Meet Dimitra
Mindfulness Instructor
Hi, my name is Dimitra, (a.k.a Ms. D),
My passion is to go into classrooms and talk to kids about the importance of practicing mindfulness, have them explore the innate abilities they have at their disposal, and guide them to develop life-long self-care tools to thrive no matter what life presents to them.
I refer to my meditation journey when I began running almost 20 years ago. With each run, I felt recharged, balanced, and ready to face whatever came my way. At the time, I had no idea what meditation was, but I knew running felt right for many reasons. I considered it my therapy. I got addicted quite quickly, and with this addiction came many injuries. I pushed myself beyond my limits, thinking I could not have a sane life without it. After several injuries, I eventually accepted that I had to let it go for a while. Perhaps there was something else waiting for me.
Indeed something was waiting for me; it was mindfulness meditation.
As I practiced, I felt like I found a treasure that I needed to know more about myself. I enrolled for my first certification at the Chopra Center for the Primordial Sound Meditation program. One of my teachers said to me if you want to learn something, teach it. I began teaching adults in a yoga studio, community centers, women's shelter, private one-on-one, Running Room, Yoga Festival, and healthcare setting, where I worked as a project coordinator.
In 2017, I was approached to teach kids in a school with lots of stress and anxiety. It is there that I discovered my calling.
We want to protect our kids by creating the best environment for them to be safe and thrive, but we cannot be there for them all the time. Challenges are part of life. Why not teach them to cultivate their inner resources to equip them to handle everything that comes their way with a greater sense of perspective and balance? This is true empowerment because no one can take these innate skills away from them.
When I take a little time every day to cleanse the clutter that fills my heart, body, and mind, I re-connect to the clarity that progressively guides me to make choices to be healthier, happier, welcome nourishing relationships, meaning, purpose, and success in my life.
My programs are based on research-proven curriculums of Mindful Schools, MBSR-T, and Mindfulness without Borders. I have accumulated a wealth of knowledge, skills, strategies that I've nurtured and developed through my own experience with mindfulness, along with my lifelong love of learning about self-knowledge, self evolvement, healing and well-being.
Along with my practice, spending time with my boys, connecting to nature, journaling, music and movement keeps my mind clear, my heart enliven, and my actions mindful so I may show up for the world around me, and myself with more ease, love, compassion, and purpose.
With gratitude,
|She/Her|
Land Acknowledgement
Situated on the traditional and unceded territory of the Kanien’kehà:ka (Ga-niyen-ge-HAA-ga) Mohawk, a place which has long served as a site of meeting and exchange amongst First Nations. I recognize and respect the Kanien’kehà:ka as the traditional custodians of the lands and waters on which I am connecting with you today.
For more information about traditional territory and how to make a land acknowledgement:
“This we know; The earth does not belong to man; man belongs to the earth. This we know, all things are connected like the blood which unites one family. All things are connected.” - Chief Si’ahl
