Tulua Verde is for free spirits and life lovers, for people that go for their dreams and create a life that's true to themselves. In the series #wearetulua (translating into "we are rising"), we portray personalities that have been doing just that and created a life that's true to themselves. Today we want to introduce you to the beautiful soul, retreat leader and longboarder Dana.
"Be a conscious creator as you dance through life." – Dana
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Tell us a little bit about yourself. Who are you and what’s your story
That’s a hard question to answer in just a few sentences but I will do my best to sum it up and convey the most important messages for who I am at this moment in my life. I’m an average young woman that never gave up on my dreams and always followed my heart. Born and raised in San Diego, California. A pisces sun sign - I refer to myself as part fish, part mermaid and a little human. I’m a massive dreamer and complete optimist. I am a child of trauma. (I think we all are but I find it healing to share the lessons my trauma has taught me and am filled with joy when others get vulnerable with me and can relate - I feel it as ultimate power and divine connection.) Dealing with divorced parents as an only child from a young age was difficult to say the least, it shaped my character, behaviors, beliefs and desires and for the longest time (honestly up until the last few months) I let that part of my story define me. But this year, at 27 years old - 18 years since my parents divorced, I am learning that this is not the part of my story I want to define me anymore. That’s where my story starts but the real divineness, the real magic, is where it has brought me - to this chapter of my story. To the parts of myself that have healed and been discovered through the pain, darkness and struggle, and how I have been able to connect with the light amongst it all. Who am I? I am a child of the sea. I am a child of the light. I am a retreat leader, a facilitator, a mentor and a coach. I have found strength and fulfillment in sharing my passions, my wisdom, my voice through the ocean and in that I help others connect with their own inner strength and voice. I use surfing as a way to ignite self awareness, environmental awareness and intuition in people I work with so that they too can tell their story in a way that shares their light.
"The only way to fail is if you give up so no matter how many times you fall, stand the fuck up, there’s an abundance of opportunities waiting for you when you do."
I believe it was born when I was. There’s a photo of my moms ultrasound when I was in her belly with my one foot, 5 toes, already perched in utero. Written under the photo “little surfer girl”. My dad and uncle are surfers and my grandfather was a body boarder. Growing up along the coast in California it was the most natural thing to do. The first wave I remember riding is when I was 5 years old at Scripps Pier in La Jolla. It was probably ankle high and I was only about knee deep in water when I was pushed onto it but rode it all the way till the fin was dragging on the sand and I had to jump off the board. I was stoked to say the least. My life was forever changed on that wave. The feeling of freedom, liberation, solitude, synchronicity, pure joy that I felt on that day is reignited every time I ride a wave. I still get that giddy feeling of happiness inside my soul the same way I did when I was 5 years old.
"As she, the ocean, has been my greatest teacher, healer, supporter and there is nothing more that I want than continuing a life upon her water. "
Freedom.
A lifestyle. It’s part of who I am, my identity, my daily activities, my career. Every major choice I’ve made in my adult life has been around the ocean and surfing, how I can make sure I have the accessibility and ability to surf when I desire because it brings me back to me and helps me connect with my purpose here on earth. Connecting to my mind, body and soul in ways that no other activity can. What I do, where I go, and when I do it (whatever it is) is all based around the ebb and flow of the ocean and how I can dance with her tides. As she, the ocean, has been my greatest teacher, healer, supporter and there is nothing more that I want than continuing a life upon her water.
"The soul of surfing is about presence, connection - to the environment and oneself, respecting nature, and honoring your fellow surfers in the line up who are out there doing the same thing you are in their own unique way."
Thank you for the sweet words ohhhwe. And your definition “Surfing as a meditative and healing tool to soothe your soul and contribute to mental well-being” is SPOT ON! Brilliant words. I definitely consider myself a soul surfer. I get in the water and dance across the waves for me, no one else. My purpose and intention behind surfing is to have fun, be present, to let my soul be free, to express myself, to unravel in every way my being calls for. Moody, strong, elegant, graceful. All the feels, that’s what I’m here for. I’ve participated in quite a few contests over the years but after my most recent one I’ve decided to hang up the jersey. (Unless there’s a really special community centered contest that presents itself to me) Being in a competitive environment just triggers me now. I find there is too much ego and that’s not what surfing is about. To me, the way the surfing industry has developed in many aspects is all about being better than someone else, having the “right” photos, “right” clothes and bikinis, best board and equipment, being “seen”. That’s not the spirit of surfing. That’s not why Hawaiian’s paddled out massive pieces of hand shaped wood into waves. They did it for their own personal joy, they did it for the FEELING and connection it brought them to nature and themself. The soul of surfing is about presence, connection - to the environment and oneself, respecting nature, and honoring your fellow surfers in the line up who are out there doing the same thing you are in their own unique way.
"Being in a competitive environment just triggers me now. I find there is too much ego and that’s not what surfing is about."
