There’s power in the mindset shift of limitlessness.
Once you understand, believe, and take action towards your goals and dreams you realize that the only thing holding yourself back, is well…yourself.
By becoming a Face Yoga Teacher Certification Course Graduate, Marka Danielle proves that we are only confined by the walls we create for ourselves and that our physical limitations don’t have to stop our achievements and dreams.
Sometimes we’re dealt an ‘unfair hand’ and sometimes people look at us and judge us based on our disability. See how Marka’s passion for teaching and enabling the disabled has become her legacy with Face Yoga.
But being bedridden hadn’t stopped her. A wheelchair hadn’t stopped her. Why should she let age stop her?
MIRRORED EXPERIENCE
The first part of Marka’s Journey may sound familiar if you’re familiar with my own. In an instant, Marka’s life changed dramatically. This dance teacher was in a terrible accident that paralyzed her from the neck down. But Marka’s passion for teaching and trust in the healing power of breath and body helped her use yoga and breathing exercises to restore her mobility.
Marka’s model of aging growing up was her grandmother who, “retired, back when retiring at 55 was just fine,” Marka tells us, “and then she did nothing for the rest of her life.”
But Marka couldn’t imagine “doing nothing”.
She didn’t want to give up on her body. She didn’t want to grow tired of living a life that didn’t feel right and purpose-driven.
RIGHT OF PASSAGE
Marka’s life would take another turn when she stumbled upon my story and Method which uses the body and breath to heal.
She thought, “Here was another woman doing something similar — another person who had healed herself with yoga”.
Instantly, she joined the Private Face Yoga Method Community on Facebook and was enraptured in the changes and stories of how powerful and therapeutic Face Yoga is.
For Marka, the 6 Week Face Toning Bootcamp was just the beginning, and this only reassured her of the feeling ruminating in her core: what if she could give back and heal others the way Face Yoga had healed her….
“I wanna grow old as happily and joyfully as I can, and also pay forward all I’ve learned.”
Marka knew that her passion for teaching would become more of a challenge as she aged, especially because of her limited mobility. But the roadblock she didn’t predict was the doubts others would have in her abilities.
It was apparent that the people around her thought she was slowly becoming irrelevant and didn’t believe she’d be able to continue teaching.
It went without saying that unless Marka wanted to become “irrelevant” and slowly drift into old age in the background, she needed to give herself the gift of education and empower herself with knowledge no one could doubt or take from her.
Another thing that drew Marka to the Face Yoga Teacher Certification Course was her intuitive connection with Fumiko, based on a shared passion for teaching.
Marka is no stranger to teaching. At just 14, she started as a teaching assistant to her ballet instructor and never looked back.
“A true master is not the one with the most students…but the one who creates the most masters”
“That’s what Fumiko is trying to do, and that’s what attracted me.”
There was something about Fumiko’s energy that had attracted her. It was more than the exercises… It was the integrity that Fumiko brought as she shared her knowledge with the Face Yoga Teacher Certification Course Students.
Marka is not alone in this calling and connection. Every year, hundreds of Face Yoga Teacher Certification Course Students are surprised at how quickly and tightly they connect with one another, and the synergy they feel along their Journey together. These Face Yoga Teacher Certification Course Graduates have already built Face Yoga communities in their own circles.
They are able to make supplemental income by sharing something that brings joy to people. Something that gives women the strength and confidence to see the beauty in themselves.
Marka turns 65 in January of 2022 and feels secure knowing that now, she has a career that will keep her active and accessible.
She’s flipped the script and arrived in her new chapter equipped with everything she needs to share the joys of breathing, posture, and connection with others — a laptop, wifi, and her Face Yoga Method Teaching Certification.
“Fumiko has given us the resources to make this work.”
Marka knows that Face Yoga will be life-changing for others with limited or no mobility and just days after graduating, she shares that there’s already a lot of interest in her upcoming classes where she plans to teach Face Yoga for disabilities as well as a beginner’s Face Yoga class, starting very soon.
7 thoughts on “Face Yoga Teacher Changing How People Think About Disability”
Linda Bourdeon
I love your story. I know you can do it. I started being an English tutor to international students a year ago and I’ve opened a whole new chapter in my life. Now I want to focus on face yoga.
Dear Fumiko and everyone in the Face Yoga Method Community,
Thank you so very much for this honor, sharing my story here. I am so grateful to be a part of this beautiful Village and to be able to continue to share ways to help people find Joy and Happiness in their lives.
Much Love, Peace and Light to all,
Marka Danielle
I would like to send my love and congratulations to Marka for being able to overcome so many of her health issues to be all she can be and keep on giving to others.
