Dr. Measha Dancy And The Mind, Body, Soul Connection
Seriously, Dr. Measha Dancy is not even messing around with us. Not only is she committed to fitness and proper nutrition, she authentically embraces the practice of focusing on mental, emotional, physical and spiritual healing in her every day life as a energy healer and physician. She is one of the most generous, kind-hearted women you'll ever meet and her beauty and overall "badassness" need no explanation.
Dr. Dancy graduated cum laude from Spelman College with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology. She attended the UNC School of Medicine at Chapel Hill where she earned her Doctor of Medicine degree and then completed her residency in Internal Medicine and Pediatrics at Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan. For over twelve years Dr. Dancy practiced Internal Medicine as a hospitalist and then as a primary care physician in the Atlanta Metropolitan Area. Recently, however, she made the bold decision to resign from the practice of traditional medicine and to follow her calling to alternative and ancient methods of healing. Her practice currently utilizes her gifts of medical intuition, intuitive psychology and energy healing to guide people to the Divinity within themselves that is calling them to live their healthiest and most authentic lives.
And did we mention that she's a bona fide fitness champion?
Q & A with Dr. Measha Dancy
Q: When and why did you decide to get into fitness/figure competitions?
A: Believe it or not, in 2010 I weighed 175 lbs, the heaviest I had ever been in my life! The fall of that year I had a serious wake up call that “shook me." That is what the Universe does when you are sleepwalking through life and ignoring the more subtle signs that it's time to change direction. This cosmic jolt forced me to take a serious look at my life and I realized that I was caring for everyone else except the most important person….. ME!
At that point, I made the conscious decision to change that and started a program of self care which included regular exercise and eating better. I looked into a personal training package through my gym and discovered that I had already purchased one from two years earlier that I NEVER used and had accumulated FIFTY training sessions! Mind you, this was a twice per month charge that I had forgotten about for two whole years! (OMG, who does that???) But, after the shock wore off, I felt like I was #WINNING because I was able to use up the sessions as frequently as I liked. After about 5 months of consistent work, I had completed all of the training sessions and lost 25 lbs! Around that time a friend of mine invited me to her very first NPC (National Physique Committee) body building competition. She was competing in the newly introduced bikini division (the NPC added this division for women who wanted to look athletic and lean but not overly muscular). I always admired lean and athletic physiques and when I saw those competitors I wanted to know where to sign up. I ended up hiring her trainer and exactly one year later in 2012, I was on that very same stage at the age of 40 competing against 20 year olds and I came in second place in my height category. After that I was hooked and competed in 2 more shows that year. I really enjoyed it but, unfortunately, due my work schedule I was unable to continue until recently. I just competed in my first competition in three years at the 2015 Charlotte Cup which was an amazing experience.
Q: Can you share your results from the April 25, 2015 National Physique Committee competition in Charlotte, NC?
A: Absolutely! Because of my age I was able to compete in two divisions, Masters 40+ (40 years old and over) and Open (18 years old and over). I won the First place and overall titles in the masters 40+ division, and placed in the top five in the open division which also qualifies me to compete in a national competition.
Q: Tell us about your training and nutrition program/regimen for competing?
A: I actually started my preparation to compete a little late, a little under 4 months prior to to the contest so, although I was not terribly far from my goal, I still had to train really hard to get back into stage-ready shape. I hired a trainer who started me on a regimen of weight training four days per week and cardio training twice daily six days per week. I also decided to transition from my pescetarian diet to a vegetarian diet shortly before I made the decision to compete again. I also chose my trainer because I knew that she was familiar with training vegan/vegetarian athletes. My meal plan consisted six meals daily which required consistent eating every 2.5 hours. My daily food regimen included oatmeal or quinoa for breakfast, a green veggie (like asparagus or broccoli) and black bean spaghetti (spaghetti actually made out of black beans which is a great protein source) for lunch and dinner, a vegan protein shake for in between meals and almonds or peanut butter once daily.
Q: Tell us about the importance of using nutrition and fitness as a way to maintain a healthy, balanced lifestyle.
A: Let me speak first to my philosophy on total wellness. I see balanced health like a 4-legged stool supporting the whole of your being. Each leg on the stool represents the four pillars of total health: the physical, the mental, the emotional and the spiritual. These four components create our multi-dimensional-being-selves and you MUST nourish them all. Currently we are in a very physical and material oriented time in humanity’s evolution which is why most fitness programs only focus on the physicality of getting into shape. This is why, in my opinion, most people fail to lose or regain excess weight after trying these programs. You cannot be supported by a chair that has only one leg OR that has one long leg and 3 short ones……you will fall (read: fail) every time! Thus, nutrition and physical fitness are essential components to maintaining lifestyle balance! We were created to be active beings and with that activity fuel, in the form of good nutritious food, is required to maintain us and the temples, i.e. our bodies, we were given to care for.
Q: What advice do you have for people who may be intimidated, but are interested in training for and competing in fitness competitions?
A: My biggest piece of advice is to find a personal trainer experienced in training fitness competitors. You want to look for someone who has a program of weights, cardio and meal plan implementation specifically for bodybuilding competitors. They should also provide guidance on what division you should compete in, training on how to pose and guidance on other aspects of how you present yourself (suit choice, accessories, makeup, etc.) on stage. I always tell people that you must be prepared to train like an athlete while still living your “regular” life, so you MUST also have a great support system surrounding you as well whether it be family, friends or both.
Dr. Dancy pictured here with beautiful daughter, Ryli (left).
