Today we’d like to introduce you to Dominique Alston.
Dominique, before we jump into specific questions your work, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I moved to California, January 2015. Coming here was the biggest step I’d ever taken. I wanted nothing more than to make my dreams of becoming an actress come true.
December of 2015, I went on a camping trip that changed my life. The only thing missing was the diversity. I wanted nothing more than for the people I grew up around to experience the pure exhilaration and freedom I felt being in and connecting to nature.
For months I was overrun with ideas of how to bring billions of people together and create a more positive, love-filled world. I felt like I understood what we all needed: LOVE. By May of 2016, I introduced “Ihunaanya: Understand Your Impact.” Ihunaanya means love in the Igbo language. The word itself encompasses many types of love. The purpose of Ihunaanya was to (1) encourage more participation of Black Americans in adventurous outdoor activity, (2) elevate the world to the idea that we are all one, (3) bring love to people and (4) to increase the spiritual, mental, emotional and physical wellness of my attendees. I had no idea what I was in store for.
Fast forward to now, as we come to the end of 2019, Ihunaanya has held over 50 events with over 100 attendees. The events range from backpacking in the Eastern Sierras, CA to kayaking in Antelope Canyon, UT. We meditate, converse on solutions for the world and let our inner child run free. I knew I was successful when I watched 25 minorities cliff jump in Malibu. Where I’m from, that doesn’t even exist.
Has it been a smooth road?
Over the years, I have changed the business plan multiple times. I am biracial and my soul purpose is to use my light, voice and talents to bring people together. I have grown to see being multiracial as a blessing because I came into the world with a skewed point of view. Our flesh determines so much of our behavior when in reality, it’s all a harsh game we play.
I wanted to introduce Black Americans to this world of meditation, outdoor adventure, spiritual guidance and yoga but one event, I had two Peruvian women attend. At first glance, they looked white. However, they had flown in from Peru. I knew Ihunaanya had to be more inclusive, so I sought a larger minority audience. Although, with every event, I realized I truly was leaving my impact. I didn’t want that impact to be isolated.
Ihunaanya is for everyone but our target audience for growth is the Black community. There are schools that use meditation instead of discipline in Black communities and the simple ideas of peace, love and gratitude are catching on. In a world of turmoil, I have faced racism and prejudice with my events. The Earth is our only home and if we can’t live here together peacefully, I fear we will destroy our planet.
The worst experience we have had was in Utah 2018. A large family targeted my site and began to shout the N word and other slurs my way. It was horrifying and alarming. It was hard to stand my ground. In fear of my safety and my attendees, we did change sites.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Ihunaanya: Understand Your Impact story. Tell us more about your work.
Ihunaanya: Understand Your Impact specializes in hikes and adventurous retreats. Each event features a personalized and sponsored gift, mediation, in-depth conversation about current events and an adventure. We include yoga, acro-yoga, reiki, aromatherapy, chakra balancing and more.
One of my favorite adventures was bungee jumping off of Bridge To Nowhere. I did it after my brother passed away because I no longer wanted to live a life of fear. When I jumped, I felt so light and free. It was the most exhilarating feeling ever.
One of the craziest experiences I’ve had was getting caught in a snowstorm and driving hours back and forth up a mountain. We were so tired, but at 2 am, 3 Black women put snow chains on a Toyota in the middle of a snowstorm in Yosemite National Park.
How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
Ihunaanya is about love. Love is infinite and boundless. I am building Ihunaanya for my children and the children of everyone I meet.
Spiritual practices go beyond time and at the moment, conscious media has truly changed the entire world’s perspective. We can now feel the pain of a mother losing her child across the world within minutes. We can see the victory of a man from a third world country. We can share the emotions with our fellow humans and the connectedness is what allows people like me to help push the positive messages. Oprah has become one of the biggest media spiritual guides the world has ever witnessed. Deepak Chopra’s books are now a norm in conversations. Poor and wealthy, sick and healthy communities alike are welcoming peace because we have nothing else to hope for. The only way to go is up.
Contact Info:
- Phone: 9106584985
- Email: IhunaanyaUYI@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Ihunaanya
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IhunaanyaUYI
- Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/IhunaanyaUYI
- Other: https://www.gofundme.com/IhunaanyaUYI
Image Credit:
SamPapers, it’s DV, TribeUnity
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