By Sahira Dharamshi

This month’s theme for A Blog For Days is all about empowerment. Whether it’s advice on how you can start empowering yourself, or the motivation you require to start that project that’s been in the back of your mind, or whether it’s to hear an uplifting narrative to brighten up your day or week, I hope you find what you’re looking for through our collection of interviews from individuals across various sectors.

To kick off A Blog For Empowerment Days I got to interview the lovely founders of a wellness studio in Dubai called Prana House.

The world of wellness is an ever evolving one hosting an array of learning opportunities. From being immersed within the corporate world to craving something more two individuals connected whilst on their own personal growth journey’s deciding to create a safe space for individuals to seek solace in when life gets too overwhelming. Prana House offers classes from sound healing, Pilates, yoga and much more as well as being an environment where individuals can embark on their own wellness journey’s or seek support upon entering the wellness field. A safe space.

From the interiors to the events and classes offered Prana House is a well thought out space created by two ambitious women who hope individuals discover and fall in love with wellness just as they did.   I got the lovely opportunity to sit down with Prana House co-founders Gitanjali and Rupali to discuss all things wellness and business related. Read on for the full interview… 

Interview:

1. Could you please start off by introducing yourself?

Rupali: I’ve been in Dubai for more than ten years. My background is Math’s and stats and everything that people usually find quite boring. I’m very much a part of the corporate world and on my journey of personal growth, and I’ve adapted into various modalities, and that’s what we’re kind of doing here at Prana House, so yeah that’s a little bit about me.

Gitanjali: I’m also part of the corporate world, in a little bit of a different sector. So, I work in manufacturing and I’ve worked across the corporate sector for many, many years, and all over the world, actually. I’ve been in Dubai for the last nine years and I had too felt that I needed something more purposeful in my life and that’s what kind of pushed me to get onto this wellness journey. And the more I feel like I’ve been part of it, the more I’ve discovered and Prana House has actually allowed us, I think both, to really explore a side of us which we now believe is so important for everyone to kind of tap into at some point in their lives.

• How did the concept for Prana House evolve?

Rupali: Prana House came about as a result of us being on our own personal journeys, our personal growth journeys, dabbling within the world of wellness in different ways. We both qualified as Reiki Masters, that’s where we met at our certification, and less than a year later we had a business plan put together and that’s really driven from many different angles, but really a passion for bringing the world of wellness and practitioners together in a way that they can connect and grow.

Gitanjali: Yeah, and I feel like when we finished our Reiki course, it kind of takes you down this rabbit hole of many different courses and self-discovery, and what we realized is that it is quite difficult to find a community of like-minded people who are just kind of starting out and discovering, but not super experienced. And so that really led us to create a space which is very inclusive, and a space which allows somebody who’s just starting out as well to come in and feel like they’re part of the wellness community without necessarily having practiced or being on their own personal journeys for a long time. So, I think that was a huge inspiration for us to start Prana House.

• How have your own experiences influenced the concept of Prana?

Gitanjali: I think that, you know, once you kind of get into wellness, like I said, it’s it’s one of those things that really just snowballs. Once you have an experience where you realize how important just knowing yourself is you get into like the world of courses and things like that and that prompts you to really want to help people. And I think that wanting to help people, wanting to build a community of people, wanting to have a space, which is kind of not intimidating, was really important to us and it’s still very much a journey that we’re a part of. I think that we don’t feel like we know everything all the time, and we’re learning along the way and so being part of a journey where we’re able to give back but, still be a part of it as well at the same time, I think that’s something that’s quite exciting.

Rupali: Yeah, just to add to that, the way our experience adds to what we do at Prana House also, we very much love experiencing different modalities, classes, workshops, courses and so that passion drives what we bring together here as well. Whether it’s different practitioners, whether it’s people at different stages of their journey, it all kind of comes together through our passion for it.

• And you kind of touched on it briefly saying that when individuals enter, you want them to feel comfortable. I’ve personally also been here a few times, and I’ve always loved the way interiors have been done, were there specific concepts you had in mind that you wanted to put into the studio?

Gitanjali: Yeah, I think about from wanting it to look sort of serene and calm and, you know, wellness-like. I think a big, big thing was to create this little kind of setting which is almost like a lounge in your home, and it’s sort of a home away from home where you feel relaxed, you can just help yourself to a cup of tea or coffee, and kind of sit in a space where it’s not very manicured, or it’s more sort of just like a living room or lounge in your own home, that’s something we really wanted. Also, when we met we always said to each other it would be so nice to have a space with three rooms and a studio, three rooms and a studio and so, when we saw the space, it was one of those moments where we were like there’s no way, because we talked about it so much that it was exactly three rooms and a studio. So, that was something that was really exciting. 

Rupali:  And a big part, I think of the space is to be able to spend time here before and after the session to integrate whatever experience you’ve had without having to rush down to the car and be on the road after like a powerful healing session for example. So, that’s a big part of it. And we’ve seen people become friends, you know, post their yoga class they kind of connect and they spend time together and that’s a big part of who we are so, that kind of adds to the space as well.

