Meet Karla Salazar | Holistic Private Chef and Ayurvedic Wellness Educator

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

Hi Karla, how do you think about risk?
Risk is what ultimately brought me to starting my own business. Speaking of risk I just took one yesterday by investing in a conscious business coach to help me elevate my brand. Sometimes we need help especially as a small business owner to find clarity in what we are offering. I do everything myself and it was huge for me to admit I need some help in this area. I believe risk is the ultimate growth factor in life.

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?
I have been cooking professionally the last 5years in the restaurant industry. Due to the pandemic I left a year ago and started working as a private chef. While we were in quarantine I had an awakening and realized I forgot why I fell in love with cooking. I got caught up in the glitz of wanting to be a top chef and realized that wasn’t my calling. I loved the health aspect of food. I’ve always been into wellness my whole life, clean eating, I was a vegetarian for 3yrs at one point. But when I started working in the restaurant industry that was all looked down upon. Being vegan or vegetarian was probably something you shouldn’t say out loud. The kitchen culture in the restaurant industry just isn’t healthy and at that point I also wasn’t healthy. So a year into the pandemic I found Ayurveda a holistic medicine system which unconsciously I’ve been practicing at a subtle level my whole life. I decided to go back to school at Southern California University of Health Sciences for the Ayurvedic Wellness Educator and Practitioner Program to deepen my knowledge of how food is medicine. I am currently certified as an Ayurvedic Wellness Educator and I finish the Ayurvedic Practitioner Program spring of 2023. During this time I also started my business Karla Victoria Wellness where I offer in-home organic meal prep for people with health concerns like diabetes, hashimoto’s disease, gluten intolerance or just wants to live a healthier life. I had no idea how to build this business and then I found Chef Tiffany Thomas a Chef Business Coach. She helped me create my niche and the necessary tools I needed to start my business. I didn’t even know that someone like her existed but thanks to social media I found her. At the time I was tight on funds due to the pandemic but I took the risk and saw it as an investment for myself. I believe having mentors and coaches that are at a level you want to be is helpful in creating a successful business. They have all this experience and wisdom you can learn from. Currently in my business I have expanded my offerings with Ayurvedic 1:1 Virtual Consultations helping people with diet and lifestyle. I am currently working on wellness workshops with Repair Sports Institute the #1 ranked Sports Wellness Center in CA by bringing in the Ayurvedic aspect of healing. The founder and owner Dr. Chad Beauchamp and I share the same ideology of bridging Western and Eastern medicine as a means of healing. To find others with the same goal and passion has been encouraging on this path. I am also working on another collaboration with a holistic wellness concierge service offering day and weekend retreats by offering Ayurvedic Meals and workshops.
It has only been 7 months into launching Karla Victoria Wellness and I have learned whether you are an employee or a business owner you have to choose your hard. I naively assumed being my own boss would be easier but it isn’t and now you are accountable for the whole business. But now that I have a better understanding on what it takes to be your own boss I am able to meet the needs of my clients and expand my offerings. My main goal is to help people become their own healer by empowering them with the necessary tools and knowledge to achieve a life of optimal health and happiness through food and Ayurveda.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I fell in love with Los Angeles’s hiking scene. Coming from NYC with so much concrete it was refreshing to be able to drive 20minutes and be surrounded by nature. My favorite hike is the Temescal canyon trail near the Pacific Palisades where you can see the view of the Pacific Ocean. I love yoga so I would definitely go to AZ I AM Yoga in downtown Santa Monica where you can take a deep house vinyasa class or do a sound bath on a Sunday evening to close out your week. As a foodie I love Gjusta in Venice for a latte and pastry. My favorite vegan restaurant is Cafe Gratitude also in Venice. My favorite places that I always take people who are visiting is the Getty Villa and the Huntington Botanical Gardens because it feels like you just time traveled to another country.

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?
Not to sound vain but I honestly want to firstly give a shout out to myself! For the people that know me this is very out of character lol but the truth is I’ve had this inner voice and knowing that has always steered me where I am now. No matter how difficult things got I always listened to that inner calling.

My best friend Krystle Dawn, we have known each other since we were 16yrs old. She is the reason why I am in LA if it wasn’t for her urging me to move out here and pursue my cooking I honestly wouldn’t even have this career and business.

My other best friend Marilia Moreno whom Krystle actually introduced me to has been a catalyst of my growth as well. I haven’t met anyone who is as resilient and a go getter than her! Sometimes I channel my inner Marilia to get things done because she is just that good.

To all the chefs I’ve worked with Chef Nicole Gomez, Chef Bryant Ng and Chef Brian Reimer I learned to appreciate what it takes to be great in the kitchen and not just cooking but in how you treat the people around you.

As I found my path to Ayurveda I want to thank my entire cohort who has become my family. We’ve embarked on something greater than ourselves to help people heal. Without their support this last year and a half I probably would be lost.

To my professor Vaidya Jayagopal Parla your extensive knowledge and charisma has helped me fall in love with Ayurveda and has fueled me to help share it with the world.

Last and most importantly my family for accepting all of me even when you didn’t understand the path I was taking you always had my back and that I am in deep gratitude.

Website: Www.karlavictoriawellness.com

Instagram: @karlavictoriawellness.com