Dana Whiddon
Hudson Valley (Cold Spring), New York
I offer classes on the second Sunday of each month from 11:00am-12:30pm. Your first class is FREE!
I believe in the healing power of community. I know that art, movement and meditation are powerful forms of medicine. I am passionate about creating sacred space where these modalities can be practiced. I am a Mama, artist, therapist, hiking enthusiast, novice gardener and a devout representative for team love.
When did you take your first Qoya class? I took my first Qoya class with Rochelle during a retreat at Kripalu in June 2016. I had no idea what I was getting myself in to, but I knew I needed it. In fact, I was so sure that I signed up for teacher training before I had even taken my first class.
What does it mean for you to teach Qoya? It is such an honor to hold space for women to slow down, experience authentic connection, and tap into the light inside of themselves. It is so refreshing to give myself and others permission to feel a range of emotions and begin to trust that instead of avoiding the shadows, it is possible to mine them for wisdom. I also really appreciate that each class offers the opportunity to experience pure pleasure and joy.
What is your favorite song to dance to right now? Anything Could Happen by Ellie Goulding cracks my heart right open. Every time.
What book has inspired you on the path to embodying the feminine? Lissa Rankin’s Anatomy of a Calling opened me up to magic and started me down this path, totally altering the course of my life. I am eternally grateful for the deep dive into the archetype of the heroine’s journey offered in Dr. Anne Davin’s online Feminosity course (I hope it’s a book someday).
What would you tell someone who is thinking of taking a Qoya class for the first time? I want to acknowledge that it takes courage to show up for that first time as it can be somewhat uncomfortable to try something new. In a group. The good news is that there is absolutely no way you can do it wrong and the focus is on finding the place where it feels good and true. One of the greatest rewards found in a Qoya practice is that it offers a way for you to reunite with your body. You may just find that this reunion is the missing piece in your transformation. I highly recommend giving it a try. The world needs you to step in to your radiance, and Qoya offers the map.