Rising Stars: Meet Katrina Ji

Today we’d like to introduce you to Katrina Ji.

Hi Katrina, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My name is Katrina Ji and I’m a Rajasthani Folk & Bollywood Fusion Dancer and an Ayurvedic Massage Therapist & Practitioner.

The first question people usually have for me is how an American woman from Seattle got interested in Indian dance and Ayurveda! Most people assume I married an Indian man but actually I was enthralled when I first saw Rajasthani folk dance in the documentary film “Latcho Drom.”

Prior to that pivotal moment, I had been on a winding musical path that began when I was introduced to punk rock in high school. There I learned about everything from veganism, gender & queer equality, anti-racism, and feminism to animal rights, and building community. I became known as Katrina Outcast after putting on ‘all ages’ punk shows in Seattle from basement house shows to 800 capacity concerts under the name Outcast Productions. Next thing I knew, I started Outcast Records. I was going on tour to sell records and merch from Outcast, which then grew into distribution. I had booked tours for punk bands in exchange for them paying my phone bill and it just grew from there.

Although Outcast Records put out 10 albums with multiple releases published and set the stage for my career as a touring artist and business owner, it wasn’t technically a business since I wasn’t making any money.

So by the time I found myself watching Latcho Drom, I was ready for something new! In the opening scene, there is a sequence where the famed Rajasthani dancer Suva Devi Kalbeliya does a mesmerizing series of Barrel Rolls under a lone desert tree while a young boy, Talab Khan, sings a plaintive melody. I was totally captivated by this ancient desert world I was seeing for the first time; the vast landscapes juxtaposed with the hypnotic combination of music and melody, the life stories of hardships and triumphs ‘hidden’ in folk songs I couldn’t understand, the traditional garb and dance steps; I knew right away that I wanted to learn more!

In early aughts Seattle, we had very little ethnic folk dance representation so I was blessed to start learning Kalbeliya (Dance of Freedom) from Queen Harish in 2009. At the same time, I had started massage school as a way to support my newly born son Alistar and continue my dance training, and it was there I was introduced to Ayurvedic Science. A piece of the puzzle clicked into place when I realized there was an ancient science that had existed for thousands of years that encompassed everything I believed in, including dance!

A short time later, I experienced my first Abhyanga and Panchakarma. It is difficult to put the experience of these profound and ancient treatments into words but for the sake of the uninitiated; Abhyanga is massage using warm, herb Infused oil that is specially formulated for your dosha and Panchakarma is Series of 5 actions that eliminate accumulated impurities from the mind, body and spirit.

The treatments were life changing and after completing massage school, I furthered my studies in Ayurveda. At the same time, I opened my own dance studio and before long I was hosting other teachers, musicians and performers. Soon I was able to start seeing massage clients and offering Abhyanga and Pancha Karma treatments in the back of my studio! As was the case with my record label, both elements of the business seemed to support one another, as they were both rooted in body mind consciousness, care and expression.

Happily, this time the businesses took off!

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Like so many others all over the world, my biggest challenge to date came with the start of the pandemic in 2020. I had just spent 6 months in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan India where I was the star dancer every night performing with live Manganiar musicians and Kalbeliya dancers in the Thar Desert. It was already a very emotional experience as the company was missing our teacher and my dear friend Queen Harish, who had recently died suddenly in a car crash.

The pandemic shut us down and we all had to disband and get home immediately. At the same time my father was very ill and before I could reach him in Seattle, he passed away. So I decided to take some time off and stay in Seattle to be with my mother. While there I started an effort to help support artists from the Kalbeliya, Kaamad, Gujjer and Manganiyar communities of Rajasthan as a way to be of service and help me deal with what I was going through, so I set up an online school at www.CultureShakti.com where I offer classes for several Rajasthani folk dancers and musicians. Eventually I added my own Kalbeliya & Rajasthani and Bhangra classes, and after a few months, the lockdown loosened up a bit and I was able to relocate here to Los Angeles.

It’s been interesting setting up a business during the height of a global pandemic but after the lockdown lifted, this new environment turned out to be conducive to launching www.AyurvedicMobileMassage.com where I provide Abhyanga, Shirodhara, Pancha Karma, Marma Therapy, Prenatal, and Swedish/Deep Tissue treatments in the comfort of people’s homes. It worked out since so many people are suffering and need body work but going to a clinic or spa can carry risks for some people.

It’s been a roller coaster but fortunately things have gotten better and I’m finally teaching in person classes and getting to know the LA community by performing on stages throughout the Southland.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
My business has evolved over the last two 2 decades and I consider myself blessed to be able to work at a job I love while immersed in intensive study and training with teachers from both the Ayurveda and the dance world. Some of the greatest moments of my life have been watching people’s faces light up when they witness a performance, or the feeling of relief that washes over someone when a suffering body has a breakthrough! One full circle moment I have to mention happened a few years back when I had the opportunity to tour with Suva Devi Kalbeliya and Ustad Arba Music Group (Rajasthani Caravan) the artists that had such a profound effect on me from that long ago documentary Latcho Drom!

What makes you happy?
After going through so much these last few years, it’s nice to be able to answer that question honestly. I love spending time in nature and going to the beach so LA makes me happy! I’ve been vegan for over 25 years and exploring all the vegan options all over the city makes me happy! My son is now 21 years old and he’s a musician, dancer and model who is working on his debut album, so of course that makes me happy! All in all it’s been an incredible journey and I feel happy and grateful to be in this new chapter in the City of Angels with an eye toward the future.

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Website: Www.KatrinaJi.com
• Instagram: Instagram.com/katrinajicultureshakti
• Facebook: Facebook.com/cultureshakti
• Youtube: YouTube.com/katrinajicultureshakti
• Yelp: https://yelp.to/aF82M6g8knb
• Other: Www.ayurvedicmobilemassage.com

Image Credits:
Pixie Vision Photography