We were lucky to catch up with Gloria Baraquio recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Gloria thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to hear the story behind how you got your first job in field that you currently practice in.

In 2006, it was my 3rd year of practicing yoga. I had moved from Honolulu to LA to the Big Island of Hawaii. While I found 2 yoga studios and a few teachers in the area, I longed for a stronger and dynamic vinyasa practice that kept me engaged. I began to practice so much on my own (with books and magazines–no YouTube or Instagram yet!) that I thought I had something wonderful to offer my Hilo community. So I walked in to a fitness club one day and asked if they needed a yoga teacher. They said yes and hired me! That was my first yoga teaching gig, and I am still friends with some of those students from those years. I continued to get gigs teaching at schools, colleges, and studios for years, and I finally found an opportunity to get my yoga teacher training at an affordable price. In 2011, I earned my 200-hour certificate at Yoga Hawaii, even though I already had 1000+ hours of teaching experience.

I continued to teach yoga in various styles at numerous studios, and in 2014, I was asked to help open The Springs in DTLA, a first-of-its-kind wellness oasis in Los Angeles. The 14,000 square foot warehouse boasted a delicious vegan restaurant, a spacious yoga studio, and cozy day spa. As the Director of Yoga & Wellness, I was able to hire some of LA’s best yoga teachers, healers, and bodyworkers. It was there where my current business partner found me and asked me to co-found Shivakali Yoga, a yoga school that offers trainings in beautiful destinations.

Looking back at this timeline, it’s not like I had a goal to be a traveling yoga teacher. I just kept following my heart and my joy, cultivating my passions and strengths along the way. I never really asked for this magic in my life; I just do my best to stay true to my conscience and not compromise on my values.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I am a Lead Yoga Trainer who offers certifications to aspiring yoga teachers. I am the Co-founder of Shivakali Yoga and the Owner of Gloloveyoga. I also offer spiritual counseling and coaching to yoga teachers and those who believe in spiritual/yogic principles.

While I never envisioned myself being a yoga teacher, I did fall in love with yoga back in 2003, and I just kept making it a huge part of my daily life. The best way to afford classes back then was to teach them! So I found my first yoga teaching gig at a small gym in Hilo. That was a huge part of my practice; learning how to teach other bodies what my body could do.

Today, after about 10k+ hours of training and 10k+ hours of teaching, I have learned that compassion, kindness, and gentleness are so valuable in our world. That there’s no one way to do anything. That everyone’s life experience is true.

Because I’ve worked with so many types of people and I’ve had a colorful life path, I offer my students and clients openness, honesty, and my humanity. I’m just human. I’ve conquered a lot in my life, I have a lot of freedom, and I continue to encounter challenges with relationships, money, health, and career. But through it all, I take refuge in my spiritual awareness, ancient teachings, and my loving friends. With all of this, I model to my students and clients the beauty of impermanence and the importance of equanimity. Having gratitude and faith no matter what life throws at us, either success and abundance, or death and loss.

I am most proud of the transformation I’ve witnessed in countless people who have completed my yoga trainings, retreats, and coaching. With a little bit of love, friendship, and honest questions, they remember who they really are and they continue to choose their best life instead of getting caught up with what other folks are doing. I say, “Don’t ask a lion to be a turtle. And don’t mistake a palm tree for an oak.” I remind each person of their unique powers and gifts, and from there, they can live more authentically, with a sense of freedom and peace.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

Almost all of us had to pivot in some way in 2020, when the pandemic began. Since much of my work and income was based on yoga retreats, classes, and training, this was a huge shock to my system. To not be able to be with my community, to teach, to breathe together, to sing together, to touch/hug each other was deeply upsetting for me. While I hadn’t met anyone for months who had contracted or died by Covid, I still had some optimism about the situation. I was excited to actually take a break from years of hard work at the retreat center I was working at. My friend had offered me his empty home to live in on the Big Island, and I heard that I could qualify for the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance. In many ways, 2020 became a long retreat for me.

Thank God for wifi! I used that year to stay virtually connected to my yoga community, and I stayed committed to keeping a positive mindset. I listened to motivational speakers daily, inspirational music, and successful entrepreneurs. I ended up taking a free 5-day webinar with Tony Robbins, Dean Graziosi, and Russell Brunson. This kickstarted my excitement to create online offerings, like yoga challenges, group coaching, training courses, and frequent videos. I basically went virtual for the first time in my career, and it was one of the more prolific, creative times of my life.

Here we are in 2023, in a recession that I don’t hear too many folks talk about. We all seem to feel it, especially if we look at gas, shipping, groceries, or flight prices. I find myself having to pivot again, feeling the burnout of travel and virtual offerings. Right now, instead of doing more, sometimes the answer is doing less. Taking more care of myself and my family and trusting that answers around my business will come in the right time. This doesn’t mean I’m doing nothing! It means I’m breathing more, slowing down, reassessing, and finding faith and surrender in the moments when I feel like freaking out! Doing my best to not react out of emotion.

How do you keep your team’s morale high?

I believe that some of my best teams were those who acknowledged, celebrated, and praised each other. When I managed a team of 40 independent contractors, I created optional opportunities to connect over food and drink, sharing circle, and discussing our revenue and goals. Every day, I would ask my office staff how they were doing personally, and I would thank them for their work. Every week, we would have meetings with to explore areas where we were thriving and those where we wanted to improve.

My main advice is to 1) thank people 2) ask for people’s feedback, what they want and need 3) ask them how they can best contribute to the team. Let folks be honest about what they’re good at and be clear about agreements and expectations. Put things in writing and sign contracts! This helps folks remain accountable and can support you if ever in litigation.

Contact Info:

• Website: gloloveyoga.com
• Instagram: gloloveyoga
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gloloveyoga/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gloriabaraquio/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbOjy9M-ExMmaRBGCNJmuWA

Image Credits
Ben Kalra Kimberly Millard Jiro Schneider Mindy Coe