Meet Rana Walker | Founder & CEO, Potluck Yoga…all things yoga and mindfulness

We had the good fortune of connecting with Rana Walker and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Rana, what makes you happy? Why?
What makes me happy is all things mind, body, spirit. As an Emmy Award Winning Life Coach,Therapist, Licensed Spiritual Practitioner, Speaker, Author, Yoga & Mindfulness Teacher, Producer and Breast Cancer Thriver knowing I’m making a difference brings me great joy and fulfillment. Whether, it’s in the form of paying it forward through community service, making someone laugh or vice versa, opening my heart to listen to what’s going on with others while holding space for them, sharing resources, traveling, family, learning and love. It also makes me happy to know that I am part of a global community and understand the interconnectedness of each of us.

Nature makes me absolutely awestruck by its beauty, its ease, its grace and complexity. I love to be in nature especially walking in Valley Green Park (which is part of Philadelphia’s Fairmount Park) as I listen to the sounds of Wissahickon creek while taking in the magnificence of the trees that have been there for hundreds of years standing tall and proud like my African ancestors. Bike riding is another passion of mine. I completed a 65 mile bike ride from Philadelphia to Atlantic City last August. I trained for five months but only trained up to 30 miles so I was very, very pleasantly surprised when I actually completed the entire 65 Mile ride.

I love yoga because for me it is the purest form of the mind, body, spirit connection. I especially love hot yoga which is what I was trained in because each time I complete a class I feel like I’m being reborn. I feel refreshed, accomplished and one with everything as a result of having just detoxed all of the baggage, thoughts, and to do lists from my being. For me yoga is a moving meditation and allows me to be fully present.

I am happy when I allow myself to experience moments of peace by surrendering and allowing things to unfold naturally without force or prodding or attempting to control them. I am happy when those I love and support are happy and I know I was able to add to that moment. I especially find joy when I know that I am making a difference in someone else’s life, as they uncover their gifts and passions. Beginning with giving themselves permission to release titles, labels and masks of their everyday persona and be courageous or willing to stand naked in truth. Knowing that I am doing my part as a global citizen to heal the planet is my ultimate happy place.

This sums up happiness for me.

H-Humor
A-Awakening
P-Presence
P-Pulchritude
Y-Yes, yes, yes yearning for more learning

Saundra Gilliard for nominating me, my mother and father for doing a fantastic job of loving and supporting me…always, Louise for bringing me onboard as a Mindfulness teacher, Priya Hot Yoga where I completed Yoga training, all of the students from ages 2-90 that I’ve had the pleasure to lead through my mindfulness curriculum over the years and to the many organizations, corporations and clients who have sought out my services and have experienced an improvement in their lives—mind, body and spirit.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
My sole purpose in life is to help others reveal who they are in truth. My greatest joy is to watch people experience the transformative power of self belief, mentally, physically and spiritually. I have worked with corporate and non profit leaders, educators, students and people just like you. It doesn’t make a difference who they are or where they are, each person is a unique gift to the world. My creative wellness approach achieves that every time; whether on television, behind the scenes, via publications or coming to you live through modern technology. Achieve total health and wellness with me. I design customized retreats, wellness plans and strategies to help improve your total health and well being.

I’m most excited that I followed my intuition and created Potluck Yoga, LLC. It kept coming back to me that I was to become a yoga teacher and although I had practiced yoga for almost 20 years before becoming a teacher I didn’t know why there was this pull but I finally listened.

By listening to my inner voice I was able to create yet another path to continue offering my unique mind, body, spirit experiences. I later obtained 3 mindfulness certifications from Inner MBA Program in conjunction with Mindful NYU-2021 (9 month program-1st Cohort)
Inner Strength Foundation Training-2020 (5 month program) and my very first mindfulness certification from the
Marcus Institute of Integrative Health at Jefferson University’s Myrna Brind Center for Mindfulness- 2018 (8 week program). These trainings further expanded my consciousness and attracted even more opportunities. I am where I am today through persistence, training, love of learning, belief in knowing and pursuing my gifts, consistent delivery of services and networking.

Through the difficult times I was able to maintain my focus because I was very clear about my mission. It also helped to continually receive positive feedback and repeat business from clients further reinforcing I am on the right path. When attending a mindfulness conference at Omega Institute in Rhinebeck, New York with my cousin in 2018, I set my intention by speaking it aloud during an activity where we were instructed to go be in nature, (one of my favorite places) and talk about our intentions for our lives. When my turn came, I stated that I intended to become a world renowned Mindfulness expert and from that moment on I have continued to do just that with Potluck Yoga and as co-creator of my latest television project with an emphasis on equity, diversity, edutainment and mindfulness throughout each episode.

The lessons I’ve learned along the way
1. To thine own self be true
2. Listen to your intuition
3. Open yourself up to new experiences even if there is some trepidation
4. Immerse your total self into each experience
5. Focus on progress over perfection… If you wait until you have perfected it the vision may never come to pass and instead it will always be something you are constantly honing.
6. Thoughts become beliefs, beliefs become actions, so be mindful about what you think, believe and act on. Make sure it is what you actually WANT to experience in your life.
7. Enjoy the journey, if you’re not having fun and a sense of fulfillment what’s the point.

I want the world to know that each of us is unique and that the most important thing we can do for ourselves on this journey called life is to learn to love ourselves. Potluck Yoga is a gateway to helping individuals access self love.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Some of the most interesting places to hang out, eat, etc…

Barbuzzo-Mediterranean
Sabrina’s-American Fare
The Wayward-American Fare
Buena Onda-Mexican
LeBus-American Fare
El Vez-Mexican
Pete’s Famous Pizza
Butter’s Soul Food to Go

You have to eat a cheesesteak, Philly soft pretzel and water ice as we are known for being the home to all three of these delicious treats!!

Events & Concerts

Mann Music Center
Dell East-Summer Concerts
Roots Picnic-June
Made in America-4th of July weekend
Manayunk Arts Festival-June
Odunde-June

Walk or bike ride on the Drive-Kelly Drive and Martin Luther King Drive also known as East River Drive and West River Drive.

Go for walk in Valley Green while listening to sounds of nature

Walk the Rocky Steps (just to say you’ve done it) and then actually go inside to the
Art Museum and see an exhibit

Ice skating at Penn’s Landing

Take Yoga, Zumba and HIIT class at one of our many gyms and/or studios.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Saundra Gilliard for nominating me, my mother and father for doing a fantastic job of loving and supporting me…always, Louise for bringing me onboard as a Mindfulness teacher, Priya Hot Yoga where I completed my Yoga training, all of the students from ages 2-90 that I’ve had the pleasure to lead through my mindfulness curriculum over the years and to the many organizations, corporations and clients who have sought out my services and have experienced an improvement in their lives mind, body and spirit.

sonalRanaWalker

Website: www.ranawalker.com

Instagram: theranawalker

Linkedin: http://linkedin.com/in/rana-Walker-m-ed-5000766

Twitter: @theranawalker

Facebook: Rana Walker

Youtube: Rana Walker

Image Credits
Hosea Johnson Photography for photos 1 and 2