Today we’d like to introduce you to Elham Jalali.
Elham, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
My Story – Elham Jalali
I am Elham Jalali.
Nature was my first teacher. As a child, I spent hours listening to birdsong, watching flowing water, and finding peace in the quiet of the natural world. Long before I knew the words mindfulness or presence, nature had already introduced me to them.
Later in life, while earning my Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology and working with children, adolescents, adults, and families, yoga entered my life. Meeting Guru Maya Machwe became a turning point in my personal journey. Under her guidance, yoga became much more than a physical practice—it became my path to health, balance, inner peace, and self-discovery. It transformed not only the way I lived, but also the way I served others.
In 2006, after the birth of my daughter, I felt inspired to bring yoga from adults to children. I realized that children deserve the opportunity to experience mindfulness, emotional awareness, and inner calm from the very beginning of life. That moment marked the beginning of a journey that I have continued with love for more than twenty years.
Throughout these years, I have combined psychology, mindfulness, yoga, storytelling, music, movement, and creative play to help children develop emotional resilience, self-confidence, compassion, and a healthy connection with themselves and the world around them.
Alongside this journey, my husband and I became the founders of Lake Osceola Retreat. Together, we envisioned creating more than a retreat center—we wanted to create a sanctuary for peace, healing, mindfulness, and reconnection with nature. Our dream was to offer a place where people could step away from the demands of everyday life, breathe deeply, slow down, and return to themselves surrounded by the beauty and wisdom of nature.
From all of these experiences, Yogilli was born.
Yogilli is much more than a yoga doll or a character. To me, Yogilli is a gentle companion who invites children into a world of breathing, movement, imagination, storytelling, and self-discovery. My vision is to help children everywhere develop emotional intelligence, confidence, kindness, and lifelong tools for inner well-being through joyful and meaningful experiences.
Today, everything I have learned—from nature, psychology, yoga, motherhood, and the creation of Lake Osceola Retreat—flows into my life’s work through Mindful Life Journey and Yogilli.
I believe that when we teach a child how to return to themselves with a single mindful breath, we offer them a gift that will stay with them for a lifetime. And when we create spaces where adults can reconnect with themselves, we help cultivate a more peaceful, compassionate, and mindful world for everyone.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It has not always been a smooth road, but my journey with yoga has always been a journey of love. Love has been my greatest motivation, so even the challenges became part of the learning process.
Creating yoga programs for children has been a beautiful and creative experience. I wanted yoga to be more than just poses—I wanted it to become a joyful adventure. I spent countless hours designing yoga games, yoga dances, stories, and activities that would make yoga fun, engaging, and meaningful for children. I wanted yoga to feel like a good friend—someone children could trust, enjoy, and grow with.
One of my greatest teachers has always been the children themselves. By watching them, listening to them, and learning from their reactions, they showed me what they truly needed. Their curiosity, honesty, imagination, and joy guided me in creating programs that connected with them in a natural way.
The biggest challenge has been introducing a different perspective on yoga. Many people think of yoga only as physical exercise, but I believe it is a way of nurturing the whole child—the body, mind, emotions, creativity, and spirit. Helping families and communities understand this deeper purpose has taken patience, education, and persistence.
Every challenge strengthened my commitment. Seeing a child become more confident, calmer, happier, or more connected with themselves reminds me why I started this journey. Those moments make every obstacle worthwhile.
As you know, we’re big fans of MindfullifejourneyLLC . For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
My work is centered around two connected visions: Mindful Life Journey and Lake Osceola Retreat.
Mindful Life Journey focuses on children and families, offering mindfulness, yoga, storytelling, movement, and emotional wellness programs that help children build confidence, resilience, and inner calm.
Lake Osceola Retreat, which my husband and I founded in Osceola, Wisconsin, is a peaceful sanctuary for adults, couples, families, and groups. Through yoga, mindfulness, nature, and wellness retreats, we create opportunities for people to slow down, reconnect, and restore balance.
What makes our work unique is that we support people throughout every stage of life—from children discovering mindfulness to adults seeking healing and renewal. Our mission is simple: to help people live with greater awareness, balance, and joy.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: Yogilli.kids
