Meet Nathalie Callahan of Alight Wellness

Today we’d like to introduce you to Nathalie Callahan.

Nathalie, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
Born and raised in Los Angeles, I was exposed early on to the reality that happiness cannot be equated to wealth, popularity and beauty. As I grew into my teenage years and began to question life and struggle with my own insecurities, I developed a strong drive to know the true source of happiness and fulfillment in life. In the beginning, this drive to question and look within led me to severe anxiety, social isolation, and depression.

I could simply not relate to the social circle of Los Angeles, and it became clear that I was on my own path. I moved to upstate New York to Bard College, where I studied Philosophy, Literature, and Experimental Film. While at Bard, I also discovered Zen Meditation, Vipassana Meditation, and the ‘spiritual path.’ Through a connection to nature and the birth of spiritual practice, I was able to gradually transform my depression and anxiety into a pursuit of health and fullness.

This ultimately led me to India. I lived in India for four years at the Vedanta Academy, where I studied Vedanta Philosophy directly under renowned teacher Swami A. Parthasarathy. Through Vedanta, I learned the basic principles of what life is about, what is important, what is true, and where happiness actually lies. In India, I also began to study Yoga Asana, Ayurveda, Chinese Medicine, and Nutrition. I began to learn how to holistically cultivate a healthy life from inside out.

While in India, I met my husband, Glen, who came to India from New Zealand and stayed in India for eight years as a student and teacher of Vedanta and Yoga. In 2015, Glen and I moved to Los Angeles together and started the 501(c)3, Vedanta Institute LA, which offers free classes in personal development and Vedic Philosophy. While I began teaching in LA, I decided to pursue natural medicine and began to earn a Masters in Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine.

Through Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine, I am able to integrate spiritual principles with health and healing. Glen and I are now joining forces, and we have created Alight Wellness, a business that offers alternative healthcare, such as Acupuncture, Herbal Medicine, Nutrition, and Yoga, as well as Self-Development and Applied Philosophy Education.

Alight Wellness is based on the premise that a healthy body necessitates a healthy mind, and unless we manage our stress and emotions, it is impossible to cultivate a truly healthy and fulfilled life. Alight strives to help people build physical and mental resilience, overcome chronic illness, prevent disease, and to be self-sufficient, fulfilled and powerful on all levels. BE A LIGHT!

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
My primary struggle has been learning how to turn an inward path into an outward business endeavor. Many of us who are naturally quiet and introspective tend not to thrive as social media influencers.

Living at an ashram for many years trained me to look within, question everything, and pursue an authentic life. However, while in Los Angeles, in order to succeed in business it is essential to consistently network, build an audience, a marketing plan, a social media persona, which is inherently an extroverted pursuit.

As I strive to build Alight Wellness and succeed as an entrepreneur in Los Angeles, I am forced really exercise my OBJECTIVITY MUSCLE, and learn how not to take things personally, to do what needs to be done without compromising on my values. I do not believe that financial success and business growth run counter to a life dedicated to knowledge and inner truth.

However, in order to not get wrapped up in the result-oriented, desire-ridden busy-ness of trying to be a wellness entrepreneur in Los Angeles, I must truly practice what I preach. I must maintain my early morning routine, study, exercise, wholesome home-cooked food, and a healthy relationship with my own mind and my husband.

It is certainly a struggle to build my business without comparing myself to others, wanting to be further along, craving this that or the other aspect of success. But these struggles only force me to learn more, stick to my principles, and develop a stronger conviction in my work and life.

So, as you know, we’re impressed with Alight Wellness – tell our readers more, for example, what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
Alight Wellness, a new wellness enterprise coming soon to Los Angeles, offers Acupuncture, Herbal Medicine, Nutrition, Yoga, Functional Medicine, and Personal Development Philosophy. Healing and preventing disease requires a holistic transformation of the body, mind, and spirit. Health is the conscious cultivation of a life that nourishes the whole person inside and out.

Alight Wellness is dedicated to not only providing profound natural healthcare modalities that heal the body, but we are also committed to holistically educating and supporting our patients in their healing journey. We strive to provide community education programs in personal development and applied philosophy to help people manage stress, anxiety, relationships, and depression. We also will provide education in nutrition, digestion and functional medicine. We believe that knowledge is power, and any healing of the body must be supported by a strong mind and clear thinking.

The Bhagavad Gita states: “Lift yourself by yourself.” We are not here to do the work for you, but rather to nurture your body and mind so as to give you the tools to cultivate a healthy life for yourself, on your own terms, within your mind, your body, and your intellect. Alight Wellness wants you to be your own Light, to be resilient and vibrant physically and emotionally.

So, what’s next? Any big plans?
We are currently building an online education program for people all over the world. Our goal is to provide online courses in Health and Nutrition, Alternative and Functional Medicine, Self Development, and Vedanta Philosophy. We are planning to create an online community that offers a support network for people to make healthier choices in their lives.

We are also planning to open a physical space in Los Angeles, where we can offer Acupuncture, Herbal Medicine, Nutrition, Yoga, and our signature Applied Philosophy classes. We also dream of opening a small cafe that offers wholesome, nourishing food at an affordable price.

Stay Tuned!

Pricing:

• Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine at Emperors College – 45$
• Classes at vedantala.org – FREE
• Health Coaching and Yoga with Nathalie – 100$
• Leadership Coaching with Glen- $150

Contact Info:

• Website: www.vedantala.org
• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: @nathalie.callahan and @alightwellness
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=33502545

Getting in touch: VoyageLA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.