Our girl of the month for July is Dawn Feinberg aka @dawnbyoga, Miami's favorite yoga teacher, entrepreneur, owner of Ahana Yoga, wife, and mother of two. We spent an afternoon with Dawn playing dress-up at Gucci, exchanged beauty secrets over hibiscus tea at OTL, and played with our handstands at her yoga studio—Ahana. I got to know Dawn on a different level. We saw sides of each other we can't see when we practice yoga. It was fresh, playful, and beautiful. She sees me and I see her. We bring out the woman in each other. This is who we are, we build and hold women in our community. Get to know Dawn this month as we explore a whole other side of beauty: grace.
Dawn Feinberg was born and raised in Miami. She attended the University of The Arts in Philadelphia where she completed her studies in dance. Later, she moved to NYC for a masters program in movement therapy at Pratt. While working as a pro dancer in NY she ruptured her achilles tendon, which ended one career and introduced her to the next—Yoga. Since then, she moved back to Miami to start and raise her family.
What are you most proud of?
I'm most proud about being a mom. Motherhood did not come naturally to me. It was scary and I had no idea what I was doing. I was super fearful for the first few years of my son's life. After many years, a lot of therapy, tears and talks, I began to feel like a good mom, that I could do this. Yoga was a place where I felt mastery, like I knew what to do.
What inspired you to open your own yoga studio? Craig Robins built Miami Design District and Ahana seemed like the perfect fit. Craig is an avid yogi and also one of my yoga students. We spoke at length about bringing yoga into the district and I couldn't be happier.
HOME
Can’t leave the house without? My phone, sadly, it's true. I have so many played spinning that I need to be connected, specially to my kids.
Coffee or tea? COFFEE. Lots of it.
Favorite coffee shop in Miami. OTL
Favorite season. No seasons in Miami. I like it hot.
Best way to decompress. hmmmm...working on that.
What’s on your reading list? I have 2 lists. One yoga philosophy which I can't get enough of. Then there is easy reading before bed.
WELLNESS
How do you start your day? With a hot water, lemon, ACV, and honey tea.
What is the first thing you thought of this morning? Loving my kids so much while wanting to sleep more.
What’s your go-to fitness routine or regimen? Yoga 6 days a week.
What is your approach to nutrition? Clean eating, little carbs, vegetarian, keep it light after 7pm.
What are your lifestyle “must-do’s” and your absolute “no ways”? Big lunch, little dinner. I don't drink alcohol. It never fails to make me feel tired and irritable the next day.
How do you find balance to be a present mom, wife, and a business owner? Balance is tough, its a daily practice. Every day is different. If I have to work late then I make a point to spend the middle of the day with my kids. Basically, I am with my kids or at work, in the evenings I am with my kids and husband. Finding chill time is the most challenging and something I am working on. Thankfully my husband and I love water sports so we try to add that into our lives as often as possible.
What’s the cheat treat you can’t resist? Chocolate.
BEAUTY
What’s your definition of beauty now that you’re in your 40s? At 44 I have found it harder to feel hot of sexy. I am changing my definition of what that looks like to me. I have always been conscious of how my body looks as I was a professional dancer until my mid 20’s, then went into teaching yoga. I guess I expect to see a 20 year old's body in the mirror and have to begin to embrace what a beautiful 44 year old woman’s body looks like. its a work in progress.
What’s your beauty secret? Yoga.
Must-have beauty product. Yoga mat.
Favorite place to get beautified in Miami. Jade Signature Spa by Tata Harper.
Best beauty tip you ever received. Do not eat dinner late.
TECH
Favorite app. Ahana app.
Favorite social-media platform. Instagram.
Favorite person to follow on Instagram. Ahana Yoga.
Last google search. Movie times for the Incredibles.
Person you text the most. Danielle P -my manager, assistant, little sis.
FASHION & LIFESTYLE
Who inspires you? Craig Robins!
Describe your ideal “date night”. Dinner and hotel (away) with my husband.
Favorite city in the world. Miami
Where do you want to travel next? Saudi Arabia for the first yoga teacher training ever there.
What words do you live by. Compassion.
How do you describe your personal style. Boho & always in athleisure.
Person you admire the most. My dad.
Horror yoga story. The first yoga retreat that I ever taught I was so nervous I didn't sleep the entire night before.
Best yoga moment. Opening up Ahana.
If your kids had to describe you using only one word, what would it be? Just asked them and they said "awesome" (ha, that could change at any moment)
If you could offer a piece of advise to your 20 year old self, what would it be? Chin up, it all works out really well.
Hope you guys are having a fabulous summer! X, Gigi
