Yoga Guru and Dancing Queen: A Perfectly Fabulous Storm

In the beginning…

Yoga guru and dancing queen, Maurice Daniel hails from Clearwater, Florida where he grew up in a loving family with whom he is still very close. Daniel came out to his family and friends at 13, and then the real adventure began! He moved to Colorado at age 21 for the love of a boy and to pursue his passion for theater. He soon began performing at a dinner theater in Fort Collins.

And then there was Anna!

Daniel’s drag profession began in 2010 when he acted in RENT at the Town Hall Arts Center, in which he portrayed Angel. During this experience, he realized the joy of theatrical drag and how much fun it was to take on a whole other power through illusion and showmanship. This was his inspiration that ultimately led to the birth of his inner drag diva, Miss Anna Staysha!

The inspiration for Anna was sparked by Karen Walker from Will and Grace, who went by the alias Anastasia Beverhousen. Daniel experimented with several other names over the years but ultimately circled back to Anna. He says that the drag version of his persona came to life during the pandemic when he watched so many episodes of RuPaul’s Drag Race that he considered himself a “super fan.” When Planet Queer in Hollywood asked him to perform virtually, it was the beginning of that path that lead him to where and who he is today.

Ever the performer.

Daniel has always loved anything to do with song, music, and theater. When he was 5 years old, his librarian, Mary Kay Smith, cast him in his first show at the community theater. She called him a young Michael J. Fox and encouraged him to explore the arts.

The saxophone was his first introduction to music when a neighbor gave him his old horn. He was hooked. At one point, Daniel played and traveled with a Junior Dixieland Jazz band and had the opportunity to attend arts school for music.

“Music has always been a big part of my life. Singing was something that came a bit later in when I wanted to be more involved in musicals and professional theater and choir. It was a culmination of these things that led us to perform at places like Disney and Carnegie Hall.”

Birth of a Yogi

During his work in a professional theater, Daniel discovered yoga. He began to participate and fell in love with how it elevated his body and his life for pre-rehearsals and the on-stage. He recalls that there were some shows where the bonding of the cast was very powerful and attributes it to their regular yoga practices together. Then one day, his teacher suggested that he think about teaching yoga. He was shocked and humbled but, not one to shy away from a challenge, he jumped right in. 

He has since taught in some very well-known, such as atop One Freedom Tower in NYC for DAYBREAKER Events Center at sunrise. Yoga has been helpful in other areas of his life as well.

“I’m physically very able due to regular daily teaching of yoga, which certainly helps me when dancing in eight-inch heels and playing to my flexibility as a dancer.”

Inspiration and solidarity from within, and from the kitchen!

Daniel says that living each day with the philosophy and physicality of yoga and the consciousness that it brings really helps him to stay centered and grounded as a person.

“I see people more clearly. To me, being healthy is so much about my habits and my general lifestyle. I am almost three years sober, which has also changed my entire life. It is through yoga and meditation that I have successfully continued my journey with sobriety.”

There are still aspects of his life where he strives to improve such as his diet and working on a more balanced work-to-play ratio. Striving for inner peace rather than impossible perfection. Daniel lo, lo, lo loves pasta! He eats it every day for a happy and healthy indulgence. “I love Dio Mio in RiNo for their homemade pasta when I’m feeling fancy. Those who know me know I can eat it for breakfast, lunch, and dinner—That’s how much I love it!”

What is next for this multi-talented individual? Daniel says that he dreams of touring the world performing as Anna Staysha and being a guest yoga instructor wherever he happens to be.

“I don’t want this for fame and glory but rather for access to more people with whom I can share more joy, laughter, and entertainment. I see myself on the world’s stage bringing as much energy as I can to as many people as possible!”

Reece currently teaches at multiple yoga studios, offers private lessons, performs at half a dozen drag venues regularly, works at the Honey Elixir Bar a few nights a week, and owns his business creating personalized mala necklaces called Reace Rocks.

His website is reacerocks.com.

In his “spare” time…

Daniel is, of course, not always doing drag and yoga. As far as his other hobbies?

“Sleep! Watch movies, eat, see friends, shop, listen to music, practice, and clean the house!”

I recently had the pleasure of having lunch with Daniel, and in that short amount of time, I felt like I made a new friend. His laugh, kindness, and amazing positive energy are simply infectious, and I am glad that our paths crossed.

Daniel can be reached at reace4peace@gmail.com, and you can catch one of his yoga sessions at the following locations: Ohana Yoga and Barre, Samadhi Yoga, Sangha, The Clayton Club (membership required), and online at YogiApproved.com.

Photos courtesy of Jeremiah Corder, Roxie Carrasco, and Jay Cupcake.