• It’s so nice to have a space that encourages you to kind of switch off, relax and be in the moment. What else would you hope individuals to get out of Prana House?

Rupali: I think a big part of what we’ve experienced, and what we’ve always wanted is for people that have never experienced holistic wellness, to be able to experience it here. And when we see, you know, an adult man who’s experienced his first meditation ever, and that was just a 10/15-minute taster and left such a profound impact on him and many others thereafter, that’s like a big part of who we are and what we love. Whether someone then takes their journey elsewhere or continues it here, I think that’s a huge part of who we are today. We draw in so many people and, you know, connect with so many people that are at different parts of the wellness journey and I think that that then brings it full circle for us.

Gitanjali:  Yeah, I think that wellness really is about self-discovery. That’s sort of my understanding of what wellness really truly is and whether you do it through a class or a meditation or an experience, I think that, you know, different modalities speak to different people. But if you feel like you gain from it by having an experience that speaks to you, I think then leaving and kind of pursuing that in your own way is really, really something that we want to attempt to achieve by having this space.

• What daily practices would you recommend for individuals to integrate into their routines? I think life can get so busy and we get caught up and then kind of say, oh, I’ll do those classes later, as a result, what recommendations would you have?

Gitanjali: I think that there are so many different options for people, and that’s the great thing about wellness, that it’s not just a sort of one size fits all. You know, you may sort of have an experience through yoga, whilst somebody else might have an experience through Reiki, or even just coaching or therapy. So, I think that one thing that all these different modalities have in common is just finding your breath. And I think that if you can find a way to reconnect with just your breath, wherever you are in your day, I think that’s a practice that is really, really helpful to anyone anywhere, whether you’re in a corporate situation, whether you’re, you’re in a situation which is difficult at home, or with a person, you just kind of find a way to make that space and reconnect with your breath. And I think just that practice alone is something that that has a really positive effect overall to a person.

Rupali: Just to add to that I think wellness doesn’t have to be someone in robes, or someone with feathers, or you know, it, it is about incorporating it into day to day life. So, throughout your day, just having that mindful moment where just before you say something, or before you react to something, you take that half a second, you know, that’s wellness. It could look like many different things for different people. It could mean, you know, ten minutes a day journaling, it could be, you know, three minutes of just breathing and being present, it could mean no screen time, things like that, you know, that’s all wellness, there’s no definition or there’s no one way about it, it’s just there’s so many options.

• So, for both of you, how do you priorities your self-care and wellness? And what sort of things have you integrated into your routine?

Rupali: I think just being mindful for myself, I try and integrate it in my life. Being in the corporate world, plus Prana House and a few other things, there’s, like you said, life can get very busy, and it’s really about making sure that whether it’s the ten Minute Meditation in the morning, first thing, or it’s at the end of the day, or during the day, just walking away, and as I walk ten steps, I take ten breaths. It could be many different things on a given day and with me my constant is meditation, which I do more often than not, but if I don’t manage that, it’s about then not beating myself about it up about it, and just taking that mindful moment throughout my day, and if not, that’s fine, too. So, I think wellness is really just letting ourselves be without holding ourselves to certain standards, like seven classes a week. That’s yeah, I think going easy on ourselves is a huge part of wellness.

Gitanjali: And I feel as well, I know, being part of the corporate world, having Prana House that was we’re so involved in and I have a family I have a daughter as well so, life gets super busy. But I think having, you know, I feel really lucky to have Prana House as a space that is this constant reminder to incorporate any type of wellness into, you know, my daily life. So whether it’s just morning cup of tea, which is a big thing for me, or sort of just lighting that little incense stick and having just a couple of moments, whether it’s at home, whether it’s at work, whether I’m doing something here, I feel like just being connected to knowing that there’s so many options allows me to kind of play with wellness a little bit and not just necessarily have one particular thing that I’m doing.

Rupali: I think I can speak on both of our parts when I say that a big part of Prana House is also meeting people that are on their journey’s and just that five-minute quick conversation, that’s also wellness because you’re connecting and connection is such a big part of a holistic life. And that is something very important that we gain out of this experience of even just, you know, having a space like Prana House.

• And as I mentioned earlier, next month is going to be all about empowerment. So, as two women in business, what are some challenges that you have faced, but then also managed to overcome, if any?

Rupali: I think a big challenge as women is that whether it’s friends and family, service providers, teachers, team, there are times where people don’t necessarily take you seriously. And to overcome that, that’s a challenge I think that this journey of having Prana House, we’re just over a year now, and we’ve gained so much through this journey of having to deal with these challenges. And that, you know, it’s such a cliche that challenges bring growth but, that is our experience and that’s the biggest part of what we gain out of this.

Gitanjali: Yeah, definitely, I think that we have had our fair share of challenges. And I don’t think any sort of setup, new setup or stepping into any kind of new business, comes without challenges. So, whether it’s through, as she said, you know, even sort of finding the space dealing with day to day kind of situations where you’re faced with all sorts of different people. Because we are a service related industry, we care about people, and that’s a big thing. And so you have all sorts of different situations that you’re suddenly put in, you’re kind of like, oh, wait, hang on, what do we do here, but you later on, reflect on them and realise that actually there was an opportunity to learn. And it only makes you better prepared for the next challenge, or the next opportunity where you’re kind of like, right, I’m a lot more together in this situation, I know how to detach from the emotional, but really focus on what the issue is at hand or what the challenge is, rather than getting carried away in the, you know, why me or what happened, oh, my gosh, and how we’re going to do this. But it does happen and then you find a way, and then you kind of look back and like wait hang on we dealt with it and it wasn’t so bad.

