We recently had the chance to connect with Dana Yarn and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Dana , thank you so much for taking time out of your busy day to share your story, experiences and insights with our readers. Let’s jump right in with an interesting one: What do the first 90 minutes of your day look like?
The fist 90 minutes of my day is action packed, my husband and I have 3 kids in middle and high school. I wake up and make sure I get some quality snuggle time with my beagle, Boss. Laying with your pet and being in that moment has been proved to have health benefits including lowering blood pressure and improves your gut biome. After I’ve thrown on my workout attire and some makeup I head downstairs. My husband and I start preparing our kids for their day making sure they get a quality breakfast before school, and that they have their bags and lunches packed way before they head off to the bus. I make a travel mug of coffee with Collegen, half and half and coconut oil. I listen to my body, if I am not hungry I will intermittent fast but if I am starving I grab a quick hearty protein bar on my way out the door. On my way into the studio I typically listen to a podcast, my podcast library consist of health shows related to nutrition, biohacking, mindfulness, and I also love a good marriage or parenting podcast. Once I arrive to the studio I scan for things that are misplaced, check the bathrooms, light a candle and set my intension for the day. Some days my first session is teaching a interactive class in the group fitness studio, other days it will be a small group coaching class on the Pilates reformers and some days I will have a private session client. I am blessed to have a schedule that rarely interferes with my kids and their activities with school and their sports.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Dana Yarn and I am the owner of Lifemoves Studio in Buford, Georgia. We offer Pilates, Yoga, Barre, functional strength training, nutrition therapy, massage, and acupuncture. My formal degree is in nutrition and health science and I am also a licensed and registered dietitian. I am fascinated by the way nutrition influences performance, appearance, energy and overall well being but I knew personally that I would never make it in a clinical nutrition setting I love to move too much. I further my credentials by getting certified in Pilates, personal training, yoga, group fitness, and blended all of those aspects of wellness into the Lifemoves Studio brand. We offer variety, while focusing on results driven workouts and program and we have built a supportive community of both instructors and participants. We are a gem because of the amazing community and the wide variety of offerings we have. It pretty incredible the be able to grab a workout, see a Dietitian and get a massage or acupuncture in the same building.
Okay, so here’s a deep one: What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?
The moment I had children completely changed how I see the world. I can remember being a young trainer/dietitian and seeing middle aged mothers who wanted results but were limited on time, energy and the mental capacity to meal prep and stick to their exercise program. I used to sit across from these women personally feeling energized from the amazing sleep I got the night before, the quiet morning I had before heading into work and the peaceful evenings of relaxation focusing on just the simple needs of myself and my husband, I would wonder, What was wrong with these ladies, why couldn’t they put in the work to get their results they were searching for in their workouts and meals?”
A few short years later I got pregnant with my daughter and gained 50+ pounds, had mild post partum depression, only slept 4-6 hours per night, my hair was falling out in chunks due to iron deficiency, hormones were out of whack, and the weight/body fat would not budge. This changed everything, it made me a better health professional. I became empathetic towards my clients, I had to personally work through the struggles of balancing being a wife, mother and passionate about my career. I had to come up with life hacks for workouts, meal prep, eating on the run, grocery shopping, while getting my hormones and lab values back to optimal functioning values.
I knew I was in a uphill battle with less sleep, time and energy but I was ready to fight anyway, the problem was nothing was working. I could not find solutions to my health problems through traditional health care, calorie restriction or standard macro nutrient guidelines I knew deep down there was another way. I was fortunate to attend lectures and trainings by integrative health professionals and found that the other way was through integrative nutrition.
I became obsessed with learning how to live a holistic lifestyle through whole unprocessed foods, avoiding toxins, and switching up my macro nutrients to a higher protein, healthy fats, more fiber with far less processed grains/carbohydrates. I combined my new found knowledge of holistic nutrition with workout and meal prep hacks and finally started to feel like myself again. Since then I have had 2 more children (boys) and have enjoyed juggling the wife, mom and entrepreneur life that I have created. I do not claim to be perfect and I embrace the hard seasons of wearing all of these hats, but one thing I know is we are truly nothing without good health. I focus on living a balanced lifestyle that sets a good example for my children, clients and community. Knowledge is power and the more you learn about your body the more powerful you become, I’m constantly evolving through each stage of life and all of these stages have helped me see the world with more wisdom, empathy and grace.
It is not about the food or workout logs, its about mindset and perception. When I struggle with feeling overwhelmed I immediately think of all of the things that I once prayed for that are my every day reality and I have gratitude for them.
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
Yes, I have almost given up when I was working in corporate fitness and the objectives were surrounded by meeting financial quotas not the client relationships. I was burnt out and losing my passion for what I once loved.
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. What would your closest friends say really matters to you?
My friends would say that quality time with my husband and staying involved in my children’s every day lives is most important to me. This means a lot to me because I am a recovering workaholic and that is just as bad as any addiction.
Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. When do you feel most at peace?
I feel most at peace when my “to-do” list is completed and I can out my feet up and relax knowing I was productive and efficient.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.lifemovesstudio.com
- Instagram: @lifemoves_lady
- Facebook: https://Facebook.com/lifemovesstudio
Image Credits
Crystal Barbee Photography
