Hello, I’m Daniela.
I am a researcher, scholar, and yoga professional specializing in reproductive justice and yoga-based training methods for athletes. In my nearly 20 years of teaching yoga, I have designed and facilitated customized yoga programs for collegiate athletic teams, retired professional athletes, and recreational athletes of diverse ages and abilities. My teaching methodology combines classical yoga philosophy and techniques with modern sport science and psychology to prevent and manage injury, maximize recovery, optimize physical and mental performance, and enhance emotional stability and spiritual well-being.
My reproductive justice work focuses on using the lens of stigma reduction theory to produce actionable, evidence-based abortion stigma reduction communication strategies that combat disinformation, disseminate accurate information, and humanize the abortion experience. I have worked closely with Planned Parenthood of the Pacific Southwest as an Ambassador for their #GoodbyeStigma campaign. I view this research as another form of both my personal yoga practice and teaching, especially regarding the ethical practices of disrupting processes of harm (ahīmsa) and speaking truth to power (satya).
Education & Credentials
Ph.D. Student | Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism, University of Southern California (2004-2005 Cohort)
MA in Communication, Health Communication concentration | Johns Hopkins University (2023)
BA in Literatures of the World, Communication Minor | University of California San Diego (2010)
E-RYT 500 | Yoga Alliance (2010)