We had the good fortune of connecting with Dana Lawson and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Dana, maybe we can start at the very start – the idea – how did you come up with the idea for your business?
I’ve always been an entrepreneur at heart. I had a business in the late 90’s as a Certified Childbirth Instructor. I taught childbirth classes to women who were high-risk pregnancies and on bedrest because they were unable to go to traditional classes that were, at the time, held at the hospital. As my business was starting out, I went through a major life change and suddenly became a single parent. Because of the mental and emotional toll it took, I was unable to focus. I had to shut down my fledgling businss and work multiple jobs to support myself and my young daughter. However, the embers of entrepreneurship were still burning in my heart. I knew that one day my dream of being a business owner would come true. I just didn’t know when or how. A decade later, I started experiencing changes in my body that I didn’t understand. I was depressed and cried often. My sleep was interrupted from taking covers off and on all night due to night sweats. Poor sleep led to crushing fatigue during the day. To stay awake, I drank coffee and snacked all day. My hair started falling out, my skin was dry and I started to notice the smile lines on my face deepening. The numbers on the scale slowly began to creep upward. My confidence took a beating and it made me even more depressed. I heard almost nothing about menopause, so I attributed the symptoms to other things. In the meantime, I did what most women do: eat less, workout out longer and harder, take a bunch of supplements and try to stop a process that, to me, was undesirable. I didn’t want what was happening. Around this time, I had re-married and gone back to school to become a Certified Health Coach. So, I started learning “all the things” and began doing them. I got personal trainers and gym memberships, but nothing I did worked. I was so confused and sad. Still unaware of what was really happening, I finally asked a former fellow classmate to “coach me”. When she looked at my lab work, she said, ” I think you are in menopause.” The only thing I knew about menopause was that your periods stopped and I heard about “hot flashes”.Since my coach’s knowledge of menopause was limited as well, she referred to a Canadian woman who is Certified Hormone Specialist and Transformational Nutrition Coach. Working with her for about a year  changed my life! All of the symptoms I was experiencing disappeared and I was finally able to lose weight. I thought to myself, “why don’t more women know about menopause? If I had been prepared for this major life change, I could have avoided so much confusion, frustration, and suffering.” It was then I decided that I didn’t want any woman to go through what I did. So, in retrospect, I didn’t “find” my business. My business found me. That was when Align + Shine, LLC was born.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Hormonal shifts in midlife, particularly the decline in estrogen, affect a woman’s total physiology. It’s not only the common symptoms of hot flashes, night sweats, depression, weight gain, anxiety, irregular periods, brain fog, insomnia, and joint pain that are common in perimenopause. It’s what is happening to their blood vessels, bones, brain, heart, and metabolism. Most women are completely blown away when they go to the doctor for an annual wellness check and find out that they have high blood, pre-diabetes, and gut issues. This becomes especially important when a woman experiences surgically-induced menopause (partial or complete hysterectomy, chemo or radiation therapy), early or premature menopause. So, I take a holistic approach to help women create a meaningful mind/body connection, embrace the changes that occur with the aging process through mindset transformation and regaining confidence. I also use four pillars of good health: nutritious diet, restorative sleep, stress mitigation and intentional movement.  What sets me apart is that I help them connect the dots when it comes to the changes to their bodies and overall health that occur during the menopause transition. There is an overwhelming amount of evidence-based research that shows the correlation between metabolic diseases like Type II diabetes, cardiovascular disease, stroke, obesity and Alzheimer’s disease and hormonal decline in women. I love to teach and  am most proud of my ability to break it down in a way that is interactive and easy to understand as well as creating a safe space where women feel seen, heard, and understood. I am also very proud to have successfully guided dozens of woman from peri to post menopause in my programs and I have room help many more. My classes are virtual, giving me the freedom to work from my home office and serve women in different parts of the U.S. I am currently building a community to provide ongoing support. It is exciting to have a meaningful impact on women during this special time of their lives. Educating and empowering them to make confident decisions, helping them transform their mindset on aging, seeing them reach their health goals, teaching them to advocate for themselves with a practitioner, providing tools and resources to create a fully adaptable, completely sustainable lifestyle, and be the happiest, healthiest version of themselves in midlife and beyond. This passion is deep in my soul, runs through my veins and energizes me! I want to make sure that no woman goes through this part of life feeling alone, ashamed or embarrased.

Being a CEO and entrepreneuer is by no means easy. By nature (and being raised in the northeast), I am a very determined, resourceful, gritty, and tenacious person. Even so, being a business owner has, at times, pushed me to my percieved limits. It has required me to set goals and remain focused them. Leaning into discomfort has also helped me to overcome challenges. For instance, I am a 55 year old post-menopausal woman. Learning the nuances of constantly changing social media platforms has been quite an experience, to say the least. It has been very frustrating at times. But, I love learning new things, even when it’s hard. In the process, I’ve learned some really valuable lessons like being vulnerable with my audience when I make mistakes and being okay with not being perfect. Looking at my “mistakes” as a learning lessons and opportunities instead of “fatal errors”. Honoring my own needs to rest, and rejuvinate. Not being ashamed to ask for help or saying, “I don’t know, let me do some research.” Celebrating when I win and graciously accepting losses. I’ve also learned the truth in the statement, “no (wo)man is an island.” Finding and being part of an amazing community of like-minded women is an abolute must! If you can’t find one, create your own!

