About

Meet Daya

Daya Alexander Grant

PH.D., M.S., CMPC

Mental Performance Consultant | Neuroscientist | Yoga Teacher | Writer | Athlete | Mom

For the past 20 years, I’ve studied the brain and how it relates to athletic performance. My personal experience as a triathlete and ballet dancer revealed the peaks and valleys of sport, and just how much the mind is involved. It is my mission to help people perform better in their chosen performance forum - through mastery of the inner game and fortification of the mind-body connection.

MY story

I was a ballet and modern dancer growing up, spending my summers at Juilliard, Joffrey Ballet, Houston Ballet, and elsewhere. But after college, I traded in my pointe shoes for running shoes.

On our wedding day in 2013, my (2x Ironman) husband gifted me a road bike. I got the hint and signed up to do my first triathlon through Team in Training.

Unfortunately, I didn’t really know how to swim. Sure, I could survive in water. I took swim lessons as a kid and spent the summers boogie boarding. But as an adult, I couldn’t swim a single lap.  

Those first few swim practices were comical (think: floundering), and just as I started to feel more comfortable in the pool, we did our first open water swim. Utter disaster. 200 yards out to sea, I couldn’t breathe. I’m a yogi, for goodness sake, but I couldn’t find my breath. The JAWS soundtrack played in my head and I floated on my back to the beach. Pacific Ocean = 1; Daya = 0.  

I didn’t conquer my mind overnight. Mental obstacles continued throughout training, but I practiced the tools I used with athletes - imagery, focused breathing, goal setting, etc. Four months later, I did my first triathlon. Ten months after that, I completed my first Half Ironman. Mental skills are trainable. I’ve practiced them and I’ve coached others to do the same. I’m here to guide you on your journey.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Through my private practice, I work primarily with college, professional, and elite athletes across a wide range of sports (e.g. baseball, gymnastics, volleyball, football, ice skating, running, rowing, triathlon, karate, Crossfit). My mission is to empower athletes to cultivate mental strength, elevate their performance, and find fulfillment in the pursuit.

I am a Certified Mental Performance Consultant (CMPC) through the Association of Applied Sport Psychology. After receiving a Master’s degree in Kinesiology/Sport Psychology, I completed my Ph.D. in Neuroscience at UCLA, where I studied the chronic effects of repeat concussions. I exercised my love for education by leading a neuroscience outreach program for Los Angeles K-12 schools. I’m also a Certified Yoga Teacher, with over 15 years of experience teaching elite athletes, weekend warriors, new moms, corporate employees, and older individuals.  

I served as a neuroscience consultant and helped launch the education curriculum for the LoveYourBrain Foundation, a non-profit dedicated to improving the quality of life for people with traumatic brain injuries. I’ve created two courses for Yoga Medicine: Yoga for Triathletes and Yoga for Concussion. I’ve appeared as a guest on several podcasts, including the Peloton Podcast and Yoga Journal’s podcast. I am also a contributing writer for Triathlete.com.

My private practice is based in Los Angeles, where I live with my husband and our two young sons, but I work virtually with athletes and high performers from all over the country.

I look forward to connecting with you and learning about how you play!