Discomfort and Growth: The Path to Transformation with Alessa Akasha
In a world where distractions are constant, finding a space to reconnect with oneself is an increasingly necessary challenge. Alessa, founder of Akasha Yoga, has dedicated her life to offering that sacred space, where body and mind can come together in harmony.
Akasha, whose name evokes ether and space, invites people to step out of their comfort zone and face discomfort to continue on the path of personal growth. Through the practice of yoga, Alessa not only promotes physical well-being but also opens a space for reflection, transformation, and reconnection with nature.
In this interview, we explore her unique vision of yoga, her connection with sustainability, and how her personal experiences have shaped her path toward self-awareness. Join us for this read to discover how you can apply yoga techniques to your own growth journey.
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What is Akasha Yoga? What led you to start this yoga project?
Akasha was born out of a deep dream. Even though I trained in a scientific discipline, I was always connected with the arts and movement. As human beings, we are on a continuous path of self-discovery, and there came a moment when I asked myself: What do I really want to do with my life? Yoga became my answer, awakening in me the desire to become a teacher.
Akasha, in Sanskrit, means "ether" or "space" and represents that sacred place where you can pause, connect with yourself, and find calm in a world that never stops running. Akasha is that space where each person can reconnect with their mind and body, celebrating a moment of peace and balance.
Akasha is that space where each person can reconnect with their mind and body, celebrating a moment of peace and balance.
What do you hope people find in Akasha?
Discomfort. It might sound controversial, but I firmly believe that growth doesn't come from comfort. The practice of yoga, like life, challenges us, pushing us out of our comfort zone. When you step onto the mat for the first time, you discover sensations in your body you didn't know existed: discomfort, pain, maybe even soreness. That's where the real work begins.
Akasha is a space where you connect with your truth, but also with the discomfort that pushes you to grow. It's not just about taking time for yourself but using that time to transform, to question yourself. Where am I going? What decisions am I making in my life? Akasha is that space where you give yourself permission to stop, reflect, and step out of your comfort zone to evolve.
The practice of yoga, like life, challenges us, pushing us out of our comfort zone.
What have been the main challenges you've faced on your journey as a yoga teacher, and how have you overcome them?
The challenges have been many, both external and internal. One of the biggest challenges has been dealing with the perception that yoga is not a "conventional" profession.
What I mean is, it's difficult to get the same recognition as other professions, like medicine or law. But being a yoga teacher is much more than teaching a class of poses: it's about guiding people on their path to self-awareness, physical and mental health, which involves a deep level of dedication and responsibility. Not only because you need to keep learning constantly, but because you are working with people's health and well-being. However, you often encounter the idea that you're not a "real professional," and that perception can be frustrating.
Over time, I've also learned that students come and go, and this has less to do with you and more with how each person deals with their life and priorities. This is where resilience is fundamental—the ability to accept what we cannot change. It's a continuous process, full of bumps, but also full of learning.
Being a yoga teacher (...) is about guiding people on their path to self-awareness.
Follow Alessa Akasha at @alessakashayoga
What spiritual practices help you stay grounded on your path, and what do you recommend to your students to stay focused on their goals?
In my daily life, there are spiritual practices that are non-negotiable, like meditation. I meditate every day because it calms my mind. Sometimes, when I can't manage to meditate, I turn to pranayama. Breathing techniques help me focus and connect with presence before meditation.
I also recommend Wim Hof's breathing method because it helps you hack the nervous system by working with CO2, keeping you more centered and balanced.
What practices do you recommend to stay present and balanced?
To return to the present, breathing is key. Take a moment to sit down, ask yourself what you're feeling and where that sensation is coming from. Much of what we feel is linked to past experiences, sometimes from childhood, such as rejection or guilt.
Connecting with nature is also essential. Look at the sun, feel its warmth, and be grateful for those small moments of connection. It's important to find small pockets of calm during the day, like enjoying a glass of water or a meal with full attention. All of this is meditation, it's mindfulness. Take time to be present, even if it's just for a few minutes, and make those moments non-negotiable for your well-being.
To return to the present, breathing is key.
Practice with Alessa Akasha at alessakashayoga.com
Have you had any spiritual experiences that have transformed your outlook on life?
My deepest spiritual experiences have come through breakdowns, through difficult moments. I believe true transformations don’t come from peace, but from discomfort, when you deeply question: Why am I here? What did I come to this world for?
These are tough moments where you break, cry, and suffer, but also find the path to awareness. Over time, you understand that these experiences are nothing more than lessons, and when you finally connect with peace, you realize what truly matters. Nature, with its abundance and harmony, is a reflection of what we can find within ourselves.
