Life and Work with Athina Lewis

Today we’d like to introduce you to Athina Lewis.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Athina. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
Yáʼátʼééh shi eya Athina yinishyé.
I was born and raised on the Navajo Reservation. Needless to say, there wasn’t a dance or yoga studio near where I grew up. Just the sheep, horses, ducks, chickens, and the dirt road. I value my family and Navajo culture. Without my family, I don’t know where I would be in life. My family has always been so supportive of the many unthinkable decisions I made and continue to make. They are my biggest supporters. Along with family, I live with my Navajo culture every day.

I enjoy experiencing new things and am curious about the world around me. I love dancing, doing yoga, caring for animals, nature, traveling, and quoting movies daily. My educational experiences led me to major in Education. I got my Associate’s degree, currently working on my Bachelor’s. Through it all, I never gave up on fitness.

Losing two beautiful women I’ve admired over the years of growing up, led me to begin my yoga journey. I felt and recognized how negative I was by being sad, mad, angry, and isolating myself. But through those times I was able to find my emotional outlet. I began my yoga journey where it all began. Home on the Navajo reservation, a place so quiet and peaceful just the sounds of nature. I took my first stretch one morning as tears would fall from my eyes, I let it all go. All the negativity that was built up inside. Holding my sisters and father. As I returned to the city, I continued my yoga practice. I opened my yoga practice to expand through local yoga healing events in Phoenix, Arizona. I’ve shared how vulnerable I can be with complete strangers. In the end, they have guided me to where I am now. I’m thankful for them.

I’ve been channeling who I am into my Instagram posts. I enjoy trying new workouts and attending fitness or wellness events that stand out to me. I share on my Instagram feed or story, in hopes that I can reach out to others. There is a long story behind every picture or quote. I’m a fitness enthusiast, but dancing, yoga, and cardio are what I consider to do more. I incorporated and will continue to make a connection to my Navajo culture.

Has it been a smooth road?
My journey up to this chapter in my life hasn’t been a smooth road. Lot’s of potholes, road work, and dead ends in the making. I learned to find the detours, back roads, and U-turns. Like stated in Braun and Amdahl’s Oola Find Balance, “The majority of your energy and focus, however, should be on the windshield in front of you.” I’ve let the judgments that people make of me, get to me. I’m still learning how to be accountable for my actions because I’m the only person in control of what I choose to do. I tried to follow what society sees as a beautiful, accomplished, educated, smart, etc. female. All I have to do is be present, live, and be Athina. The most life-changing struggle was losing Anita my mother and Marie my grandmother, in less than a year. I was a full-time student, full-time teacher, traveled ten hours every other weekend to help and spend time with them both. Sad to say that I lost a part of me along with them. It’s taken me time to stop comparing myself to others. Stop trying to be this person that society says I am supposed to be. But through those experiences, I’m happy to say that I chose to alter my life around through the past two years.

My advice “T’áá hwó’ ají t’éego” this is the Navajo saying for, “It is up to You.” You are the most important person in “your” life. Own up to the decisions you’ve made in the past, it’ll show that you’re accountable for yourself. You’re evolving, your journey is precious and valuable. Love who you are through all the stages. Just be you and always stay true to who you are. There will be times when you may need to alter where you are on your journey. But always remember, you come first. All the self-care, self-love, and self-discovery goes along with you as encounter those ups and downs.

Please tell us more about your work, what you are currently focused on and most proud of.
I’m an Instagram blogger, I share my daily life through pictures or quotes. I created an Instagram account that helps me express and expand on my lifestyle habits by sharing my yoga practice, fitness go-to, work, school, etc. Through those moments, I found that I wanted to share how my day was. I want to share it with others because I know I’m not alone. I just started to incorporate products I use daily and sharing where I get my inspiration from by tagging people, places, and products. Through Instagram, I’ve created connections with other influencers or reconnected with people I use to surround myself with. We give each other motivation and ask for tips or help on certain topics. I do all my pictures using my phone. I post and share daily in between errands and work.

I’m most proud of myself for valuing my culture and incorporating it daily, for opening up to local businesses, and for allowing myself to expand what I know and don’t. Also, going to local events where I experience and hear amazing influencers who feed my passion with so much knowledge. Then, share it with my followers. My heart and mind are in a great evolving phase than it was before when I lost my mother and grandmother. I know they would be so proud of me for doing what I do now and in the future, for myself.

What sets me apart from others is that I incorporate my Navajo culture and teachings to my yoga practice, career, and daily life as I live among the beautiful souls around the Phoenix area or when I’m traveling. I’m always learning whether it’s about my family, culture, career, school, responsibilities, etc. Yes, I may be given a title (ex. Teacher) but what really matters is everything below that title (ex. Caring, learning from students, figuring out situations together, etc.). The ground I walk on every day is my yoga mat and dance floor. Being away from my home and culture, yoga helps me reconnect in a special way. I’m sharing with my followers what makes me happy, what brings me joy, what keeps me alive. Whether it’s being by myself or with complete strangers, the things I do may reach someone who is doing the same thing but from a different perspective.

I love it, I can’t wait to share and learn so much more from this platform.

Who have you been inspired by?
The women that inspired me in my life are shimá (my mother) Anita, shádí (sister) Lisa, and shádí (sister) Desirae. Because in their eyes they know how much I’ve grown up to this point in my life.

My mother Anita was without a doubt amazing. She touched so many hearts and was a loving caring person. Yes, she did have flaws, but she owned up to them. Even at her weakest point, she helped those that would ask. Through the unthinkable events in my life, she was there for support. She taught me how to speak Navajo, and I taught her how to teach me how to speak Navajo (we were each other’s teachers). As life went on, I began to learn and understand our culture. When she got sick, I would visit her at our home on the reservation. Over and over, she would tell me to not be afraid, to keep going, to have an open heart, to do whatever makes me happy. Because I will still have my father and sisters. Yes, there are the peaks in my life that I encounter when I want to call her and tell her. But I know she’s with me through those moments.
My sisters both inspire and motivate me as I continue to evolve. They show dedication to their family, career, and take responsibility for everything in between. I know that I can seek out their help, with judgments aside. I watched them from a distance, evolve to the person they are today. They both can understand and speak Navajo that’s something I admire. Also, they share with me parts of our culture I didn’t have the opportunity to learn from my mother and grandmother. Some may try to tear us apart but together as sisters we stand together.

Contact Info:

• Email: athina_lewis@yahoo.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/buttonos3/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/button.nose2
• Other: https://linktr.ee/buttonos3

 

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