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.”

Creative projects: yoga in multimedia

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 about Tamal Dodge

Although Bodhi is closing, Tamal Dodge is not stepping away from teaching yoga.

In a message shared directly with YOGI TIMES, Tamal explained that he is currently leading yoga teacher trainings around the world, including 300-hour yoga teacher training immersions in Costa Rica.

Those interested in advanced study can find details about the upcoming Yoga Salt 300-hour teacher training in Costa Rica on the Yoga Salt website.

Tamal also told us that he is placing more focus on teaching meditation and yoga philosophy courses in locations across the United States.

Explore Tamal Dodge’s work

Book: Yogi in the City is available through major booksellers.

Videos: Tamal’s yoga classes, interviews, and teachings can also be found on YouTube.

Bodhi is closing, but Tamal continues to teach

After six years, Tamal has made the decision to close Bodhi and discontinue its memberships and affiliate program.

He explained that maintaining an online yoga membership platform had become increasingly difficult as the market grew more crowded. The site is expected to remain free for a limited period before being taken offline.

The end of Bodhi represents a change in business direction rather than an end to Tamal’s teaching. His work is continuing through international yoga teacher trainings, meditation courses, and yoga philosophy programs.

Final thoughts

Tamal once shared a simple message for aspiring yogis:

“You don’t have to change your sky to be a yogi because you are always in the perfect place for yoga.”

That idea feels particularly relevant as Bodhi closes. Platforms and businesses may change, but the practice, and the teaching, can continue in new forms.