MY STORY
I know first-hand the transformative power of yogic practices and meditation. My own experience gives me confidence in the power of these practices bring relief from suffering.
For years, I struggled with stress fueled by the physical, mental and emotional strains of a demanding career as an international human rights lawyer travelling around the world. Living in New York City was exciting but - like a pressure cooker - it intensified those strains.
Driven by my passion for human rights work and my hectic schedule, I never seemed to find the time to eat healthy meals or establish sustainable exercise habits. I stayed physically active but I always pushed too hard in every activity, whether it was martial arts, swimming, weight lifting, running, or hiking. The muscle and tendon injuries that inevitably resulted left me in pain and sometimes sidelined me for weeks. Working all hours of the day and night left far too little time for sleep. And I never took a break from thinking about work or worrying about crises with my family or friends. When I went walking in my neighborhood park, my mind churned away in internal dialogue and analysis of problems big or small. Lost in that mental chatter, I barely registered the clarity of the summer sky or the sounds of bare branches rubbing together in the winter.
My body paid the price for these habits, in the form of deep fatigue, frequent headaches, recurrent insomnia and susceptibility to every cold or flu that passed my way. My mind paid the price in the form of constant preoccupation that cut me off from the sense of contentment I so wanted. I became physically, mentally and emotionally depleted.
From my very first experiences of yoga asanas, pranayama and meditation, I knew that I had found my path back to well-being. Yoga and meditation gave me more than skills to cope with stress, worry and ill-health – they brought me freedom. Over time, they have fundamentally transformed my experience of myself and the world around me.
Immersion in these practices brought my mind and body into a state of balance, giving me freedom to live with greater openheartedness and fearlessness. My ongoing practice creates inner stability, a level of contentment that remains steady regardless of the changes in my life.
The process of healing is one of recovering our natural balance, fundamental sanity and capacity for compassion, rather than acquiring new qualities we lack. It this experience of wholeness that I seek to share with clients.
" I had given up practicing yoga postures because of the pain from injuries to my knees and wrists. I thought I would never practice again, until I met Donna. She showed me how to adjust in order to accommodate my physical needs. Not only did she revitalize my old interest in yoga, she taught me how to make it more than a physical activity -- she made it part of a healthy lifestyle. Her teachings reached beyond the classroom and positively influenced my daily life. Her friendliness, compassion, and love for her work motivated me to live a better life.
Mi práctica del yoga había sido cancelada debido a los dolores en rodillas y munecas producidos durante las asanas. Es asi como busque a Donna, quien no solo me enseno a corregir posturas según mis necesidades, si no también, me mostro como llevar un mejor estilo de vida a través del yoga. Los beneficios adquiridos en sus clases iban mas allá del studio, y se trasladaban a lo largo de mi vida diaria. Con su amabilidad, compasion y amor por lo que hace, me mostro simplemente como tener un mejor vivir."
Vielka
Costa Rica
