Our Sacred Intention
At Illumined Lotus, we are dedicated to fostering a wholistic and sacred approach to wellness, rooted in ancient practices that nurture the body, mind, and spirit. Through our offerings in yoga, healing foods, wholistic massage and bodywork, herbal medicine and more, we provide pathways to healing and wholeness by returning to the simplicity of nature and awakening the wisdom that lies within. We create safe and empowering spaces for women to engage in ritual movement and self-care practices that support them in embodying their sacred feminine essence. Through these embodied spiritual arts and healing practices, we guide individuals to cultivate self-awareness and trust their inner knowing so that they can move through life with greater clarity, confidence, vitality, and joy.
Hi, I'm Dara, founder of Illumined Lotus.
Hi! I'm Dara Daniels, founder of Illumined Lotus, and I am here to illuminate your path to lasting wellness. When it comes to health and wellness, there is so much information and conflicting opinions out there that it can be confusing and overwelming, which is why I am so glad that you are here. I offer time-tested knowledge and practical tools that work, as well as an abundance of resources and inner practices so that YOU can determine what is best for your unique pathway to radiant health and wholeness.
As someone with a health care license and 25 years of study and experience in wholistic healing modalities and somatic practices from around the world, I offer expert guidance that is rooted in ancient wisdom yet applicable to our modern times, and personalized just for you. My approach is grounded in the feminine way, honoring the wisdom held within the body and the quiet voice of the heart that we can hear when we slow down, simplify, and do our best to clean out the pervasive toxins in our food, water, and environment.
I honor our multi-dimensional nature as humans, acknowledging the physical and energetic bodies, our minds/psyches, emotions, and spirit or soul that make up our unique selves. In collaboration with the healing forces of nature, my embodied healing arts offerings are here to support and empower you on your healing journey, and give you an opportunity to connect deeply within, ground into your essential nature, and create a lifestyle of lasting health, vitality, and joy.
signature offerings
yoga
Embody the wisdom of yoga through dynamic movement, deep inquiry, and integrative teachings.
For WOmEn
Sacred spaces for feminine embodiment, nourishment, and transformational healing.
Illumined Wellness
Experience wholistic healing through hands-on therapies and personalized wellness guidance.
The Heart of Our Work
The embodied healing arts like yoga and meditation when practiced consistently in conjunction with mindful living are designed to cultivate our inner temples to be a sanctuary, free from the distractions of the modern world, where we can hear the voice of our hearts and be guided by our own inner compass. The offerings from the heart of Illumined Lotus emerge from a sacred convergence where living yoga meets food as medicine meets divine feminine and masculine embodiment. Weaving multiple wisdom streams into somatic practices and daily rituals we inspire others to develop keen self-awareness and trust their lived experience so that can they move through life with authentic confidence and a deep sense of embodied wellbeing.
our Guiding Principles
INSPIRATION
We believe in sourcing our inspiration from the wellspring of the world's wisdom traditions as a continual source of clarity, creativity, motivation, and passion that fuels our dharma and life pursuits.
INTERCONNECTEDNESS
By considering the whole, and all of our relations, we live from the perspective that each of us is an inextricable part of the web of life. From this place of unity, we dedicate our actions in service to the awakening of humanity and uplifting planetary consciousness.
INNER-COMPASS
By connecting through yoga, meditation, prayer and ceremony, we let the Truth of our hearts be our guide.
SACRED FEMININE
We operate within the feminine principles of cooperation, collaboration and intuitive knowing, acknowledge the essential voice of women in leading through love, and reclaim the female body as holy and sacred giver of life.
SACRED NOURISHMENT
We embrace healing foods, plants as medicine, and a non-toxic lifestyle that is not only beneficial for ourselves, but also supports a thriving planet. This includes sacred self-care rituals for the body, mind, spirit, and environment.
EMBODIED SPIRITUAL ARTS
By recognizing our multi-dimensional nature, we engage in somatic-based practices that combine physical movement, creative expression, and spiritual exploration. With the goal of wholistic health and radiant well-being, we embody our divinity within our humanity.
Upcoming Events
Embodied Awakening - A Journey Through The Chakras
Tuesday, August 26, 2025 - Throat Chakra/Vishuddha
6:45 PM-8:30 PM
Breath+Oneness
708 Capitola Avenue, Capitola, CA, 95010United States (map)