Victoria Marie: Learning to Surrender

Today, we’re excited to present Victoria Marie, an enrolled tribal member of the Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate. She's the founder and owner of Indigenous Lotus, a wellness program that combines yoga classes, tribal dance, exercise and meditation with an emphasis on helping people cope with stress and trauma. Those stressors can include PTSD, homelessness, sexual exploitation and poverty. In addition to classes and workshops, Indigenous Lotus has a line of streetwear. Victoria shares the story of how, at age seventeen, she dropped out of high school, became a new mom and found herself struggling with depression. Her quest for guidance led her to the local library. There she found a book on meditation. That formed the foundation of her healing journey. When her son got older, meditation also became a shared bedtime practice for mom and son. Later, yoga came into her life. After getting certified, she taught yoga and movement to the youth at Little Earth of United Tribes. That became the origins of Indigenous Lotus, her yoga studio. Her business has evolved to include public speaking, workshops, art and apparel. Victoria talks about how a recent health diagnosis gave her permission to slow down, step back and surrender. Victoria lives in Shakopee with her partner, their children, two dogs, three cats, and a rabbit who loves to shred cardboard. ----- Hosts / Producers: Leah Lemm, Cole Premo Editor: Britt Aamodt Editorial support: Emily Krumberger Mixing & mastering: Chris Harwood Photo credit: Victoria Marie ----- For the latest episode drops and updates, follow us on social media. instagram.com/ampersradio instagram.com/mnnativenews facebook.com/MNNativeNews Never miss a beat. Sign up for our email list to receive news, updates and content releases from AMPERS. ampers.org/about-ampers/staytuned/ This show is made possible by community support. Due to cuts in federal funding, the community radio you love is at risk. Your support is needed now more than ever. Donate now to power the community programs you love: ampers.org/fund