I want people reading this article to know that it’s never too late to change your life, your health or pursue your dream. You are not too old to start something new, and be comitted to being a life-long learner. I am not special. I am just like you. I’ve experienced many highs in life as well as heartbreak. Successes and devestating defeats. I spent way too much time hating my body when I was a young woman, making unfair comparisons, striving to have someone else’s idea of an “ideal” body. At this point, I am literally just past the middle of my life if I live to be 100. Menopause is a gift, a time to rediscover yourself, an awakening! There are new opportunities and so many benefits to going throught this part of life, and learning how to care for yourself. With 15 years in the healthcare industry, additional training, continued education and expert mentorship, I have learned the secret of how to navigate menopause and I am ready to help other women avoid the pitfalls so that they can be a good marraige mate and friend, chase their grandchildren around the park, travel, and do the things they want to do. In order to have a successful menopause transition, however, you MUST intervene. It starts by learning what you need to do now to take care of yourself naturally. It does take work, but what better gift can you give yourself and your family than to set yourself up for healthy aging!

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
There are such nice places in and around the Metro Atlanta area. For Southern-style cuisine, it would have to be Mary Mac’s Tea Room is a great historical restaurant in business since 1945. It’s located on Ponce De Leon Avenue in the Midtown Atlanta area. It’s walking distance from the fabulous Fox Theater on Peachtree Street. Excellent food and service. A true southern delight. I love Ethiopian food at Embilta Ethiopian Cafe & Restaurant on Cheshire Bridge Road in the Morningside/Lenox Park area of Atlanta. The delicious smells meet you at the door. The flavors burst in your mouth! The staff at this humble hole-in-the-wall treat you like family. You would be remiss if you didn’t visit places like the High Museum or Botanical Gardens during exhibit time. For bird and butterfly lovers, connection with nature, canoeing, and zipline, you must go to the Chattahoochie Nature Center, the Silver Comet Trail in Smyrna and the Atlanta Beltline for walks and bike riding, Ponce City Market for restaurants and shopping. Make sure you go to the rooftop for games and sightseeing, Howell’s Kitchen and Bar in West Midtown has great american food with a twist. Ryan D. is the best server so ask for him when you go. I love Putt Shack which is near Howell’s Kitchen and Bar for golf games mixed with technology, fun courses and trivia, so it’s a fun place to hang out after dinner. I love Top Golf in midtown as well. Outside of the city, The Avalon in Alpharetta is great for food, shopping and movies outside of the metro area. They also have ice skating in winter. If you are a people watcher, definitely Piedmont Park – Atlanta’s version of New York’s Central Park in Midtown Atlanta. In the summertime, there are concerts and festivals so plenty of entertainment and fun. There is a cute place in Chamblee called 57 Fighter Group Restaurant that has a view of the Dekalb-Peachtree Airpost runway where you can watch the planes take off and arrive. It was actually really fun and the food was great. I recomment the salmon or the pot roast. For great French food, Bistro Niko in the Buckhead Business district and Anis Cafe is Buckhead Village are two great places. Bistro Niko is more chic whereas the Anis Cafe is Country French so you can choose your vibe.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I have the most supportive husband in the world! I am thankful that he sees my vision and is there for me every step of the way. My beautiful daughter who was with me from the very beginning! As a little girl, she was my “assistant” when I taught childbirth classes. She, along with my “gift daughters” and their children will be the next generation of women who will be educated about their bodies and can make choices now that will promote healthy aging. My parents and sister never doubted me and have been supportive of my dream as well. I am also grateful to my “Menopause Mentor” Karen Martel, who played a pivotal role in my personal and professional midlife journey.  The time she spent teaching me how to support women’s health during this transition has been invaluable. Now, I get to join her as well as others who are committed to removing the silence and stigma of menopause and supporting women’s health as they age. My business coaches are the best! Each of them took me by the hand and guided me through the transition of leaving my full-time corporate job to my very own growing business. Teaching me how to tell my story, scheduling my workday, overcoming mindset obstacles, social media strategies, and meaningful connection with others are all a part of my life now as a CEO. I couldn’t have come this far without them. My amazing clients who trusted me to be their guide. These women have more confidence as they navigate their own midlife transition. I love seeing them healthy and thriving from the things they’ve learned. I am also grateful for their testimonials and referrals. Most importantly, I thank my Heavenly Father for the beauty, widsom and design of creation, particularly the female body. There is so much order, preciseness and intricacy in every minute detail. Without a doubt, we are as the scriptures say, “Wonderfully made.” (Psalms 139:14)

Website: https://alignandshinenow.com

Instagram: https://instagram.com/@alignandshinenow

Facebook: https://facebook.com/alignandshinenow

Other: Available on Website: Free 60 Minute Menopause Success Call Menopause Mastery Group 8-week program 90-Day One on One Coaching Program

Image Credits
Infinite Vision LDV Company

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