Today we’d like to introduce you to Donna Sorce.
Donna, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
Besides my husband of 29 years and three beautiful children, I am blessed to have had two deep passions in my life (so far) ~ From an early age, I knew I wanted to be a professional dancer. Luckily growing up in NYC, I had top schools to choose from for my training and the complete support of my family. After many years at The Joffrey Ballet School, The Alvin Ailey American Dance Center (both on scholarships) and graduating from The High School of Performing Arts (Fame, the movie) I was ready to audition. Success didn’t come overnight. At first, I booked small gigs that paid little to no money which forced me to find part-time jobs to pay for rent, food, lessons, etc… Ultimately my persistence and diligence paid off! To give you a few of the highlights of my Dance/Performance career, I was a “Weekend Update Dancer ” on Saturday Night Live ~ Seasons 1985 and 86. So fun! I had the role of Graziella in International and National Tours of West Side Story and was an original cast member of the Tony Award-winning Broadway Musical, Jerome Robbins Broadway where I was featured as Graziella, Wendy (Peter Pan), a Royal Dancer (King & I) and a Bathing Beauty (High Button Shoes).
Fast forward several years, a marriage, two daughters, and three moves across country which eventually landed me in LA, I found myself a stay at home mom looking at her younger daughter about to start preschool and wanting to do something with the extra time (a JOB, to be specific). So, I asked my myself, “What do you love to do?” The answer came immediately – Yoga. I had been practicing for about one and half years and was utterly in love with everything yoga presented to me and I was able to move my body in ways similar to dance. I was in Heaven! I enrolled in the 200 hour Teacher Training Program at Yogaworks in Santa Monica (when there were only 2 Studios) with the most amazing, thorough, and heartfelt Instructors ~ Mary Ezraty and Lisa Walford. Upon completion of the Training, I begin teaching yoga and have not stopped (well, maybe for eight months after my son was born) and that was 20 years ago!
Has it been a smooth road?
In 2006 I was diagnosed with a spine disease called Spondylolisthesis – a condition that affects the lower vertebrae, where one vertebrae slip forward of the other causing compression and debilitating nerve pain. My symptoms were excruciating nerve pain down the front of my right leg. To walk and stand was beyond painful, but I could still teach yoga! For four years, I struggled, trying every healing modality I could find to avoid surgery. I made it that long due to my yoga practice which kept my muscles strong, supple, and toned, yet my quality of life had declined to a point that I was eventually forced into surgery.
In December 2010, I had Anterior/Posterior Lumbar Fusion surgery led by Dr. Rick Delamarter (who has since retired) and his incredible team at Cedars Sinai Medical Center. I came to find out the surgery was the easy part – my recovery took a full 12 months during which for eight months of that I wore a removable brace 24/7 (off for showers only) could not bend, lift, or twist (try that with three small children, a house to run, and two dogs) and the only exercise I could do once I got Doctor clearance was a 2 mile walk every day. With major daily help, dinners brought over by my friends and clients, Family coming to visit, lots of patience, following my Doctor’s exact instructions, lots of good books and Netflix videos, and six months of Physical Therapy I took my first yoga class since the surgery almost a year later to the date! It was a complete success! I am pain-free, able to walk, stand, hike, bike and, of course practice yoga again.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Yogasorce story. Tell us more about the business.
My favorite style of yoga to teach is Vinyasa Flow. It is very similar to dance, yet within the space of your mat. I love using music to inspire my sequencing and clients. Music can assist us in a deeply profound way so it pairs well with a yoga practice. I love leading Restorative yoga classes because of the rich depth of relaxation it cultivates that in some ways is better than sleep. The kid in me loves teaching AIReal yoga – yoga suspended off the mat using a silk hammock as a prop. Doing inversions in the hammock is the best way to decompress your spine. And the Savasana is out of this world! Floating, suspended off the ground, the best!! I teach one on one privates, group privates, Open group classes, International Yoga/Wellness Retreats, and currently, I lead live stream classes on Zoom. I have Drop In classes Mondays and Fridays, the rest are all online private sessions.
For the last five years, I have been the Lead Yoga Instructor at The Ranch Malibu – a Fitness/Wellness/Immersion Program in the Santa Monica Mountains. A 2020 Condé Nast Traveler Reader’s Choice Award Winner Top Destination Spa Resort in the US. My clients enjoy the variety and fun challenge I bring to my classes, how my first passion, Dance has infused my Yoga practice, and the safe space I hold for all. What I am most proud of is my ability to teach to whom I see in front of me. Finding my voice in this way has allowed the bodies on their mats to inspire me to create a well rounded, fun, energetically soothing practice. I have cultivated this over two decades.
I will be leading a Yoga & Pilates retreat in Sicily Sept 25-Oct 2, 2021. Details are on my website yogasorce.com
How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
I can only see the healing practice of yoga growing and growing. Take our current situation, with the closures of Studios due to the Pandemic. Yoga was easily translated to an online platform. Nothing beats being in a room with live bodies moving in space, but when there’s no other choice, it works. Not quite sure where it will go, but there’s definitely room to grow.
As Bio Hacking and Longevity Trends continue to build with all the new discoveries and enhancements, yoga cannot but be a part of the new search for Whole Health as we age. Wellness Vacations will become the norm – travel to beautiful, exotic destinations with like-minded people, practice yoga once/twice a day, sight see, shop, rest, the choice is yours. You return home refreshed, inspired, having rich experiences to share and remember, and another bucket list item checked off!
Pricing:
- One on One Private session (One hour, in person) $200.00 in Malibu/Westlake Village area
- Group Private session (One hour, in person) up to Four people $250.00 in Malibu/Westlake Village area
- Private sessions outside Malibu/Westlake Village area $400.00
- Drop in Classes on Zoom $15.00 per person (if unable to pay, the class is my gift to you during these times) DM me for login
- One hour Private Online $100.00
- 1.5 hour private online $150.00
- 45 minute Stretch session online $75.00
Contact Info:
- Website: www.yogasorce.com
- Phone: 310 922-2575
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: @yogasorce
- Facebook: facebook.com/donnasorceyoga
Image Credit:
first photo credit @jonasjungblut
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