Today we’d like to introduce you to Claudia Castro.
Hi Claudia, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Del Sol Yoga and Kung: A Journey of Coming Home
By the founders, Thomas and Claudia
Some journeys begin long before we understand where they are leading. They begin with a moment, a question, a feeling that there is something more to discover. Sometimes, we spend a lifetime following that quiet invitation, only to realize that what we were seeking was also something we were meant to share.
For me, that journey began when I was five years old.
While in the hospital, I was mysteriously handed a set of meditation beads. I could not have understood then what that moment might mean, but something in me was awakened. It marked the beginning of a lifelong spiritual journey, one shaped by curiosity, devotion, and a desire to deepen my connection with the divine spirit. I continued to seek, to read, to study, and to explore the deeper truths that give meaning to our lives.
Thomas and I have been walking alongside one another since kindergarten. We grew up together, attended school together, and shared a love of reading and an enduring curiosity about the nature of life and the truths that lie beneath the surface of our everyday experience. Looking back, I can see how our individual paths were quietly preparing us for something we would eventually create together.
When we came to Austin to study at the University of Texas, our exploration of meditation and spiritual practice continued to deepen. It was there that we discovered yoga and kung fu, practices that would profoundly shape our lives. We began to experience firsthand how these disciplines could cultivate a steadier mind, a more connected body, and a deeper awareness of the spirit within us.
An idea began to take root.
What if more people had access to these tools? What if the practices that had helped us find grounding, clarity, and a deeper connection to our own truth could become available to others? What if we could create a space where people could learn to meet the challenges of life with greater awareness, resilience, and joy?
We did not yet know exactly what that space would look like. We only knew that the practices were changing us, and that we felt called to share what we were receiving.
After graduation, our lives took us into different forms of service. Thomas began teaching middle school students at an at-risk school, while I worked with a company serving people living with diabetes. Our professional lives were different, but a common thread ran through them: the importance of caring for people, recognizing their individual needs, and helping them find the tools to live fuller lives.
No path unfolds alone. Along the way, we have been blessed by teachers whose wisdom, generosity, and dedication helped nurture the fire of our own practice. Brigette, Jonny Kest, Jai Uttal, and Nubia Texeira have each been part of the wider constellation of teachers who have enriched our journey and deepened our understanding of these traditions.
Their influence reminds us that teaching is not simply about sharing what we know. It is about remaining open to learning, honoring the wisdom that has been entrusted to us, and allowing that wisdom to continue moving through the world. We remain students, even as we serve as teachers, and we are grateful for the many people who have helped shape the path we walk today. We completed our yoga teaching certifications, and Thomas continued his martial arts journey to become a Sifu.
Gradually, opportunities to teach began to unfold. One of my teachers moved out of state and invited me to take over some of her classes. Thomas began teaching for his own teacher. What had once been a personal practice was becoming a way of serving others.
Still, the vision was waiting for its moment.
That moment came with the birth of our daughter in the early 2000s. Becoming parents changed our perspective and brought a new clarity to the life we wanted to build. We felt it was time to give our vision a home. We opened our first studio, inspired by a deep desire to offer our community the practices that had nourished us: mindfulness, movement, meditation, and the cultivation of a strong, integrated mind, body, and spirit.
Del Sol Yoga and Kung was born from that intention.
We wanted to create more than a place to attend classes. We wanted to cultivate a community where people could develop a relationship with themselves, discover their own inner resources, and experience the profound possibility of living with greater presence and purpose. We believed that the practices of yoga, meditation, and kung fu could support people through the complexities of life, helping them become more grounded, more aware, and more connected to what matters most.
Over time, the studio grew, and so did the community around it. We witnessed people deepen their practices, find new confidence, and develop a more meaningful relationship with themselves. We created teacher training programs, and to date, more than 350 people have participated in our trainings. Each person who carries these teachings forward becomes part of a living tradition of learning, practice, and service.
