Today we’d like to introduce you to Shilpa Bhavsar.
Hi Shilpa, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My journey to becoming a yoga teacher has been anything but conventional. With a background in Computer Science Engineering and an MBA, I began my career in India before moving to the United States. I went on to spend 15 years in the technology industry here in the US, working with leading companies including Microsoft and Meta.
Yet, throughout those years, yoga remained a constant passion in my life. I had practiced yoga since I was a little girl and had always dreamed of becoming a yoga instructor. I knew, however, that to teach others, I first needed to study yoga professionally and deepen my own understanding of the practice.
As my IT career progressed, life became increasingly demanding. Balancing a fast-paced technology career with raising two young children, managing a home, and the many responsibilities that came with it eventually became overwhelming. The constant stress began to affect my health and overall well-being.
That was the turning point.
I decided to step away from a successful career in technology and give myself the time and space to focus on my well-being. I began attending yoga and meditation classes regularly, and the transformation was remarkable. Within just a few weeks, I felt calmer and more at peace. My thinking became clearer, and I found myself more present—not only with my family, but in every aspect of my life.
That experience strengthened my desire to understand yoga at a much deeper level and to share its benefits with others. I enrolled in a comprehensive 500-hour Yoga Teacher Training program, successfully completed my certification, and followed it with a six-month apprenticeship to further develop my teaching skills.
I began my teaching journey at the YMCA in Bellevue, where I had the opportunity to work with students of different ages, abilities, and levels of yoga experience. Teaching classes of 25 to 30 participants also gave me valuable experience in leading larger groups while learning how to accommodate individual needs within a group setting.
Soon after, I took the next step and began my entrepreneurial journey and opened Peace Yoga, a private home studio in Kirkland. Today, I specialize in small-group classes as well as private and semi-private sessions, allowing me to provide individualized attention and tailor the practice to each student’s unique needs and goals. Through this personalized approach, I have seen students become stronger, healthier, and more flexible, with improved knee and lower-back health, making everyday activities easier —from sitting comfortably on the floor to climbing stairs and enjoying a more active lifestyle.
I have also expanded my role into health and wellness speaking, presenting at community events and corporate workplaces. Through these sessions, I talk about yoga beyond the physical postures—how movement, breath, mindfulness, and meditation can help us manage stress, improve our well-being, and bring greater balance into our everyday lives.
For me, yoga has evolved from a childhood practice, to a personal passion, to something that helped transform my own life. Today, it is incredibly fulfilling to be able to share that experience with others and help them discover how yoga can support a healthier, calmer, and more balanced way of living.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
As a solopreneur, I manage every aspect of my business independently, which means wearing many hats. From planning and scheduling classes to managing administration, business compliance and finances, website management, SEO, marketing, and social media content, there is always something that needs my attention. At the same time, as a yoga teacher, it is important for me to remain committed to my own practice. I dedicate time each day to yoga and continue to deepen my knowledge through ongoing education, learning from senior teachers, and reading extensively on subjects such as anatomy, yoga philosophy, and the therapeutic applications of yoga in supporting health and well-being.
Balancing all of this while raising my daughters and managing our home and family responsibilities can certainly be challenging. But I also see it as part of the journey. There is a sense of fulfilment—and pride—in being able to balance these responsibilities with my roles as a mother, yoga teacher, and entrepreneur while continuing to pursue something I am deeply passionate about.
One of the more time-consuming aspects of running my business is marketing, particularly creating content for social media and maintaining a consistent presence. Interestingly, this has also become a positive challenge for me. It continually pushes me beyond my comfort zone, encourages me to learn new skills, and helps me grow as an entrepreneur and business owner.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Peace Yoga?
Since 2013, I have owned and operated Peace Yoga, a private yoga studio in my home in Kirkland, Washington. Through Peace Yoga, I teach small-group, private, and semi-private sessions centered around asana, meditation, and restorative yoga.
My asana classes are rooted in alignment-based yoga, where proper technique and mindful movement are emphasized to help protect the body and build a safe, sustainable practice. The classes are designed to help students build strength, stamina, flexibility, and greater body awareness. My guided meditation and restorative yoga sessions have a different focus—slowing down, encouraging deep relaxation, calming the nervous system, and bringing a greater sense of mental and emotional balance.
Private sessions allow me to take a much more individualized approach. I design each yoga sequence around the person’s needs, abilities, and goals, while providing one-on-one attention throughout the practice. These sessions can be particularly valuable for beginners who want to build confidence, individuals returning to yoga after an injury or working with physical limitations, and experienced practitioners who would like to safely deepen their practice or explore more advanced poses.
What distinguishes my approach is the combination of my knowledge of yoga, anatomy, the nervous system, and yoga philosophy. I place a strong emphasis on safe alignment and offer variations and modifications that allow students to practice in a way that supports their individual bodies, abilities, and needs. Just as importantly, I want each person who practices with me to feel supported, encouraged, and confident in their ability to make meaningful progress.
Some of the most rewarding moments in my work come from seeing how that progress carries over into my clients’ everyday lives. When someone tells me they feel both energized and calm after a practice, that their back feels stronger and more comfortable, that climbing stairs has become easier, or that they are now able to enjoy a steep hike that once seemed difficult, those moments make my work especially meaningful.
Beyond my regular yoga classes, I also work as a health and wellness speaker and lead workshops and educational sessions on yoga, mindfulness, stress management, and overall well-being. I offer these programs in a variety of settings, including schools, libraries, corporate workplaces, and community venues. Through this work, I serve individuals and organizations across Kirkland, Redmond, Bellevue, Issaquah, Sammamish, Bothell, and the greater Seattle area.
Along the way, my work and journey have also been recognized and featured by Influential Women—a community of women leaders and entrepreneurs.
Overall, I feel fortunate to work in the field of yoga and wellness. Being able to motivate people, support their progress, and help them bring greater strength, calm, and well-being into their daily lives is deeply fulfilling.
To learn more about Peace Yoga, upcoming classes, workshops, and wellness events, visit PeaceYogaLife.com or follow me on Instagram at @Shilpa.PeaceYoga. If you’re interested in private sessions, feel free to reach out at Shilpa@PeaceYogaLife.com—I’d be happy to connect and learn more about your needs and goals.
What’s next?
For me, yoga is a lifelong journey of learning and growth. As a practitioner and teacher, I believe there is always more to explore, which is why continuing my yoga studies, learning from experienced teachers, and maintaining my own daily practice will remain an important part of my journey.
At the same time, the way people access yoga and wellness is evolving. With online classes, workshops, and digital platforms making yoga more accessible than ever, one of my goals is to expand Peace Yoga beyond the physical studio. I plan to develop online workshops and build a stronger digital presence so that I can share my approach to yoga, meditation, and wellness with a broader community.
As the business grows, I would also like to build a small team and delegate some of the responsibilities I currently manage independently, including administration, business compliance and finances, website management, marketing, and social media. This would allow me to focus more of my time and energy on what I value most—teaching, developing meaningful programs and workshops, working with clients, and continuing my own education.
My vision also includes building a supportive wellness community through meaningful connections. I hope to partner with other professionals and businesses in the health and wellness space to develop collaborative programs and retreats, organize events, reach new audiences, and create a network where we can share ideas and support one another’s growth.
Ultimately, my goal is to grow Peace Yoga thoughtfully while preserving the personal attention, authenticity, and individualized approach that are at the heart of my teaching.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.peaceyogalife.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shilpa.peaceyoga/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shilpa-bhavsar-kothari-mba-700085215/
- Other: https://www.peaceyogalife.com/privateyoga
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