Sahaya Practices is where my East meets West in all I have learned so far as a medical professional, yogi, bodyworker, and human.

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My foundational experiences as the daughter of two healthcare professionals, training as a lifeguard, a nurse's aide, and a certified medical assistant had set the clear stage as a healthcare worker in Western medicine. As I worked into and lived through it, though, the focal points and field felt incomplete.

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I left the healthcare industry to explore my professional life. Down the roads and avenues I found myself as a veterinary technician, head of accounts receivable for a mom-and-pop alarm company, Director of a medical exam company providing concierge services for life and disability insurance applicants, waitress, agricultural/livestock farmer, mobile mechanic, and residential/commercial handy person. 

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Through reflection of these seemingly different paths, the common thread of service to others glistens through.

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While my professional life has been adventurous, my personal life has showered me with storms and joy to survive and witness. When the sun is shining, when I have found myself standing in rubble or even when I look to simply better understand aspects of myself, yoga practices are the tools that my recent self has reached to.  Reminding me to bend, breathe, and anchor myself. 

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In 2012, I faced a slipped disk in my lower back and was introduced to sciatica pain. This experience forced me to a halt in work and life while also taking away my newfound hobby of running. It would be six months of mild torture through physical therapy and sleepless nights before the universe whispered "yoga" into my ear and I turned to the East.

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Through the mindful postures and breathing practices, I unknowingly was activating my parasympathetic state and allowing my body to heal itself. All my busy mind knew was that after my first 60 minutes, I was able to lie comfortably for the first time in six months finding comfort in this pose called 'savasana'. I was instantly hooked and began to return to life, but little did I know the depths that this millennia-old practice would soon carry me through.​

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I was first chair instrumental in a life-shattering tsunami. While shock set in and every cell of my humanity was challenged.  I moved through uncharted territory in my everyday navigating feelings that have no names.  As I tended to and was supported by the earth the mud began to dry and my steps found some semblance of footing.  Given guidance to keep moving forward and just do what I said I was going to do, I did just that.

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I had previously travelled south and north sitting at the feet of my matriarchs, west to look in the unknown and had recently found myself eastward to embark in farming and complete my Teacher training.  In the summer of 2014, I studied under Trace Sahaja Bonnor at Holy Cow Yoga Center in Charleston SC.  I stood on the welcome mat to a new practice of surrender, studied the foundational history, physical and spiritual practices that surround yoga and was given reverberating sage advise to "remember who you are."

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It would still be years before my shoulders made their way back over my hips and my head to follow in a fractured reality.  I work every day to give myself grace for my deeply human experience and continue to call Holy Cow my happy place, returning often for classes. 

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In 2021 I found a door wide open to complete my massage therapy training and quickly walked over that threshold. The gentle giant of lymphatic services has claimed my attention in its "less is so much more" approach to assist and promote the innate healing within our bodies. Paired with my other skills, it's an easy puzzle piece being able to communicate with other medical professionals, medical billing narratives, and offer measurable hands-on clinical client care.

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Body work and massage gave me a new boulevard to explore.  A new way to interact with people, quiet rooms with no distractions and human anatomy to continuously study.  Every service feeds so much more than clients achy muscles or tired bodies, it teaches me something new about health and spirit.  

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There was a message after work one day, I smiled floating in memories of love gone by.  Later that evening I was given news, became a ghost in my own body and began making plans to travel 500 miles and 500 more.  I hugged friends from decades gone by, laughed and cried as we sat with and honored grief together. 

 

While traveling north to meet and see Halleys comet for a second time, I had a quiet sunrise when I found out The Prince of Darkness needed my dog to ride the bus to the other side with. 

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The following year I watched my body swell.  It was a first hand account of my lymphatic system not being given its needs from movement.  Yoga once again arrived with tea a mat and its reminder, nothing changes in stillness.  Breathe, bend, remember who you are.

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The sun, as it does, rose again and the horizon broadened showing me another door open to earn my certificate in pre-nursing.  Having enjoyed biology, statistics and psychology, I look forward to the other sciences and maths that will unfold throughout this course, giving me a broad basis of understanding about life around me.​

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With every thunderous clap and mirror of light, this yoga stuff I had naively once used to help repair my body has repeatedly become my spirits sun chair or life preserver as the waves crash over me and my insides gasp for air.  On good and poor days my good friend is always ready with the same good tea.  Every sip is the place between bliss and despair that spirals effortlessly as fibonacci dances on.  ​​​

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I believe in a multilayered approach to life and health. Ultimately though, our body is always working toward homeostasis without our conscious effort.  If that isn't magic I don't know what is.  The healing mechanisms of the human body and mind are the 8th wonder of the world.  Our symphony of processes that we unknowingly walk around performing every second of our lives is truly fascinating.  Exciting to explore and honor to behold.

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The road has been filled with unimaginable truths.  I am grateful to have had many teachers and shoulders along the way. Learning to live in each 'right now', and be with the reminder to sometimes, simply begin again.

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To The Journey,

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Andrea "Millie" Miller LMT, CMA, MLD-C

Certified Plastic Surgery Therapist (CPST) &

Advanced MLD: Oncology Considerations
200-Hour Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT)

Associate of Science Candidate 
Founder & Forever Student of Sahaya Practices