Client Stories…

Sonali's conscious communication coaching focused on the Imago dialogue has given me a nuanced understanding and practical skills with this life changing method. With her support, Ive been able to make Imago dialogue a regular part of my communication practice both personally and professionally. More broadly, with Sonali’s coaching, Ive been able to deepen connection in my relationships, show support to others more deeply and frequently, and ask for what I need, in ways that are viscerally evident. I’ve also benefited from Sonali’s wisdom and communication coaching focused on healthy boundaries, recovering from trauma and supporting others to do so, spirituality, and supporting others across differences amidst a world warped by systemic misogyny, racism, and heterosexism. Sonali is a gentle, patient, intuitive, loving, bold, and direct coach, all at once! I highly recommend her as a communication coach!

I must give the greatest of gratitude to Sonali as her Communications course has not only changed my life and my relationships with others, but by using the techniques I have learned I have been able to impact the behavior of those near to me and they have benefited as well. I entered this course believing I was a good communicator and just wanted a few tips here and there for some minor improvements. What I have received has changed the way that I speak, changed the way that I listen, changed the way I view my connection with others in the world around me. I have experienced near complete 180 degree of changes in some of my most difficult relationships. Those difficult relationships are now some of my most connected relationships, and I can certainly attest this change to the styles and techniques I have learned from Sonali. The IMAGO dialogue structure has not only helped in my personal relationships but it has also been a huge benefit at work when having to participate in difficult conversation with a direct report or with my superiors. No matter where you feel you are, or how great of a communicator you believe yourself to be, I can tell you for certain that Sonali's communications course will add lots of value to your life and those around you. Lastly I must also give recognition to Sonali as her personality and teaching style is perfect to create the best space that will allow you to grow. I have felt understood, free from judgement and even challenged to be a better me. Sonali's ability to encourage me and uplift my efforts has made every interaction an amazing experience and I would urge you give her a try. Tell a friend to tell a friend and we will surely make this world a better place one person at a time!

Sonali has had an amazingly positive impact on my life over the 3 years that I have been her client. She has coached me in relational skills that are based on mutual respect and a deep desire to clearly understand and empathize with people. Sonali's communication coaching has helped me recognize some of my own biases and tendency to rush to offer advice often when none has been sought. My ability to not judge others and to empathize with them has been improved under her careful and skillful guidance. These relational skills benefit my life because I am better able to approach others with problems in ways that help them help me. Perhaps more important, I am better able to understand people who are having problems with me and to work with them so that I can help them. I am deeply grateful for all that she has taught me and for the support she has given me. I intend to continue as her client as long as possible. She also teaches yoga and the heart centered meditation that is at the core of true yogic practice, and it was in that role that I first met her. All of her students were struck by her infectious good nature and her ability to encourage us to do things we did not think we could do. She models the warmth and kindness and acceptance that we all hope to gain from meditation practice. She is, I believe, someone genuinely interested in making the world a better place through her teaching and by her actions. I strongly recommend that anyone interested in inner growth and improved relationships with others find a way to study with her.

I have attended multiple coaching sessions from Sonali over the past year and I highly recommend it. Sonali’s knowledge and passion paired with a comfortable, inclusive environment has helped me to shed fears and really allowed me to dive into the work. Prior to attending these coaching sessions, I found it difficult to express myself and build genuine relationships with others. I interact with many different people in both my personal and professional life, Imago has given me a structured method to communicate with everyone in my life. The biggest gain from the sessions was the greater understanding of self that I developed. I better understood my weaknesses and strengths in communication and how they affected my relationships. Listening was a weakness that I did not realize that I had. After a single session, I became conscious and intentional in my communication and my listening skills improved ten-fold. The work that Sonali does is something that I really believe everyone needs.