Looking at green mountains, feeling that connection with the environment, is an awakening. It's when you understand that the outer abundance can also exist within you, and that all those difficult moments were necessary to reach that state of connection and fulfillment.
True transformations don’t come from peace, but from discomfort.
How have these difficult experiences influenced your personal growth and yoga practice?
As I mentioned earlier, real growth comes from breakdowns, from those difficult moments that life presents over and over. Sometimes, we keep repeating the same experiences because we haven't worked on what we need to.
In the practice of yoga, the key is to work on awareness and self-knowledge. When you step onto the mat, you don't know exactly what's going to happen, but what you experience is awareness. That awareness starts with something as basic as your own body and grows until you connect with your breath.
Sometimes, we don't even know how to move in a space as small as a yoga mat. That same limitation is reflected in how we move through life. We have so many possibilities, but we confine ourselves to small spaces, feeling incapable, trapped in negative experiences.
True growth happens when we face those difficult situations and ask ourselves what we can change. And the most important thing is how we will face those challenges the next time they arise, because they will keep coming.
In yoga practice, the key is to work on awareness and self-knowledge.
How do you try to convey your personal and life experience to your students during yoga classes, and what do you hope they take away from those sessions?
The most important thing I want my students to take away from each class is the feeling that everything changes. In practice, there are moments when you feel like you can't go on, but with the next movement, you realize you can keep going and that you feel better. That's a metaphor for life: everything passes, but it requires effort, presence, and connection with what you truly want.
My goal is that, through the practice, they experience something different, whether it’s a thought, a feeling, or a new perspective. Everything I’ve lived, both the good and the difficult, has taught me that if you don't put your heart and presence into what you do, there will be no change. And that’s what I try to convey in each class: that true growth comes from being present and doing things differently.
If you don't put your heart and presence into what you do, there will be no change.
How do you connect yoga with nature and sustainability?
For me, yoga is completely connected to nature. The practice of yoga is not just about being on the mat; it’s about living in harmony with the world around us. Since I was little, I’ve felt a great responsibility for caring for nature and animals. Every time I choose to travel or buy something, I try to make it as sustainable as possible.
Nature gives us everything, and for me, it's essential to connect with it. Whether through the sun, the sound of birds, or simply breathing fresh air, these moments are vital. Additionally, I believe that as yogis, we have a responsibility to speak up for those who don't have a voice: animals, nature, and also people in vulnerable situations. It’s not about staying in meditation and disconnecting from the world, but about being an active part of change.
I always encourage my students to be mindful not just on the mat, but off it as well. If we are going to leave a mark on this planet, let it be a sustainable one, one that shows respect and care for nature. For me, yoga is that balance, and what I try to convey is that every small action counts. Speaking up is not bad; on the contrary, it's necessary if we want to make the world a better place.
As yogis, we have a responsibility to speak up for those who don't have a voice.
What advice would you give to someone just starting yoga or their spiritual journey, and how would you help them work on their personal evolution?
Yoga doesn’t come into your life by chance. If you've decided to practice yoga, it’s because at some point in your life, something led you to seek change. You may have come out of curiosity, but the practice is deeply transformative. Every time you step onto the mat, that level of awareness expands, and that’s incredibly valuable, especially if you're just starting.
My advice is to have patience. At first, yoga can be uncomfortable, from the most basic movements to the more advanced ones. Discomfort is part of the process. It’s important to remember that what you experience on the mat will carry over into your daily life, even if you don’t fully understand it at first. Breathe, connect with the movement, and allow yoga to take you to a more loving and resilient place.
That said: Don’t get stuck in comfort, because that’s where growth stops. Yoga doesn't just work the physical body, it touches the emotional and spiritual. Through conscious movement, you become aware of how you talk to yourself, of the emotions you have trapped, and you learn to manage them.
Resilience is key: accepting what you can’t change and transforming what you can into learning. So, calm, breathe, connect, transform, and accept.
Alessa invites us to explore yoga not only as a physical practice but as a space for personal and spiritual transformation. Her deep and authentic approach, in which body, mind, and nature converge, inspires us to step out of our comfort zone and embrace discomfort as a motor for growth.
Through her words and teachings, she reminds us that true evolution arises from the balance between introspection and conscious action, guiding us toward a more sustainable path connected with our environment.
Thank you, Alessa, @alessakashayoga, for your generosity and wisdom, and for showing us how yoga can be a powerful tool for living with greater presence, compassion, and respect for ourselves and the planet.