Our own journey of study continued as well. We traveled to India to deepen our understanding of the traditions that had inspired us, learning from wonderful teachers and exploring mantra, meditation, and the rich spiritual heritage from which so many of these practices emerge. For the past 16 years, we have also led spiritual retreats to India and Nicaragua, creating opportunities for people to step outside their familiar surroundings, encounter other cultures, and experience the sense of connection that reaches beyond borders.
These journeys have reinforced something we have come to understand more deeply with time: although our lives may look different on the surface, our longing for connection, meaning, peace, and belonging is profoundly human.
Then came another unexpected turning point.
During the pandemic, we left the second studio into which we had expanded. We returned to a vision we had carried quietly for nearly three decades: a place where the natural world could become part of the practice itself, where people could gather, breathe, move, and reconnect amid the beauty of the land.
Finding Home on the Land
When we finally arrived on our ten acres along Fitzhugh Road, something we had imagined for nearly three decades began to take shape before our eyes.
During those first two years, as the buildings were being created, we practiced outdoors. We watched the sun rise over the land and lingered in the beauty of its sunsets. These moments became their own kind of practice—a reminder to pause, to notice, and to be present with the extraordinary simplicity of being alive.
The sky seemed to offer a quiet invitation each day: begin again, be here, pay attention.
The land was never simply a backdrop for our work. Its open spaces, rolling Hill Country views, and changing light became part of the experience we hoped to share. We wanted people to have room to breathe, to listen inwardly, and to experience the restorative connection between personal practice and the natural world.
Today, we feel deeply grateful to call this place home. What once lived as a dreamy visualization has become a gathering place for a community devoted to learning, growth, and connection.
Today, Del Sol Yoga and Kung feels like the unfolding of a dream that began almost 30 years ago. The land offers room to pause and take a fuller breath, but what makes Del Sol a home is the community that gathers here. It is the people who return to their mats, who show up to practice, who learn from one another, and who continue to discover new dimensions of themselves. It is the teachers, students, and families whose presence gives life to the original vision in ways we could never have fully imagined.
We feel profoundly grateful for this community. It is an honor to wake each day with the opportunity to serve, to share these practices, and to offer a space that supports healing, well-being, and personal growth. We know that every person arrives carrying a different story. Some come seeking strength or flexibility. Others are looking for calm, clarity, or a place to begin again. Some may be curious about meditation or martial arts; others may feel an inexplicable pull toward something they cannot yet name.
There is room for all of them.
You do not need to arrive with experience or certainty. You do not need to know what you are looking for. Sometimes, the simple willingness to show up is enough.
At Del Sol, we hope people find practices that meet them where they are and help them move toward where they want to be. We hope they discover that caring for the body can open a door to caring for the mind, that stillness can reveal what constant activity obscures, and that strength can coexist with softness. Most of all, we hope they begin to recognize the wisdom and vitality already within them.
For us, this has always been about more than learning a particular discipline. It is about remembering our connection to life itself. We hold a deep belief that each of us carries a spark of divine energy, an innate vitality that can be nurtured through awareness, practice, and connection. The work is not necessarily to become someone different, but to uncover what has always been present beneath the noise, the expectations, and the demands of daily life.
Sometimes I think back to that little girl in the hospital, holding the meditation beads she had been given. I could not have known then where that moment would lead. I could not have imagined the teachers I would meet, the life Thomas and I would build together, the birth of our daughter, the students who would become teachers themselves, or the community that would grow around a shared love of practice.
I only know that something in me recognized an invitation, and I kept following it.
Today, the circle feels beautifully connected. What began as a personal search for truth has become a shared offering. The practices that helped us find our footing have become tools we can place in the hands of others. And the vision we once held in our imaginations has become a living, breathing place where people gather to nurture their own journeys.
Perhaps this is the quiet gift of a spiritual path: the more deeply we learn to listen, the more clearly we begin to understand that what we receive is not meant to end with us.
It is meant to be shared.
And so we continue, grateful for the teachers who have guided us, the students who have trusted us, the land that holds us, and the community that makes this work meaningful. We continue to learn, to practice, and to serve, knowing that there is always more to discover and always another opportunity to meet ourselves and one another with care.
