Today we’d like to introduce you to Dharma Richards.
Dharma, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Born and raised in the beautiful mountains of Asheville, in Western North Carolina, I have been in the RDU/Triangle area for over 30 years. With a B.A. in business marketing from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, my professional background consists of a decade in the computer industry and just as many years in the fashion world. My yogic journey began as a physical practice after leaving the ballet scene, leading to my first teacher training just a few years later. The first payment I ever received for teaching a yoga class was an Asian pear picked fresh from a student’s fruit tree over 20 years ago, and I’ve been teaching ever since.
I recently returned to the modeling world, after a 30-year hiatus, as a classic model and commercial talent, and am honored to be represented by the amazing and creative Ursula Wiedmann Models, Marilyn’s Agency, and Stewart Talent Chicago. Founder, owner, and Senior Teacher of Yoga Garden Apex, co-founder and director of teacher training at Yoga Garden PBO, owner of Yoga Warriors International, and a Yoga Alliance Advanced Registered Yoga, Teacher, I am both an instructor of the Classical Hatha-Raja style as well as tantric Kundalini Yoga. My yogic studies originated in the lineage of Dharma Yoga and Kundalini Yoga through HarDarshan Kaur Khalsa, and am continuously studying with various eclectic spiritual teachers such as Christopher Penczak and Elayne Kalila Doughty.
Being an ordained interfaith minister, and devotee of Mary Magdalene, I continue to immerse myself in Gnostic and mystical teachings, studies, and practices in the Divine Feminine, Craft of the Wise, and feminine earth wisdom. Being a strong advocate of NOSDAF, I am a dedicated volunteer with hospice organizations and am a certified end-of-life doula.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
When the pandemic hit in 2020, I had to get my yoga studio classes and teacher training up and running literally overnight! Not only were we successful in doing so, but our yogic community continued to flourish. 2020 was a year full of changes that included moving back to my hometown after my adult children were out in the working and higher-education world. After selling the yoga studio, I devoted three months to my aging parents to help them through treatments and surgeries.
Have you learned any interesting or important lessons due to the Covid-19 Crisis?
It was during the three months of assisting my parents that I knew I wanted to help others in a different way, thus delving into caregiving and deathcare doula studies. I have found a niche in volunteering with the local hospice as a transition guide, and actively encourage others to find a way in which to give back to society – no matter one’s own capacity to do so.
During this time I also knew I wanted a less structured work schedule, in order to continue to aid my family. So I cut my dreadlocks and returned to the modeling world, embracing my gray hair, grateful to be representing the baby-boomer generation.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.dharmarichards.com
- Instagram: @dharmarichards
- Facebook: dharmarichards
- Twitter: @dharmarichards
- Youtube: dharmarichards1
Image Credits
Mira Adwell
