My Story
For as long as I could remember, I navigated life through the lens of fear. I had my first seizure at the age of six. Without permission, this event would influence the subsequent decades of my life. Panic was the precursor to my seizures and fainting spells. These events paralyzed fragments of my adolescence and early adulthood. To cope, I innocently acquired skills and habits thought to protect. I made gross attempts to avoid any form of discomfort. My thoughts controlled my mind, and I had no control over my thoughts. I invented a story that I was born anxious, and fear would always be an innate response. I did not have the tools or knowledge to believe anything different.
In 2007, I walked into my first yoga class. I was 28 years old, stuck in an expired relationship, crippled with anxiety, and faced with moments of overwhelm and debilitating insomnia.
Yoga was my tangible hope for relief.
In 2014 I obtained my 200-hour TT through YogaWorks and became a certified yoga instructor. Within a year, I stopped teaching. I couldn't shake my doubt and insecurity and was not clear on my intentions, style, and the presence I wanted to hold in class. Though the flame was subtle, the innate teacher ignited, and it was here I embarked on what would be a lifetime of desire to teach and be of service.
I was captivated by the yogic philosophy. The same year, I committed to a weekly class to deepen my studies with my teacher, Mynx Inatsugu, and a group of curious and dedicated practitioners. I familiarized myself with the ancient wisdom of the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. I learned how to activate my yoga practice and apply the text into daily hands-on practices for life. The insight discovered and shared within our group has been and continues to be the inspiration, courage, and backbone behind my growth and evolution.
In 2016, I found myself at another crossroads. Crushed by yet another unsuccessful relationship, I was heartbroken and consumed with feelings of defeat and despair. Though influenced by yoga, I was still captive of my thoughts, hostage to my emotions, and exhausted from a lifetime of seeking external validation, love, and affection. I made a wholehearted commitment to myself and dove headfirst into my healing journey.
I learned how to quiet my mind and calm the nervous system through meditation, asana, pranayama, and Vedic chanting. I pursued support from alternative healers whose holistic approach to my care and well-being was in harmony with my values. I detached myself from Western medication and understood that I was not the thoughts of fear once repeated.
I sought the support of women and mentors. I joined a women's writing group, which inspired me to become certified to facilitate writing classes for women and teenage girls. I enrolled in a Sacred Leadership Training and became certified to lead The Practice®.
At the beginning of 2020, I was ready to teach again. Then the pandemic hit, and everything changed.
Our world was on shaky ground. Collectively, we were in unfamiliar territory and trying to manage the extremes of uncertainty, exhaustion, and distress. I found myself in unknown terrain; the exposure of the pandemic left me wide-open and vulnerable to the return of patterns, stories, and reactions I thought I had overcome.
I was at another crossroads. My internal compass pointed me towards the next viable step; I reached out for the wisdom and support of Mynx.
Mynx and I have met weekly (now bi-weekly) for over a year. We explored and implemented practices that create more sattva, stability, and tranquility in my mind and body. I became aware of conditioned beliefs and caught on to places of confusion. We designed aspirations and rituals unique to me to orient my day around what is true and meaningful. The rewards of our work are invaluable beyond words. I continue to evolve, bloom, shine, and delight in the progress made, and I humbly appreciate the student in my soul who will continue to refine, adapt, learn, grow, and try again.
The pandemic has been the ultimate test in discomfort, disappointment, heartache, loss, fear, uncertainty, and so much more. It has also been a beautiful opportunity to slow down and reflect on what is essential and illuminate a collective urge and need for more empathy and appreciation.
I live in the same world I have always lived in, but the world looks different now. My perspective and outlook have shifted. I am no longer the woman who walked into the doors of her first yoga class. I am amazed at the level of commitment, accountability, and trust I have accomplished towards my healing journey and experience.
I desire to share and spread the wisdom I have discovered and uncovered, intending to come from a place of deep service and great love, and I am willing to take harmonious action to express that love and lend a helping hand. We are not meant to do this work alone.
The path has never been straight, but I forge ahead—one step and breath at a time.
Thank you for joining and trusting me on this journey.
xoxo,
Dina
“Everything that lives needs space to grow and to become.”
— THICH NHAT HANH
I took time to cocoon myself in deep rest and self-care and get clear. It was within this place I could hear the call of inspiration. I pursued my dreams despite the challenges that lied ahead. Now more than ever, women need a safe place to be held and connect. To my amazement, it would be the classes and circles I led and continue to lead that have been one of the biggest blessings and silver linings.
Becoming is a conditional and contextual ongoing process, and I believe we all have the capacity to break old patterns and create new and helpful habits and skills. Yoga reminds us of our infinite resilience, strength, compassion, and courage and that peace and happiness are our true nature.
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