From the ages of 5 to18 I was positive that I was going to be a nurse. My mom had been a nurse for decades (and still is) and I always admired her for the way she took care of other people and me through the most challenging of times. Taking care of people, that’s what I loved. There was something special about the bond that’s formed when you help someone from an unconditional place and I was able to see that through my moms career. I associated helping people with health care until I got to college. My eyes were opened to the range of ways that one could help another and also just how much I desired to build a life around the ocean. Once I saw the possibilities, I was willing to sacrifice everything to have that. And let me tell you, I did just that. Here’s a bit of my story… On my second trip to Indonesia at 22 years old I fell deeply in love with someone who had the same passion I did and desired the same simple life I did and man did it pull me closer to my dreams. Unfortunately my relationship was not supported by family and some friends due to the differences in our background and culture. To say the least, this presented many mountains I had to climb, not only for love but for my dreams as well. Along this journey I learned even more what it meant to be fearless. I dove into online opportunity one after another trying to support this lifestyle around the ocean and so that I could be close to my love in Indonesia. I put myself out there and wasn’t afraid to ‘fail’ just so I could continue being on this path and having the freedom and impact I desired. I felt I had to show everyone that didn't believe in me that I could make it doing what I loved after I chose to stop going to college. And all of these ‘things’ did get me closer to my dreams but not in the way I had imagined when i picked them up. There was a moment during the pandemic when I could only afford to eat 1x a day, white rice, boil eggs and cucumbers…. but I never gave up. I just kept being me, even when society and the people closest to me kept trying to pull me in different directions and away from my dreams. After years of just getting by, years of trying to prove myself, years of hustle with no end in sight, I started to see and attract new opportunities with a career, a livelihood, a lifestyle that could finally support me because I NEVER gave up on that. The right people, ideas, connections, were presenting themself to me one after another and that’s what has led me here. I found my purpose by listening to my heart in each moment. Through personal development work, years of breaking down old belief systems and rebuilding ones that served me to a higher place. Honestly, I would do it ALL again. All the struggles, battles, challenges. It has been more than worth it because overcoming these things has prepared me to become the person I am today. To ask if I always knew what I wanted… I still dont know haha. It changes all the time and I just continue to ride the waves of inspiration and desires that arise. Some stick around and some get lost - I think thats the beauty of life though. I enjoy being flexible, I love adapting to new surroundings and situations, I love taking risks and doing things most people are too scared to do, because through my own experiences the biggest jumps have the biggest rewards even if you have to fall. I believe I’m living my purpose for this moment, this phase of life but I know this isn’t what I’m going to do forever, this is just the next step on my journey as I continue to grow and transform. So now I do my best to surrender, trust, believe and focus on putting one foot in front of the other, cause that’s all we have the power to control.
"I love taking risks and doing things most people are too scared to do, because through my own experiences the biggest jumps have the biggest rewards even if you have to fall."
If you read my answer to the question above it will make sense how I was able to make that leap of faith. Honestly I had a lot of trial and error before and during this big move and I just never gave up. I chose to always believe it would work out. It had to and I had to consciously chose to believe that. When I did my yoga teacher training at 20 years old my favorite leader at the time (shoutout to you, Bonnie <3) said this in one of my yoga classes and I have never been able to forget it, this next phrase is what I have lived by every moment since. It is what has carried my through it all. “You are exactly where you’re meant to be doing exactly what you’re meant to be doing.” So when shit got tough (and when shit still gets tough) I remind myself of that! I also believe with this optimistic outlook in life I’ve been able to manifest and attract some really incredible people / mentors into my life who have supported, inspired and believed in me more than I could have ever imagined. I like to think of them as angels, cause the way they have touched my life has allowed me to keep moving forward and keep going after my dreams when I thought it was impossible. That’s one of the reasons as to why I’m so passionate about the work I do now - because I want to be an extension of these angels who have touched my life, I want to lend my hand and heart and faith to those who come into my life and need the kind of support that I have recieved before. After all, we are one. When one succeeds we ALL SUCCEED. So that’s part of my mission, and I guess my purpose, in this life. I think courage means being fearless in what sets your soul on fire. I think courage means having the strength to face fear head on. I think courage means not giving up even when you don’t know how to move forward, but honestly all you gotta do is keep showing up.
"I think courage means being fearless in what sets your soul on fire."
People are always going to talk and try and hold you back, say things that aren’t true and try and get in your way. None of that outside noise matters. What matters is the buzz you have inside your heart. Follow that feeling, ignore the birds mocking you up above and just keep trying, keep going, keep believing. The only way to fail is if you give up so no matter how many times you fall, stand the fuck up, there’s an abundance of opportunities waiting for you when you do. You’ll never find the light if you don’t know what it’s like to be in the dark. You live and you learn, that’s the only way to go forward. Choose to see each experience, even the toughest ones as lessons on your journey. Everything is leading you to exactly where you’re meant to be. Choose to believe that. Make that choice and don’t be afraid to lose things and people along the way. Each moment is here to serve you, guide you, transform you. You have the power, all the power you need, within. Be a conscious creator as you dance through life. Know that what you believe, what you think, what you speak is what you shall receive. And remember, the only constant is change, when one door closes another one will always open - you are limited only by your vision of what is possible.
I believe in you and I hope you believe in you too.
Xx, Dana // DanceLightly
NEWS: Dana and me (Nina, founder of Tulua Verde and a 200h certified Vinyasa Yoga Teacher) are hosting a retreat in Lombok 21.-28.9.23. Click here to find out more.