My Journey.
Dr. Nayantara Rodrigues​
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My parents moved from India to the U.S., giving us a chance to live our dreams. As an eight year old, acculturation and adjustment to a new life was difficult. Looking back, it worth every sacrifice they made. I obtained my B.S. in Criminology (Victimology option) with a minor in psychology.
During my last semester a university advisor in my undergrad suggested that I seek therapy. I fell in love with the counseling process, after struggling with depression for years. The impact it had on my life inspired me to complete my Masters in Marriage and Family Therapy at California State University, Fresno in 2007.
My Story
I went on to practice therapy for many years, before I took a short break to explore the healing benefits of Yoga. I dove into my yoga journey and completed my Yoga Teacher Training 200 hours in Goa, India. I trained for 25 days straight without my family or children around me. It was one of my life’s most challenging and fulfilling times; I grew spiritually, physically, and mentally. I left knowing that this was a gift I could eventually share with my future clients and yoga students.
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Today I wear many different hats-wife to an extremely supportive and caring husband and mother to two amazing, compassionate children. I am an adjunct instructor at California State University, Fresno, in the Department of Counseling and Rehabilitation (2010-present). I am also a co-owner of Rooted Heart Yoga; a Yoga Teacher Training 200 hours school here in Central California. I utilize the healing benefits of yoga each week, as I teach at Four Corners Yoga, Fresno. Furthermore, I am the founder of a yoga non-profit Namaste for Compassion, which utilizes yoga as a mental health tool for underserved communities. Lastly, I continue to be a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in private practice.