I met Sonali in early 2019 after receiving an invite to her yoga practice through a mutual friend. After having just ended a particularly abusive and traumatic relationship in my life, I found myself in search holistic practices to reconnect to my body and foster healthier communication in all of my relationships, including with myself. I had little context for Sonali’s Tuesday evening gatherings, but a close friend spoke highly of the community that had developed and the ways in which she was experiencing a transformation in how she was able to make space and listen to others. I went, and have continued to develop my health and communication practices with Sonali ever since. She has challenged me physically in her yoga practice, as well as emotionally and intellectually within the Imago trainings. Sonali has an instructive and interactive approach to teaching, allowing students to retain the experiences of her lessons rather than just trying to memorize a particular formula. Human interactions are already complex, but they become even more layered while navigating through emotional responses. Sonali's integrative teaching accounts for this complexity by having us utilize and strictly adhere to underlying Imago principles while applying them to the immediate experiences of people with whom we are building community. This consistent, mutual engagement has allowed for people who have little basis for relationship to feel held, heard, and seen by each other. During sessions, we put a lot of effort into mirroring a persons experience by matching language and tone, and complementary non-verbal expressions. We do this to ensure that we are hearing as precisely as possible the message that is being conveyed, while engendering a sense of comfort and empathy. We mirror without contributing our own thoughts or judgments, and are able to create space to allow for further elaboration and clarification of what a person is saying so that we truly get it. Although this is only one part of Imago communication, I have been able to utilize this technique in several relationships outside of our community, in both personal and professional interactions ranging from topics like how someones day went to how someone is experiencing racialized otherness within a U.S. context. I have been able to cultivate safe, consensual moments of intentional sharing that has deepened and strengthened multiple relationships in my life. Imago communication coaching by Sonali has given me tools to regulate my physiological and emotional response while interacting with people different from me in ideology, identity, and background. Sonalis particular skill set includes implementing yoga and meditation to create calmness and self-connectedness before learning these strategies. She is a warm, thoughtful, confident, and commensurately assertive and firm instructor that gives feedback without condescension or blame. She successfully fosters an environment that encourages vulnerability and reflection week after week, and shares much of herself in the process. It has been a truly life-altering experience to be under her guidance and expertise; I would highly recommend working with Sonali if you are looking to find ways to become more present and compassionate in relationship to yourself and others.

I have so much gratitude for Sonali's conscious communication and relationship skills building class. I have been attending Sonali’s classes for over a year and it has made a huge impact in my life. The communication portion of her class focused on Imago techniques has honestly transformed the way I approach all my relationships, from family to work to loved ones to random people I encounter. I feel I am so much better at listening, at being in control of my responses, noticing how my nervous system is affected by my surroundings, and being a compassionate and supportive friend who communicates clearly and can truly hold space for someone. Sonali is a rare person who teaches and facilitates with confidence, strength, openness, and love. This is her passion, her lifestyle, her way of existing and it is such a gift for her to share it with clients and students. She has a firm sense of compassion for humanity and a drive for justice that guides all of her interactions and her work as a whole. Sonali inspires others to live that way too. I would recommend Sonali's coaching for anyone who is wishing to learn skills to kindly navigate tough conversations, become a more thoughtful friend or partner, or begin the process of stripping away the harmful modes of communication that are taught to us early in life in a society structured around capitalism.

With Sonali’s coaching, I have learned how to manage my emotions and energy in a better way during conversations with people. I learned how to understand and feel what others say and not just hear it. Sonali’s coaching has helped me better communicate and connect with my partner and better understand my friends and family when I am speaking with them. At work I feel more able to communicate my ideas and thoughts with my colleagues and team. She has also expanded my understanding of myself and my personality and how to interpret the internal dialogue that is happening within me. New relationship skills that I am going to practice for the rest of my life as a result of working with Sonali is how to Listen/Understand/Feel the other person and make sure I got what the other person is expressing. Life is a continues learning process, specially learning and enhancing our abilities and skills for ourselves, for others and for a bigger cause that can serve our purpose in life. I was super surprised when Coach Sonali opened my eyes about something I never understood/knew before about my personality. This thing has been affecting my entire life and every aspect of my life. With Sonali’s guidance, I finally understood that I have an empath personality. She educated me on what that means and it made total sense to me about how I used to get affected by so many things happening around me and I didn’t know why! Because of Sonali, I have this new awareness about myself and it has changed my life for better. I totally recommend Sonali for anyone who want to make enhancements to their lives. Just within a very short period working with Sonali, I understood so many things that I didn’t know before about me and my personality and my abilities. Sonali opened my eyes to things I never noticed before and really appreciate that I found her and totally recommend Sonali’s coaching to everyone who wants to make his/her/their life better! Sonali, will listen to you, understand you, feel you and guide you. Thanks Sonali!

I have known Sonali for years and her core personality is one of humility and servant leadership as a teacher. Her teaching style is very nurturing and intuitive in supporting student needs while creating a very safe learning environment. Many areas of my life have improved under Sonali’s instruction. Her yoga classes are very well organized as she provides a flow of instruction guiding student experience. Special need requests are accommodated as the class progresses to the end with calming closure. Sonali demonstrates great mastery over the material and is able to clarify learning for students with questions. I always learn something new or am reminded of something I had forgotten. She consistently meets my expectations of creating a wonderful class experience.

Another area of personal growth I have experienced under Sonali’s teaching involves communication and relationship building skills. She has extensive training in this area and is highly effective teaching it. Under her instruction, students learn how to create emotional safe space that is real and non-threating while building deeper trust. As a result of sessions with Sonali, I have successfully incorporated new skills into my life and have enhanced the quality and satisfaction of my relationships. One specific practice called mirroring was especially helpful to me. I was in a conversation that was quickly escalating with stressful comments and counter-comments alternating between being accusing then defensive. I remembered the mirroring skill and focused specifically on repeating what the other party was telling me. Feeling heard instead of feeling defensive, quickly de-escalated the tension between us. A conversation that was heading for unresolved disaster redeemed itself with a healthy mutual understanding. Sonali’s communication training works in the real world and I highly recommend it.

