Today we’d like to introduce you to Ivory Melone.
Ivory, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
It all started back in high school when I started sewing my own bikinis and making island-inspired jewelry as a side hustle. This is where my entrepreneur’s heart was ignited and from then on, I’ve always had a deep passion to create, express myself, and connect with other people on a deeper level. I moved to San Diego from Maui about three years ago and it has allowed me to grow exponentially on a professional and personal level. I committed to a yoga teacher training program to assist with my transition and it has opened up so many doors for myself as far as self-exploration and finding a deeper meaning in everything I do. Soon after getting my yoga certification, I launched my small business, Shaka Chakra, just about a year ago. I have bridged my passion for wellness and yoga with my professional work in creating experiences and coordinating events. I offer a quaint menu of services that are unique to every client I work with. From reiki energy healing treatments, private yoga lessons, community yoga classes, and pop-up wellness events around San Diego; my goal is to make people feel good and to facilitate a space where they can explore their inner wisdom while openly expressing themselves.
I’m also a Co-Founder of BoochFest.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Smooth? Lol, nothing in life feels smooth without some bumps in the road to compare to. Being an entrepreneur and starting up my own business has not been easy. I had to overcome the fear of what other people would think and I had to remain open to the vulnerability that comes with following your own path. It’s never easy and I still have days where I get frustrated and want to do things differently, but that is okay! Without change, there is no room for growth and I have learned to trust the process through certain growing pains. If I can give advice to other women, it is to not give up and to keep the momentum going. To be detached from certain outcomes and to be open to new ideas that pop-up along the way. An idea you have today may evolve into a completely different route that was entirely made for you — so, be open to change and stick with your gut feeling!
We’d love to hear more about Shaka Chakra.
My work consists of my passion for wellness and yoga mixed with my love for creating joyful experiences and events. As a light-worker, one of my specialties is in Reiki energy healing which is an alternative healing therapy that reduces stress, anxiety and heightens a person’s sense of intuition and spirituality. I offer 30-minute and one-hour treatments with crystals and aromatherapy to assist in moving the “Chi” or Universal energy through the body and to aid in clearing stagnant energy. Along with the deep energy work, I also am a 500 hour Registered Yoga Teacher and provide one-on-one sessions as well as group community classes to uplift our communities consciousness and to provide guidance through breath-to-body movements. In the past, I’ve worked with ex-athletes on their road to recovery as well as helped my clients gain flexibility and balance for big surf trips down to Indonesia. Overall, I’ve gained recognition for the wellness events I have thrown around San Diego where I have partnered with several venues and local DJ’s to bring things to life. My teaching style and personalized touch set me apart from the others!
Most recently, I’ve been working on the launch of BoochFest that will be happening on May 18th down at Liberty Station. It’s a community festival celebrating the craft and passion of kombucha while tying in yoga, music, art, and good vibes!
Finding a mentor and building a network are often cited in studies as a major factor impacting one’s success. Do you have any advice or lessons to share regarding finding a mentor or networking in general?
Be completely open to learning and the right mentor will show up! Continue to build relationships and be kind to everyone, you never know what types of connections you will make through someone random. I enjoy going out, socializing, and starting conversations with strangers. It’s all about being open to sharing your story and remaining open to receiving from others. If you are closed off, people pick up on that and it makes it more difficult to make genuine connections with that type of energy around.
Pricing:
- $30 General Admission to BoochFest ($35 after April 1st), $50 VIP to BoochFest ($55 after April 1st)
Contact Info:
- Phone: 8082805190
- Email: shakachakrasd@gmail.com
- Instagram: @shaka_chakra and @boochfestsd
Image Credit:
@issa_ives
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