Tell us a little bit about your childhood. It wasn't an easy one, but you managed to learn from it and build a future in which you guide and teach others to overcome their struggles and find their inner peace. How has your past help or led you to be where you are today?
Yes, I’ve learned so much from my childhood. I was raised by very young parents, who were processing their own traumas and struggled with addiction. When my parents divorced when I was 4 years old, there was a lot of instability. My mother and I moved around a lot, and I moved in with three different step parents and siblings before I had even finished middle school. I was affected by a lot of violence and stress. I’ve worked with therapists and coaches to release, forgive and work through the painful impacts. I recognize that everyone is doing their best, given their own beliefs, traumas, history and experience in the world.
You define yourself as an animal lover. Do you think that our love for animals can help us to grow and become a better self?
I’ve always been drawn to animals and the natural world since I was a child. My last pet, a dog named Brutus, was my dearest connection. He truly opened my heart. Animals are special because they bring a unique energy and reminder of the natural world that we belong to as humans. Dogs especially give so much affection and attention; Their curiosity and love for life is palpable.
When did your yoga journey start? When was the first time you ever had contact with Yoga practice and which was your first impression or how did you feel after that?
I took my very first class in undergraduate school in Tennessee. My instructor was pregnant at the time, and she taught a very gentle Yin practice. I was into competitive cheerleading, and so this was quite a contrast. I remember feeling more peaceful and connected, but I wasn’t hooked. It took a few more years before I developed a consistent practice.
You told us you were an actress in NYC. It does feel like many yoga teachers with a past in acting have a very special skill in making the class an amazing experience. How do you think it makes your teaching unique?
I believe we are all acting in many ways, but only a few of us are aware of it. Acting helped me to deepen my connection to self. It forced me to engage and be fully in the present moment. When I got into acting, I most likely had an unconscious desire to be seen. That led me into studying yoga, psychotherapy and coaching. I realized with acting that everything is a choice, and I’m choosing the character I wish to play in every moment. I’m choosing how I respond. When I’m teaching, my goal is to set aside unhealthy ego and truly offer the best experience for my students. If I tell a story, or share anything personal, it has a purpose in my teachings. It’s not really about me.
How would you explain your relationship with movement? How has it been a way of escape for you and helped you during your past
Movement has always been my mode of expression and connection. When I was young, I played multiple sports; In middle school, I got into cheerleading and tumbling and that stuck throughout college. That led me to study yoga, dance and theater in NYC. Anytime, I’m feeling heavy or scattered, Yoga helps me to clear out and connect to myself. Yoga is the bridge I needed when I was younger and felt lost.
We met at Love Yoga. You are a certified Katonah Yoga teacher, could you tell us a bit more about this practice style, and which are its benefits?
Yes, I am certified by Nevine Michaan, the founder of Katonah Yoga. I love the Katonah Yoga method because it offers tools to really measure your yoga postures and ensure they’re being executed efficiently. This method incorporates Taoist Theory, chinese medicine, sacred geometry, pranayama and Hatha Yoga practices. You learn ways to cross reference your poses and use your imagination to be fully embodied. The Katonah style is more of a workshop format, and it’s about discovering something new, getting out of unhealthy habits and turning off auto-pilot. This method puts emphasis on finding stability in your bones and joints as well as optimal organ function.
You told us you're learning and integrating Somatics into your teaching. Can you tell us more?
One time, early in my yoga practice, I was seated in a yoga posture. I wasn’t doing anything forceful to deepen the pose, just breathing and witnessing, and suddenly, my knee dropped a few inches, tension released and tears streamed down my face. From that point, I became interested in yoga therapy and somatic therapies as a means to release trauma and support inner harmony. Somatic psychotherapy is an emerging field that I’m exploring with Somatic Experiencing, Alexander technique, Yoga therapy, 5Rhythms dance and somatic psychotherapy. I’m utilizing all that I am learning in my private yoga and coaching practice.
How do you work the inner subconscious world via the tangible body?
Our body stores muscle memory, dense static tissue and unprocessed traumas from our past. Every injury, repetitive movement and withheld emotion can be stored in our muscular tissues and nervous system controlled by the brain. Specific movement can release muscular tension that holds these traumatic memories. Upon the physical release, the nervous system will release long held tension and any stored emotional trauma, creating massive shifts within our embodied consciousness to then fully transform. Yoga and Traditional Chinese medicine both agree that stagnant energy is the root of all disease.
You talk about your metaphysical connection, could you explain our community a little bit more about it? How has Yoga helped you rediscover it?
As a child, I often felt a connection to God and something bigger than myself, like a force that connects us all. Through my practice, I was able to utilize Svadhyaya, Self-Study, to understand the nature of my mind, personality, desires, expectations, and beliefs. Furthermore, I felt a deeper connection to universal awareness, and the nature of our interconnected reality, outside my limited mind’s personality. Yoga means to Yoke or Unite, and through the practices, our perception becomes wider to hold the interconnectedness of our universe.
During your journey, could you learn from a mentor? Has someone guided you through the process or has it been a self-learning journey?
Yes, I’ve had many Yoga masters, mentors, healers, therapists, coaches and teachers along the way, but I believe the greatest teacher is within. I believe that when you are open to learning, you can gain insights from every single relationship or person you interact with. The point however is that you must be fully aware to receive insights -- Meditate!
Which is your definition of happiness?
I have experience that happiness, joy and ecstasy are fleeting, but an inner peace can always co-exist with pain, struggle or loss. Let me explain: We cannot control our environment to ensure we will always be free from pain. We can only control a certain number of variables. The lesson is to let go of anything we cannot control and stay connected to that inner well of peace that comes from life’s simple pleasures.
Which is the best piece of advice you can give from all your experiences?
Release all regrets and realize that every single aspect of your life is a profound gift and teacher if you chose to see it as such. The time to own your unique gifts is right now.
Diana Paschal – WELLNESS Guide
My Morning Routine
I spend 5 minutes of a free-writing method called Morning Pages. I spend 1 hour doing some form of movement, usually Yoga or an outdoor run. Then I do a 20 minute seated meditation.
I drink a tall glass of filtered or spring Water (You can purchase a Berkey Filter to remove fluoride, chlorine & other chemicals). Breakfast: Bowl of fruit or smoothie
Live Ultimate Ultimate Elixir Greens. Finally, I review my to-do list and organize my day and week ahead.
Products that I love:
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Bite Tooth Paste Sustainable Tooth paste.
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Personalized, custom, sustainable Hair products
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Blue Blocker Sunglasses that I use while on my laptop
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Plum Facial Oil
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Diana Paschal – SUSTAINABLE Guide
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I recommend avoiding all single use plastic and recycling any plastic you purchase.I like to order sustainable goods from Package Free Shop
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I use my HydroFlask reusable water bottle & mini for warm beverages.
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Carry your own reusable organic cotton market bag for groceries.
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For sneakers, my favorite sustainable brand is Veja
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I try to purchase sustainable yoga clothing and appreciate the efforts of GreenApple Girlfriend.
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