I'm Julia.
PhD in sacred architecture, Vastu Shastra consultant and teacher
APPLYING VASTU SHASTRA TO RESIDENTIAL, COMMERCIAL AND SACRED SPACES WORLDWIDE SINCE 2016.
Through Vastu Shastra and the philosophy of Yoga, I help you align your body, mind and soul through the space where you live or work, supporting your health and spiritual well-being.
Because when those are in harmony, everything else naturally falls into place.
Academic background
TRAINED IN SPAIN, ENGLAND AND INDIA
- PhD in Sacred Architecture. Doctoral research on Vastu Shastra for Christian Spiritual Well-being, Oxford Centre for Mission Studies (UK).
- MA & BA in Escuela Técnica Superior de Arquitectura de Madrid (ETSAM), Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (UPM).
Architect and healer specialising in interior design for health and spiritual well-being. My work brings together academic research and the professional practice of Vastu Shastra with the philosophy of Yoga, making its principles into contemporary life and design.
RESEARCH
My research explores the relationship between architecture, culture and spirituality. From a yogic and transpersonal perspective, I study and practise Vastu Shastra as a living tradition with the potential to support health and spiritual well-being.
The philosophical foundation of my work is inspired by the teachings of Paramhansa Yogananda and by the writings of his direct disciple, Swami Kriyananda, particularly in the fields of art and architecture.
Two questions have shaped my life and career
THE FIRST
Who am I?
I’ve been asking myself this question since I was a teenager. At first, I looked for answers in books on psychology.
But it’s been the practice of Kriya Yoga, which I began in 2013, that has brought me closest to answering it.
THE SECOND
How does architecture affect our health and well-being?
When I was at architecture school, I often wondered why some places immediately make you feel at ease, while others make you want to leave as soon as you walk in.
I could sense that the spaces we inhabit affect our health and well-being, especially from a psychological perspective.
But I couldn’t explain why that happens in a tangible way. But I couldn’t explain why that happens in a tangible way. And none of my professors had the answer.
I found it in Vastu Shastra.
I found the answers in India
I SPENT SIX MONTHS THERE DEVOTING MYSELF TO MY "INNER ARCHITECTURE".
During that time, I discovered a gift for healing, encountered the teachings of Kriya Yoga, and became a disciple of Paramhansa Yogananda.
I was staying at an ashram in Kerala when I decided to join a Feng Shui workshop. It was there that a Dutch woman first introduced me to Vastu Shastra.
The moment she explained what Vastu Shastra was, I knew.
“This is what I’ve been searching for my whole life to answer the questions I had at architecture school.”
For the first time, I had found a tradition that brought architecture, health and spirituality together in a single language. It became the perfect bridge between my healing skills and my passion for design and architecture.
From that moment on, I knew that bringing together Vastu Shastra and Yoga was part of my life’s purpose.
I was looking for an authentic Vastu teacher
It took me two years to find a teacher whose work was both trustworthy and deeply rooted in the tradition.
Dr. Prabhat Poddar
Architect, researcher and disciple of Sri Aurobindo.
Coordinator of the Auroville Planning Group, Director of the Sri Aurobindo Institute of Scientific Research, Fellow of the New York Academy of Sciences, and Founder of the Akash Education and Research Trust.
He devoted much of his life to researching the relationship between architecture, holistic health and well-being through Vastu Shastra and Geobiology.
I was the only international student to receive a scholarship from his foundation to study with him in Pondicherry and take part in his research projects for one year.
Dr Poddar was the one who inspired my research journey and supported my decision to pursue a PhD.
Other teachers who deepened my understanding of Vastu
RESEARCHING FOR MY PHD GAVE ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET THEM AND BUILD ON WHAT I HAD LEARNED FROM DR PODDAR.
Dr. P. V. Ouseph
Christian and the first scholar in India to complete a PhD on Vastu Shastra. Now retired, he served as Head of the Department of Vastu Vidya at Sree Sankaracharya University of Sanskrit (Kerala).
Kanippayyur Krishnan Namboodiripad
The Kanippayyur family is one of the most influential and respected lineages in Vastu Shastra and Vedic astrology in Kerala, with a reputation that extends throughout India.
