Yogi Spotlight Series - Dara Danielle

Dara Danielle

Instagram ID: pintsizenurse

Location: Bronx, NY

Occupation:  Registered Nurse

Dara describes herself as a homebody who rather be home watching a movie or reading a book than going out partying. She considers herself to be just a very simple, laid back woman and importantly a  mother before anything. She has a 12 year old daughter who has kept her very busy with her dance schedule for the last 5 years. Aside from keeping up with her, she's been a mental health/substance abuse nurse for the last 2 years however she eventually she would like to get into pediatrics. 

Dara was one of the first yogis I followed on Instagram and she has continued to be a source of inspiration for me and many others.  So glad she decided to participate in the Yogi Spotlight Series!

Yoga is peace, grounding, everything! ~Dara Danielle

How long have you been practicing yoga? 

Since November 2013.

How often do you practice? 

I practice at least  5 times a week.

How did you begin your yoga journey?  Yoga was something I was always interested in, but I thought I had to go to a studio to learn. Following @ladydork on IG was the reason I started to practice at home. Seeing her progress from being self-taught let me know this was a practice I could learn on my own as well.

Do you attend classes or are you self-taught? 

   I started out being self-taught and  now I try to attend classes and workshops regularly.

Do you feel yoga is more mental or physical? I think yoga is definitely more mental than physical.

What have you learned from your practice? I’ve learned how much I love and appreciate myself through my practice. Before yoga, I was very insecure and I looked for ways to fill that void by turning to others. But since yoga, I’ve learned I don’t need anyone to make me feel that I’m worth it. I’ve found my self-worth through my practice and I’m so grateful for that.

What's the most challenging part of your practice?

Getting through the “bad days” of practice. The days where nothing seems to come together. Not being able to get into asanas that other days are a breeze to get in to. That’s really challenging because you have to take those days as a learning experiences and not as failures.

What keeps you motivated?  The fact that there is no end result/goal with my practice. There is always something to learn and that’s what keeps me motivated. I love that there’s always more to come.

      How to you feel about the increase of black women getting into yoga?

I LOVE IT! Yoga is for everyone and it’s always something that’s been labeled a white woman/hippie thing for so long. Yoga is for everyone and it’s great to see more people, especially women of color embrace the practice.

    How important is it for you to see diversity in yoga?  Very important. I think yoga is something everyone should be exposed to. The benefits are endless for all ages and groups of people. Bringing more diversity into yoga is one of the main reason I want to teach. I want to expose more people to yoga.

What would you say to someone who says yoga is not for them?

 YOGA IS FOR EVERYONE! Doesn’t matter how big or small, old or young. It is something that can benefit anyone willing to embrace the practice.

·     Please share any advice you would give to someone interested in getting started doing yoga?  JUST START! Stop making excuses as far as not having enough time, or money to go to a studio. We have access to endless amounts of information at our fingertips. As adults, we never really have time for much, but we MAKE time for things that we really want. MAKE TIME FOR A PRACTICE! You don’t have to go to a studio. Yes, that’s the most ideal way of starting a practice but it may not be possible for most. GOOGLE IS YOUR BEST FRIEND! There are endless websites and apps that you can take classes with. STOP MAKING EXCUSES AND START! 

Dara will be at the upcoming Moving Art ATL: NYC Edition on 9/26/2015.  Come out and check her and other awesome yogis as they mix yoga with art!  Tickets can be purchased here .

Comment, Share, and Follow us on Instagram @blackgirlyoga.

Edited by Vanessa L. 

Yogi Spotlight Series - Tania S.

Tania S.

Instagram ID: ifcukgurlz

Location: New York City, NY

Occupation: Preschool Teacher 

Tania considers herself shy and can be slow to warm up to people.  She is a 26 year old hispanic New Yorker and has been in the childcare field for 7 years currently working with 12 month olds and as a preschool teacher. She comes from a large family of 9 siblings of which the majority are children. She loves romance novels, hip hop music and reggaeton.  

We are very much excited to have Tania as our very first feature on our website!

How long have you been practicing yoga? 

3 years.

Do you attend classes or are you self-taught? 

Yoga is body, mind and breath connection. ~Tania S.

I am self taught but I attend classes on occasion.

What got you started doing yoga?  

I discovered contortion and because I had no prior experience or training I read online that yoga would be the gateway to flexibility so I took that path.

How often do you practice? 

I practice yoga daily but not in a traditional sense. 

What type of yoga do you practice? 

I practice Vinyasa and Ashtanga yoga.

What has your practice taught you? 

My practice has taught me to be patient and trust in myself.

What do you think about the increase of black women getting into yoga?

I think it's a beautiful thing to see such a large community of black women practicing yoga because when I first discovered yoga 3 years ago I feared I wouldn't fit in or that I would look like I was trying to follow the "white" crowd. In New York City you mostly see caucasian women walking around with a mat in their tote but seeing the growing community of African American women and men practicing excites me because I no longer am the only colored girl in a yoga class. And most importantly it means that the African American community is taking one step in the right direction in terms of health.

What would you say to someone who says yoga is not for them?

 I have to share what my feelings for yoga are with my girl friend almost constantly especially because she hates yoga. She tells me yoga is a white persons "Buddhism" and that she's a Christian and doesn't agree with the "spirituality of yoga" ( chakras and psychic abilities) and that yoga is more exercise than meditation (she hates exercise). She reminds me of how boring and time consuming it is. I have to say I haven't convinced her yet of how GREAT yoga is! So my opinion at this point is that yoga is a beautiful experience however ones heart and mind must be open to the practice for the practice to work for them and to transform the individual. 

Share your favorite quote.

Blessed are the flexible for they are never bent out of shape. I actually got this quote tattooed along my spine. This quote is a constant reminder to me that bending in situations doesn't mean you are weak rather that you are stronger because you are always able to make situations work for you. I can be very inflexible yet my body is rather flexible (lol it cracks me up) but yoga is helping me to be mindful and balance the two on and off the mat! 

AMAZING yogi and such an inspiration.  Thank you for sharing!

Contact Tania:

Email: Ladysk2@yahoo.com

Instagram: P4perclip_diaries or ifcukgurlz

Comment, Share, and Follow us on Instagram @blackgirlyoga.

Edited by Vanessa L.