Meet Nadine Daniel | Yoga Instructor & Spa Assistant Manager

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

Hi Nadine, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
Taking risks in my life have propelled me into new opportunities for growth even if it caused a setback. I come from immigrant parents both of whom have taken risks that could have potentially lead to death which was their journey from El Salvador to the United States. They took the risk for better opportunities which were not found in a third world country. From their example, I have found that risks were necessary to take in order for success to happen. From my teens to now I ventured into different avenues that opened new experiences to me such as in middle school, I took a baton twirling class to help boost my confidence as I was such a shy child. My mother pushed me into this which created such fear because I worried that the risk would be to not only fail but to be bullied for my failure and the last thing I wanted to do was to be thrusted into the spotlight. However, I found the joy in learning this new skill and then practicing so much so that I began winning each mini competition with trophies. Then the mini competition turned into the semi nationals and caused a boost in my confidence. I began learning how to be comfortable doing one on one interviews and then pageants and finally was put into tv as part of the Peach Bowl parade. With this experience, I gained confidence and eagerness to learn something new. As I began growing, I found myself taking risks when it came to employment, landing a job as a clerk and battery installation specialist to delivery driver at an automotive parts department to managing a busy and successful restaurant to being an insurance sales agent and finally enrolling in the Army. No matter how intimidating it was for a woman I always dove in head first. I was hopeful that enrolling in the military would allow me opportunities to go to school to become a nurse. However, things did not go as planned and I found myself injured from stress fractures in my hip. I pushed through the pain and continued with basic training only to find my situation getting worse. I had to make a decision which lead me to feel like a failure. I got discharged from the military and was home without a plan B. I even gave up going to college for nursing as at some point I felt that this wasn’t the right career path for me. I dropped out taking a risk and found full time employment in the medical field, then finally the dental field where I once again found myself unfulfilled and discouraged. Then just a few years ago I quit my full time job as an office manager in the dental office and dove right into the world of yoga. I had been taking classes off and on but was so inspired by my teacher that I began to look at an opportunity to help others in the way she has helped me through yoga. I enrolled in teacher training through Kashi Atlanta and have since been fulfilled. This was of course a huge risk that caused some financial strain and the looming fear of being financially unstable but somehow making it work. I believe this has always been my purpose and that is to help others realize their full capability in themselves and in the ability to cultivate peace within despite whatever chaos surrounds them. I currently am working as an assistant manager at Saltville Grotto & Spa and teach yoga at this beautiful salty oasis. I dreamed of a beautiful place to teach yoga and I have the best of both worlds in that I get to teach in a beautiful salt cave while offering a sense of relaxation and peace to others while personally maintaining some financial stability. All the risks I have taken has lead me to where I am now. I am excited for the new things to come as I have only just started.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
It took a good 20 plus years to figure out that I would enjoy and get fulfillment out of being a yoga instructor. Since I was a child I have always wanted to be in the line of work that allowed me to help others. I wanted to be some sort of help that would change others lives for the better. I have always had this goal in mind and was motivated by family and friends to pursue a career in the healthcare field. In high school, I began to do volunteer work at several nursing homes during the summer months and although I was unsure of where to go career-wise I did learn a lot about people and discovered that at times the best remedy for sadness and pain was to be a listening ear or a gentle embrace. A year before I graduated, I went to the Latin American Association as they offered opportunities for high school juniors and seniors to further explore their interested career path. I was then doing a summer internship at the VA hospital in Atlanta. I was put in different departments while there and it included office work, event planning, surgical, phlebotomy, psychology, and laboratory work. It was so exciting and different but I ultimately was still unsure if the medical field was something I would truly enjoy. After I graduated high school, I went to college and majored in Pre-Med. About a year in, I found myself entirely despising the whole thing. I changed majors to nursing and then finally after being unsuccessful in the military, dropped out of college. I was still in my early 20s and without much of a plan B I went looking for a full time jobs. After several different jobs, I found myself following the same pattern of helping others. I saw the value in helping but there was always something. I started to feel tied down and burnt out. I was not appreciated. I took a huge risk when after years of feeling like I was going through the motions (with the support of my husband) I took the yoga teacher training course from Kashi Atlanta yoga studio. It was a tremendous amount of fear and anxiety surrounding my decision to quit my full time job to pursue this further. I knew the money I was making at my job was no longer going to sustain us and though it was hard and many sacrifices were made I can happily say I am so glad I took the risk. I see that even if you dont see the light at the end of the tunnel but continue to have faith in the process and joy in the work, you cannot fail. I love teaching and the incredible feeling of assisting others through realizing their own body potential and furthering their confidence in themselves is a treasure to behold. When I begin teaching, I want others to know that it is a safe space and I can hold space for those that need to release what’s been holding them back.

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?
I would for sure pamper them at my favorite place, Saltville Grotto & Spa. It would be great to let them enjoy the salt cave, the float pod therapy tank, and an hour massage for much needed relaxation. Then after, go to Milk & Honey down the road, to check out their very popular buttermilk biscuits with their signature milk & Honey drizzle and a crabcake benedict with sweet tea to finish off the meal. For drinks, we would head over to Eastside Station as the bartenders are nice and the space is huge and would be fun to shoot some pool too. For new places to adventure I would definitely say the Georgia Aquarium and Centennial Olympic Park to get onto the large Ferris Wheel that overlooks the city. To fancy it up we would eat at the SunDial. If we were looking to just shoot pool and hang out a fun late night spot, I would suggest Ormsby’s.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My husband, James Daniel, Krista Wright, owner of Saltville Grotto & Spa & Becky Kiper, General Manager at Saltville Grotto & Spa.

I have to shout out my husband who supported me 100% when I decided to enroll in Yoga teacher training. It was an investment without a quick monetary outcome but regardless he was there cheering me on. After I finished the training, I quit my full-time job to pursue teaching as much as possible.

I have to shout out to Becky Kiper because she was the first person to offer a yoga teaching opportunity at what was formerly known as Serenity Salt Cave (now Saltville Grotto & Spa). I was intensely anxious about teaching for the first time and she was so encouraging and her optimism for the outcome was infectious. I was so grateful she saw the potential in me and took a risk herself in inviting a newbie teacher into the yoga studio.

After the doors closed on Serenity Salt Cave, I mourned for its closing and felt that I would not find a place as unique as that studio. I hunted for another and there were only small opportunites to teach here and there. Finally, Krista Wright came and transformed the place into a beautiful salty oasis and rescuing the salt cave from getting destroyed. She brought in the former manager and myself to continue offering a peaceful, unique, and relaxing space for others in the Snellville community.

Instagram: @Yogini_Spice