Story & Lesson Highlights with Adrian Molina of Miami Beach

Adrian Molina shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.

Good morning Adrian , it’s such a great way to kick off the day – I think our readers will love hearing your stories, experiences and about how you think about life and work. Let’s jump right in? Have you stood up for someone when it cost you something?
I wish I could choose an easier icebreaker, but this question spoke to me the loudest. I stood for myself, or more precisely for my younger self, when I decided to bring a legal accusation against the person who took advantage of me as a teenager. It took more than twenty years, but it was something I needed to do. It was not only about standing for that younger version of me, but also for the many young people who are taken advantage of by adults. Online sexual grooming and sex trafficking are real issues, and I would have never forgiven myself if I had stayed silent when the time felt right to speak. Oh jeez… I promise the next answer will be lighter.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I am a writer, trauma-informed educator, yoga teacher, and end-of-life doula based in Miami Beach. For more than two decades I have dedicated my life to helping people navigate trauma, grief, and moments of transition through mindfulness, movement, and compassionate presence. My work often takes me to hospitals, hospices, shelters, and correctional facilities where I teach about emotional regulation, peer support, and resilience.
What makes my work unique is the integration of trauma education with a human and spiritual lens. I am not only interested in how people can feel better and do better, but in how we can heal individually and as a collective, guiding one another home. These days I collaborate with organizations such as INELDA, ShareWell, and Uwill at the intersection of trauma informed care, mental health awareness, and healing. INELDA is the International End of Life Doula Association, an organization that trains people to support individuals and families during the final stage of life. ShareWell is a peer support platform where people connect through lived experience and guided emotional support. Uwill is a mental health company that provides counseling and wellness resources for college students, helping campuses expand access to care.

Okay, so here’s a deep one: What part of you has served its purpose and must now be released?
You guys are not kidding with these questions. This one is tough.
As a gay immigrant who left my home country at 21, I quickly found yoga as both a path and an anchor when I moved to the United States. It was easy to build an identity through yoga. It gave me confidence, purpose, and the chance to travel the world doing what I love while meeting incredible people along the way.
But after the pandemic, I began to feel a quiet shift. I realized my work in yoga needed to evolve. I no longer felt drawn to teach large in-person events or lead teacher trainings. I had done it for long enough, and my soul was craving nourishment at a different level.
It took time to understand that a wiser voice within me was asking to be heard. That voice wanted to connect with people in new ways, through words, teaching, writing, and meaningful conversations rather than postures.
Of course, I still love yoga, but stepping away from some of the labels and roles I had worn for so long has been humbling and liberating. It allowed me to rediscover who I am when all the titles fall away.

Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
When my mom passed away, part of me died with her. Depression took over. The world became darker, and the light within me faded. For a while, I wandered. I felt lost.
It pains me to say that I tried to end my life, but if it hadn’t been for that poignant moment between life and death, I would not be here today. I now feel a deep responsibility, first to myself, to own every part of my story. By sharing these difficult chapters, I hope someone else’s pain might be eased by knowing they are not alone in the challenges of being human.
I almost gave up on me. It took time, but I am grateful I held on. I love who I am today.

So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. Is the public version of you the real you?
I think so. For those who know me, they know I don’t take myself or anything too seriously. It might be a gift or a curse, but as I get older, that part of me becomes less nuanced and more visible.
Why would I go out of my way to be someone else in a world where everyone already struggles to be themselves? Be yourself. Be your messy, imperfect, unpolished, unfiltered, unapologetic self.
We all carry wisdom, yet we get distracted by titles, labels, and appearances. Fuck all that.

Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. What do you understand deeply that most people don’t?
That the body experiences a wide range of emotions, pain, pleasure, trauma, and joy, yet underneath it all there is an unchanging connection to something sacred. The gift of life transcends the body and the breath. We exist by the grace of something that cannot be named or described, and through that grace, we are blessed beyond our wildest dreams. Our existence is a miracle, and I try to live each day with that awareness.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.adrianmolina.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adrianmolina_mia/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adrianmolinaofficial
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/adrianmolinaofficial
• Other: Substack:
  https://substack.com/@adrianmolinawrites