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Women In Wellness: Chakra Earthsong of KeVita On The Five Lifestyle Tweaks That Will Help Support People’s Journey Towards Better Wellbeing

An Interview With Candice Georgiadis

Become an expert in your own field — Working with a team of three at the beginning, I recall constantly reaching out to university professors and scientists in the fermentation field — but it wasn’t until we started experimenting on our own that we were becoming the experts we were initially looking for. Becoming an expert in the field, especially as niche as fermentation, allowed me to control KeVita’s narrative and spread that wealth of knowledge with those who are new to the industry.

As a part of my series about the women in wellness, I had the pleasure of interviewing Chakra Earthsong.

Chakra Earthsong is the Founder and the Chief formulator of KeVita. As a Certified Nutritionist, Chakra values the importance of self-care, probiotics and holistic wellness. She brings more than three decades of experience in the natural product and alternative health industries.

Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series! Our readers would love to “get to know you” better. Can you share your “backstory” with us?

I’ve always had a deep passion for health and wellness, which started at a very young age. I grew up motivated to find different ways to live more holistically and began fermenting raw goat’s milk decades ago. It was when I was culturing raw goats milk kefir that I discovered and began fermenting water kefir in my Ojai, California kitchen in 2008.

That’s when I dove into the benefits of water kefir fermentation. There was nothing else like it in the marketplace and as a nutritionist and life coach, I felt it was my responsibility to share my knowledge and experience with people — hence, how KeVita was founded.

That fermented water kefir turned into the creation of more than two dozen formulas and flavors of Sparkling Probiotic Drinks, Apple Cider Vinegar Tonics, Master Brew Kombuchas and Prebiotic Shots.

Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you started your career? What were the main lessons or takeaways from that story?

In the initial stages, I spent a lot of time researching, networking and seeking experts — especially those who had experience fermenting water kefir. I had a small team of three at the time, and we reached out to experts in the fermentation field, university professors and consultants. After months of experimenting on our own, it became clear that we were becoming the experts we were looking for. We developed the knowledge that is infused in KeVita’s drink lines as an authentic and transparent brand and thus were excited to share that wealth with the rest of the world. The lesson here is that no matter how much research someone completes on a given business — you are the one who knows your business the best and have the knowledge and authenticity that nobody else has.

Can you share a story about the biggest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?

When I was fermenting water kefir culture in my kitchen, I had one tablespoon of water kefir culture and the demand for a mass kefir culture grew unexpectedly and exponentially. I didn’t realize how I’d store all the extra gallons of culture and our extra fridge was packed to the brim. I ended up making friends with the manager of our local appliance store, and each time I ran out of space, I bought another refrigerator. I had three refrigerators filled with water kefir culture alone in the first year. Pro tip: Introduce yourself to the manager of your local appliance store when starting a new, first-to-market product and always err on the side of caution when it comes to storage.

Let’s jump to our main focus. When it comes to health and wellness, how is the work you are doing helping to make a bigger impact in the world?

Promoting a holistic lifestyle is one of the main pillars of KeVita, and I love how we’re offering authentic and high-quality fermented drink options that can help people meet their personal lifestyle goals. I’m passionate about making KeVita as accessible to as many people as possible. That’s why we offer delicious flavor options that appeal to a variety of taste preferences — from Sparkling Probiotic Drinks for those new to the fermented drink category to Master Brew Kombuchas and Apple Cider Vinegar Tonics for more seasoned drinkers.

Outside of KeVita, I love giving back to communities and those in need who align with our brand values. We’ve partnered with many non-profits over the years, including the Whole Planet Foundation on their International Women’s Day initiatives.

Can you share your top five “lifestyle tweaks” that you believe will help support people’s journey towards better wellbeing? Please give an example or story for each. And if you could start a movement that would bring the most amount of wellness to the most amount of people, what would that be?

For me, my top five lifestyle tweaks would be:

Practicing self-care

When it comes to wellness, it’s essential to incorporate daily practices into your routine. As many of us have been home throughout the pandemic, it’s easy to get caught up with the more mundane aspects of life and work. Prioritizing self-care is everything. I like to spend a few moments each day journaling, enjoying a cup of one of my favorite teas, lighting candles, a long soak in a hot bath, reading a great book, taking a hike, taking time to talk to friends, or listening to what is calling to me in that moment. It is also important to rest your body as much as you can — taking the extra time to calm the body down goes a long way.

Finding ways to move my body

For exercise, I try to incorporate something in my day that keeps my body moving, whether that is practicing yoga, dancing, or hiking or walking outside and enjoying fresh air.

Eating well

Just as important as exercise is a balanced diet. It’s crucial to know what you are fueling your body with and ensure you’re getting proper nutrients and vitamins. KeVita is part of my own daily diet and I love using it as part of my wellness routine.

Being aware of my own breath

I like to begin my days with yoga or meditation to focus on the present moment and be mindful of thoughts and energy I allow to enter my body. This is especially important given the fast-paced world we live in today — these few minutes every morning help keep me grounded and full of gratitude.

Prioritizing enriching experiences

What is also incredibly important and often overlooked as a form of wellness is prioritizing experiences. Making sure to take time to have fun, travel, try new things and give in to fulfilling indulgences is so important for our mental health and overall wellbeing.

I’d like to think that introducing people to the probiotic drink category through KeVita has helped many people on their wellness journey. Creating a product that is delicious, bubbly and accessible to all has certainly added to my own wellness routine.

What are your “5 Things I Wish Someone Told Me Before I Started” and why?

Trust the process

I hold this as an important value in my life. The same applies to business. With the many hurdles and challenges in a start-up, it’s essential to trust the process.

Integrity and alignment are essential business values

These are essential values in my personal life and relationships. Through difficult learning experiences, I have seen how important these values are to me to make KeVita as successful as it is today.

Hire up and work with skilled individuals

People with high integrity who are aligned, skilled, passionate and open-minded have the capacity and willingness to learn to understand a complex product like KeVita. Don’t settle for less!

Trust your gut

If it doesn’t feel right to me, I need to listen to that voice and take a different approach that feels right to me.

Become an expert in your own field

Working with a team of three at the beginning, I recall constantly reaching out to university professors and scientists in the fermentation field — but it wasn’t until we started experimenting on our own that we were becoming the experts we were initially looking for. Becoming an expert in the field, especially as niche as fermentation, allowed me to control KeVita’s narrative and spread that wealth of knowledge with those who are new to the industry.

Sustainability, veganism, mental health and environmental changes are big topics at the moment. Which one of these causes is dearest to you, and why?

These are all topics I’m incredibly passionate about and are very close to my heart. I believe sustaining a healthy mental state is crucial to maintaining a long and healthy lifestyle. Health is multidimensional and maintaining a positive mental state is a huge aspect of overall health and wellness. What we feed our brain is just as important as what we feed our body, especially today. Taking care of mental health is just as important as taking care of physical health.

What is the best way our readers can follow you online?

Readers can follow me on Twitter and Instagram @chakraearthsong and can find me on Facebook at Chakra Earthsong. They can also find me on the KeVita’s social channels at @KeVitaDrinks on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram or on our website www.kevita.com!

Thank you for these fantastic insights!


Women In Wellness: Chakra Earthsong of KeVita On The Five Lifestyle Tweaks That Will Help Support… was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.