We recently connected with Naga Rising and have shared our conversation below.

Naga, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today If you had a defining moment that you feel really changed the trajectory of your career, we’d love to hear the story and details.

I’d have to say the defining moment in my professional career was back when I took the leap into being an entrepreneur in 2015. After a few years of living as a free spirit in Portugal I moved back to the United States at which point a friend of mine and I came up with the idea to create a yoga and cannabis blog. Which back then this was a verrry new concept to the public, there was literally only one other woman promoting this as the time. So I decided to get my yoga certification and quit my minimum wage day job to go all in. Which was a ballsy move, but once I’m determined there is really no stopping me. Meanwhile I learned very early on into starting this blog how business can really tear relationships apart, and thats exactly what happened with my friend who I started the blog with. But, there was no turning back. Even though the blog died out I finished my 500hrs of YTT and began teaching yoga right away.

This was really the moment that I stepped into a leadership role for the first time. I’ll never forget how terrified I was I could feel the fear pumping through my physical body. I was literally so anxious about having to lead the students in the training through a full yoga class that I had to curate myself, as part of passing the training, that I came down with a fever for 3 days. I still showed up to training and laid in the corner of the room sick listening to the lessons. After I gained my strength back it was test day and time to lead the class through the yoga sequence I created without any notes. I was shaking the whole time but, I also felt something new, something I was unfamiliar with up until that point. I felt powerful. I felt this energy, as though something greater than myself began to take the drivers seat and lead the way. It’s a difficult feeling to describe, like a mass rush of dopamine flooded my brain and as nervous as I was, and really barely any clue what I was doing, I felt like I had finally arrived into my calling.

Before that experience I had always been someone who naturally liked to help people. I was (and still am) always the one that friends and family called to just talk about the tough stuff they were going through and they’d ask for advice. Multiple times I heard them say they called me because they knew I wouldn’t judge them. This time though it was me showing up, being seen, and having my voice heard in a room full of people I was leading.

So, at this point I was diving DEEP into the yoga practice, yoga philosophy and was really dedicated to it! So not only did it turn me into a leader for others but it was the catalyst of my own transformational journey. It taught me to slow down, to become embodied, to listen to my intuition and truly love myself from the inside out. And ever since then that’s what I love teaching other women to do, even though the avenue today in which I help them get there is different.

Naga, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

My name is Naga Rising and I’m a women’s self-love coach and Author dedicated to helping women create deep self worth, discover body confidence, embrace their fearless authenticity and become their own best friends! My journey into this field began from my own personal transformation when I was sick of self-sabotaging, living with insecurities dictating my life, and the overwhelming inner critic running the show.

Through dedicating 5 years to teaching and practicing yoga I dove deep into self-exploration, embodiment, transformation and healing. Along the way I discovered that the key to overcoming these challenges lies in radical self-love and embracing the discomfort that often accompanies personal growth. Overtime, as I began to crack these codes within myself this evolved into a passion for guiding women on their own journeys of self-discovery and empowerment.

I’ve found that one of the most powerful ways to do this is through practices that connect us back to our bodies, building self worth from within and being seen in our truth. This led to the creation of my book and various coaching programs, where I share the tools and techniques that have transformed my life.

I offer a variety of services aimed at helping women along their self love journey. These include:

– Online Course, Map To Radiance: MTR is a holistic 3 week self paced course designed to guide women to rewire the mind, nurture the body and be seen in their true spirit. This course provides practical tools, mindset hacks and powerful self love practices for staying on track through life’s challenges, expanding your comfort zone and creating lasting confidence.

-1:1 coaching: My coaching isn’t just about quick fixes; it’s about creating sustainable habits that last you a lifetime! We will work together to develop personalized self-care rituals, build confidence, and foster a deep sense of self-worth that permeates every aspect of your life. I offer a unique, empathetic and tailored approach that addresses the specific challenges and needs of each client. I utilize evidence-based practices from positive psychology, cognitive-behavioral techniques, and mindfulness, designed to effectively improve self-esteem, mental well-being and overall life satisfaction.

-My book: In my book, Naga Rising Wildly Untamed I delve into my own experiences and lessons I’ve learned along the way, coupled with fine art nude photography as a symbol of freedom and a permission slip for other women to share their stories and be seen.