“Disability” takes on many forms, not all visible!
I had managed to stay positive and cope with all my health issues over the last 7 years, managing to “somehow” escape death 10 times.
I was used to being sociable and helping others in many ways and even when confined to bed and home, still found ways to make my life worthwhile while giving to others.
Multiple infections this year, left me bedridden, unable to walk or move much, hideous weight and hair loss and leaving me looking in the mirror and not recognising myself. I was badly treated in many situations and I completely lost self confidence and often the will to carry on. Not like me!
The thought of, “becoming “irrelevant” and slowly drift into old age in the background” as Marka said, is something that scares me. I have no fear of death itself, but there are ways that I would rather not go!
Marka’s words are from experience and from the heart. It can be too easy under difficult circumstances, just to give up. Thankfully, through putting one foot in front of the other, simple stretches and yoga, I have reclaimed my perseverance and tenacity, body pains are receding or gone, weight, strength and muscle tone are improving, and the only thing holding me back from short very outdoor walks, is limited lung capacity when it’s cold, windy weather. I can even balance for a few seconds on my left leg which has had two achilles ruptures two years ago!
Rejoining the Face Yoga Community, made me REALLY realise just how much my whole body was completely out of alignment and not just my face, which has been etched with pain and respiratory difficulties.
And as everyone keeps stating, it’s not just about facial exercises, but taking time to ground yourself, love yourself and others more, and become more at peace, which all helps to cope better with life and feel more confident.
I have enjoyed the Live Mastery classes and the joy, love and enthusiasm from everyone is beautiful and I’ve felt happier and more relaxed after a class.
I find some of the breathing and poses difficult, but adapt and work within my abilities and classes help point out often made mistakes. Really helpful.
Thank you Fumiko and all the FYM Team and I do think that Marka’s ideas for disability orientated classes and perhaps Q & A sessions on You Tube sound like great ideas ❤️
I love your story. I know you can do it. I started being an English tutor to international students a year ago and I’ve opened a whole new chapter in my life. Now I want to focus on face yoga.
Hi Linda! Many thanks for sharing! Welcome
So inspiring! Thank you! I love that.
Hi Helga! it’s my absolute pleasure!
Dear Fumiko and everyone in the Face Yoga Method Community,
Thank you so very much for this honor, sharing my story here. I am so grateful to be a part of this beautiful Village and to be able to continue to share ways to help people find Joy and Happiness in their lives.
Much Love, Peace and Light to all,
Marka Danielle
Hi Marka! I am grateful to have you Face Yogi! Many thanks for the love!
I would like to send my love and congratulations to Marka for being able to overcome so many of her health issues to be all she can be and keep on giving to others.
“Disability” takes on many forms, not all visible!
I had managed to stay positive and cope with all my health issues over the last 7 years, managing to “somehow” escape death 10 times.
I was used to being sociable and helping others in many ways and even when confined to bed and home, still found ways to make my life worthwhile while giving to others.
Multiple infections this year, left me bedridden, unable to walk or move much, hideous weight and hair loss and leaving me looking in the mirror and not recognising myself. I was badly treated in many situations and I completely lost self confidence and often the will to carry on. Not like me!
The thought of, “becoming “irrelevant” and slowly drift into old age in the background” as Marka said, is something that scares me. I have no fear of death itself, but there are ways that I would rather not go!
Marka’s words are from experience and from the heart. It can be too easy under difficult circumstances, just to give up. Thankfully, through putting one foot in front of the other, simple stretches and yoga, I have reclaimed my perseverance and tenacity, body pains are receding or gone, weight, strength and muscle tone are improving, and the only thing holding me back from short very outdoor walks, is limited lung capacity when it’s cold, windy weather. I can even balance for a few seconds on my left leg which has had two achilles ruptures two years ago!
Rejoining the Face Yoga Community, made me REALLY realise just how much my whole body was completely out of alignment and not just my face, which has been etched with pain and respiratory difficulties.
And as everyone keeps stating, it’s not just about facial exercises, but taking time to ground yourself, love yourself and others more, and become more at peace, which all helps to cope better with life and feel more confident.
I have enjoyed the Live Mastery classes and the joy, love and enthusiasm from everyone is beautiful and I’ve felt happier and more relaxed after a class.
I find some of the breathing and poses difficult, but adapt and work within my abilities and classes help point out often made mistakes. Really helpful.
Thank you Fumiko and all the FYM Team and I do think that Marka’s ideas for disability orientated classes and perhaps Q & A sessions on You Tube sound like great ideas ❤️