Teacher Feature: Dana
At the Yoga Center of Columbia, we strive to cultivate a space where students and instructors feel a sense of community and belonging for all abilities, all bodies, and all ages. Today we’re honoring our teachers, who use their knowledge and expertise to adapt their leadership to meet the needs of all students, providing a welcoming and inclusive experience for everyone.
Meet one of them: Dana Varela, RYT 200, one of our newest instructors who has been a dedicated yoga practitioner for over a decade, and comes to us with a rich background in multiple wellness disciplines.
Dana plans to complete her RYT 500 training in 2026, and looks forward to sharing her growing knowledge with her students. Check out Dana’s teacher page for a full list of her upcoming classes, including her Tuesday and Thursday Yoga 1-2 weekly classes! Read on to discover more about Dana and her experience and relationship to yoga and to our studio.
How long have you been practicing yoga or a related discipline?
I have been practicing yoga for 10 years. My background as a functional movement strength training coach complimented the alignment-based teachings of Hatha yoga. My existing knowledge and passion for understanding of anatomy has only been deepened through my own yogic practice and yoga teacher training education.
What have you learned or how have you grown since becoming a YCC instructor?
Teaching yoga is a gift. I have gained so much from my students. I am grateful to be a witness to a student feeling better physically, energetically or emotionally. When a student discovers they can practice more or deeper than they believed possible and they develop awareness, my heart smiles. I love that I can take my knowledge and my own experience and share that with others and assist them on their own yogic journey.
What are your most memorable trips or experiences relating to your yoga, Pilates, meditation and/or qigong practices?
I had the pleasure of attending a yoga retreat in Costa Rica with Kelly Fisher. The location was stunning: filled with beauty and so many animals and I also had the tremendous experience of deepening my practice with daily guided meditations and asanas.
On a more internal experience I have come to know the full benefit of savasana. This asana is often said to be the hardest, was one that took me years to understand. I have found the true beauty of this pose and the deep awakening that can come from allowing this present moment to flow with calm and ease.
Do you have any current areas of independent focus/study/interest related to these practices and what are they?
I am currently in the RYT 500 Advanced Teacher Training program. I am personally studying fascia and the rapidly refined knowledge of this amazing connective tissue. I also have a love of the subtle body energies and often reflect through my practice on the chakras.
Do you have some favorite quotes or mantras? What are they?
Gayatri Mantra, chanted in the morning, this oldest of the Vedic chants has deepened my understanding of yogic philosophy. It provides a welcoming calm to my day.
What is your favorite part of being part of the YCC family?
This is an honor. I have practiced at the Yoga Center for a long time. The quality and knowledge of the teachers here are incredible. I know firsthand the vastness of this talented group, who honor the traditions of yoga, and it very much inspires me.
What is your teaching style and/or what can students expect in your classes?
I think of my class offering as a transformative journey incorporating a strong alignment-based physical experience while creating awareness, utilizing breathwork, mudras and a heartfelt quality to honor the vast traditions of yoga. My style and this aspect allow students to find a balance between the body, mind and spirit in a safe, enlightening and yet confidence-enhancing way. My wish would be to provide students with the abilities to find these qualities both on and off their mats.
Do you have a pet?
My Grand dogs; Sadie, a 35 lb. full of energy Bull Terrier, who would eat as many blueberries as I would give her and Mabel, an English Bulldog, who loves to boat and kayak.
The Yoga Center of Columbia has been supporting our community's health and well-being since 1992. We offer yoga, Pilates, meditation, and qigong in four classrooms in Columbia, Maryland: in-person and online. Click for details or to register for our 100+ weekly Classes and our specialty Workshops !
New to the studio? Try out our New Student Special: 3 weeks of unlimited classes for $59. Already a student? Ask us about our Refer and Earn program — because the people in your life who need to move are waiting for someone to invite them.
