We had the good fortune of connecting with Avital Miller and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Avital, Let’s talk about principles and values – what matters to you most?
What matters most to me is the energy behind which we do everything.
In the spiritual book that has made the most impact to me, Autobiography of a Yogi by Paramhansa Yogananda, Yogananda is staying at his guru’s ashram where there are tons of incessant annoying mosquitos. Somehow the mosquitos never bother his guru Swami Sri Yukteswar. Yogananda resolves the way to outwit the mosquitos is through peacefulness. Thus he ignores his desire to eliminate them and prevents himself from swatting the mosquitos. His guru catches him in the act and mentions the thought of killing the mosquitos also needs to be removed to fully embody peacefulness.
As part of the dance/movement therapy weekend retreat I would lead when I lived at a yoga retreat center in the mountains of California, I also put together a big dance production involving many people performing and publicizing all over town. We had a huge rainstorm that weekend with much flooding and had to cancel the whole program. I was feeling the disappointment when a friend wrote how pleased everyone felt in the process of my efforts. It never actually happened and yet the energy I put into it had already inspired so many people.
To me success revolves less on the outward manifestations and more on if I felt kindness, peace and love inside and if others felt that too.
What should our readers know about your business?
Many people are curious for what reason a former Microsoft program manager is involved with healing. It’s personal. Microsoft is a great company but it did not feel like it was for me. I transitioned into being a yoga instructor, teacher trainer, and fitness director teaching 25-30 classes all over town! I was known as the Energizer Bunny! That was until I started having issues with fatigue, my hair falling out, and my muscles turning to fat. I was getting weaker than my students and wondering if I would be out of the job. I turned flush white while teaching a spinning class and my students told me I needed to go to the emergency room.
The doctor diagnosed me with an autoimmune disorder called Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis and Hypothyroidism. They gave me a large dosage of medication, recommended a handful of supplements and sent me out the door saying that was it for life.
As if this was an arranged marriage, I figured I better learn a lot about these diseases if I am going to live with them for the rest of my life. I started to read books, search the internet, visit all types of medical practitioners including studying 1-1 with an Ayurvedic doctor in India. All of that helped me feel balanced on a daily basis which was my first miracle.
The next thing I did was start to meditate. After a couple months, surprisingly, I did not feel well. My doctor ran some tests and then told me I was overdosed on my medication. We lowered my medication, I felt better, I continued to meditate and then I did not feel well again. We lowered my dosage again as if I was going from medication to meditation!
All of a sudden I started meeting people who were given terminal diagnoses years before and were perfectly healthy at the moment. Being fascinated by their stories and that maybe fatal pronouncements do not have to be our fate, I interviewed all kinds of health and healing experts with stories of healing from terminal diagnoses that they saw repeated in their clients and put them in my book Healing Happens: Stories of Healing Against All Odds.
The book has won four awards, hit Amazon bestseller, and I took it traveling around the world speaking on the success strategies as they relate to all areas of life. I have also kept adding more tools to my bucket with certifications on how to lead meditation, energy healing, and neuro-linguistic programming.
Denver kept inviting me here to speak and I had a great time on my visits so I moved here a couple years ago. It has been exciting to develop community here to lead in person and online group and individual programs on how to be happier, more energetic, have a healthy lifestyle and discover true success.
Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
First I would definitely take them to the 54Thirty rooftop. I find it fun to walk through 16th St Mall and Larimer Square.
With a whole week we would have time to get into the mountains for a few days for hiking, camping, and visiting one of my favorite hot springs.
If we had a chance to go out Blues Fusion dancing or salsa dancing that would be amazing, also to see the Colorado Ballet perform at Ellie Caulkins Opera House.
And then check if there are any special events happening during that week like the singing Christmas tree or parade of lights.
Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Paramhansa Yogananda, Swami Kriyananda, and Gary Barnes
Website: www.healinghappensforyou.com, www.avitalmiller.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/avital.love/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/avitalmiller/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AvitalMiller
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/healinghappensbook
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/Thedanceintodivinity/