Over a decade ago, while studying yoga therapy at an ashram in Santa Rosa, California, I was given a spiritual name by one of my teachers. Ananda Devika Ma encouraged me to teach under this name, but I never did because it felt pretentious to do so. Most of my teachers taught under a name bestowed upon them but I didn't see myself as on par with them. They were steeped in many more years of study and practice than I.

I'm now entering my 21st year of teaching, and my 28th year of practice. I have leaned into yoga and Ayurveda to carry me through pivotal life transitions, stunningly challenging life circumstances, a devastating loss, and most recently, a joyful and evolutionary period of my life. I now understand yoga in a way that is beyond intellectual knowledge. I know how to use these tools. I trust myself as a teacher and guide, and I feel the name I was given suits me.

Dayamai (die-uh-my) means compassionate, merciful, loving mother.

As Blue Heart closes and I shift the way I work, a new name is needed. While I cherish the meaning behind Blue Heart, it is a name born of a place, time, and feeling that felt all encompassing at the time, but now marks but a chapter in an ongoing story. This next iteration of my work pulls from the Blue Heart years, but also encompasses everything that came before, and everything I am learning now.

Yoga is the core of what I do. Not yoga for fitness, but prescriptive yoga therapy. I draw from the totality of the practice to help each person in my care to experience tranquility, vitality, and sovereignty. This means the remedy may be a posture or series of postures, combined with breath-work, or mantra, or a lifestyle practice, or a meditation, or contemplation on a philosophical teaching.

"Shala" is a word that means “home, abode, or gathering place.” I will deliver practical wisdom from the yoga tradition from my home to yours via online classes, a massive on-demand library, ask-me-anything member meetings and group coaching calls, as well as lead private and semi-private sessions in my home studio.

Daya Yoga Shala is my new yoga hOMe, and I hope it will be yours.

I thank you, I bow to you, and I hope to see you on your mat. 

Love, Daya