As I write this I am aware of the newfound energy coursing through my body. It is hard for me to fathom that just 3 months ago, I was constantly in pain, sluggish and well aware of my body telling me that it was dying. My mental acuity had been sharply declining, my moods were erratic and I no longer enjoyed living. I didn't trust that I was able to take good care of my body. Every time I ate I felt sick. I am only 29!

I finally admitted to myself that I didn't have the knowledge to care for myself and needed the best help I could afford. I was fortunate enough to find Sonali. She has single-handedly given me my life back. It is so unusual to me that by knowing her and listening to her sage advice through our half hour meetings, I am enjoying and engaging in life again. 

My body is free from pain. It has begun healing itself more effectively. I have more energy than I have had since my insulin resistance diagnosis (5 years ago). I enjoy food again (She has expanded my horizons on what food actually is). I feel nourished and satisfied in a way that food has never satisfied me before. I feel like I am in control of my appetite instead of it controlling me. I am so much more in tune with what my body needs. I am also at peace. 

My journey with Sonali has put me on a path of healing that expands well beyond food. The energy I have now with my new way of living has allowed me to pursue endeavors that feed my physical, spiritual, and financial wellbeing.

She has treated me with kindness that I have never known when it comes to this part of my life. She was gentle, yet strong in her approach and her compassion abounds. She was just my steadfast teacher. Free of judgement and an excellent listener. Her work brings tears to my eyes when I think about what life looked like for me a year ago. She has given me back my life. From the depths of my soul, Thank you Sonali.

After being diagnosed with ulcerative colitis in 2003, I have taken endless prescription drugs, experienced multiple flare-ups and encountered life-threatening allergic reactions to certain medications. Since working with Sonali in December 2017, my health has dramatically improved to the point that I rarely experience symptoms anymore. 

Sonali helped transform my health by introducing a holistic approach to healing my gut. Sonali not only provides a plan for how food can heal my body but she checks in to make sure I'm staying on track and happily answers any questions. In addition to ulcerative colitis, Sonali's expertise has improved issues with my eyes, teeth and PMS.  I highly recommend Sonali's coaching to others, especially to individuals living with ulcerative colitis and other gut issues.

After attending several of Sonali's trauma/communication based yoga classes in Atlanta, I have felt growth and a new sense of stability within myself.  Learning yoga with Sonali has made me aware of where and how I want to work on different muscles that I don't use on a daily basis. I have noticed that not only does my body feel so much more at ease, but also my mindset. Everyday we experience obstacles and challenges that can make us stressed and exhausted from just doing our daily routine. Her classes have helped me process through some of those intense feelings while bringing me to feeling secure and calm inside. Sonali instructs students in a gentle and calm manner. From the beginning to end of class, Sonali is very well structured in guiding us through the material she is teaching. When she sees that we need help in a position or understanding of what we are doing, she attentively and kindly offers her assistance.  Her classes have also taught me to learn how to function gracefully through some seriously deep straining times in my life. Sonali is an embodied yogi and is one of the most impactful mentors that I could have ever asked for. 

Working with Sonali helped me clarify some of my own goals around health and wellness. Sonali acknowledges me as someone with wisdom about my own body, while giving me usable chunks of new learning and practices, tools I can use regularly regardless of pain level. In general, since working with Sonali, I have felt more in touch with my body sensations, which has carried over into my life. I have learned more about breathing and the capacity of deep breathing to influence healing and listening. I have continued the practice Sonali showed me of gratitude at the end of each practice which has been an incredible gift, one that has shifted my relationship with myself. Overall, Sonali approaches her teaching and practice in a grounded way. She demonstrates calm and respect where before I have experienced chaos and fear. Learning alongside her has helped me see the time I spend on my personal healing journey as more valuable, special, and even sacred. 

First, without even considering her business or her work, Sonali herself is a genuine person that anyone automatically warms up to as soon as they meet her. She's also one of those people who will go one step further than most to help others achieve their goals. Her generosity showed when she believed in the first annual FTM fitness Conference (now TransfitCon) in 2014 and offered a free yoga bootcamp and nutrition workshop. The feedback we received was so amazing that we asked her if she could join us again for the second year and she did. Not only did she teach yoga and nutrition specifically related to the Trans individual, but she also attended other events and activities. It's safe to assume she's now a part of the FitCon family and enjoys every single opportunity to learn more about the Trans community so that she can tailor her skills to help them on a deeper level. 

