About me

The Full Story

​

Now, a more typical response to 'Who Am I?'​ 

​​

My name is Deanna Fahlman, and I’m a passionate teacher and coach with extensive work experience in all aspects of the education field. My business is a culmination of 20 + years of working nationally, internationally, and online, as a teacher, learning coach, course designer, and program coordinator as well as years of learning and practicing mindfulness and meditation techniques that span the globe.

 

I first became interested in meditation, mindfulness, and Buddhism when I moved to South Korea in 1996, where a weekly local tradition of hiking mountains, spending time in the nearby temples, and observing the ritual of tea preparation quickly became regular traditions of mine. I also began watercolour painting, writing short stories, and exploring photography during that time which further connected me to the present moment and becoming more mindful in my thoughts, actions, and words.

 

However, it wasn't until 2014, just before I had my second boy when I dove deeply into meditation and began to officially study and take classes.

​​

What I noticed almost immediately was better sleep (minus newborn waking!), a decrease in stress and anxiety, and a deeper connection to an inner voice and personal guidance system that had gotten lost under the lists of responsibilities.  Meditation has been a steady source of peace and calm since, which then lead to breathwork, yoga, affirmations work, vision boarding and other tools and strategies learned from so many mentors including:

✨my eastern sunrise, Deepak Chopra,

✨my north star, Tara-Nicholle Nelson,

✨my out west guide, Colleen Arneil,

✨my southern sunshine coach, Amelia Travis,

✨and most recently, my European breathwork rockstar, Anthony Abbognano. (Inspired by Anthony and his gentle yet potent support, I've just completed his 8-month Alchemy of Breath Breathwork Facilitator journey!) 

​

And the most important mentor in the centre of all these adventures?

​

One that has been there with me through it all.

​

Me.

​

My Inner Guide. My intuition. My gut. My Inner Knowing. My quiet and calm, badass guide. 

​

And as I've really dialed into my own inner voice, especially in the last few years of transitioning out of a life-long career into a more fulfilling area... well, things have gotten just so much clearer, more fun, and easier in the way choices and opportunities have come into my life. (More on that in an upcoming blog post!)

​​

And back to my present...

​

On an average weekend,  I can usually be found with my pack of boys—2 cute (and mischievous) sons, Sonny and Oscar, my husband Raul, and our (male) cat, Oreo—heading out for an adventure in our front yard and beyond, creating games and dance parties indoors, and likely trying to get my share of Old Dutch Ketchup Chips during movie time! I can also be spotted catching up with girlfriends over coffee, snapping endless photos while outdoors, or joining my fam for a food-and-fun-filled get-together, or with a group of friends at special a live concert or event during Saskatoon's festival season.

​​

I am the youngest of 8 kids, and I grew up in the village of Holdfast, Saskatchewan 🇨🇦. My childhood was spent living close to nature, surrounded by a tightly-knit community, where I enjoyed the freedom to play outdoors ALL DAY LONG, creating games, participating in all sorts of sports, music, and art activities resulting in a rich, experiential childhood.

​​

Coming from a town of 300 people also gave me the spark to follow in my parents' travel-bug footsteps, traveling around the country and world, learning new languages and cultures, and exploring each part of N. America and around North & South East Asia & South Pacific, collecting a B. Ed, MA, and French Certificate along the way. Plus journals full of stories and memories as well as countless photos and foreign music and art samplings that I cherish deeply!

​​

And what do I cherish the most?

​

This moment, this one right here, this day, this season of life. 

​

Having lost both a brother and parents to illness in less than 2 years, losing my parents two months apart in 2019, was understandably devastating.

​

Life outside of myself was reminding me that there are no do-overs. 

​

Yet, I felt strangely empowered. 

 

Empowering, for I immediately re-membered what was really important, and clearly saw what was no longer serving me. The power I reclaimed from this re-membering was why I took a big leap and started Artfully Designed Wellness...

​

And while the process of grieving both family losses and the end of a 20 + year career is still a work in progress, breathwork has helped me 10-fold in returning to a very different self, my authentic self.  

​

Breathwork and my 8-month journey in breathwork facilitator training have helped me understand more than ever the areas of my life that need additional compassion and attention. And the biggest lesson? I learned that I was meant to live a life that was more aligned with my values of being in service for others and wanderlust and creativity.

​

I explored through the breath what I WANTED to do, and no longer do what I felt I SHOULD be doing.

​

...for in the words of The Tragically Hip's lead Gord Downie, "no dress rehearsal, this is your life" --we only get one shot at life.

​

Now IS the time to heal what needs healing, release what needs releasing and create what's on your heart! Or at least to step out of whatever no longer brings you joy, allows for growth, freedom, and full self-expression, something Tara-Nicolle Nelson reminds us of all the time. 

​

And I deeply realized that there is no greater gift that we can give to ourselves, our families, communities, and our world than our authenticity and happiness creating true wellness.

​

Now IS the right time to take small steps at uncovering all that you dream of, desire, and deserve.

​

And I urge you to CHOOSE to do whatever it is that's on your heart, RIGHT NOW without these reminders that great losses we experience often bring. 

​

Chase your dreams and do things that bring you joy TODAY.

​

I created Artfully Designed Wellness and birthed a space in which to unearth and bring my dreams to life AND empower and guide and support other women to do the same. 

​​

I wholeheartedly welcome you to the Artfully Designed Wellness Community, where we honour what we desire and deserve, where we love and heal what needs more attention within, where we connect deeply with ourselves and others doing what we love, and where we witness the magic and power and light that arises in our hearts, our communities, and around our world when we are our authentic, beautiful selves.

​

☮️💜☀️,

Deanna

​