Daily Inspiration: Meet Karen Mendoza

Hi Karen, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I was born in Mexico and raised in Los Angeles. Growing up, I had dreams of becoming an astronaut and visiting space. In many ways, I feel aligned with that because as a wellness practitioner & creator, I get to hold space for others to heal. As a little girl, I loved the idea of tea parties, sleep overs, making things, and moving and playing in nature…with cats everywhere. I can honestly say I’ve been living my dream, but it’s taken discipline and the ability to make tough choices to get here.

My first career lasted 12 years; I worked with students diagnosed with Autism and special needs. Not many people who know me now know that I have a masters degree in Applied Behavior Analysis. I am extremely grateful for all I learned as a behavior analyst, but now I know it was only a stepping stone leading the way to who I truly am. To be honest, this is the first full year that I no longer view my divorce with corporate America as a failure.

In 2014, I was introduced to the beautiful community of Herbalife. I developed a passion for fitness, nutrition, personal development and helping people change their lives. My wellness journey led me to a new passion; I am finally fulfilled in my new career as a yoga & meditation teacher. I fell in love with the practice of pairing breath to movement in 2016. I’ve had incredible teachers that have contributed to my yoga journey and would like to take the opportunity to thank them now: Krishna Kaur, Colin Kim, John San Juan and Andrea Restivo for their teachings & inspiration. I earned my Kundalini Research Institute (KRI) yoga & meditation certification in 2018 and began teaching right away.

Teaching helps me be a better student and Yoga & meditation have also helped me become an athlete. I didn’t play any sports growing up but as an adult, running, lifting weights and practicing yoga has truly transformed me into an athlete. I’ve completed three triathlons and have developed a beautiful relationship with my body. I feel so good when I take care of my mind, body and spirit. Through the practice of kundalini yoga and meditation, I began experiencing and accessing different parts of me. I recently became a content creator for Nike. I always knew I could manifest what I wanted in life, and that experience is evidence of the power of manifestation. We become what we think about. We become the vibrations we focus on. This helped me see myself as the creator I have always been and I no longer box myself into just one label or occupation.

Since being certified in 2018, I’ve hosted one local camping retreat, two international spiritual healing retreats in Mexico and 1 in Africa. Our next retreat to Oaxaca, Mexico is planned for February 2024. Although my studio name has changed three times since 2014, for now, it’s known as Luna’s Creative Healing Studio. It’s a space to heal & come back to Self through different creative modalities.

These different creative modalities include kundalini yoga, meditation, sound bath alchemy, healing circles, workshops, corporate wellness & spiritual healing retreats. I’ve always said that my studio is more than just a yoga studio & that the studio travels everywhere I go. I do believe I will open many wellness centers all over the world in this lifetime. I know that goal will take lots of focus, self-belief & self-love to accomplish, but I am committed. I’m grateful I get to practice what I love every day & be part of so many healing journeys.

For the month of August 2023, I will be launching a new membership program that includes 1:1 meditation, yoga and workouts where students will receive tailored programs that help reduce anxiety/stress, help heal heart-ache, overcome grief, increase self-love, achieve abundance mindset and much more. Think of me as your personal [yoga and meditation] trainer. You can find full details at www.womanofLaLuna.com

Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc?
One of my favorite books is titled How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie. Some of my favorite people to listen to are Abraham Hicks, Jim Rohn, Louise Hay, Deepak Chopra & Eric Thomas. I cycle through their YouTube videos and they always provide the motivation and insight I need. True insight, however, always comes to me through music. Music that includes the flute, saxophone, piano and sound or different languages is my peace. My two favorite songs: Dance of the Corn People by Xavier Quijas and Grandmother Tree and the Feathered Serpent by Deya Dova. These songs are my gift to you. When I listen to this type of music, I hear God and my ancestors speaking and guiding me. That’s how I’ve gotten to where I am now.