CULVER CITY, Calif.—Sunday mornings at Village Well Books & Coffee in Culver City offer the scent of freshly brewed coffee along with radiant-colored decorations, presenting a lively environment ideal for encouraging individuals’ creativity and vulnerability. The Growth Club utilizes the inspirational atmosphere and hosts weekly journaling workshops to nurture mind-body relationships.
Entrance of Village Well Books & Coffee in Culver City, where the workshop
is hosted. Individuals observing the store’s inventory on Oct. 27, by Katie Bushell/LMU.
Operating in Los Angeles, with additional virtual memberships offered, the Growth Club welcomes anyone willing to engage in internal efforts, that aim to redefine reality in an advantageous light. “What we care about, our niche is, are you somebody who wants to see the world in a better way? Are you willing to do the inner work that is required in order to birth this new reality,” said Sana Akhand, spiritual leader and co-founder of the Growth Club.
In addition to community engagement and curated dinners, the club hosts a variety of engaging workshops in person and online.
“We’re from all different backgrounds… we can actually discuss what are all of our viewpoints and how do we find that common thread? And then how do we create real change,” said Akhand.
With the ultimate goal of leading a better life, the club holds a mindful journaling workshop every Sunday at 10 a.m. at Village Well Books & Coffee in Culver City. The workshops are led by the founders of the club, Akhand and Carly Sotas—TEDx speaker, author, and entrepreneur. Every month the club emulates a new growth theme, with October 2024’s being “expression.”
The Oct. 20 session was held in the store’s backroom where Akhand awaited the attendants’ arrival with her journal in hand. The session began with introductions and explanations of attendance, influencing a more welcoming and open environment. Akhand voiced her growth story that eventually led to the creation of the Growth Club, subsequent to the announcement of the current theme being expression. “Today I invited everybody to go into… the things that are holding us back from that freest expression of self,” said Akhand.
She then introduced the first journaling prompt, instructing participants to form a list of reasons why their inner voice says they can’t define their own journey and pursue their ambitions. “Today’s session’s goal is to silence that voice,” said Akhand. After 10 minutes of journaling, Akhand invited everyone to read over the list and share an emotion it evoked.
After the group expressed their findings, Akhand invited the attendees to describe their lives, if these voices and limitations didn’t exist. Once 10 minutes of journaling passed, guests were given the opportunity to share one word that summarized how they would feel if their dream life was a reality.
Following the discussion, Akhand reminded everyone that their “dream life” is attainable, as all of the inner, limiting voices are self-imposed. “No one’s holding a gun to our head,” she added.
Participants browse magazines for a symbol that represents their
aspirations for a Growth Club workshop held in a back room in
Village Well Books & Coffee, Culver City. This workshop was
led by Carly Sotas on Oct. 27, by Katie Bushell/LMU.
As the discussion transitioned into the final prompt, Akhand challenged us to identify and share a third option that assists our ambitions, as opposed to the limitation of two extremes.
The workshop concluded as the group shared their takeaways from the exercise. Though only three participants attended, the session revealed the shared tendency to prioritize the perceived future self while disregarding our present needs, ultimately halting personal growth.
When reflecting on the greatest takeaways of the Growth Club’s journaling events, Amanda Rosales, recurring guest of the Oct. 20 and 27 mindfulness workshops, shared, “I realized how much I was neglecting from journaling.” As she later discussed the impact of these sessions, she added, “It’s giving a chance to just be with yourself… with other people, so being accountable.”
The Growth Club offers free admission to the journaling workshops on the first Sunday of every month with the additional days requiring a $10 purchase. Although free admission days bring in bigger crowds, Ruby Black, a cashier at Village Well Books & Coffee voiced, “People are loving it. It’s been going on for a month… or two… there’s never been a day where no one’s shown up.”
The Growth Club is hosting its next mindful journaling workshop on Nov. 3 at 10 a.m. at Village Well Books & Coffee in Culver City.
