Wellness enthusiast Karla Dascal embraces a new approach to nutrition in her personal life and at The Sacred Space.
Long before she made wellness part of her business model, Karla Dascal had already devoted herself to being healthy by quitting alcohol, adopting veganism and embracing fitness and clarity of mind.
“I work daily on developing my own consciousness and self-discovery,” she says. “I’m going the deepest I’ve ever gone with my healing, and even still, I’m going deeper because the work is never over.”
All the knowledge Dascal has achieved in her quest for self-improvement informs the programming of The Sacred Space, a center she founded in 2016 that focuses on what she calls “sensory experiences designed for awakening the highest potential and radiant vibration for all.” That means a holistic shop (Flow), an all-vegan restaurant (Plant Miami) and a schedule of integrative classes and experiences that range from sound therapy to kundalini yoga. These days, one of Dascal’s latest collaborations there is a series with Dr. Will Cole, a nutrition expert who’s best known for his advocacy of the ketotarian diet, a variation on keto eating that provides the health and weight-loss benefits of said regimen via a more plant-based program that eschews animal protein and dairy.
“I spent many years on a strictly vegan diet because that’s what I needed at that moment, but everything is always changing and you have to adapt,” says Dascal. “I’d heard about keto, but it was heavy on animal protein and dairy, which wasn’t right for me. I was still curious to find something I could incorporate that was more vegetable-based. I did my research and Dr. Cole continued to surface, so when I saw his book on the ketotarian [approach], I immediately ordered it, and the benefits have been incredible.”
Now, Dascal starts her days with Sun Potion matcha and ghee for breakfast. Lunch is any of the Dr. Cole-approved dishes at Plant, including cauliflower steak, mamey bowl and sunflower Caesar salad. And a typical dinner might include zucchini noodles with sauteed spinach and organic grass-fed cheese. “There are so many options on the program,” she says. “You can be vegan, vegetarian or pescatarian.” Eight months in, Dascal has noticed a slew of positive results: “My brain function and alertness have increased, my inflammation has decreased tremendously, my energy levels are soaring, and my skin is glowing.”
Dr. Cole’s series (the next of which is yet to be scheduled) at The Sacred Space includes a consultation with an overview of blood results, recommended focus foods and supplements, as well as cooking demonstrations, education about the program and practical implementation of the ketotarian diet. “Dr. Cole treats the whole person to get to the root causes of distress or disease,” adds Dascal. “Once I was on the program, I knew I had to share his gifts with Miami.” 105 NE 24th St., Miami, 786.621.5006, sacredspacemiami.com
Photography by: Rockaway PR/Sonja Garnitschnig
