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Spending Time with Dawn Bayers

Yoga Santosha Blog Spending Time with Dawn Bayers

APRIL 1, 2018

Spending Time with Dawn Bayers

“I do my best to live in the Now. Although it sounds a bit cliché – it is my truth and it’s a constant practice. I try to be patient and slow down to appreciate the little things in life. I try to live a simple life; I live in gratitude for all the love in my life and the gifts I’ve been given (teaching Yoga being one of them).” – Dawn Bayers


Dawn has been teaching at Yoga Santosha for several years and is a gift to know and to spend time with. Her passion and excitement for both Yoga and for life is palpable. She radiates this truth in all the classes she teaches. Dawn is dedicated to living Yoga on her mat and off her mat. She brings peace. She brings inspiration. She brings wisdom and beauty.
We had the chance to connect and Dawn shared her heart with us. She shared her journey in music and in love, as well as her journey in Yoga and in life.
Learn more about Dawn below and meet her on your mat at the studio Tuesdays @ 12:10 pm & 6:00 pm, Wednesdays @ 7:15 pm, Thursdays @ 4:30 pm & 6:00 pm.

How did you first find yoga?

For years I worked out at a gym; over time, I grew bored of this routine and was searching for something different as a way to stay fit and healthy. I signed up for some hip-hop dance classes at Decidedly Jazz Danceworks and after two classes I realized that it wasn’t what I was looking for, so I canceled out of the classes leaving me with a credit. At the time, they offered an Intro to Hatha Yoga, so I signed up. I quickly fell in love with it and to this day I remember the first time I did Triangle Pose – I felt my heart open and my body expand and lengthen in ways I never knew possible. It’s still one of my favorite postures.

Why do you teach yoga?

I teach Yoga because I love Yoga!
Yoga completely changed my life – it has brought serenity and balance into my life. Before Yoga I was not grounded and was highly stressed in a very demanding marketing career; anxious and unsure, I had lost touch with my true self. I was stuck in a life that wasn’t working for me. Before Yoga, I was pretty much the opposite of what I am now.

Yoga has brought so much peace and happiness into my life and I truly want everyone to feel this way. I teach as a way of giving back and in hopes that I can help others navigate through their life feeling more grounded in who they are and experience more peace and happiness for themselves.

What obstacles has yoga helped you to overcome?

My limiting belief is that I’m not good enough. Yoga has helped me to trust and love myself. This was huge for me – and something I still struggle with at times.
My Yoga and Meditation practice provides me with the tools to confront and deal with those negative thought patterns when they surface. Whether it’s learning to trust myself in a challenging physical asana or sitting and closing my eyes, Yoga gives me the strength to let go of my insecurities and shows me that I am good enough.

What does life look like off your mat? Give us a glimpse of a typical day.

A typical weekday includes teaching 2-3 Yoga classes, my own personal practice (usually at home mid-afternoon between my classes), and/or some reading from my Yoga library, always an afternoon walk or trip to the park with my dog Sadie. Evenings are spent relaxing with my husband who always makes dinner and waits for me to get home from teaching my evening classes so we can eat together – he’s a good man and I met him at Yoga Santosha!

Weekends can include some personal Yoga practices and teaching workshops when I am offering them. I also find some outdoor time with my man and our fur baby and socializing with friends and family.

How do you bring your practice off your mat into your daily life?

I do my best to live in the Now. Although it sounds a bit cliché – it is my truth and it’s a constant practice. I try to be patient and slow down to appreciate the little things in life. I try to live a simple life; I live in gratitude for all the love in my life and the gifts I’ve been given (teaching Yoga being one of them).

Favorite indulgence.

Baked Goods (anything with chocolate – Cookies, Scones, Cupcakes) and Tea Lattes.

Share something we might not know about you.

When I was young (Elementary School), I played the Accordion, I wanted to play the Piano but we didn’t have space for one, so the Piano Accordion it was! Once I hit Jr. High I decided playing polkas wasn’t so cool, so I moved on to the Clarinet in Band – for some reason I thought this was a much cooler instrument.

I am thankful that my parents encouraged me to learn musical instruments – it has influenced my love for music and dancing – however, my musical taste has definitely changed – you won’t see me dancing to polkas!

Share with us your favorite sutra.

First Yoga Sutra: “Atha Yoganusasanam”
Now the exposition of Yoga is being made – also translated, Now, begins the practice of Yoga.

For me, the key word is “Now’: the present moment, every moment is an opportunity to practice Yoga. As a constant reminder for myself, I have it tattooed in Sanskrit on my left inner arm. For me it’s all about “Now”.

 

Watch for Dawn’s upcoming Spring workshops – Mediation Series starting April 7th and Immersion: Sound, Mind, Body – a collaboration with her husband Craig returns June 2nd.

You can read Dawn’s teacher biography here.