Rooted
Lauren Otten’s Isla Mudra Blends Nature, Wellness and Wisdom…
Some people wait their whole lives to see their interests and passions align with their career path. Others discover that alignment early in life. Such is the case for Lauren Otten, owner of Isla Mudra, a carefully curated company specializing in clean, plant and botanical-based self-care products for the body, mind and spirit.
Otten’s interest in medicinal plants and botanicals has been life-long. At just 6 years old, she began growing herbs and experimenting with her own recipes. Her parents were her first inspiration along the journey to create a product line focused on healing. Otten’s mother, Noël Ross, was an environmental activist and a prominent advocate of the original organic movement, having recovered from serious health issues in her youth due to exposure to heavy chemicals.
“While I didn’t appreciate the wheatgrass shots and organic cereals as a child, I couldn’t be more grateful looking back as an adult,” says Otten. “It has made me conscious of the impact of every decision we make as creators and consumers.”
Her father, Ace Otten, raised her on weekend road trips to the wilderness, where she learned to identify native Californian flora and fauna, an experience that helped shape her view of the world and remind her of the value of staying in tune with her surroundings.
When Otten moved to Puerto Rico in 2012, she spent time learning to identify Caribbean herbs and tropical plants. She credits author Maria Benedetti, who wrote the book “Earth and Spirit,” for her deeper understanding of the island’s botanical treasures. Benedetti’s book inspired many of the formulas used in Isla Mudra, which launched in December 2019.
“I have always believed our verbal passage of botanical wisdom to be one of the most important assets and accomplishments of humankind,” says Otten. “It has enabled us to heal ourselves, feed ourselves and live in balance with our planet
for millennia.”
Before leaving the island to return to Northern California in 2024, Otten obtained a certification in traditional herbalism through Benedetti’s classes. Today, Otten considers Benedetti not just her plant guru, but her friend.
Otten holds a diploma in Organic Skincare Formulation from Formula Botanica, the premier online formulation school that upholds the highest standards for world cosmetics. She is a graduate of National Holistic Institute, with certifications in anatomy, physiology, kinesiology, nutrition and aromatherapy, among others. She studied yoga and Ayurveda and worked as a massage therapist and reflexologist for nearly 20 years. She has also worked part time as a singer, fire-dancer, herbalist and breathwork facilitator, which she says was “always more about the passion than the paycheck.”
For five years, Otten worked as the wellness facilitator for Villa Playa Maria in Rincón, Puerto Rico, an oceanfront vacation rental that became a dynamic, early supporter of Isla Mudra. “Nearly everyone that came to me was suffering from red, irritated skin from a sunburn. I developed BluSoothe initially as a treatment oil for these clients, and, soon enough, it made its way into bottles for sale,” says Otten.
BluSoothe, made from blue tansy, copaiba balsam and açaí oil, is one of several products developed for clients at Villa Playa Maria, and has always been a best seller. The Encanto Papaya Mango Ginger Face Wash is close behind it, and the shampoo bars are a crowd favorite.
“The island itself was always my primary muse,” says Otten. “Isla – pronounced ‘EE-slah’ – means island in Spanish and refers to the island of Puerto Rico, where I founded and created the line. It’s also known as Isla del Encanto, or Island of Enchantment. Mudra – pronounced mū-druh – is from yoga, the sister science to the ancient system of Ayurveda.
As an active yogi, these practices have contributed to my own healing throughout my life. It’s all about creating a balance with nature, and that’s what I aim to do with every product I make.”
One of Otten’s greatest honors was creating a custom fragrance for Bosque Nacional El Yunque while she lived on the island. It was aptly named “A Perfume for the Rainforest.” “I originally moved to Puerto Rico because I fell in love with this very rainforest,” Otten says, recognizing the beauty of the full-circle moment.
Otten couldn’t ignore the ecological impacts that big businesses had on the island, and the deforestation of such a small land mass. Seeing the way people fought and continue to defend and preserve the land fueled her passion to try to do things better when it came to both production and packaging. She remains focused on creating green and clean formulas with renewable materials.
“I’ve always wanted my products to be the cleanest and safest I could produce. I avoid single-use items and plastics as much as possible in my entire process. I continue to ship with fully compostable materials, use recyclable and biodegradable packaging, and use ethically sourced botanicals from intentional suppliers who are passionate about the planet,” says Otten.
Isla Mudra products are currently available at Simply Rooted Yoga Studio and The FARM, both in Redding; at Summerlove in Rincón, Puerto Rico; and online at Islamudra.com. Otten also plans to sell at select markets this summer in Northern California.
While brand recognition at the international level is the goal of many business owners, Otten sees the future of Isla Mudra in a different light. She wants to own a small brick and mortar or two, to distribute products to smaller boutiques, and place a couple of items at larger natural goods stores.
“The quality of what I make isn’t meant to be scaled for the global stage, and I’m perfectly OK with that. I would love to open a spa/retail location in California and Puerto Rico, where it all started,” says Otten. “That would be the perfect amount of success to keep my business intentional, sustainable and enjoyable for myself and the amazing people who have been so supportive of my small business.”•
Isla Mudra
www.islamudra.com
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