How they got there episodes is where we get to hear stories from experts, yoga teachers, healers, coaches…basically anybody who doesn’t have a typical job title.
These are their for real, for real stories about how they followed their heart’s calling to do what they’re meant to do. This means we get to hear the sticky middle and all - How’d they start? Did they have a plan? How did they make money?
Hopefully in hearing their stories it will help inspire you to live your purpose or lend comfort especially if you’ve come across a hard part in your journey.
Today we hear from yoga teacher, spiritual mentor and author of the book In Search Of The Highest Truth::Adventures In Yoga Philosophy, Hari-kirtana das, who you heard from in Episode 182: Exploring The Meaning Of Life Using Yoga Philosophy.
Although Hari has been practicing yoga for the better part of 50 years and has a wealth of experience under his belt, he still had to start from somewhere. In this episode, you’ll learn how he transitioned from a career in motion design and into one where he spends his days teaching at yoga teacher trainings and creating online programs for yoga philosophy.
My favorite takeaway from all this is that he didn’t have a plan either! It seems that most of the guests who have shared their stories didn’t have a plan - even the most planful ones. It seems that when it comes to pursuing heartfelt endeavors like living your purpose and doing what you’re meant to do, the approach needs to be much different than let’s say how you would plan to do your taxes.
In pursuing your heart’s calling, there is no formula. There is no cut and dry rules. And that’s not a bad thing - it’s more intuitive and asks you to rely on your inner wisdom rather than an external set of rules that you should follow.
See below for key nuggets and takeaways.
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Key Nuggets: Doing What You’re Meant To Do
What’s your calling/purpose?
My service is to share my understanding and realization of the highest truth. Teaching others how to learn to see and experience it rather than just understand it intellectually.
What was that moment like when you decided to go all in and fully committed to doing what you’re meant to?
Decide to continue with motion design clients or teach yoga full time. Once I decided, things happened that helped me become a full time yoga teacher.
How did you start? (for real, like way before being known for your work. Did you quit your job first or did you do it on the side?)
I was going to yoga studios to practice before teaching and actually got asked to teach.
In one incident, a teacher who was leading a teacher training had a guy who was supposed to teach kirtan but he didn’t show up. Somebody who knew me asked me to teach it.
Did you have a formal business plan or idea of how long you’d do this for?
No I didn’t, which is unlike me because I’m usually a very planful person.
How’d you get your expenses covered?
Got paid as a guest teacher at YTTs (yoga teacher trainings) and also with the support of a very loving partner.
What was one of your earliest successes and how you made it happen?
His students actually followed him to a new class that he was teaching and it occurred to him that he’d been developing relationships with people.
What was one time when you really wanted to quit. What helped you keep going?
I wanted to quit so I quit.
*this part of the conversation was actually sooooo awesome because he specified that he quit the things that didn’t matter.
What’s usually your biggest resistance (ex. Self-doubt, procrastination…) now? How do you deal with it?
Procrastination like checking emails, check NY Times. Putting the distractions away really helps.
What’s the best thing you did that helped you create this life?
Connected with an online entrepreneurial coach and actually took B-School with Marie Forleo (fun tidbit: that’s how me and Hari actually met).
Top tangible action/tool that you’d recommend?
Develop a mailing list and offer something of value that people can have.
Top mindset advice that you’d recommend?
Have a mindset to be a servant for something greater than yourself.
What do you do to check back and make sure that this is still the path for you (ie. that helps you decide that this is all worth it?)
I get up early and practice mantra meditation: glorification, gratitude, repentance and request for benediction.
Resources:
For more on Yoga Philosophy, listen to Episode 176: Handbook For Awakening - An Easy Guide To The Yoga Sutras Of Patanjali with Ashley Zuberi
Hari’s recommendation for a resource: A free library of transcendental knowledge at www.vedabase.io
From Part I of our conversation, Hari’s recommendations for translations of the Bhagavad Gita:
Take Hari’s online course about the Yamas & Niyamas: https://gobeyondasana.teachable.com/p/yamas-and-niyamas/
As part of the Curious Monki community, you can receive a discount by using the code CURIOUSMONKI
Connect with Hari:
Website: hari-kirtana.com
Email: Hari@Hari-Kirtana.com
Partners:
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