I will continue to be grateful that Sonali was my first yoga teacher. She taught me well in the very short time I took her class. She taught me how to engage diligently in class, how to tuck my seat bones under and how to work the body to get maximum benefits of practicing yoga poses. I love her for that. I am practicing at Kaiser Permanente now and each day I practice, I realize how very much I miss Sonali’s class with all the extra knowledge she shared with us and how much I appreciate her giving to us out of her love for sharing by being herself. I am grateful of her kindness, her love, and her teachings. Thank you, thank you!! 

I have been practicing yoga with Sonali for three years. I'm thankful that I was fortunate to meet someone so kind, loving & patient like her.  Through her support, yoga has been woven into the very fabric of my life.  I now experience a deeper connection & awareness with raising my children, in my marriage, relationships, foods that I eat and more.  It’s not just a physical practice but all life is truly yoga. Recently, while on Spring break, I took a yoga class from another teacher that was not offering thorough instructions, and as I went through the flow, the imprint of Sonali’s detailed instructions carried me through that class. Because of her teaching, if I am in a class where the instructor isn’t thorough, I feel equipped and confident to practice deeply and safely. I feel so empty because after three years, I feel as if I have sooooooo much more to learn from Sonali.  If you ever have the opportunity to practice with Sonali, try not to ever miss a class & soak it all in! 

Before contacting Sonali, my cholesterol level was high and it concerned me greatly considering I'm only in my early 30s.  I did not want to take medications and realized that a more natural path was the better option.  So I decided to seek nutritional help and found Sonali who helped me through the journey.  The most important thing I have learned from Sonali's program is that you can retrain your brain and palate over time.  In fact with patience and persistence, eating habits can be changed to not only be healthy but also very tasty.  For example, before meeting Sonali I was literally addicted to milk…I couldn't live without Starbucks.  However after several months, I no longer seek coffee or milk for which I have better alternatives. I enjoy almond milk, hemp seeds, nuts, bok choy. Sonali is very kind and patient. She listens to your needs and is very receptive to any concerns.  I would recommend Sonali to anyone that wants to make a permanent lifestyle change…it's a slow process but well worth it.  

 Having had a personal interest in nutrition for 35 years I have met literally hundreds of so called experts on food and nutrition, however, Sonali understands not only the details, specifics and technical aspect of what is and isn't healthy for the body, but she also brings in an equal amount of knowledge around why we eat what we eat and how to inspire the changes someone wants to make in their eating habits. Combined with these skill sets she also happens to easily be the finest health oriented chef I have personally had the opportunity to be nourished by.  Her food is never compromised in its taste, quality, or presentation –all of which can be witnessed by not only looking at the photographs of her food, but also of course actually eating it!! If anyone is looking to get serious about changing one's health, one's weight or your personal day to day relationship with food for the better, you simply won't find a better teacher, coach, motivator, supporter, guide or example then Sonali.

I feel healthier…my energy level is greater, people constantly tell me how good my skin looks, my eyes are whiter and I feel my blood cleaner than before. Before working with Sonali, smoking was a big part of my life. I had been smoking for 7.8 years. I was a pack every two days type of person and my energy was very low. Around 4 pm, I would need a nap or an energy drink to make it through the day. And now, that is no longer the case.  I think I enjoyed Sonali’s coaching because it allowed me to think and reason on my own! Her teaching environment allowed for free thinking that is combined with a lot of support and comfort. Instead of just telling me the answer, Sonali inspired me to think about any question I posed to her and really think!  I actually had fun learning how to eat healthy and develop a healthy practices gradually. Some of my most enjoyable coaching moments were preparing meals! Sonali’s method of teaching, sharing and figuring out the flavors in some of the meals that we cooked was like a party!

I was getting sick so often, at least once a month, and had been experiencing chronic fatigue.  My body was worn down, and I felt like the cells in my body were getting decrepit!    No conventional doctors could find anything wrong with me, and made no suggestions.  I was desperate. So I trusted in the recommendation from a friend to go to Sonali.  When I met Sonali, I asked about her own story.  She gladly told it, and I could relate to her so easily from then on.  At first I was a little skeptical of how much this program would help me. The program was so gentle and gradual on me that I hardly even noticed the shifts in my lifestyle.  I think this is the key – to be gentle and gradual.  Sonali never TOLD me what to do – she was rather the catalyst to awakening my own inner wellness “coach.”  Ever since I started the program I had not gotten sick!  My energy level had heightened, to where I’ve been, not only productive, but also allowed me to make room for more balance in my life – work, play, AND downtime!  This program has improved my life in ways that never even occurred to me when I first went into it.  Not only did I meet my initial goal, but I’ve realized how important my overall health – not just diet – is!