“ My daughter, Ryli, has been the main source for ALL of my inspiration. All decisions I have made in my life, especially in the last five years, have been inspired by the knowledge that her soul has been divinely placed in my care. And with the recognition of that responsibility came the true purpose of my role, to be the living, breathing and active blueprint of the type of woman she can become. Showing her that there are no limitations to who you are or what you can achieve. I thank the Creator everyday for my “Rylinspiration”! Her presence in my life alone has propelled me out of many comfort zones that I am sure I would not have had the courage to step out of otherwise. ”
Q: Can you provide tips for people who want to get serious about fitness, whether the goal is to compete or just to get more fit and dedicate themselves to working out and eating right?
Dr. Dancy competing in 2012.
A: 1) Set aligned goals.
What I mean by this is that your goal must be aligned with the reality of what it takes to achieve it and your willingness to do what it takes. When there is no goal-reality alignment, a fantasy expectation is created that you will never be able to achieve. Sorry folks, but you just cannot have a goal of having six-pack abs but can really only commit to a keg-belly eating regimen! I can tell you from experience and personal disappointment on that front…it WILL NOT work.
2) Write down your goals.
Writing your goals down is a major tool of manifestation. It brings your divinely inspired desires closer to reality.
3) Speak your goals to others.
This not only keeps you accountable, but speaking your dreams into reality is another powerful manifestation tool.
4) Be consistent.
Continue the process even when you are not feeling it or as I like to say, "fake it ’til you make it!" Believe it or not, it still is a struggle many days for me to get myself to the gym and do what I need to do but I go even when I don’t want to because I know my body needs it to function at its highest capacity.
5) Be kind to yourself.
This probably the most important. Self-love and self-care are the foundation of any self-transformational process. This means that you must love yourself where you are, forgive yourself when you slip up (because you will, its a NORMAL part of any process) and be able to get back up and start again. Women are especially prone to self bullying. Just stop it and love yourself like you would love a child.
Q: Professionally, you have had a long career as a physician and you recently launched MetaSynergy where you focus on the mind, body, spirit connection. Can you tell us about MetaSynergy? What is the focus of the practice? What kinds of clients do you work with?
“Disease (read: dis-ease) occurs when there is a disturbance in a person’s energy field. This area is like a wound and if not “fixed” it will develop into a physical manifestation in that area of the body. The MetaSynergetic process combines multiple ancient healing modalities and metaphysical principles, such as meditation, visualization, affirmations, intuitive therapy along with basic principles of physical health, to help people reach that divine place within themselves that then allows them to self-heal. It is a step-wise process where each step builds on the other to reconnect the mind, body and spirit.”
A: MetaSynergy is the name of the energy healing system that I “created.” I use the quotation marks only because it is not really MY creation as much as it is the internal gift of healing that every human on the planet has. This is just my version. The focus of my healing practice is to assist people in strengthening the intangible aspects of health - the mental, emotional and spiritual, to ultimately and positively affect the physical health. It is based on the fact that everything is energy. Everything that we see (like our physical bodies) and don’t see (like our thoughts and emotions) are just different energetic forms vibrating at different rates. The slower vibrational energy appears solid, the faster vibrational energy is less solid and the fastest vibrational energy is imperceptible to our five senses. The human energy field is at the fastest end of the vibrational spectrum. Every individual has an energy field that emanates from them and through them. And it is like the foundational finger print that the physical is built from. No two energy fields are alike and they are ever-evolving.
I work with all types of clients from all walks of life. My only requirement is that they must be ready and open to the process.
Q: Why is the mind, body, spirit connection an important part of reaching goals in every aspect of our lives?
A: The importance of the balance of the mind, body and spirit cannot be emphasized enough. It is not just an important part, it is THE only part to achieving total health and wellness. The human body was created perfectly no matter what its form. In order to utilize the many healing gifts it holds within there must be a connection between these three parts. When the body realizes that it is now reconnected with the mind and spirit wonderful little miracles begin to occur. Health improves, energy levels go up, there begins to be determined and focused action behind your intentions, thoughts and goals and this is emanated to others around you, your family, co-workers, even strangers on the street. The mind, body, spirit connection absolutely affects every single aspect of our lives.
This probably the most important. Self-love and self-care are the foundation of any self-transformational process. This means that you must love yourself where you are, forgive yourself when you slip up (because you will, its a NORMAL part of any process) and be able to get back up and start again. Women are especially prone to self bullying. Just stop it and love yourself like you would love a child.
“Your energy is your truth. Show me your energy—I’ll show you who you are.”
Q: Can you share any online resources with readers interested in learning more about fitness competitions?
A: My favorite online resource for all things fitness is www.bodybuilding.com because it is full of great information and free tools that can help anyone, even for those not interested in competing but who just want to get in shape. Other websites strictly for those interested in competing would be www.npcnewsonline.com and www.rxmuscle.com.
Q: What's next for Dr. Measha Dancy and MetaSynergy?
A: I am currently in a building phase of my business and new practice and am currently working with a group of visionary entrepreneurs to help me move forward in a very conscious way. I was recently chosen to participate in a program called the Visionary Ignition Mastermind group that I am super excited about. We have life/business coaches that help us to delve in deep so that we can trust our own inner divine guidance to grow our businesses and reach the audience we were meant to help. I am in the midst of the evolution of me, my practice and the full realization of doing what it is I was created to do in this world. I have many ideas for programs focused on fitness and health that I am working on that should soon come into fruition that I am extremely excited about, so stay tuned.