Being A Source Of Positive Growth: Interview With David Procyshyn

This interview is from our new series: “The people that make DYWM.” Learn more about our instructors, their take on yoga, and what makes them tick.

Much like veteran DYWM instructor Fiji McAlpine, DoYogaWithMe founder and CEO David Procyshyn’s journey with yoga began with an injury that forced him to reevaluate his priorities, his lifestyle, and his mental health. What started as a personal path towards health, mindfulness, and spiritual fulfillment quickly led him to seek ways to open this path for others.

In 2008, David and his brother Sean started an online yoga site with the singular goal of making yoga accessible to as many people as possible, regardless of location or financial situation - a mission that has remained DYWM’s guiding star for the past fifteen years.

Today, we grabbed David for a quick but wide-ranging chat about his perspective on yoga’s cultural direction, how things behind the scenes at DYWM have changed over the years, and what sets DYWM apart (spoiler: it has a lot to do with DYWM’s focus on practicing without plastic).

Can you tell us a little about how and why you first started practicing yoga?

David Procyshyn: I was drawn to yoga in my late teens because I was experiencing chronic lower back pain from a series of injuries, as well as severe anxiety and depression. 

How do you think your own personal journey with yoga informed your decision to found DYWM?

DP: It helped me understand the level of suffering and need in the world. I was motivated to do what I could to help, and to make as much of it free as possible, for those with financial constraints.

In recent years, yoga has experienced an explosion in popularity as both a fitness and spiritual practice all over the world. It’s gone from an ancient religious and spiritual practice rooted in Northern India, to a niche, “hippy” interest, to something that is widely known and trendy across the globe. How do you feel about the direction that yoga as a culture is heading in?

DP: I have mixed feelings. I realize that it’s inevitable that things adapt to the culture. But I also feel uncomfortable with many aspects of it, particularly the elitism, fashion, image, and all of the plastic that is produced by the industry. These aspects starkly contrast yoga’s true essence. 

How do you feel your approach to yoga differs from the more mainstream, contemporary approaches that are so abundant on social media?

DP: In every planning session, we ask ourselves if our decisions are good for people and our fragile planet. We not only want to be a source of inspiration and positive growth for everyone who comes to our site, we want to also ensure that our planet is still thriving and healthy when our children get to be our age.

Could you compare what a day of shooting and recording looked like in 2009, and what it looks like today, in 2023?

DP: In 2009, Sean and I did everything. We ran the show! I did all of the filming and editing - we would film the same class twice and spend many, many hours piecing it together. I knew very little about cameras, lighting, and audio. Now, I have two highly skilled, professional videographers who know everything needed to create a beautiful video. We have a team of passionate, skilled, caring people who are amazing at what they do, including social media, newsletter production, videography, photography, graphic design and website/app functionality.

What would your advice be to a total newcomer who is interested in dipping a toe into a yoga practice but doesn’t know where to start?

DP: Every human is different, so we have a lot of options for absolute beginners. If you like to throw yourself into the experience, choose from one of our beginner programs or challenges. If you’d like to simply try out a class, choose Beginner I from our Yoga Classes filter. If you want to learn the fundamentals first, go to our Yoga for Beginners page.