When you first walk into Firehawk Yoga Studio you are instantly filled with a feeling of peace. The vast open area, which is lit by an abundance of natural sunlight, creates a space that brings about warm and uplifted emotions. It is a space that owner Ona Hawk has used as a means to educate students and community members on the key to healthy living.
The decision to use her knowledge and gifts for the betterment of others revealed itself after she made the choice to reshape and improve her lifestyle. In 2008, Ona began to explore natural ways of healing and living in order to gain balance, something that was missing from her life. “I decided to take back the control from other people and give it to myself. I became more responsible,” says Ona. This decision set her on a path to explore healthier options and led her to realize that we all have power and control over ourselves.
After graduating from Clark Atlanta University, Ona spent a great deal of time reading and
researching, one of her favorite pastimes. This allowed her to discover Capoeira, a rhythmic form of Martial Arts originating from West Africa which is now practiced heavily in Brazil and has spread worldwide. Having been inactive since riding horses competitively as a child, Caopeira allowed Ona to explore her physicality which had been dormant. “It shifted my viewpoint and allowed me to connect the physical activity with the new nutritional information I had begun studying,” she says.
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AFIYA Magazine looks to enhance the awareness and knowledge of wellness issues important to African-American women while providing a platform for us to grow, expand, and develop within our personal and professional lives.
