, but the underlying stress of evacuations was building, and I am happy to leave that behind.
I have lived in LA for 18 years now as an actor, model, and musician in the yoga world, and my current superpower is helping people to be calm, clear, and motivated as a shadow work guide. After living in Amsterdam for 7 glorious, fun, expansive, spiritual growing years. Before Amsterdam called, I had tried to live in LA, but we weren’t dancing the same dance, and I was barely there…
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
I was flying back and forth from Europe to LA often. LA eventually felt just so far away, and then add the jet lag. Then, heading to last-minute auditions and then trying to get back to pick up my son from school was always a challenge. Being self-employed when there are gaps in income is challenging; it causes life stress for the family to survive and pay rent. Of course, these a luxury problems, the challenge of having a conscious and feeling heart is the running to survive while feeling empathy for those around me in constant struggle. The old way to survive is to detach, numb, and dehumanize those, which is not sustainable for the collective consciousness. The well-being of humanity is the biggest challenge to the mental health of the Angelenos, where the richest live next to the unhoused and forgotten.
The challenges of trying to be free to live and thrive in this society of failing standards. To love and be loved by whoever beyond gender identification, race, and religion and experience one’s precious life without living in fear.
For children to go to school and learn with the best tools and teachers and not get bullied or shot, to walk the streets and feel safe. To trust that the police are there to protect and not instigate and to not allow an accident or illness to bring about catastrophic debt.
If it were not for a prayer and meditation practice, constantly remembering to connect to a source, being creative with music and acting, and sharing my wounds and pains in men’s groups with deep shadow work, well, I would probably not be writing this now.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
Before I knew myself in away close to as much as I do thanks to meditation, men’s groups, and Shadow work I was living and working in the world as a fashion and commercial model. Starting in my hometown of London, UK, in the late 80s, then living in Paris, New York, and Tokyo, and working all around the world. I was a new face or disruptor in the modeling world, just as you see questionable wild styles of models. Now, that was me then.
Full on street style London and Japanese fashion. It took a year before I wore a classic suit. But when that finally happened, I worked with all the classic men’s designers Cristian Dior, YSL, Hermes, Kenzo, Valentino Cerrutti and so many more, shooting editorials and advertising for GQ’s British, US and India and Vogue homme, L’uomo Vogue there was so many. I was walking and dancing on the international catwalks for 14 years of fashion collections.
I was the Indian prince fantasy for so many designers there was no one doing what I did other than my brother Chazz that could also give a good swagger on the catwalk. I am so grateful for all these years and proud that I have had such a long career that I am still working and inspiring creatives and visionaries.
How did it do it well I kept out of trouble and stayed on the dance floor instead of the bar. I learned meditation, Yoga and energy healing just at the right time as I transitioned another the 7-year cycle.
I would share wisdom and meditation with model friends and colleagues during our exhausting work travels. I became known for being connected to calmness and serenity and still tear up a dance floor for hours.
I started drumming on the beaches of Ibiza and Thailand, that led to playing with DJ in clubs and raves. I loved yoga, kirtan, and mantra. The HandPan was invented, and it was perfect for yoga classes, so I learned how to sing, recorded music albums, and performed around the world while incorporating meditation, awareness, and prayer into the Kirtan concert.
I could be seen enjoying life, staying connected to the heart and supporting humanity with kindness, compassion and even though navigating a lived experience of racism and social injustice. I did what most people do, hide the rejected parts in an emotional wound. Revealing itself when a triggering situation occurs that calls for protection or acceptance.
Now, thanks to Shadow work with my teacher, Robert Augustus Master, life was changing, and my shadows illuminated for me to bear witness, accept, and embrace. These have now become my wisdom teacher instead of a reactive emotion or shutting down and into the cave for a week or so…
My heart and wounds were open, and I could be intimate with my feelings and express them. Now my body, the energetic and spiritual vessel, is stronger. I can hold the emotions and wounds of others and support them to explore their shadows for their clarity and liberation to be full hearted caring humans.
My beloved partner, Sianna Sherman, is a very well-respected international yoga teacher, motivational speaker, and founder of the Rasa Yoga collective and a mystery school. We present at Yoga and music festivals, host yoga retreats and pilgrimages around the world. I am so excited for this year’s Ignite Magic retreat to Machu Picchu in Peru during the 8-8 Lions Gate portal. Sianna and I have curated an epic once-in-a-lifetime yoga retreat that uses shadow work and techniques for quantum transformational experiences. We inspire many people for our loving and supportive relationship, it’s a privilege I am grateful, and I don’t take it for granted.
All this ups and down of life to be able to help others wherever I am asked. The energetic juggle to align learn more and share what we know to help humanity.
Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
Know who you are? Time goes fast and the university of life can be found online so easily stop the scrolling and learn to focus, meditate, breathe and cultivate a greater and longer attention span.
Be in nature, walk barefoot, be control your mind if it not supporting a sustainable attitude for your life and body, with your food and drink.
Enjoy life, travel, and experience the simple things and a taste of luxury.
Travelling in other cultures is the best experience to sustain humanity. don’t dehumanize others we are all on the same path.
Be adventurous in art and enjoy your creative self. Learn business skills, communication skills, and conflict repair skills.
Listen with big ear and a big heart.
Talk to someone if you feel sad and down get support. Join an affinity group for who you identify with.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.masoodalikhan.com
- Instagram: @moosealikhan @masoodalikhanmusic
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MasoodAliKhan.Music
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/wer1love
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@MasoodAliKhanMusic
- SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/masood-ali-khan
Image Credits
Steven Lyon
Jeff Marano
David Young-Wolff
Mark Humphrey
