A Moment of Truth
Danielle didn’t mean to surprise herself.
She was just following Dina’s cue - dial your hands out, push the floor away, activate your hand to core connection— until suddenly, she caught a glimpse of her own body in the mirror.
Flying Pigeon wasn’t a pose she would’ve chosen on her own. It looked...advanced. Something that was “for other people”.
But there she was - not just holding it, but owning it.
“It’s opened up a whole new world of possibilities. It’s finding something that I’m excelling at - finally, later in life after children - feels really good to me. I just thought, "Okay, I’m just going to do normal little workouts as an adult, and that’s all I’m going to attain to.” - Danielle
Flying Pigeon didn’t just change how she moved.
It changed how she saw herself and what she was actually capable of.
She wasn’t the woman doing “light workouts” anymore.
She was building a new body. And it was working.
Life Before Rouleau
Danielle didn’t have a dramatic backstory.
No injury. No past history as an athlete. No physical collapse that sent her searching for answers.
She just quietly believed her body wasn’t built for anything remarkable.
“I went my whole life never really being physically active until I was in my 20s. Not only do I enjoy Rouleau, but I can firmly say I’m excelling at it. I’ve done things I was very fearful of. It made me realize that everything I was doing before was a big waste of time. Like, I don’t even know what I was doing. It’s amazing to see what your body can do."
As an adult, she tried to stay active and take care of herself.
But her approach to movement was more about “putting in the time” than possibility and excitement.
A few basic workouts here and there. A little yoga when life allowed.
She assumed that as she aged, the options would only narrow.
She assumed that “cool” movement feats - the Instagram worthy poses and impressive feats - would stay reserved for other people.
When you don’t see yourself as someone who could move like that…you don’t even think to try.
Finding the Work (and the Right Guide)
When Danielle walked into Dina’s class, she wasn’t expecting much.
She thought it would be another yoga session - some mindful movement, maybe a good stretch.
What she found instead was a step-by-step system - one that made progress feel automatic, not forced.
The class wasn’t about chasing big shapes.
It was about building from the ground up - the kind of challenge that meets you where you are, then moves you forward.
"From when I started to now, I’m probably doing some really advanced stuff that I never thought I could do. And it’s all because Dina knows we can do things that we don’t think we can. She breaks it down in a way where it might take a few months—but first we set this foundation, and then this step leads to the next, and the next. Once you get Organization & Activation, the other poses just fall in line. I’m now doing more arm balances than I’ve ever done, because I’ve gotten so much stronger. I’m really turning on every part of my body - which I wasn’t doing before."
Instead of trying to mimic a pose, she started to understand how to build one.
Instead of softening through stiffness, she learned how to Activate her fascial lines and unlock her full power.
And slowly, movement stopped being something she copied…
And started becoming something she understood.
This isn’t something you’ll find in a typical yoga class.
This is Rouleau - not just movement, but a method for learning how your body actually works.
Turning Points & Big Wins
The changes didn’t come from pushing harder. They came from tuning in.
They arrived in layers - steady, subtle, and undeniable.
Truly transformative change takes time, and anyone who tells you otherwise probably has an unsustainable crash diet program waiting for you.
But Danielle’s progress isn’t just limited to class. It’s permeated through her whole life.
“Driving to the store, grabbing groceries off the shelf - I just notice a difference. I feel more in tune. My posture has gotten so much better. Even how I empty the dishwasher - I’m intentionally trying to use those parts of my body. I know now it helps prevent injury, but it also makes you stronger.”
Her body wasn’t going through the motions anymore. It was reorganizing itself.
And with that came strength - not the kind you use to push your way through, but the kind naturally appears when you need it.
And she wasn’t the only one who noticed.
Her kids saw it too.
“My kids think it’s so cool when I come home and show them a new pose that I’ve learned. They think their mommy is strong, and they’re super impressed with that. I enjoy trying to show them little things that they can use in their everyday life.”
But this wasn’t just about showing them what she could do.
It was about showing them who she’s becoming.
Someone strong. Someone focused.
Someone still learning - and loving it.
The Deeper Shift
At some point, Danielle stopped thinking of herself as unathletic.
Not because she was chasing labels.
But because that old story just didn’t fit anymore.
She felt strong.
Not “strong for a mom” or “strong for her age.”
Just strong.
“Aside from just being super cool and looking cool when we take photos of our progress - it’s more than that. I go back to that little girl who never got to do anything physical her whole life. And now I’m kind of blown away at what your body can do at any age.”
There’s a quiet pride in her now - not loud or performative, just settled.
She carries herself differently. She moves with more awareness.
Feels a little more rooted, a little more curious, a little more like someone who’s not done yet.
Danielle doesn’t do these poses to look cool. She does them because it feels good to be capable.
And once you feel that in your own body…you just can’t go back to the way things were.
Where She Is Now
Danielle is in her 40s and doing things she never imagined in her youth.
She’s not just moving better - she’s moving with awareness.
She’s still surprising herself. Still showing up.
Still discovering new layers of strength she didn’t know were there, backed by the knowledge that keeps her safe, steady and strong.
“The awareness of my body, and the fact that I can break things down and use it in other areas of life - that’s the real benefit. We know we’re in good hands. Dina not going to do anything that will hurt us. She does this because she knows we can do it. And if we can’t yet, we break it down and start from the ground up.”
Her kids still ask to see what she learned in class.
And now, she can show them more than the pose.
She can show them the process - the patience, the focus, the follow-through.
What it means to stick with something that challenges you.
What it means to become someone, rather than just imitate.
And she’s not finished.
Danielle’s already living a version of herself she never thought she’d meet.
And she’s just getting started.
