Meet Asal Shokati of Joolbox77 in Memorial

Asal, before we jump into specific questions about your work, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I have spent most of my adult life living in Houston, but I was born in Tehran, Iran and lived there till 2001. The first ten years of being here, I was occupied with school, work, getting permits, exploring life, finding amazing friends and doing some art here and there.  There came a point that despite being very happy living here, I decided to move to Austin to pursue my then dream job of being in microfinance and also extending my stay in the US.  But

it seemed to have been a deep curiosity combined with following through my intent to have a lifestyle that kept me in the most balanced and natural ways possible, that a few years ago I made the not so easy decision of leaving my corporate job in finance. While  enjoying a sabbatical and simultaneously thinking about what my next step would be work-wise, I became re-introduced to Ayurveda. My health: physical, mental, and spiritual had become my top priority, so I began learning about this ancient medicine of India on my own first. An inner voice kept reminding me to pace myself and gently get immersed in the modality: no zeal, no bias, no shortcuts. Simply through curiosity and openness. Parallel to that, I started a  consulting business to support highly creative groups of entrepreneurs and eventually got involved with an exciting space architecture project, that rapidly expanded and became award winning.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
It has, and at the same time, has not been a smooth ride. The biggest obstacles which arose were ones related to self-limiting thoughts and patterns, and to self doubt as whether what I have to offer would be of any value to others.  Yet, the passion for sharing this knowledge in a gentle manner kept paving the way for reaching out to those who have been open and eager to receive it.

Please tell us about your work.
Once I felt the uplifting effects of Ayurveda and saw the good it could do in both my daily and work life, I made a commitment to become certified as a practitioner. My goal was to guide and serve the entrepreneurial and creative communities: those who typically become so absorbed in producing fantastic results that they tend to forget about themselves and self-care.

At this point, I teach small and medium sized groups on the four pillars of health according to Ayurveda with an emphasis on optimal digestion, absorption, sleep, etc. I also consult one-on-one in person and online with those who believe in the importance of the behavioral aspects of life and wish to re-introduce balance to their experience. All this is done with regard to one’s unique constitution. I also offer a small line of hand-batched fresh and sustainable organic and fair-trade teas, spice mixes and other Ayurvedic products called Chimi’s Mixes and Elixirs.

Joolbox77, is the name of my company and is a play on the words jewel box and toolbox. I believe every individual holds a treasure box within, and once they discover this, they have access to a large array of tools that will help them tap into these jewels or unlimited resources.

What sets this business apart is my genuine interest in understanding each person’s unique path and story and reflecting back to them their own truth. Simplicity and practicality are also very important and an integral part of my work.

Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
While the world, Houston included, is experiencing sudden changes at this time, I have come to further see the role of a larger collective which throughout life has supported and nurtured me to stay grounded and open during hardship. I have had many teachers and mentors who have helped me stay more balanced and some very beautiful family members, especially mom and dad, and friends, who know who they are, that support me continuously on this path.  I certainly wish to honor my teacher Dr. Paul Dugliss, MD whom with an open heart, shared the infinite wisdom of Ayurveda in a practical way with myself and so many others. Also, David Lesinski’s guidance has been pivotal in my growth. My friend and business coach/teacher, Elena Herdieckerhoff, has also been there for me all along. Love to them all.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.joolbox77.com
• Email: info@joolbox77.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/joolbox77