A Place for Sacred Gathering
As Del Sol has grown, so has our understanding of what this space can hold. Alongside our regular classes and teacher trainings, we now welcome sacred gatherings, workshops, and special events that allow others to share in the spirit of the land.
We see this as a natural extension of our original intention: to create a place where people can come together with purpose, explore new possibilities, and nurture a deeper relationship with themselves and one another.
Whether someone arrives for a yoga class, a kung fu practice, a meditation, a workshop, or a meaningful gathering with others, our hope is that they feel welcomed into a space where presence and care matter.
If Del Sol Yoga and Kung can offer one simple reminder, it is this: there is a place within each of us that can be returned to, a deeper truth that can be remembered, and a life energy that can be cultivated with tenderness and intention.
We are grateful to walk that path with you.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
No, the road has not always been smooth. One of our greatest challenges came during the pandemic, when so much of what we had spent years building changed almost overnight. We lost approximately 80% of our clientele, and like so many small businesses, we had to find a way to adapt, reconnect, and begin again.
We moved our practices outdoors and took our classes online, learning new ways to stay connected with our community during a time when connection was more important than ever. Although it was a challenging and uncertain period, it also brought unexpected gifts. Practicing outside, surrounded by the natural beauty of the land, reminded us how deeply healing it can be to connect with nature. The open sky, the fresh air, and the rhythms of sunrise and sunset offered a sense of grounding and perspective when so much of the world felt uncertain.
We learned to adapt, to let go of what we thought things were supposed to look like, and to remain connected to the heart of why we began this work in the first place. As we gradually welcomed people back indoors, we were reminded of something equally profound: there is no substitute for being together. Practicing in community, sharing a room, feeling one another’s presence, and growing alongside others are essential parts of the experience.
Rebuilding after such a significant loss took time, patience, and trust. We had to grow our community again while continuing to nurture the vision that had brought us here. In many ways, the experience taught us to live our own teachings… to meet uncertainty with mindfulness, to remain flexible when life changes, and to find opportunities for growth even in difficult seasons.
Looking back, we can see that the pandemic was not simply a time of loss. It was also a time of transformation. It strengthened our relationship with the land, deepened our appreciation for our community, and reminded us that while the form of our work may change, its essence remains the same: to create a space where people can feel connected, supported, and more fully alive.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
1. What should we know about your business? What do you do or specialize in?
Del Sol Yoga and Kung Fu, lovingly known as Del Sol, is a family-owned, grassroots business that grew from a shared vision my husband, Thomas, and I began nurturing nearly three decades ago. We opened our doors in 2007 with a simple but profound intention: to share the practices that had transformed our own lives and offer people practical tools to cultivate a stronger mind, a healthier body, and a deeper connection to their spirit.
We offer yoga, kung fu, meditation, mindfulness practices, personal training, teacher trainings, spiritual retreats, workshops, and sacred gatherings. Our ten-acre Hill Country sanctuary provides a space where people can step away from the demands of everyday life and reconnect with themselves and the natural world.
At the heart of everything we do is the belief that these practices are not simply exercises or techniques. They are pathways to greater awareness, resilience, clarity, and joy. We want people to leave feeling not only stronger in their bodies, but more grounded in their lives and more connected to who they are.
2. What are you known for?
We are known for the depth and intentionality of our classes. Every class carries a message and is thoughtfully layered to guide people from the busyness of the outer world into the quieter, more intimate landscape within themselves.
Our classes are designed to challenge people physically, mentally, and spiritually. We invite students to move beyond what is familiar, meet themselves honestly, and discover what becomes possible when they bring awareness to their practice. The physical work is important, but it is also a doorway into something deeper: patience, courage, self-understanding, and the ability to meet life’s challenges with greater presence.
Our intention is for each person to leave with more than a good workout. We hope they leave with a renewed connection to themselves and something meaningful they can carry into their everyday lives.
3. What sets you apart from others?
What makes Del Sol distinctive is the combination of depth of practice, decades of experience, genuine personal connection, and a place created with extraordinary care.
