Millions of people worldwide struggle with stress or anxiety. There’s many ways of managing it, and one specific coping mechanism is yoga. For Diane Dahlgren, yoga not only relieves those feelings but has also become a way of life for her.
“The meditations of yoga while practicing the breath work helps to clear the mind and is beneficial for one dealing with anxiety and depression,” said Dahlgren. “It helps to keep one centered, focused, and to clear out thoughts that are not important.”
Growing up as a competitive swimmer, Dahlgren developed early osteoarthritis in her knees due to the unusual motion of the breastroke kick. She wanted to continue being active and healthy without bringing upon more damage to her knees. She continued to pursue triathlons as well as high impact activities such as Zumba, aquaZumba, aerobics, and water-aerobics. Yoga evnetually was the remedy that Dahlgren gravitated to.
“A little over 20 years ago, I started practicing yoga,” Dahlgren said. “It was an adjustment, but I soon realized the challenges and the ability to push my mind and body while also doing less high impact.”
Dahlgren had surgery performed on one of her knees for a partial knee replacement and utilized yoga as a restorative practice.
“It was not only good for my body, but for my mental health and my spirit. It saved my life,” said Dahlgren. “I often tell people that yoga is great for the ‘aging athlete.’”
After 33 years of teaching math and science at Benjamin Franklin Middle School, Dahlgren retired and pursued a 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training program that arose; she saw it as an opportunity.
“I currently teach yoga two or three times a week, and I enjoy it very much. My students are open, receptive, and willing to grow in their practice,” Dahlgren said. “As much as I can, I am practicing yoga at home and taking yoga classes, workshops, and more training whenever the opportunity arises.”
Dahlgren has developed a passion for the practice of yoga and all of its benefits. She enjoys the high-intensity feeling of a workout without the physical repercussions on your body that high-impact often exercises bring.
“Yoga is wonderful for so many things, and it is often misunderstood,” said Dahlgren. “It is not a religion, but whatever your beliefs, it will make you feel more spiritually connected to all that is beyond your control. Yoga is not a competition with anyone but yourself. One must find their ‘edge,’ breathe, and keep trying.”
Not only does Dahlgren teach and practice yoga, she is also a local author and loves to read. Her biggest motivation for writing books is family.
“My biggest influence for writing was my father who died suddenly in 2005. My book is dedicated to him. He and I enjoyed reading and talking about past people and how they lived their everyday lives,” Dahlgren said. “He encouraged me to write my book shortly before he died, saying that if I don’t write it down, nobody will know my story.”
Dahlgren began her writing experience with a “self-published” book that she explained was a bad experience. She met with a new company to work and revise the book together. She is currently working on releasing her new book, “The Mystique of the Red Berry Bush,” a prehistoric tale of tribes that was formulated mainly from her imagination but also some early rituals that she learned from her time studying anthropology, which she has a degree in.
Dahlgren is currently working on the next two installments of the series. She is very passionate about reading and believes more people should read, especially younger children.
Quoting Joseph Addison, Dahlgren shared how, “Reading is to the mind as exercise is to the body.”
“I advise that one should read every day. Get off of social media and pick up a book! It is good for your overall health,” Dahlgren said.
Dahlgren also encourages more people to try yoga, as it could be a life-changing experience.
“If you would like to try yoga, start with a beginner or basic level, take workshops, read books, and keep practicing, even if it is to just sit up and focus on your breath after a stressful situation,” said Dahlgren.
In her free time, Dahlgren enjoys hiking and loves nature. She still swims two to three times a week and also enjoys knitting and crafting.