Today we’d like to introduce you to Dana Young.
Dana, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I first learned Reiki in 2006, intending to use it on myself for stress relief and to ease chronic upper back and neck pain. I worked full-time as a manager in a global professional services firm and hadn’t planned on creating a professional practice. However, in 2008, I was asked by a chiropractor friend of mine if I would be willing to offer some pro bono sessions for a patient of hers who had stage 4 lymphoma and was nearing the end of available treatment options. Her patient was an ordained minister and ICU chaplain, and I soon realized there was a profound spiritual dimension to Reiki healing that went far deeper than even what I had glimpsed so far. Over time, I began to offer Reiki sessions and classes because I felt called – compelled – to share this spiritual healing art with others, and Dragonfly Reiki developed from there. I have since been certified as a spiritual life coach, take training in Spiritual Direction and am completing my certificate work at Columbia Theological Seminary in Spiritual Formation.
I see myself not only as a healer and teacher but as a spiritual companion and guide. I work primarily with women who are seeking more peace, wholeness and help to align their inner compass for heart-centered personal and spiritual development and healing. My educational background is in art, writing and religious studies, all of which influences and is a part of my work with clients and students. Most of this work is done in private sessions, small workshop environments or on retreats. I have been featured in local and national magazines and have presented at Life University, Clayton State University School of Nursing, Grady Health Systems Ponce de Leon Center and other organizations on the benefits of Reiki for health and wellness.
Has it been a smooth road?
When I first started practicing Reiki professionally, most people I encountered had never even heard of it. I spent a lot of time in the first few years of my practice offering advocacy and education on what Reiki is and how it can be beneficial as a complementary healing therapy. I did have the advantage of being comfortable with a website and social media technology, and with messaging because of my corporate background and writing experience.
Early on, I found that I got a lot of “seekers” looking for a one-time spiritual experience. While there is certainly nothing wrong with that, I also knew that the people who took Reiki seriously for their personal well-being and spiritual development would really reap the benefits of what it has to offer. It took a few years for me to become confident in cultivating those clients and students who view Reiki healing as an important part of their self-care and personal growth journey.
Another challenge I faced, in the beginning, was working with clients who came in with difficult stories or traumas they were trying to heal. Because Reiki professionals are not licensed, potential clients should get a sense of that person’s level of experience holding space and boundaries during a session. The vast majority of us are not therapists or medical professionals and need to know and respect the limitations on what we can offer. Thankfully, I have worked in a chiropractic office from the beginning and learned so much from being in a professional environment.
Finally, my other challenge has been growing a small business while juggling parenting and family responsibilities. I have an adult stepson and a middle-school-aged daughter. My schedule has needed to be flexible enough to meet their needs and be present for them while also allowing me enough client-facing time, marketing and bookkeeping tasks. This is constantly evolving and not always easy, but I’m grateful for it because time with your children when they are younger is very finite.
If I had two pieces of advice to share with women just starting out on a similar journey, I’d say first not to quit your day job right away if you’re thinking of going into a service-oriented business for yourself. It can take a while to cultivate a client base that will sustain you financially (especially if you do not have another income source in your household) and be worrying about the bills distracts your emotional energy from being of service. Second, I’d say to find good coaches, mentors and accountability partners, who can help you with clarity, direction and keep your head on straight when you hit the inevitable bump or two on the road.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Dragonfly Reiki – tell our readers more, for example, what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
My calling is to be a companion and guide to those embarking on their healing journey and support their spiritual and personal growth. I primarily work with women who are seeking more peace, wholeness and help to align their inner compass. Reiki forms the foundation of the work I offer, whether that is individual healing sessions, spiritual guidance, life coaching programs, workshops or retreats. I am known for my highly intuitive style and for how I weave aspects of the creative arts (word, image, metaphor) and understanding of spiritual practices into each of my offerings.
I am also a certified Komyo ReikiDo teacher, trained in this style of traditional Japanese Reiki by my teacher and founder of the system, Hyakuten Inamoto. I offer Reiki training throughout the year, and what sets me apart from many other Reiki teachers is my commitment to ongoing support, guidance, and community for my students. Many people are learning Reiki as a way to take better care of themselves or their loved ones. In order to reap the benefits of training, it is essential to have ongoing support in order to learn and grow as a practitioner.
Are there any apps, books, podcasts or other resources that you’ve benefited from using?
I’m a voracious reader and gravitate toward books about spirituality, mindfulness and self-help/psychology. I am as likely to be found reading a book about St. Hildegard of Bingen as I am a book of teachings by a Buddhist master. There are a few classics I recommend to clients and students, among them ‘When Things Fall Apart: Heart Advice for Difficult Times’ by Pema Chödrön; ‘The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom’ by Don Miguel Ruiz; ‘Energy Medicine: Balancing Your Body’s Energies for Optimal Health, Joy, and Vitality’ by Donna Eden; ‘Broken Open: How Difficult Times Can Help Us Grow’ by Elizabeth Lesser; and ‘Women Who Run With The Wolves’ by Clarissa Pinkola Estes. There are only a few Reiki books I recommend to new students, and the most straight-forward one that would also be helpful to non-practitioners who are simply interested in learning more is ‘Reiki: A Comprehensive Guide’ by Pamela Miles. In the field of self-help/psychology, I’m a fan of Brene Brown and Gretchen Rubin. One of my favorite books I recommend to clients in the area of positive psychology is my friend Robert Mack’s ‘Happiness from the Inside Out: The Art and Science of Fulfillment.’
Contact Info:
- Address: 411 W. Ponce de Leon Ave.
Decatur, GA 30030
(at Gibson Chiropractic) - Website: www.dragonflyreiki.net
- Phone: 678-696-0469
- Email: danalisayoung@gmail.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/dragonflyreikiatlanta
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DragonflyReikiAtlanta/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/DragonflyReiki
Image Credit:
Seth Young
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