Tamal Dodge: from ashram roots to urban yoga leader and teacher trainer
Teaching yoga in Los Angeles and now online
When you first meet Tamal Dodge, his youthful appearance might throw you off. Behind the gentle smile and relaxed posture is someone who’s been living, breathing, and embodying yoga since before most of us learned to walk.
In person, Tamal radiates a calm focus. He speaks softly, but his words carry clarity and purpose, the kind that only comes from years of practice, deep introspection, and lived experience.
As a yoga practitioner myself, I was struck by how easily Tamal moved between topics like philosophy, grief, pranayama, and creativity, making yoga feel not just accessible, but alive.
A childhood immersed in yoga
Tamal’s journey began on the North Shore of Oahu, Hawaii, where he was raised with his four brothers and two sisters in an ashram founded by his parents.
Yoga wasn’t just a morning routine or a Saturday class, it was the air they breathed. From age two, Tamal was mimicking poses, and by four, he could already put his legs behind his head.
“Pretzel boy,” his brother once dubbed him, setting him up next to a sign and letting Tamal perform yoga on the street for curious passersby.
It wasn’t performative. It was play. It was life.
Teaching at 10: a natural path, yet not an easy one
By age 10, Tamal had already earned his teaching credentials and was guiding others through yoga and meditation at his parents’ ashram.
But he admits now that he didn’t always feel comfortable in the role of a teacher.
“I loved studying yoga,” he shared. “But being in front of people made me nervous. I felt more like a student than someone with wisdom to offer.”
This kind of vulnerability, the willingness to question even the path he was born into, makes Tamal’s eventual return to teaching all the more powerful.
A detour into art and music
Yearning for creative exploration, Tamal leaned into music and visual art.
At 15, he even signed a record deal for his alternative rock band, a huge milestone for someone so young. But fame and artistic success didn’t translate into fulfillment.
“It was exciting at first,” Tamal said, “but I realized I was chasing something external.”
He then attended art school on scholarship, but again felt disillusioned, not with the craft itself, but the direction.
This era of self-exploration revealed a core truth: his calling wasn’t outside of himself. It was something he had been living all along.
The return: grief, awakening, and purpose
It was the passing of his father, a deeply influential yogi, that reignited Tamal’s connection to teaching.
His father’s final advice lingered:
“When you teach, just be yourself. Everyone will like you if you are yourself.”
That simple message unlocked something for Tamal. Teaching wasn’t about performance, it was about presence.
Teaching today: bridging ancient wisdom with modern life
Now based in Los Angeles and teaching online through BodhiLive.com, Tamal leads classes rooted in authenticity, accessibility, and modern relevance.
He teaches several in-person and virtual sessions each week and runs teacher trainings, including collaborations with other respected yogis like Brian Kest, founder of Power Yoga.
“He teaches with the purity of someone who’s lived the practice his whole life,” said Kest in a 2023 podcast. “Tamal is the real deal.”
Blending his artistic background with spiritual insight, Tamal has produced:
- An instructional yoga DVD
- A kirtan music CD
- A book, Yogi in the City, which applies ancient yogic principles to modern urban life
In his book, Tamal guides readers through eight chapters echoing the eight limbs of yoga, pairing them with stories, stretches, meditation, and even diet recommendations.
One highlight is a guest chapter by Kathy Hoshijo, the former PBS cooking show host and a pioneer of plant-based yogic nutrition.
Message to aspiring yogis
Tamal’s philosophy is simple, yet revolutionary in its humility:
“You don’t have to change your sky to be a yogi, you’re already in the perfect place for practice.”
This reflects the growing movement of urban spirituality, the idea that yoga doesn’t belong only in silent ashrams, but also in living rooms, parks, and studios across busy cities.
Why Tamal Dodge stands out
Experience: Raised in an ashram, teaching since age 10
Expertise: Author, teacher trainer, seasoned practitioner
Authority: Collaborations with industry leaders like Brian Kest
Trust: Real student reviews, presence in LA’s wellness community, transparent teaching style
Where to learn more
Visit: bodhilive.com for class schedules, events, and online courses
Book: Yogi in the City is available at major retailers
Watch: Search YouTube for Tamal Dodge yoga classes and interviews
Final thoughts: Tamal’s message for aspiring yogis
Tamal Dodge insists that “you don’t have to change your sky to be a yogi because you are always in the perfect place for yoga.”
