Today we’d like to introduce you to Dustin Miller.
Dustin, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I started my physical practice when I was 12 y/o with martial arts. Prior to any of this, I was extremely shy, scared of everything, and was unsure of my actions. Even my comfort zone was uncomfortable. After some time, and after a lot of hard work, I started to get out of my shell. Eventually, I was teaching classes and was one of the token students because of my commitment. Unfortunately, the teacher who owned the studio was arrested for pedophilia, the studio closed down, and I ended up stopping altogether. It was a pretty traumatic experience even though nothing directly happened to me, because I became quite close with the instructor and he taught me a lot about myself.
After my martial arts journey had come to an end, I stupidly started smoking cigarettes, alcohol became a more and more common beverage, and the salty, greasy foods worked my appetite. I also found myself in unhealthy dating patterns that moved too quickly. At this point, it was no longer about finding myself but masking myself. I started to go down this rabbit hole of being the person people wanted me to be.
Of course in your young 20’s you are invincible, and it’s pretty easy to hide who you are with the right people around. At the age of 21, I had purchased a house I couldn’t afford, was dating someone who was abusive, and was pretty broken. Finally, at age 23, I thought I just needed to get my life together. I broke up with the person I was dating, started to get roommates to help me pay for the house I couldn’t afford, and I was going to get healthy! Long story short, none of the roommates could pay me rent or left with little notice. Eventually, I lost my house, lost some friendships, was still smoking, eating like crap, and was in and out of unhealthy relationships.
Finally, age 30 happened. You know the age where your body changes from young and buoyant to hangovers lasting for two days, and your metabolism starts to go downhill. My entire family seemed to have had their change at around age 30 and I was no different. I had an office job and was still treating my body like garbage. Fast food was on the menu weekly, a bottle of wine was on my menu nightly, and I was still masking who I was.
Enough was enough. I got the help I needed to quit smoking. I stopped eating over processed foods. I cut back on my drinking. Once again, lost a few friendships because those were the only things that we had in common. I gave myself four months to change my bad habits. After that, I was going to start some good habits.
February 9th, 2015 I stepped into my first yoga studio. Mind you I have gone to a few yoga classes at gyms and community centers. I wasn’t a fan of it in my twenties, so there was another round in my thirties to see if anything had changed. My friend Danyelle took me to a sculpt class. I was told is it was yoga with weights and figured it would be a good stepping stone. Let’s just say, I took one of the hardest classes, from one of the toughest teachers, and somehow survived. I was hooked.
I was offered a free week there and as soon as it ended, I bought a membership. I was going three days a week. I started adding more and more yoga to my calendar. Before I knew it, I was going seven days a week. I was forced to look at myself, I was forced to show who I was. My yoga “high” was so incredible because I was seeing someone who I haven’t seen in such a long time. The instructors teaching the classes spoke to me personally with their theme. I was connected to a community.
My anxiety started to wash away. My fears of everything in the world that wasn’t in my control started to fade. Not only was I becoming physically stronger and healthy, but I was noticing it mentally as well.
The studio offered a program called Yogi Training, which still being a new practitioner, I wanted in. If I was learning this much about myself in just a few months, I was really excited to dive deeper into an intensive training. The training was five weeks, and it really forced me to get out of my shell. I made some amazing friends along the way too! Which finally brought me to talk with teachers about their teacher training.
That following winter, not even a year after I had started to practice, I took their teacher training program. I had no intention of teaching either. It was just for me. To learn, to grow, to know me even more. I found everything that I was looking for, plus so many bonds. About 3/4 of the way into the training, I had a mindset change. All of a sudden, I had to teach.
I graduated from my YTT program and started a community class right away. The community class was at a church which provided a garden for their community. All of the proceeds of the class went back into the community garden. I also ended up doing an apprenticeship at a more traditional Hatha yoga studio and auditioned for a teaching position right after. I started teaching a few classes a week and felt amazing doing it.
During that whole year of 2015, I found change. I wasn’t smoking, I wasn’t feeding myself garbage (physically or mentally), I was in a healthy relationship, and I found comfort in stepping out of my comfort zone. But of course, what happens when you get too comfortable? Unexpected change. My boyfriend got a new job which uprooted me from my home state.
We ended up in Chicago, which is a place I wanted to live in my twenties. Turns out, it was not a place I wanted to live in my thirties. Chicago tested who I was, down to the core. My personal practice in yoga was pretty sparse, but I was still teaching here and there. I would make it to a few classes, but nothing worked right with my schedule. I tried a few at home exercise programs to keep me active, which worked short term. But I really missed my practice. We survived ten months in Chicago before another opportunity came knocking.
Hello Dallas! We made it! One of the companies I used to work for asked me to join them for a startup here in Dallas. I jumped on it so quick, we moved down here in a very short time. My biggest priority was to find a yoga studio to practice at as soon as we got here.
I tried a few places, but nothing really seemed like home. Finally, I found home number one. A very traditional studio that has a solid practice with solid teachers. Their schedule worked perfectly with my work schedule. I felt like a beginner once again. I went from practicing 8-10 times a week down to almost nothing for ten months. Coming got back into it full force. Within six months of being here, I got the itch to teach again. I applied to 5 studios, and all five got back to me and wanted me to audition.
The company that I started my first class is down here and called me. I had an amazing conversation with the studio manager, and we were talking like best friends. I ended up auditioning and getting the position. I started to subclasses right away, I wanted to help with teacher training, I wanted to be at the studio all the time. I found community once again!
Fast forward a little over a year, the company that brought me down here wasn’t doing financially great. In fact, they had already let go a few people due to underperforming, or not being able to afford their wages. Finally, in December I ended up getting the same news. I was a Creative Design Manager for a digital marketing company, which means I had a higher salary. I had to be let go because they couldn’t afford my wages.
At first, it was really hard news, but the first thing I thought of was yoga. I have been offered something in my life, that I don’t think I would have taken if the circumstances were different. I am now teaching yoga full time. I am now diving deeper into my own practice. I have a better understanding that my words affect those around me. I have a sense of peace that I can’t describe. I love and appreciate all the students I come in contact with, as well as the teachers.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Dharana Yogi – tell our readers more, for example, what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
Yoga is for everybody and every – body. What sets us apart is that we try and make all of our students feel successful in their practice. Whether you are brand new, or have practicing for decades, we have something for you. From the first time you step on your mat in our studio, you feel like you are part of the community, with no judgments. We all have a past, and we all come to yoga for change.
So, what’s next? Any big plans?
I’m going to continue teaching and learning. That’s what this is all about. Within the next 3-5 years, I plan to be leading my own retreats that provide yoga as well as healthy living.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: dharanayogi
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