Project Yoga Teacher Spotlight: Dana Giovis
Dana Giovis has been a Project Yoga teacher since 2019. She currently teaches at Corryville Catholic or Pleasant Hill Academy. She shares a little about the impact of yoga and the movement arts in her life and the joy she gets from sharing the tools of mindfulness and yoga with the community.
How has yoga impacted your life?
I WAS THAT KID! I couldn’t sit still, learning from a chair was difficult! I learned and processed through my body. I had to move. Flips, cartwheels, gymnastics, track, swim, martial arts, and movement brought me joy!
My background is in art, education, Montessori, and learning disabilities. I am a wife, mother of three, and former business owner for 30 years. I retired in 2016 and decided to further my knowledge by taking teacher training - hence fell down the movement rabbit hole studying Tai Chi, Chi Gong, primal animal movement, and anything, everything yoga.
I am excited and honored to be part of the PY community. After retirement PY has opened my heart to new creative fulfillment that I am truly thankful for.
What is your preferred yoga style?
There is a common thread in all modalities (East meets West). I love to integrate all disciplines including play! My favorite practice is Hot Power Yoga, I do some sort of movement class every day.
Why are yoga and mindfulness in our community important to you?
Project Yoga is a wonderful opportunity to bring mindfulness (mind, body, and breathwork) connection to students. I wish I had been presented with these tools at a younger age! Through the years of ups and downs, yoga has been my anchor. From anxiety, low self-esteem, eating issues, and fibromyalgia my yoga mat has been my safe place. It has brought me strength, balance, and interconnectedness. We are meant to move; if we are breathing we are ALIVE.
