Embracing Healing: My Journey to Creating the Moving Forward 12-Week Transformation

In the quiet moments of reflection, I find solace in the gentle rhythm of my breath, the steady beat of my heart – reminders of the journey that brought me here. My name is Mandi Black, and this is the story of how Ashtanga yoga and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) became my lifelines, guiding me through the darkest shadows to the radiant light of healing.

Over two decades ago, I stumbled upon the transformative practice of yoga. Like a lost wanderer seeking refuge, I found solace in the sacred space of my mat. For ten years, I immersed myself in the fiery embrace of hot yoga, the sweat mingling with tears shed in silent surrender. But as my thirst for deeper understanding grew, I journeyed further into the heart of yoga, where I discovered the ancient wisdom of Ashtanga.

Nine months of dedicated practice were all it took to shatter the chains of addiction that bound me for over two decades. Ashtanga yoga, with its rhythmic dance of breath and movement, became my sanctuary, offering profound healing to my nervous system, mind, and body. It was a journey of rebirth, of shedding old skins to reveal the radiant truth of my being.

But healing is a multifaceted journey, and it was during a time of unexpected upheaval that I discovered the transformative power of DBT. Moving in with my mother seemed like a natural step, a chance to reconnect with family and find solace in familiar surroundings. Little did I know, I was stepping into the lion's den, unknowingly moving in with my abuser.

It was in the crucible of this experience that I learned the truth about my upbringing – that I was raised by a mother struggling with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). In the depths of despair, I found DBT, a lifeline woven from the threads of mindfulness, emotional regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness. In just 12 weeks, DBT became the catalyst for transformation, eclipsing over a decade of talk therapy with its profound wisdom and practical tools. Inspired by its impact, I began volunteering to teach DBT courses, recognizing how the benefits of yoga could complement its teachings.

With over 700 hours of certified teacher training, my journey has evolved from personal healing to a sacred mission of guiding others towards their own path of transformation. And so, the Moving Forward 12-Week Transformation was born – a sanctuary of healing, a beacon of hope for those seeking refuge from the storms of childhood trauma.

Together, let us walk this path of healing and transformation, hand in hand, heart to heart. For in the embrace of community, in the shared stories of triumph and tribulation, we find strength, we find courage, and we find hope.

With love and light,

Mandi Black