Meet Caroline (Karuna) Ashley: Lifestyle and Yoga Coach

We had the good fortune of connecting with Caroline (Karuna) Ashley and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Caroline (Karuna), what is the most important factor behind your success?
Today, with Light on Kundalini and its Light on Light Media doing Yoga programs around the world—the Americas, Europe, India— co-hosting with the United Nations community, VoiceAmerica broadcasting, and co-producing a major e-magazine Light on Light (note the name!) it’s amazing to see how far the work has come! This year alone we have added a new aspect—the Light on Light Press—which can now bring books, and further creative media, to the world. I wanted to take the “Bhakti” aspect of Yoga – the aspect of love, devotion, and selfless service– and offer it to everyone who was there to take it– nurturing creative lifestyle, wellness & well-being, fitness and helping people find a real path to a fulfilling life. Undoubtedly it has been the surety of that path, and the ongoing dedication to sharing it, that has build today the substantial work of Light on Kundalini and all of its offshoots.

What should our readers know about your business?
The original idea leading to today’s global “Light on Kundalini” work– and brand– started over two decades ago. Two people who had founded prominent Yoga programs with other well-known Yoga teachers around the world approached me about building a program. Such a vision took far more effort than anyone originally realized but I owe them a debt for seeing that potential in me that long ago. They could see I was dedicated to a creative and contemporary Yoga and yogic lifestyle, and how much I could give back from the vitality, health, well-being and prosperity—indeed the happiness and joy—that such dedication had given to me. Once that fire was lit there was little that could hold back the unfolding development of the work. Today, doing Yoga programs around the world—the Americas, Europe, India— co-hosting with the United Nations community, VoiceAmerica broadcasting, and co-producing a major e-magazine Light on Light (note the name!) it’s amazing to see how far the work has come! This year alone we have added a new aspect—the Light on Light Press—which can now bring books, and further creative media, to the world. As I matured myself I wanted to take the “Bhakti” aspect of Yoga – the aspect of love, devotion, and selfless service– and offer it to everyone who was there to take it– nurturing creative lifestyle, wellness & well-being, fitness and helping people find a real path to a fulfilling life. Undoubtedly it has been the surety of that path, and the ongoing dedication to sharing it, that has build today the substantial work of Light on Kundalini and all of its offshoots. Amazingly, the pandemic has created an opportunity to bring the work to even more people. This is because so many programs have gone on-line and, with that development, I’ve found myself able to reach thousands without ever even leaving my home. And, it’s a time when giving what I have to offer, to people’s lives in such a challenging time, has become even more meaningful for them, and for me. This year is actually the 10th anniversary of our signature- and resource-website www.lightonkundalini.com and the 11th anniversary of Light on Kundalini (“LOK”’s) diverse array international events and media offerings. LOK’s offerings now comprise, for over the last decade, not only Yoga, wellness, and lifestyle programing but also special and annual events with leading musicians and other wellness, lifestyle, and Yoga teachers. These include appearances and programs with such international groups as Science and Nonduality (SAND), SHIFT, UNITY EARTH, Evolutionary Leaders, and the Committee for the International Day of Yoga at the United Nations. Many of us have now become a global family and, even in the times of the pandemic, are on “Zoom” together regularly to keep all the deep connections going. The annual issue of our Light on Light e-magazine with the United Nations International Day of Yoga community has become a staple yearly for the global Yoga community. The world is indeed changing before our very eyes. And, thankfully, the healing and nurturing activities of the Yoga community have been able to move right along with it. As we emerge from these challenging times I will find myself with even a larger audience for sharing the gifts of Yoga, with programs not only at Light on Kundalini (now also featuring the “LOK Ap”) but through companion on-line programs from our partnerships built through Light on Light (www.lightonlight.us): the free Light on Light e-magazine (www.issuu.com/lightonlight) and the online offerings of our “Sacred University” partnership with Sacred Stories Publishing and Media (https://learn.sacredstoriesmedia.com/). To date these include, especially for this challenging time, the programs “Healing Grief” and “Awakening the Ten Bodies” with Kundalini Yoga. On January 31st, I’ll launch another program, “Befriending the Mind”, which will include classic aspects of Yoga teaching: the “3 Structures of the Mind (Negative, Positive and Neutral mind), the “81 Facets”, “27 Projections”, and the “9 Aspects” of our original and essential nature. These are all foundational aspects for our Knowing Ourselves and learning the practices of meditation and movement that build our personal character, balance, courage, health and happiness. This is where “the rubber hits the road” in our real life, and this is what is so important to you, and me, in “real time” right now! Let’s each find the most amazing life possible for us in this time—and into the future. I’m here to help. You can access and update on my work weekly by enrolling in our weekly email updates at www.lightonkundalini.com and our arrangements for same through Eventbrite here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/kundalini-yoga-tickets-128783048565. Our Light on Kundalini Yoga iOS App is also available at the Apple Store and Google Play.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
This is a fun question, especially for me since I live high in the mountains northeast of Denver and come and go from the city. In my work I am also in many other cities, from Paris to Latin America, and so my roots in the Denver area, and all it has to offer, are especially precious to me. There are amazing treasures in visiting and enjoying Denver and each of you will no doubt find your favorites as you explore the opportunities. For me, I’d love to have you see the little town of the Gold Hill Historic District, near where I live. Here is an authentic, small, mountain town, even with all the roads still gravel, just up Sunshine Canyon Road from Boulder. It is a great gateway, among many others, to the wonderful scenery and outdoor activities, yearlong, in the Colorado Front Range region. If we wanted to fantasize a bit, if you are a spirituality or philosophy buff, our “dream date” might be an afternoon with integral philosopher and consciousness pioneer Ken Wilber, at his loft overlooking downtown Denver (as seen in the photo in this article). From that loft some of the most important books on global philosophy and our understanding of consciousness have emanated. So, Denver is obviously inspiring!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I’m especially dedicating this Shoutout to all the people named in my core article. They have not only been a part of developing the amazing Yoga and lifestyle work of my Light on Kundalini programs but are important in the daily contributions that global yoga communities make to countless persons and cultures worldwide. A special Shoutout goes to my partnered work with Light on Light Magazine and Press (www.lightonlight.us) and our annual work and publications with the International Day of Yoga Committee at the United Nations and other companions in that work through The Evolutionary Leaders (www.evolutionaryleaders.net) and its co-founder Deepak Chopra who has done so much to make Light on Light’s work visible.

Website: lightonkundalini.com
Instagram: instagram.com/lightonkundalini
Twitter: twitter.com/LOKundalini
Facebook: facebook.com/lightonkundalini
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=light+on+kundalini
Other: https://issuu.com/lightonlight https://www.lightonlight.us/

Image Credits
Isak Photo, Boulder, Colorado