23/06/2017
Yoga as Healing Portrait Series: Beyond the Young, the Beautiful and the Fashionable. Dawn - Portrait #5 (out of 5)
In her own words:
My relationship with anxiety and depression began around the age of 3. I never felt well as a child suffering with ear infections, tummy aches, sleep issues, and nightmares. My parents were very young and not ready to parent a child. I felt very lonely, unworthy, and afraid. I also had a learning disability and ADHD, making school very difficult. By the age of 12, a traumatic event between my parents began my journey with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. To further compound my problems, at 19 I was brutally r***d, leading to my first breakdown. With the help of medication, counselling, love, and support from family and friends, I rebuilt my life. Because of all the Amazing Teachers, who inspired me to believe in myself, I decided to go to University to become a Teacher. After Graduation, I got a fabulous job teaching English in Japan. I loved teaching but dark devastating depression set in again so I returned home. I checked myself into Alberta Hospital, where I spent 3 excruciating months fighting for my life. With the help of the fabulous Dr. Douglas Spaner, the incredible love and support of my family and friends, I started my recovery.
I rebuilt my life once again with the help of a phenomenal Psychologist named Joanne Shandro. She gave me a life changing book called The Ultramind Solution by Mark Hyman, MD. I learned about body imbalances, food sensitivities, stress, toxins in food and in the environment that were all factors in my illness. The book also gave me HOPE that I could truly heal myself. This information helped me view my illness through a different lens, realizing that I had no reason to feel any shame. I was also divinely guided to a nutritional supplement called EMPowerplus by a company called TRUEHOPE. This supplement was a life saver for me.
After the tragic death of my dear friend, who took her life, I was overcome by grief. It was during this time I met an Incredible Vedic Master, Yoga, and Meditation Teacher named Mandy Trapp, owner of Lifestyle Meditation. She introduced me to the power of Yoga and Meditation to heal the body, mind, heart, and soul. The daily practices of Yoga and Meditation were so transformational for me that I rerouted my whole career in order to teach Yoga and Meditation to Kids, Teens, and Adults. Mandy’s support and teaching has been monumental in helping me manage the stresses of raising a son with special needs.
At age 3 my precious son Jack developed Generalized Epilepsy, having 46 Grand Mal seizures in six months. Our family lives spiralled into trauma and I experienced the worst stress I had ever faced in my life. Not dealing with stress can be lethal for a person predisposed to mental illness, however, I was able to cope with the stress by daily practices of Yoga and Meditation. My son’s illness turned out to be a gift in disguise, taking me further into my own healing.
Now I have so much JOY in my life sharing the gifts of Yoga and Meditation at Prana Yoga Studio and Lifestyle Meditation. I continue to work on my mental health daily by practising Yoga and Meditation. I also receive Trauma Release Therapy at Soluna Wellness Centre, I attend healing circles with Christine Fraser of The Lighthouse Community, I go for Reiki treatments with Paula Swain, and I continue taking EMPowerplus. Fuelled by my suffering and loss from Mental Illness, Inspiring Light was created by my friend Jessica Mueller and I, to empower youth. We teach Mental Health, Mindfulness, Meditation, and Yoga in schools. Healing and transformation of lives can be achieved by practising Yoga and Meditation.
Note from Tyler & Cecilia: This portrait series is open for further collaborations with anyone and everyone who has a personal story with the healing aspects of yoga and would like to share it more widely (please send an email to ecoferreyra@hotmail.com
Portrait by Tyler Baker Photography
