Joining Yuliana on the podcast today is Dana Slamp, founder and director of Prema Yoga Institute. Having started teaching Yoga in 2005, Dana is currently a therapeutics educator and teacher trainer who consults on wellness programs for clinics, doctor's offices, condominiums, and corporations, is a member of IAYT, and teaches clients on an individual basis in New York City. In today’s episode, she discusses her upbringing as a preacher’s kid, the event that redirected the course of her life, and her transition into the Yoga profession.

Dana begins the interview by talking about the challenges she faced that turned her world around, how her father lost his job as a minister, her upbringing as a preacher’s kid and how that helped develop her communication skills. She also discusses how painful it was to separate herself from religion, the second event which drove her to find healing, her call to serve people in the Arts, and how to navigate between calling and career. The episode rounds off with Dana describing the one book that describes her life which  happens to be the book which she hopes to write - an autobiography titled Breath, Body and Leaving Yoga – which will undoubtedly be as informative and inspirational as her conversation with Yuliana is here today.

 Episode Highlights:

-   Dana recounts the challenging event that redirected the course of her life.

-   Growing up as a preacher’s kid.

-   The painful process of separating a religion-infused upbringing.

-   What does the word ‘righteous’ mean?

-   The path to healing- how Dana found Yoga.

-   The calling to serve.

-   Navigating the fine line between calling and career.

-   The one book that describes Dana’s life.

Quotes:

“Books are my guidance to other worlds, but they're also our way into empathy.”

“It was this long process of determining if this religious community was right for me.”

“I feel that our relationship with God is very close and very connected when we're in nature and we connect with nature.”

“It was actually a strength to be able to have compassion and to see both sides of any duality.”

“Truth is a pathless land.”

“Sometimes there is no quick path, the only way out is through, you have to walk through these things.”

“If we step back, and we stop looking for the right way, and we start feeling for the righteous way, perhaps we'll be better listeners.”

“It was such a joy and such a relief to go into a room and to think about someone else, and to serve someone else, and to be the best part of their job.”

“I just felt a strong strong need to serve in a space that did not tell other people what to do, or what to name God, who to love. Who am I to say?”

“We have that opportunity to empower that moment of introspection, stillness or quiet when we provide Yoga for people.”

“Ultimately, I hope I'm more patient, I hope I'm more kind.”

“Where can I step back from being right, and where can I hold a space of inquiry for myself and others? I think that's really where the true magic lies. ”

Links:

Phoenix Tales Homepage

Phoenix Tales on Instagram

Phoenix Tales on Spotify

Phoenix Tales on Facebook

Prema Yoga Institute

Dana's Homepage

Dana Slamp Instagram