Today we’d like to introduce you to Dana Smith.
Hi Dana, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today.
My journey with yoga began in 2001. I was pregnant with my first child and a ball of worry and stress. Growing up in New York, I learned that stress and worry were a necessary part of life. It wasn’t until I found yoga that this was far from the truth. It wasn’t a rite of passage and the marker of a “hard worker,” stress was a choice that I was making because I didn’t know anything different. My stress had begun to affect my pregnancy, and my doctor encouraged me to find something to help lower my pressure and reduce stress. Soon after, I was introduced to yoga. As much as I would love to say that I immediately fell into the arms of the practice, the truth is I resisted it with all I had, initially. I had heard of it in passing and didn’t believe it was for me. I didn’t see anyone who looked like me in the media, and the little I knew about it seemed weird and woo-woo. As my health continued to fluctuate, I finally gave up resistance and started to explore yoga. Since I was in my third trimester of pregnancy, there wasn’t much I could do physically. Still, I did learn meditation, breathing, and gentle asanas that gave me an immediate boost of energy and greatly reduced my stress. I couldn’t believe how good I felt after breathing, stretching, and quieting my mind for a few moments at a time.
My love of yoga grew quickly. I wanted to bring this to my community to teach them the power of tuning into their peace and show them that stress didn’t have to run the show. I wanted to learn more, so I got books, bought VHS tapes (that was the early 2000s life!), and after I delivered and recovered, I began to seek instruction in studios. My practice began small, in the living room of my townhouse on the carpet. I started teaching less than a year after learning what yoga was. I engaged in intensive study, practice, and training because I was passionate about sharing yoga with my loved ones and everyone who needed to learn a new way back to being healthy.
About a year later, I moved into a single-family home and transformed my basement into the first official studio. I started to see great growth in myself and my students. I was inspired and blessed to be able to do this work. My practice outgrew my home, and I moved it into my first location in 2008. I started to pass the torch by training others who wanted to become yoga teachers. Yoga deepened my desire to heal and led me to Reiki, Thai Yoga Massage, Sound Healing, and other holistic modalities. I knew the way to deepen my understanding and practice was to teach it, so I began to offer training and certification. In 2015 I was called to expand again and moved into a commercial location just minutes from where the studio was. It allowed me to expand my offerings and hold space for those who needed support. My latest expansion happened in 2020 during the heart of the pandemic. My biggest fears had been realized, and while we were shut down, I wondered if this was it. Spirit had other plans! I was able to pivot my business to a virtual model and was able to continue the work. When we reopened the studio to the public, we understood that not everyone was comfortable coming back in person, so we made the virtual/hybrid offerings permanent. Now we are happy to work with people all over the world!
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The entrepreneurial life is exciting but can also offer many unexpected challenges. Before the pandemic, I faced recessions, burnout, uncertainty, and lack of motivation. I felt alone and unsure if the business was sustainable. Thankfully during those times of great stress and doubt, I could turn to my practices. I walked my talk and used my tools to make it through. I believe obstacles are growth opportunities, and challenges help us to be more clear about our path.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I specialize in yoga, meditation, energy healing, and bodywork. I am best known for yoga and being the first black-owned studio in the area. I have also trained over 500 yoga teachers, many have had wonderful careers, and some have opened their yoga and wellness studios. I am most proud of the success stories of students knowing that I was part of their journey. It inspires me to continue growing as a business and as an individual. What sets me apart is my desire to see everyone walk in their success. I love supporting budding and new entrepreneurs and am passionate about guiding them to help them avoid my mistakes.
What’s next?
I plan on opening more studios in the U.S. and other countries and am working on building what I call a Healing Sanctuary that will expand on everything that we are doing now at the studio.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.spiritualessenceyoga.com
- Instagram: @se_yoga
- Facebook: @SpiritualEsssenceYoga
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMubiE_px4NG36KHsMOyTfw
Image Credits
Personal photo and last picture (with women wearing black): Rachel Pearl All other pictures: Wanakhavi Wakhisi
