- What is Shanti Wellness? Can you tell us a little bit about your company?
Shanti Wellness is a premium wellness company that provides CBD, and apoptogenic herbal blends. In the ancient language of Sanskrit, “shanti” means peace and tranquility which became my mission. I was personally struggling with a lot of mental health issues such as depression, and severe anxiety due to a really bad work environment when I first started conceptualizing the company. Spreading shanti, peace and tranquility within myself was really what motivated me to start Shanti Wellness.
- What is CBD? What is your favorite thing about CBD?
CBD is a therapeutic component of the hemp and cannabis plants that is different from THC in that it’s not psychoactive. CBD has a variety of benefits that makes it a unique component in the hemp and cannabis plant –it reduces anxiety, helps your body cope with stress, relieves pain and inflammation, prevents nausea and it’s also anticarcinogenic. There is so much more to be learned about CBD but the research has been amazing!
For Shanti, we use Hemp as our source of CBD. Hemp is naturally high in CBD and low in THC, so it’s an ideal source. Our products are full spectrum as well, meaning that we incorporate all the various beneficial components of the hemp plant beyond CBD as they all work synergistically with your body. The only part we remove is THC. This is because we want to be able to provide you a non-psychoactively engaging product.
My favorite part about CBD is that it can help me anytime and anywhere without changing my mental state too significantly. If I’m feeling anxious I can rely on CBD to help me feel relaxed without being psychoactively engaged, which can cause me more anxiety or paranoia. I really love CBD because there are pretty much no side effects and that’s what I find makes it really user friendly for everybody.
- What first motivated you to get into to CBD industry?
My family actually has a background in health and wellness and I always grew up in a natural, holistic environment. My dad mentioned CBD to me a couple of years ago and I was so impressed that a super conservative Indian man was talking to me about a cannabis derived product. So, I started to research it - I spent a year attending expos and really learning everything I could about cannabinoid oil. That really led me to believe in it, to understand it’s componnents, and to really understand how powerful it can be for people. I really saw the benefit of it and wanted to bring good vetted product into the market as I didn’t see many companies I connected with.
- Can you tell us more about your views on mental health and entrepreneurship?
Mental health is something that is very important to me, especially in terms of women and entrepreneurship – mental health is a subject that is often overlooked by society and by entrepreneurs themselves. Burnout is very real and not taking the time to rest and recharge can have negative impacts on not only your life but also your business. So, I think it’s very important to have tools in your toolbox that not only recharge your mind but also recharge your body, as well as your relationships, to keep you at your very best. As an entrepreneur, you also struggle with self-doubt; I work on rewiring my thinking daily to be more positive, kinder and supportive of myself. We are our biggest critics’ and we would never talk to other the way we talk to ourselves!
- What has been your biggest struggle and your biggest achievement so far?
When you are starting your own business, you overlook some things even though you think you’re double checking, maybe even triple checking. One of our biggest struggles was not planning out how much things would cost in terms of printing and designing. Little mistakes cost us a lot of time, money and headache – like forgetting to put the UPC code on a label - that I think a more seasoned entrepreneur would have noticed. But I’m grateful because I’m able to learn from these mistakes and grow as an entrepreneur and as a business owner.
One of my greatest achievements so far is to have launched on eazewellness.com – a company that I have admired for quite some time. Working with Eaze and getting a big account open like that, earning their trust in my company and myself is a huge badge of honor and a vote of confidence not only for myself but the industry as a whole.
- What’s on your perennial to do list?
I really want to see Shanti on the shelves of Whole Foods and Erewhon. I want it to be distributed at least nationwide but I would like it to be distributed internationally as well. I really think that what we’re creating can really benefit a lot of people in a lot of different countries. I want people to be more aware of holistic natural solutions to everyday problems and I really hope to provide that on a large scale to everyone.
- How do you recommend taking CBD for your first time?
I definitely recommend starting out with our tincture Balance (https://www.shopshanti.com/products/balance-premium-hemp-oil-tincture-500mg) , I do believe it’s the easiest way to incorporate CBD into your routine. I would say that you should take around 1mg for every 10lbs of bodyweight. I usually take around 10-20mg a day – either in the evening or night. I don’t personally take it every day, but I do take it more often during periods of high stress, my period or pain. CBD helps balance your endocannabinoid system – it helps protect happy hormones in the brain, reduces anxiety and really helps relieve pain and inflammation too.
- Since your company is wellness based, could you share some wellness rules you live by?
I’m not sure if this is a wellness rule or a life rule but I just try not to have expectations from people. Expectations are what lead to disappointments and I think that is a lot of what we struggle with in life. I also think that it’s really important to take care of yourself. Whether that means taking a bath, escaping into the woods for the weekend, seeing the doctor or consulting a therapist. I firmly believe in listening to your body. I also think that everyone should try to incorporate some sort of meditation into your daily routine. Unlike a lot of people, I don’t believe meditation is only performed if you follow a breath routine or meditation guru. I think being mindful, being present and grateful can also be a form of meditation. Little changes like that can help make a big change in your life.
- Do you have a wellness guru?
My Dad! He’s consistently been giving me great holistic and wellness advice throughout my life. To meditate, to sleep well, to breathe. He’s my biggest inspiration and one of my biggest supporters in life along with my husband, Ankit. I wouldn’t be here today without him.
- Tell us about the women in your life and the role they’ve played in your success.
I definitely think that in recent years I’ve been able put really strong, motivational women in my life. They not only inspire me, but they keep it real and keep me grounded and I love seeing them in different places in their lives. I lot of them are in different sectors but I’m very inspired by them. I wouldn’t be the women I am without them today.
- What’s the best advice you’ve been given?
There’s a quote from Steve Jobs that I constantly go back to when I’m struggling or feeling insecure.
“I’m convinced that about half of what separates the successful entrepreneurs from the non-successful ones is pure perseverance.” – Steve Jobs
It really just says that it’s not about being the smartest or the richest or the most connected – it’s really about perseverance and tenacity. This ideology is really my north star in life and business - to just keep going no matter what.
- Who is on the guest list for your ideal dinner party?
Alan Watts – I really admire his philosophy. He gets me through a lot of dark times and he gives me new perspectives on life.
Padma Lakshmi – She is an activist and an Indian woman like myself. Reading her memoir really showed me how deep and profound her life is. I really love her work.
Kris Jenner – I really admire the empire she’s created for her family. The Kardashians wouldn’t be **shit** (as successful as they are) where they are without her. She is an evil genius and I love it.
My Dad – Like I’ve said, I’m really inspired by him and I would love to have him around everywhere. People always love him.
My husband- No one gets me in life like Ankit. Also--he always cleans up after parties haha!