At Sacred Heart Cathedral, Katrina Baccetti ’08 found the foundation for a journey that would intertwine her love of wellness with an entrepreneurial spirit. With nearly a decade of teaching yoga, ranging from retreats, group classes, private lessons, corporate wellness events and community workshops, Katrina harkened back to her times at SHC that started her on this self-care industry journey. “For an Economics class project with Matt Gallegos ’78, my friend Olga Rios-Avalos ’08 and I sold cupcakes for $1 each for a month. I think we made almost $1,000! That was my young entrepreneur self coming through,” she recalls with a laugh. Katrina was also a member of the SHC Volleyball program all four years, even helping her team reach the CIF state championship and falling to Harvard-Westlake High School, her senior year in 2007. These fond memories, though in the moment felt like high school fun, were the groundwork that led her to her passion for yoga and wellness.
From the Court to the Yoga Mat
When reflecting back on some of the biggest lessons and memories during her time at SHC, Katrina immediately discussed her experience with the SHC Volleyball program and being coached by former Head Volleyball Coach and current Athletic Director Margi Beima. She says, “Volleyball and Margi taught me resilience — how to work with a team, show up in the face of adversity, and never give up when things get hard. Those lessons have been the foundation for everything I’ve built since.” Katrina praised the resilience instilled in her and her teammates by Coach Beima, who were able to show up in the face of adversity with strength and power, and come together as a team when things got difficult.
Katrina turned to this when she faced a crossroads in her life. After earning her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and playing three years of collegiate volleyball at Catholic University in Washington, D.C., Katrina found herself in an office job that didn’t spark joy. “I realized the best part of my day was when I was on my yoga mat,” she says. That realization inspired a bold leap—she quit her job, traveled to India and completed her first yoga teacher training in 2016.
“It wasn’t easy. My family didn’t exactly love the idea at first, and I was scared. But it was transformative both personally and professionally. I knew I was being called to share yoga with the world.”
Katrina went on to express that Coach Beima’s coaching philosophy and never-give-up attitude she instilled in all her players, was a driving force behind Katrina following her passion for teaching yoga. Even though there were doubts and constant questioning of herself as to whether or not she could run her own business, she always came back to that resiliency. ”When you're just connected to your heart and you're doing something with passion and with love, anything is possible.”
Building The High Vibe Collective
In 2021, Katrina co-founded The High Vibe Collective with her partner, Tankut Denker. Their mission: to curate soulful, intentional retreats and events around the globe that blend yoga, breathwork and community connection.
Over the past four years, they've hosted retreats in Bali, Thailand, Greece, Turkey, Costa Rica, Hawaii, Mexico, Alaska (to view the Northern Lights) and Zion National Park, among others.
Each retreat welcomes 12-16 participants, an intentional size to foster closeness. "We want people to leave feeling seen, accepted, and inspired," Katrina explains. "These retreats aren't just vacations. They're opportunities to slow down, connect deeply, and remember what matters."
Why Wellness Matters
For Katrina, yoga is more than movement. It’s a way to live. She states, “It keeps us strong and mobile as we age, supports mental clarity and helps us regulate our emotions. Life throws challenges at us, but yoga teaches us to accept what comes, focus on what we can control, and let go of unnecessary suffering.”
She also sees the future of wellness as community-driven and mindful. "People want to travel consciously, in ways that respect local culture and care for the planet. And they want to gather in spaces where they feel uplifted and supported."
Advice to SHC Students
Katrina encourages current students to trust their passions. “You don’t need to have everything figured out right now. Follow what you love, not what others expect of you. If you’re doing something that brings you joy, you can’t go wrong.” She is looking forward to giving back to the school, including a possible return to SHC for a faculty or alumni event.
Through volleyball practices, classroom projects, and a supportive community, Katrina discovered her entrepreneurial spark early in life, and that curiosity and drive grew into a successful career dedicated to yoga and helping others find balance in their daily lives. After nearly a decade of teaching yoga, Katrina’s path is a reminder that courage, community and a little leap of faith can lead to something extraordinary. If you are interested in taking one of Katrina’s yoga classes or participating in one of the High Vibe Collective retreats, CLICK HERE.