Rupali: And a big part of the challenges we faced is unexpected things that come up. And what that’s really reinforced in my life is a little bit of surrender, because we’re all as humans, we’re always doing stuff, and sometimes it is about then surrendering and saying, “Look, I’ve done my best and here we are” and that then kind of incorporates wellness within our day to day life through that surrender.

• And I really relate to what you were saying about people maybe not always taking you seriously, because as somebody who’s on my own journey about trying to create this platform, sometimes people go oh, that’s really cute and I’m like, no, I’m really serious. But as a result, I find I sometimes put more pressure on myself because I feel like I have to prove people wrong. Did you ever find that? And then how do you try and deal with that? Because obviously, it’s not healthy to put so much stress and pressure on yourself.

Gitanjali: I think that, you know, having sort of each other, I think that’s really, really helped us through moments where one of us has really felt sort of a situation where like you, where we feel like, you know, someone’s not taken us seriously, or they’ve just been like, oh, that’s nice hobby or, or, you know, passion project kind of a situation. You’re like it is but it’s not, you know, it’s much more than that and so, we kind of remind each other what was our intention to start. And everyone is gonna have an opinion, that’s just the way people are and I think you’ll learn as you go along you don’t always have to meet that person where they’re at, and you have to be confident in what your vision, your sort of idea for what you’ve started was. I feel that’s really helped us sort of take each day as it comes and know what really our intention was for the space, for our business, for everything that we’re doing rather than, you know, hear or be influenced by what other people say to us. 

Rupali: It’s interesting because I think our personal growth journey that we feel, you know even before Prana House, kind of plays a big role when it comes to people questioning or not taking you seriously, because you do go back and say, wait a second, why did that comment affect me? Where does that come from? And then it kind of brings about growth through that, because it brings awareness to the fact that maybe it is that little bit of imposter inside, maybe it is a little bit of, you know, fear of failure, and then kind of coming back and saying, actually no, I’m not scared of failure because here I am, I’ve done all of this, and that kind of reinforces it. It also becomes more about us than it is about someone else because  beyond that you no longer have to prove anything to anyone, you’re just kind of on your own journey.

Gitanjali: And one thing I think that’s really helped us is that even when we started off we said you know, you realise like one aspect of your life or something that you’re pursuing is not who you are entirely. So, while this is something that we’re doing, it’s sort of a learning experience as we go along. And of course, we want it to be a success, and of course, we want to reach as many people as we possibly can. But, at the end of the day it’s part of our journey, and it’s a little bit actually like she said, of surrender of what will be will be, and that’s what’s most important. So there’s that feeling of we’re not so attached that if something happens it’s going to kind of be the end of it, you know, we’re happy to go along and see how it goes, put in our best and learn from it, and that’s all we can do. 

This is all really great advice and I’m so glad it’s being recorded to go back to and reference! At the end of each of these interviews, I’m asking everybody for key pieces of advice you would have to others who are wanting to start their own business or are doing their own thing, just things you’ve learned and want to impart on to others.

Rupali: A big thing is it’s, it’s more more than just mindset, I think it’s kind of when you really know you want to pursue something, have a plan, have your business plan. And that could look like a number of different things, and that may not even pan out in the way that you’ve envisioned. But, that gives you a high-level kind of vision as to making sure that you’ve covered all different areas of what that business or what that project or whatever it is that you’re pursuing means. And I think that sometimes you do see people going in and acting without having their finances covered, without having the plan kind of clear and it’s not so much about self-doubt, but it’s really saying, okay, here’s my plan, putting it on paper making it real. That’s one key advice.

Gitanjali: And I think that a big one would be to sort of find a sounding board, and whether that’s your business partner that you’re doing it with, because for us you know that’s each other, or if you’re sort of a solopreneur, I feel like having somebody that you can bounce ideas off of bounce like your, you know, depending on what stage of your business you’re in, I think it’s really about having that kind of back and forth different different opinions from different people. Because that helps you make more informed decisions rather than just thinking my way is the way and this is how I want to do it. And, you know, that’s great in some instances and you realize that you come back to what you originally thought, but just getting sort of thoughts from different people also really helps figure out, you know, your sort of way forward, whether it’s the right way. I feel like we’ve gained so much just by speaking to people and you suddenly go, oh wait, hang on, I never thought of that, or you’re right this is something I have to do and I’ve not done it, or there’s lots of little kind of pieces of advice almost that you get just by having that community in mind. 

Rupali: And that is a big part of Prana house whereby we do kind of see many solopreneurs come in and get that community because sometimes your family doesn’t understand, your friends are not aligned., you don’t kind of have a place to share your ideas. and so that’s a big part of who we are as well.