What truly sets my work apart is the deeply personal, vulnerable and holistic approach I take to coaching and self-development. I don’t just teach techniques; I guide my clients through a journey of self-exploration and growth that touches every aspect of their lives. My work is about more than just overcoming obstacles—it’s about embracing your true self and loving who you are so deeply and unapologetically that it breaks down barriers caused by societal norms, people pleasing, insecurities and self doubt. It’s about becoming so fearlessly you, that it sets you free!

I’m most proud of the transformations I’ve witnessed in the women I’ve worked with. Seeing them step into their power, take the risks, meet change head on, embrace their true selves, and lead lives filled with confidence and self-love is the greatest reward of my work. If there’s one thing I want potential clients and followers to know, it’s that you are capable of extraordinary things, no matter what you have been through! My brand, Naga Rising, is here to support you in your journey, helping you rise above your doubts and fears to become the best version of yourself.

Have you ever had to pivot?

Well, all three pivots of business, career and life came at once! I guess at no surprise being that it was my Saturn return, of course. Right before I closed the chapter on teaching yoga, the long distance relationship I was in was growing more serious and naturally we had to make the decision as to who was moving where. At the time, I was renting and he owned his place so the choice that seemed to make the most sense was for me to move in with him, which was halfway across the country and back to my hometown, coincidently. After being out of Colorado for 6 years I made my way back in 2019.

At this point I closed the door on teaching yoga, the energy shifted as I physically shifted. Teaching in Colorado just didn’t come close to what I felt teaching in the city that I began in. I was so in love with the studios, the teachers, the yoga culture and when I moved back, that fell flat for me. I was ready for a pivot in my career path but had absolutely NO clue what I was going to do. I researched day after day ideas, scanned job ads and turned in resumes only to continue feeling lost. Meanwhile my partner and I had teamed up to create an Ayurvedic food company and I took a random job working as a spa concierge to make new friends. When March of 2020 hit it all came crashing down at once. The pandemic began, my relationship ended and so did our Ayurvedic company and my days at the spa.

Now, I was really clueless as to what I would do next with all this new time on my hands, being single and alone. Shortly, into the lockdown I saw an ad pop up from a life coach I followed that she was offering an online coaching program on how to build an online course, and I thought why not! At the time I had no idea what I would create a course on but it didn’t matter, if this coaching program was all it was chalked up to be I would have a course up and running in no time! I dedicated night and day to developing not one, but two courses! And within 30 days I launched my first online Ayurvedic course, that I had literally built from scratch. Shortly after I began to build my online self love course Map To Radiance, that is now my staple self love course I offer today!

Looking back it’s amazing to talk about the uncertain and mysterious unfolding with all the twists and turns through the journey of life. All we can see and know is this moment right here and now. So we just have to keep putting one foot in front of the other and trust with unwavering faith that its all coming together perfectly!

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

I love this question because my entire life journey really illustrates my resilience. There isn’t one story that comes to mind to demonstrate this but rather these pin points throughout my life that make the sum of the strong, resilient woman I am today.

From growing up with an abusive father and a single mother working 2 jobs to keep a roof over our head, to being a stubborn and rebellious teenager who found herself in more trouble than she could have fathomed, to moving out of the country for a chance on love, reinventing myself time and time again and taking leaps of faith more than a handful of times in starting businesses, to publishing a book about my life stories and modeling nude- I would say resilience is my middle name.

It’s like that saying, we don’t choose the hand we are dealt but we can decide how to play our hand. I for one, was dealt a tumultuous hand very early on that put me on the fast track to create transformation in my families lineage and in society. I chose to rise from rock bottom rather then letting it eat me alive. I chose to lean into vulnerability and discomfort because it showed me, and still continues to today, that this is the place where our greatest healing and growth is born.

Standing where I am today required years of confronting my most intimate and challenging aspects of my identity but this was also the catalyst for my rising, like a phoenix from the ashes. As a result I developed the deep self worth, confidence and fearless authentic expression that I walk with today and teach other women to walk with too.

We need to remember, resilience is built in the shadows of our journey, and for this do not fear the dark, but embrace it and never ever give up.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://courses.nagarising.co/home
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/naga.rising/
• Other: TikTok
  https://www.tiktok.com/@naga_rising

Image Credits

Alizayuh
Makenzie Grall
Megan Christine