We recently connected with Ana Pestana and have shared our conversation below.

Ana , appreciate you joining us today. Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?

A leap of faith. Before getting into the healing and wellness industry, I worked at the airport in Lisbon, Portugal. I lived there for 10 years and Covid hit. I was out of a job, with no insights on what my next move was going to be. My family had came back to the United States about a year before. Surrendering to the unknown I left Portugal and hit the restart button on my personal and professional life. When I came back, I started out by going to college thinking I was going to get my associates in business management. After a year and a half I realized I had a different calling. I wanted to become a yoga instructor. I had one problem though… this huge fear of being in front of people. All eyes on me was so terrifying to think of. I did it anyways and got my certification. The day of my certification we had to present a final 30min class to everyone and again, I WAS SO SCARED. My voice trembling. I went with what I had and in the end the instructor turned to me and said “You know, not everyone is meant to be a teacher, you can just use this for your own practice”. Completely discouraged and shot down. I had a certification and didn’t know what to do with it. After a couple of months I had the courage to take on two teaching jobs and was completely supported by people who believed in me. A year later, I can say that I’m a pretty good teacher. My classes are filled with students and my heart is so full. I’m a healer, teacher, mentor, and I am so glad that I took the risks of not knowing where my life would lead. I have never felt so aligned with my souls purpose.

Ana , love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

Hello, I’m Ana Pestana. I love connecting with nature, being in community and connecting with like-minded souls. I like listening to music, dancing like no one is watching, and yoga is my greatest passion. It’s helped me in soo many ways physically, mentally, and emotionally. I believe in the mind-body connection and it helped me during my own healing journey. I had terrible self-estime; the I’m not good enough, I’m not special, searching to be loved from others when I didn’t really have love for myself. I went through a toxic & abusive relationship; physically, mentally, and emotionally. Surrendered to the manipulation that I couldn’t find better. I hit rock bottom before I took the step to get help. Three and a half years later it is my mission to help others through their own healing and wellness journeys. I see you. I’ve been there and know what it’s like to feel stuck and in a dark hole. Lotus Light Healing to Wellness LLC came to life to shine a light to people. The name comes from the process of the lotus flower. The flower rises from the dirt and muck and blooms into a beautiful flower. My intention is to tailor to each person’s specific needs. Discovering a deeper meaning and awareness of the mind and body. Whether you’re looking to bring the mind-body connection through yoga, seeking to heal through Reiki, breath work, meditation, or want 1:1 mentorship. I’m here to guide you through your journey. I’m here to empower you, to help you find your light, and return to your true and authentic self. The most impactful thing I can say is that I’M PROUD OF MYSELF. For having the courage to do better for myself and seek the help that I needed. I embrace my past as lessons. All of it had to happen so that I could be in the place and space that I am today. I’m here to share my story to inspire you to do the same. I’m here to cheer you on and tell you how proud you should be of yourself to taking the steps towards your own well-being.

Other than training/knowledge, what do you think is most helpful for succeeding in your field?

Having a support system. Having at least two people you can count on especially in moments you feel discouraged; like things aren’t moving forward. We all have our moments and sometimes can’t be there to hold space for the other. The two person system is that if person A can’t be there, you can count on person B. This was a powerful tool that I learned from a great friend of mine.
Holding space. This means that you can talk to the person and just feel heard. Without the other person trying to coaching you or judge. Just holding that container, feeling heard and seen.
Following your intuition. Listening to your body. Listening to what feels right or off. Tapping into your inner knowing. It will never steer you wrong.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

Releasing fear. Fear of what people will think. Yeah, not everyone is going to like you or like what you preach, and that’s okay. Who cares?! Some people actually will and want to hear what you have to say. Fear of showing myself and sharing my story. Knowing that you’re not alone and we’ve all been there. Fear of not knowing and making mistakes. Mistakes or failures are lessons. I once saw something that said “in life you either win or you learn, so that you can achieve better next time. It’s what helps us grow as a whole. Letting go of control and surrendering to intuition and the unknown. Allowing myself to push through the fear has allowed me to show up as my truest, authentic, self. Being real with yourself and others is what attracts the goodness in life. Lastly, gratitude. Gratitude for the life I have, for the people that show up to my spaces. The genuine love and gratitude I feel in my heart and puts a smile on my face from beginning to end.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.lotuslighthealingtowellness.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lotuslighthealing2wellness/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ana.pestana16