We had the good fortune of connecting with Kathleen Kastner and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kathleen, how do you think about risk?
I live my life by the Julia Cameron quote, “Leap and the net will appear!” This has helped me personally and professionally in many ways. In 2002, I owned a yoga studio in Kansas City with a business partner and it burned up literally. I took a leap of faith and decided to go out on my own and open Maya Yoga studio. Four years later I moved to Santa Monica, while running my studio long distance, because my intuition said I would meet my husband there and it worked. We met in a yoga class and got married 6 months later. We went back to Kansas City and ran Maya Yoga together until 2015. Then we sold it and moved to Encinitas, CA, which was another leap of faith and a good one for us. I remember looking at the ocean when I moved here and someone asked me if I moved here for a job and I said, “No, I moved here for my life!” I wanted to make the joy of living number one over work.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I recently left the security of a corporate job to return to teaching yoga, which was scary, but I knew it was time to leave. I’m excited to be joining the teaching staff at The Soul of Yoga in Encinitas and helping with the Yoga Alliance Teacher Training at Maya Yoga in Kansas City. I’m also enthusiastic about growing my Vegan Cooking YouTube channel and reaching as many people as possible with delicious plant-based food that is good for their health, the animals and the planet. Animal advocacy is a top passion in my life. My career has been challenging in many ways through the years. I have taken risks, due to my strong faith and relationship with God. I pray and talk to God about everything and I have been guided and blesses beyond my imagination.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
When my friends come to Encinitas, I take them to The Self-Realization Fellowship Books & Gifts, the temple, gardens and hermitage, which was the home of my teacher, Paramhansa Yoganana. The SRF grounds have incredible healing energy and high vibrations over looking the ocean. I also take them to Swamis Beach to walk the beach and meditate. I also take them to The Soul of Yoga and The Ashtanga Yoga Center for classes and to Plumeria Thai and Eve Encinitas for delicious vegan food.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would like to dedicate my Shoutout to my Ashtanga Yoga Teacher Tim Miller, who has been my teacher since 2000. He has dedicated the last 40 years of his life to sharing the practice and changing the lives of thousands of people.

Website: www.kathleenkastner.com
Instagram: @kathleenvegan
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kathleenkastner/
Twitter: @kathleenvegan
Facebook: kathleenkastnermortenson
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC299Ew8_-TCs7yf1Y_FRCGA

Image Credits
Yoga photos are by Aaron Lindberg

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