Thomas and I have been studying and practicing these disciplines for more than 30 years and teaching for over 25 years. We practice what we teach in our own daily lives, and our work continues to be shaped by our teachers, our studies, our travels, and the community that has grown alongside us. We approach teaching not as something we have mastered, but as a lifelong path of learning and service.
Del Sol is also an expression of our vision in a very tangible way. Nearly everything people experience here has been thoughtfully created or handmade by Thomas, from the ceilings and light fixtures to the benches, shelves, fountain, and outdoor spaces. We have incorporated materials from the land into the space itself, bringing the natural world indoors and allowing the environment to reflect the same intention that guides our practices.
This is not a space created simply to look beautiful. Every detail reflects our desire to create a place that feels welcoming, grounding, and connected to something greater. Del Sol is an extension of our home, our family, our practice, and our hearts.
4. What are you most proud of, brand-wise?
We are most proud that Del Sol has grown organically from a heartfelt vision into a thriving community while remaining true to its original purpose.
Since opening in 2007, we have had the privilege of witnessing people deepen their practices, develop meaningful relationships with themselves, and carry these teachings into their families and communities. More than 350 people have participated in our teacher trainings, and it is deeply rewarding to know that these practices continue to reach others through the people who have studied with us.
We are equally proud of the home we have created on our ten acres in the Hill Country. Thomas has poured so much of himself into the land and the physical space, shaping it by hand with care and intention. What people see when they arrive is not simply a studio, but the embodiment of a vision we carried for nearly three decades.
Above all, we are proud that Del Sol remains a family business built on love, integrity, experience, and service. We have grown and evolved, but the heart of why we began has never changed: to share the practices that have nourished our own lives and make them accessible to others.
5. What do you want readers to know about your brand offerings and services?
We want people to know that anyone can begin a mindfulness practice. You do not need to be flexible, experienced, athletic, or already familiar with meditation or yoga. You do not need to have everything figured out. You simply need a willingness to begin.
At Del Sol, there is something for everyone, whether you are drawn to yoga, kung fu, meditation, mindfulness, teacher training, a spiritual retreat, or a workshop that allows you to explore something new. Our classes meet people at different stages of their journeys, offering opportunities to build strength, develop focus, cultivate inner stillness, and deepen their relationship with themselves.
We also welcome teachers, facilitators, and communities seeking a meaningful setting for workshops, sacred events, and gatherings. Our ten-acre property offers a natural sanctuary where people can come together with intention and experience the beauty of connecting with one another and the land.
We have spent more than 30 years walking this path and more than 25 years teaching, and we continue to practice these teachings in our daily lives. Del Sol is a grassroots family business that has grown through dedication, trust, and a genuine love for what we share.
Our greatest hope is that people feel welcome to come exactly as they are. You do not have to know what you are looking for before you arrive. Sometimes, the first step is simply showing up, taking a breath, and allowing yourself the space to listen.
We believe there is a deeper truth within each of us, a spark of divine energy and vitality that can be nurtured through practice, awareness, and connection. Our role is to offer the tools, guidance, and space to help people rediscover that for themselves.
What makes you happy?
What makes us happiest is knowing that something we have shared has made a meaningful difference in someone else’s life. When a person leaves a class feeling more grounded, finds clarity during a difficult season, reconnects with themselves, or discovers a little more peace and joy, we feel deeply grateful.
That is why we do this work. The practices we share have shaped our own lives, and being able to pass them on and witness how they touch others is one of the greatest gifts. Sometimes the impact is quiet and subtle; other times, it can be life-changing. Either way, knowing that something we offered helped someone feel more connected, supported, or alive reminds us why this path matters so much.
For us, success has never been only about growing a business. It is about the lives touched, the connections nurtured, and the ripples of healing and awareness that extend far beyond our studio. When what we share continues to make a difference long after someone leaves our space, that is what truly makes us happy.
Pricing:
- New Students: 21 Days for $67 Try all our offerings
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.delsolaustin.com
- Instagram: delsolaustin
- Facebook: Del Sol Yoga and Kung Fu
