The workshops can be taken as a 12-week series, or on an individual basis if space permits.

Topics include seeking inspiration, self-esteem, facing changes, attracting the right people, managing obstacles and living a journey of joy.

A complete description of each class is on Lopez's website at www.foryourjourney.com.

Individual workshops are $40 and the series of 12 is $360. Discounts are given if registrants bring along additional people.

Lopez opened the first For Your Journey in September 2003 adjacent to the Towne Theatre, as a place "where everything is intended to enrich, inspire or empower you on your life journey."

In the front of her space, Lopez offered jewelry, inspirational plaques, candles, incense, light-catchers, wind chimes, herbal scents and a popular T-shirt inscribed "Be @ Peace."

Lopez sold a large selection of books ranging from alternative medicines to Zen, including ones on religions, mythology, self-help, astrology and poetry.

Lopez also offered a variety of yoga classes and offered space for a women's circle, a book club, poetry group and other meetings.

In October, Lopez closed that location and the retail side of her business, relocating to 1972 The Alameda, near Highway 880.

Lopez says she feels she has more to contribute by teaching empowerment than she did as a retailer.

"It takes courage to leave a secure job to do what your heart desires," she says. "I want to continue being that role model and show others that we should be flexible enough to continue following our dreams, whenever and wherever that leads."

Lopez says while running her store she watched many women deal with job losses and personal setbacks.

With these women, Lopez listened to their experiences and shared her own story of a painful divorce and journey of self-healing that eventually led her to leave a 14-year career as a financial analyst in high tech to open the business she had been dreaming of.

In the course of listening to customers who felt there was something missing in their busy lives, she created a "class series with basic tools to help teach people how to become inspired to create the life they really want," versus the full life of responsibilities they believe they are supposed to have.

"I have seen women become stronger because they found out that they can do whatever they want," she says. "This is what I want to continue creating in this world."

For additional information on Donna Lopez's Empowerment Essentials workshops and other classes, visit www.foryourjourney.com or call 408.947.1508.