I am a Yoga Girl - Dynia Abath

My name is Dynia Abath (@dyniaam) and I am 59 years old. I was born and raised on the beautiful island of Aruba.

I work as the head of the governmental institution for troubled and criminal teens here on the island. It is an intense job – we are open 365 days a year and 24 hours a day. My listening skills and sense of empathy need to be in tune with reality at all times. Listening is key when facilitating a safe space for people to express themselves.

Being here for these kids to open up and share what they are going through on a human level is the quality I possess that I am most proud of. I show up for it every day.

When I am not at work, I am probably with my Yorkie in the garden. However, my most sacred ritual is my yoga practice. When I turned 58 last year, I decided to give myself the gift of life, rather than buying jewelry or some other material possession I didn’t really need. I was invited by my sister-in-law to join her at a new yoga studio that had just opened up on the island – and of course that was Island Yoga!

As soon as I began practicing I knew this was what my body had been craving. I always arrive 30 minutes before class actually starts. Coming to the studio and rolling out my mat to practice is the best way to unwind, to de-stress and to bring myself into the here and now. I have a tendency to feel stuck in my body and I have a really hard time getting out of work mode. Yes, I am an incredibly hard worker and that can be a good thing. However, it can also make my work consume my life.

My yoga practice brings me a sense of peace and clarity that I cannot seem to find anywhere else. It makes me the best version of me that I can be. Everything seems to make so much sense to me now. I am always in motion. I always love being in motion. But now, I move to give myself peace of mind.

Being a part of the Yoga Girl community has given me a sense of purpose in my life. It has been like finding a new home. They say that when the student is ready, the master will appear. That is exactly what happened to me. I wanted to find something in my life that would sustain me. When I opened my heart up to that thought, I found this community.

I wish this feeling for all. I want everyone to experience this. When you truly find what is calling you, everything will fall into place. The yoga practice for me is so beyond the physical practice. There is endless exploration in this community, and there is something for everyone. Everyone is welcome.