My vision of Vastu Shastra
CONTEXTUAL, FLEXIBLE AND ORIENTED TOWARDS INNER DEVELOPMENT
My approach to Vastu Shastra challenges some of the most common assumptions about the tradition, both in the East and the West. Vastu is neither a religious practice based on superstition nor simply “India’s Feng Shui”, as it’s often described in the West.
I advocate a contextual and flexible application of its principles, integrating intuitive inquiry with common sense and critical thinking wherever appropriate.
n my experience, Vastu represents the practice of an art that integrates science and spirituality. It’s deeply connected to the inner development of the practitioner and to the expression of their own dharma & svadharma.
How can I help you?
- Vastu consultations. Online or in person.
- Vastu corrections and remedies. No building work required, 100% energy-based.
- Vastu design consultancy for new-build projects and renovations.
- How to Harmonise Your Home for Spiritual Growth. Self-paced online course with immediate access.
- Vastu Shastra for Beginners (Level 1). Online course, January 2027.
- Talks and educational events on Vastu Shastra and Yoga philosophy.
What Dalalba means:
"The first light of the day that comes from the Divine."
A LIGHT THAT SYMBOLISES AWAKENING TO YOUR TRUE ESSENCE.
Because that’s the highest purpose of both Vastu Shastra and Yoga: to help you discover your inner light, align with your true essence, and aspire to Self-realisation.
The name came to me hidden within the syllables of my surnames: Vidal Álvarez.
Research. Teaching. Consultations. Public speaking.
Public speaking.
Thanks to my research, I’ve given talks on Vastu Shastra at international yoga centres and leading academic institutions, such as the Royal College of Art in London (UK) and the Indian Institute of Technology in Varanasi (India).
My journey
Just to show you that nothing worthwhile happens overnight.
And that Vastu Shastra is a discipline that requires study, dedication and commitment.
2006
Diploma in Interior Architecture, Escuela Técnica Superior de Arquitectura de Madrid (ETSAM), Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (UPM). I moved to London.
2007 – 2009
My first role as an interior designer at Foster + Partners (Norman Foster's architectural practice) in London, where I worked on large-scale international projects.
2009 – 2010
I moved to France, where I co-founded Nenha and was responsible for its corporate identity and the interior design of its centres.
2010
I returned to Madrid to complete a Master's degree at ETSAM, while continuing my work with Nenha and collaborating with the British practice CTE.
This was also the year Dalalba was born.
2013
I travelled solo around India with nothing but a backpack for six months.
It was there that I became a disciple of Paramhansa Yogananda, realised my vocation as a healer, and discovered Vastu Shastra, which I immediately fell in love with.
2015
I moved to Pondicherry (India) after receiving a research scholarship to study Vastu Shastra and Geobiology with Dr Prabhat Poddar.
2017
I began my PhD in sacred architecture at the Oxford Centre for Mission Studies (UK). Combining my doctoral research with my work as an interior designer, healer and Vastu consultant.
2022-2024
I took a step back from my professional activities to focus on completing my doctoral research.
2025
Awarded a PhD in Sacred Architecture for my research: Vastu Shastra for Christian Spiritual Well-being, at the Oxford Centre for Mission Studies (UK). I also began giving talks on Vastu Shastra at leading international institutions and yoga centres.
2026
I registered the Dalalba Method™, returned to my consultancy work and began teaching, bringing together everything I’d learned through years of doctoral research and daily Kriya Yoga practice.
Beyond Dalalba
THE VALUES THAT GUIDE MY WORK AND MY LIFE
Raised in the Catholic tradition and a disciple of Paramhansa Yogananda since 2013, I describe myself as a Christian yogini with an ecumenical and universal approach.
Many people are surprised by this combination of Yoga and Christianity. But the truth is that both Vastu Shastra and Yoga are universal traditions that bring together science and spirituality. My approach is designed to honour your own beliefs and spiritual tradition.
That’s why one of my core values is respect for all cultures, religious traditions and ways of thinking.
I’m meticulous and attentive to detail, both in my personal life and in the way I work and teach.
I don’t make exaggerated promises. Honesty and transparency are part of who I am. I value sincerity and open communication.
Your home is your sanctuary, so I treat your privacy with the utmost discretion and confidentiality.
Would you like to begin your journey into Vastu?
I recommend this free class, where you’ll discover the difference between Vastu Shastra and Feng Shui (and find out which approach resonates most with you).