Today we’d like to introduce you to Dafna Palatin.
Hi Dafna, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Yoga, meditation and breath-work have transformed my life from feeling blocked with anger, resentment and body pain to feeling a sense of peace and freedom in my life, my relationships and in sharing my experience with the people I crossed paths with.
The anger I felt inside from my abusive father grew even more as time went on. I was constantly at war with my mind, body & spirit. And waitressing in a city that was very fast-paced didn’t help much (NYC). This resulted in darkness swirling and overflowing into my relationships.
I decided to step into something I knew nothing about, so I could find out who I was, I took my first yoga class. Looking back, I did all the poses wrong, but by the end of the first class, everything felt right.
My journey of reflection began, starting with the thought, how could it be that I’m not good at this, but things are changing inside of me, ultimately teaching me the first rule of life.
I soon realized there is no perfection needed in order to shift your energy. My body would gravitate towards it more and more throughout the years. I started to feel the release of my anger transforming into knowledge.
I always had a challenging time to finish what I started. So when my yoga studio offered a challenge for the month to complete 20 days of Bikram Yoga, I decided to take it on. When I succeeded, I made a mental shift without even noticing. My mind and emotions were opening up and allowing growth to enter.
It took time and moving States and a pandemic for me to finally lean into what I have been doing all my life.
And that’s sharing my knowledge with whoever comes along my path.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
Smooth road doesn’t exist. Where there is suffering, there is happiness. People don’t grow if everything is easy.
Struggles came early in life, from an abusive father to a soft-spoken mother whose Parents were Holocaust survivors. Being under educated never finishing high school. Barely getting my life.
Working as a waitress for 25 years in a city that doesn’t sleep, I too didn’t sleep well or have much of a social life. I was surrounded by negative people and it quickly rubbed of on me. I had to get out of the mindset of being a victim but also allow myself to be gentle with the transformation and healing process.
There are still times I notice my old conditioning sneaking up on me and sometimes it takes days for me to sit with myself and find my authentic truth. Turning 47 on April 6th, single with no kids. I find myself moving differently than my surroundings. Which is a challenge on its own, sometimes people forget.
So between an abusive father a mother who did her best no education
Being in the state of mind, I’ll be nothing but a waitress all my life working nights days long shifts 12-15 hours two trains winters and not having a love life for a very long time. Was a lot. Also, did I mention I lost my fiancé to Murder in 1996.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’m a yoga meditation practitioner. I guide you through a thoughtful sequence.
That helps detox your body between the movement and the heat. I specialize in holding space for you to breathe freely and flow with no judgment. I give you gentle reminders that healing is a process and that you are in the process in the present moment. I offer adjustments, cues, modifications and knowledge that YOGA is not about being a pretzel but rather learning how to be mindful in the present moment.
I offer you an opportunity to slow down.
Not so you could do less in your life but that you’ll have more space in room and time to do whatever you want in your life slowing down doesn’t mean doing less; it just means being present with what you were creating.
Your creation to be the best mother in the world, a loving father who provides or the other way around. Your creation can be your Career and whatever it may be in your creation can be on your days off what do you do on those days how do you find space from all the garbage that we invade and unintentionally into our awareness the minute we step a foot outside.
I am most proud of being on this journey and feeling it in every part of my being that the universe is pushing me forward it has offered me so many great opportunities as a beginner in my independent business there’s nothing like hearing people’s hearts when they share with you what have an inspiration you have been to them a lot of my students are also first-timers which I believe is a great responsibility especially when I remember my first time.
I’m proud that even though I am not married or have kids, mothers and fathers come consistently into my class and consistently share with me how much they have grown just by showing up.
I think would set me apart from others is that I’m older and wiser I have had the time to do all the personal work and go through peeling many layers of who I really am and what is my purpose. I think what sets me apart is I lead by example.
I honor what I share.
Some would say the New York Israeli flare I bring into the room is like no other.
But I invite you.
Before you interview me.
To maybe set an hour aside.
And join me for a class as my guest.
So your experience can align with your work.
You’ll need a mat a towel for your mat a towel for your face a 24oz water bottle with electrolytes.
Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
Moving to San Diego from New York City was the best decision I ever made in my life. It didn’t feel like that in the beginning when I arrived here, and now looking back that is to be expected. I obviously love the weather here and that’s why I packed my car up with whatever I could fit in it and cross country to specifically San Diego. I appreciate and have a great gratitude for the laid-back feeling. In the beginning, that laid-back feeling didn’t sit so well with me. I was used to very, very, very fast-paced, quick responses no time to finish your sentence.
Those of the things that turned into being the greatest gift I could get time to slow down speak my thoughts and two be of service but not a servant.
Contact Info:
- Email: Dafnaspath@gmail.com
- Website: Dafnaspath.com
- Instagram: Dafnas_path
- Facebook: Yoga path with Dafna Palatin
- Youtube: Dafna P
Image Credits
YOGAXSpin la mesa Nxptfit Makeoversbyjessa Dpgphotos0105 Hilton hotel Petix & Botte Lori Jimenez
