After struggling with panic attacks, depression, and anxiety, Brazilian yoga teacher Elka Haeckel discovered yoga and meditation as powerful tools for healing. What began as a personal search for balance eventually became her life’s mission: helping others find wellness, community, and purpose through yoga.
By Elka Haeckel
Yoga awakened my truth and revealed my life purpose: serving others.
When I turned 23, I experienced my first panic attack, which led to years of severe depression and anxiety. During that difficult time in my life, I discovered yoga.
For many years, I treated my depression with medication, yoga, and meditation. Eventually, under the supervision of a professional doctor, I was able to stop taking medication. That moment inspired me to follow a new path, and in 2003 I decided to become a yoga teacher.
Yoga awakened me to my truth and life purpose — serving others. It gave me a deep sense of connection and oneness, and for the first time in a long time, I no longer felt alone.
Building My First Yoga Studio in San Diego
In 2005, after feeling stronger and more confident, I decided to take a leap of faith and open my first yoga studio in Ocean Beach, San Diego, called Namaste Yoga Center.
The studio grew quickly. Within two years, the community expanded so much that I needed a larger space, and in 2007 I moved the studio to a bigger location.
During that period, I also deepened my studies in holistic health and became a holistic health practitioner specialized in Thai medical massage in 2008.
The business grew organically, and my professional life was flourishing. However, my personal life began to lose balance.
Letting Go and Starting Over
In 2012, I went through a divorce, which led me to make one of the hardest decisions of my life.
I decided to sell my yoga studio and move back to Brazil to spend time with my family. I sold everything I had. At that moment, I was truly practicing the spiritual concept of “letting go” and trusting that the universe would guide my path.
It was not easy. I loved the studio I had built with so much passion. It was a beautiful place where I had poured my heart and soul. But I realized it was time to take care of myself first.
Looking back today, I understand that everything that happened was part of a bigger plan helping me fulfill my life purpose.
My Brazilian Roots and Personal Strength
I am originally from Bahia, Brazil, and I moved to the United States in 1999 to study English with plans to attend college.
My mother raised two children alone after my father was murdered in Brazil when I was only five years old. He was 45 years old.
That experience was traumatic, but it also shaped our strength. My mother, my older sister, and I never saw ourselves as victims. Instead, we saw ourselves as survivors and strong women.
Growing up in a society often influenced by machismo, we learned resilience, independence, and the importance of believing in our dreams.
My mother’s strength and perseverance continue to inspire me every day.
Returning to the United States
In 2013, after selling Namaste Yoga Center, I began teaching yoga in the United States, Mexico, and Brazil.
After spending about four months in Brazil, I needed to return to the U.S. because my citizenship process was still ongoing and I was still leading yoga teacher training programs.
Letting go of my first yoga studio was painful, but it allowed me to grow in new ways.
When I returned to San Diego in 2014, something unexpected happened: my students and the local community welcomed me back and encouraged me to stay.
Their support reminded me that my work and purpose were still strongly connected to this community.
Creating Elka Yoga & Wellness Center
In 2015, I was blessed to partner with my dear friend and soul sister Anna Fernandez. She had always supported my work and believed in my vision.
We had known each other for more than a decade through the yoga community, and she had completed teacher training with me in 2013.
Together, we created Elka Yoga & Wellness Center, which opened in December 2015.
Although Anna and I have very different personalities, we complement each other perfectly — like Yin and Yang.
We share the same vision: building a supportive wellness community.
Yoga as a Path to Healing
My mission has always been about creating community through wellness.
I feel incredibly grateful for the support I have received from the community in San Diego and beyond.
My life has been deeply dedicated to this work because I truly believe that teaching is healing.
In today’s world, yoga and meditation are becoming a new kind of medicine for many people facing stress, anxiety, and burnout.
When we take care of ourselves with mindfulness and compassion, we create a ripple effect that positively impacts others.
After all, we are all connected.
Living My Purpose
I never gave up on my dreams.
I started teaching yoga by the bay in San Diego with no money, supported by friends and family. With only $10,000, I was able to open my first yoga center.
Today, I live my purpose: serving others with love and sharing the healing power of yoga.
As I often say:
“Teaching is healing.”
* Elka Haeckel is the co-owner of Elka Yoga and Wellness Center (EYWC), a fitness and yoga center as well an educational sanctuary, located in Point Loma, San Diego, California.
FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions
How did yoga help Elka overcome depression?
Yoga and meditation helped Elka develop mindfulness, emotional balance, and self-awareness, which supported her recovery alongside medical supervision.
When did Elka start teaching yoga professionally?
She became a certified yoga teacher in 2003 after years of practicing yoga as part of her healing journey.
Where is Elka Yoga & Wellness Center located?
The center is located in Point Loma, San Diego, California, serving the local community with yoga classes, wellness programs, and teacher training.
What inspired Elka to open her yoga studio?
Her personal healing journey and desire to help others find balance, wellness, and community inspired her to create a space dedicated to yoga and holistic health.
Why are yoga and meditation important for modern life?
Many people today experience stress, anxiety, and burnout. Yoga and meditation provide tools for relaxation, mental clarity, and overall well-being.
