Meet Valinda Cochella of South Bay Yoginis

Today we’d like to introduce you to Valinda Cochella.

Valinda, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I have a Masters Degree in Dance/Movement Therapy from UCLA in 1994 and worked as a therapist for many years.

I became a certified Yoga Instructor in 1999 taking my first of many Yoga Teacher Training Programs and started South Bay Yoginis in 2000.

I wanted to make Yoga accessible to everyone! So I started traveling to offices, people’s homes, events, schools, parks; really anywhere people wanted me to come and teach them “Yoga”. I was using my expertise as a Dance/Movement Therapist to help people explore ‘Yoga’ and do the postures as they could do them, without perfection, and without pushing them into any sort of ‘posture’.

It is my passion to help people realize “Yoga” is so much more than what you see in the magazines and on Instagram. It has saved me from anxiety, depression, self-esteem/body issues….and so much more (like ‘flying off the handle, road rage & destroying relationships’).

My specialty is Kundalini Yoga & Meditation. It works on the glands, brain and nervous system and is super powerful for people working with anxiety and depression. Because we work with the breath, simple moving postures, and mantra, it can literally be done sitting in a chair.

I have been helping people create daily habits that bring peace in their body, mind, and spirit… In as little as three minutes a day!

I have been perfecting all of these techniques for 25 years now.

I can’t wait to share them with you!

Before I had my daughter in 2004, I was able to go to as many yoga classes and workshops as I wanted. I was constantly immersing myself in classes, trainings, and workshops.

It kept me happy! Although my daughter brings me so much joy, one of the most difficult things for me was losing my yoga practice and losing myself. Jumping in my car and going to night yoga classes, and workshops on the weekends, were no longer an option. It took me years to come to grips with this reality.

When I began my daily, home practice -simple daily practices I could do ANYTIME, ANYWHERE.-is when my healing truly accelerated. Three years ago, I started an online business and started sharing tips and tools I have been teaching, studying & practicing half my life! I help mostly stay at home moms create daily practices that keep them feeling Peace. Bliss. Strong. Controlled. Disciplined. Graceful; (words to describe how the women feel in my FB group where we support each other in our daily practices: 3 minutes, 6 minutes, 9 minutes a day, it doesn’t matter).

We: (in the words of the women I work with)

Activate peace, feel centered, and create self-love!

How? I call it unconditional radical self-acceptance…..and I can show you how to get there!

JUST FOR Women!

I feel you absolutely can experience calm within yourself, settle your nerves, and feel relaxed.

EVERY DAY

The women I work with might be saying…. “if only I weren’t so anxious all the time”, “if only I had a moment to myself”, if only I could get “unstuck”. Well, I am here to tell you: YOU CAN

Because I did! You CAN transform your daily energy. You can learn to assimilate simple practices into your daily routine to change the way you react to daily stressors. These techniques I teach you will:

Uplift
Transform AND
Activate your Authentic Self

I hope you will join me on this journey into YOURSELF!

The most important journey EVER!
“Still Your Mind, Open Your Heart, Speak Your Truth & Live Your Dreams!” I am

Has it been a smooth road?
Not at all! I have struggled so much.

I moved to California in 1989 from Mississippi. I thought when I moved out West and had my College Degree all my troubles would fall away….. I really thought it was the rain or the weather or my family…… and instead, I hit rock bottom having panic attacks behind a bar working as a bartender…

But what I realized is it was inside of me… everything was inside of me the universe is inside of me!

Thank God I got into therapy… I was 22 years old and struggling with life, low self esteem, + more! Therapy catapulted me into becoming a Dance/Movement Therapist receiving my Master’s Degree from UCLA…which eventually led me to Yoga.

30 years later I realize wherever you go, that’s where you are…You can’t run away from yourself!

Thank G.O.D. (the Generating, Organizing & Destroying force within me) for Kundalini Yoga, Meditation Yoga, and my Dance Movement Therapy Degree.

I saved my own life through perseverance, dedication to myself and my higher purpose.

Never give up, invest in yourself and your passion.

So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the South Bay Yoginis story. Tell us more about the business.
I make yoga accessible to everyone. I travel to clients around the South Bay of Los Angeles and teach Yoga/Meditation in offices, people’s homes, and at private events.

I’m known for my personalized approach with clients, meeting people where they are, making complicated things easy to understand/do with modifications. 90% of your practice is showing up for yourself!

Recently a woman said “I haven’t really liked Kundalini Yoga & Meditation practices much before. It always seemed kind of pretentious, woo woo, and not based in reality. Valinda has such a practical and healing energy that I think the whole experience of it is way different with her leading, even digitally.”

People tell me I really bring in the spiritual aspect of the practice, in a practical way.

I love helping women accept and fall in love with themselves!

Women who work with me are getting MASSIVE RESULTS! Here’s what they are saying!
“Amazing” “Insightful”
“The teachings Valinda provides have changed my life & I am so thankful that I have found her”!

(This is ONE testimonial on my FB Business page)

The women who work with me say they feel: Peace. Bliss. Strong. Controlled. Disciplined. Graceful; words to describe how the women feel in my FB group where we support each other in our daily practices: 3 minutes, 6 minutes, 9 minutes a day, it doesn’t matter.

We are creating a STRONG community of Women.

FEMPIRE I am so grateful…They help me live my Dharma (my righteous path/highest happiness).

The people I SERVE!

There are soooo many more testimonials on my FB business page & My online Udemy course: Kundalini Yoga for Stress & Anxiety!

They actually make me cry, here are just a few:

“Your energy penetrated through my screen and made my heart chakra sing! That was just incredible I have no words!”

“I love how she (Valinda) has so much passion for what she does! She’s real, very intuitive, and you can feel how she really loves helping people.”

“Clear explanations and feels as though you are actually in the class with Valinda.”

“Valinda is engaging and inspiring. She does a wonderful job explaining the poses and other details regarding the practice. I had my doubts about trying an online yoga course, but those doubts have been completely removed. If you’re looking for a truly wonderful Kundalini yoga course, look no further. This is the one. 10/10 highly recommend!” (About my Udemy course)

I REALLY CARE and am Super invested in my women!

How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
Yoga is changing a lot in the west. We are expanding it and merging it into different practices.

The dogma of the ‘old school’ teachings is falling away. I really hope more and more people will embrace these simple practices and not get caught up in the crazy ‘poses’ on Social Media that really are more gymnastics than what Yoga really is! Yoga is a practice, not a ‘getting there’ and you don’t need all the religious dogma to sit down, chant, breathe and move and get massive results from it!

I see myself helping more women globally in my online business/classes and offerings and leading more LIVE trainings in Kauai, Hawaii with my friend and mentor Erika Faith Calig.

Right now I am still super involved with my daughter Bellina Faith, 14 years old, she will be starting her Sophomore year in High School and made the Advanced Dance Team, so I’m a Dance Mom now…..but I will continue to teach, practice and help women online as much as I am able.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.southbayyoginis.com/
• Phone: 3103416118
• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/valindayoga/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SouthBayYoginis/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/ValindaYoga
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/south-bay-yoginis-torrance
• Other: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCoWHXn9wWKoKFQ1vcFMCaeQ?view_as=subscriber

Image Credit:
Tom Sorenson

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