If you don’t know about Eastern Iowa, it’s home to “The Field of Dreams” Grab a popcorn and watch the film someday. Hint, it’s about much more than baseball in a cornfield. It’s about following your dreams, even when all the cards are stacked against you. It’s having the courage to follow your calling.

Learning to follow my heart was the single most importanT thing I would ever do.

Because my parents had separated, I had the blessing to go back and forth between a farm and city lifestyle. I was able to experience both urban and rural values . I got to play in both the neighborhood sandbox and the wide open corn corn fields. I got to experience the structure of summer camps and the limitless possibilities that come from total boredom. Through it all, I learned to work hard and play freely. To take responsibility for my actions and to clean up pretty darn well after myself.

I was a very creative and outgoing young man who had found his way from a tree house overlooking his parents garden to a dorm room overlooking a historic college campus at Iowa State University. I would meet countless new friends, teachers, and locals who helped shape my experience, each one leaving their own special and meaningful mark. I passionately worked my way through one of the best Landscape Architecture programs in the country. It shaped me in ways I could never fully describe but the most important point I want to summarize is this.

I learned to experience the world around me through a new lens… To see things from outside my current perspective.

Studying the land and the history of the state I grew up in, revealed to me that Iowa was the most altered landscape in the entire world...

On an evolutionary timeline, We had turned the prairies into farmlands in the blink of an eye. By 2007, the small family farms that had already completely wiped out and replaced their pre-existing cultures and ecosystems, were even more rapidly disappearing themselves. These family farms and small town communities that my parents had grown up in were now headed to their own extinction. As if seeing the world through just that new lens wasn’t enough, I can’t even rationally comment on thinking about the realities of our global human history. What we have done on this planet through the industrial revolution, and world wars alone was both extremely inspiring and downright frightening to me.

What world would we have, if any, at the end of my lifetime?

Oh, and buckle up, because, onward and upward, we were already well on our way into “The information age”.

Okay, so…. with all this new perspective, I ran into a bit of a battle with reality. In short, I had a heavy heart for how much of an impact the human species has had on the planet, and knowing how much better we could do... I became a bit obsessed with doing whatever I could to “SAVE THE WORLD”...

I felt like “The Lorax” and thought everyone should be listening to me, or that I would just need to work harder to be the next Captain Planet...

👨🏼‍💻

“I was sure our fate depended on it!

I did everything I could manage to do as just one man. I poured myself into “making a difference”. I usually did it at the cost of my own financial needs, my family, my relationships, my friendships… I did it because I believe that what we do matters, that what we do makes a difference in the world. I was doing the best I could, which wasn’t always understood, which wasn’t always perfect, which wasn’t always the right thing to be doing. But, I followed my heart and worked on what I cared most about.

And so, that brings us to business... Somewhere in about 2005, midway through my college studies, I gave myself a company name and a title... "A Solutions Architect at “D2MGROUP". D2M is Drew Matthew Maifeld, ( D and two M's ) + GROUP… All the interesting projects and people I’ve had the pleasure to work with. I was a "solutions architect" because I enjoy helping people solve problems. I love working collaboratively to solve obvious shortcomings, or anything that I can meaningfully contribute myself to. I felt this would best represent my diverse interests & talents in both people, the planet & a rapidly growing digitally technical world.

SIDE NOTE: I adopted this title before I knew what the term was. So, just to be clear, I'm in no formal way associated with an information technology background. If you’re looking for help with that, I’m sorry. However, I could introduce you to some good folks, or you could just keep googling...

Anyway, during those early years, I was already thinking about projects and working on relationships outside my normal field of study. I had always been the kind of kid who loved to explore & wasn't afraid to question the status quo and to look around to find uncommon information.

But I knew, it never was, & never will be, only all about me. I knew we all play our part to make the world go around… So I thought of D2MGROUP as just my part in the crazy pursuits that I chase and the work I do collectively to chip in and to raise the bar of the common human experience.

After all, shouldn’t work be fun too? How much better would everyones life be in they absolutely and unquestionably loved what they did for work?

Here’s a small but very real list of specific things or ideas that I worked on passionately in hopes that my impact would help make a positive mark on the world:

I worked for “RDG Planning & Design Landscape Architecture Studio”
( & Including several projects with “The Dahlquist Public Art Studio” )
I worked to help grow non profits like “Peak4Poverty” & “UrbanAmbassadors”
Dreamed up technology ideas like "theBRAVOSCOPE”
Created a community at the “Downtown Community Garden”
Helped design, build & open a small clothing resale boutique “FrancyPants”
Dreamed up a big community development idea “Friends On The MAR.GIN”
Worked for a new farm to table restaurant “Table 128”
Led the “Earth Heroes” summer program at “Des Moines Botanical Garden”
Contracted on special projects at “Genus Landscape Architecture”
Gave 10 years of heart & soul to leading group yoga at the “Wellmark YMCA”

And honestly, this is just a quick review of the ones easy enough to put web links to. I certainly had a lot of fun, and worked through many challenges.

Even with all this fun and chasing my purpose, I do still work. A lot actually.

D2MGROUP is real and I primarily split my time between dmYOGA & Landmatters. I do these two things for myself and for others. Because I still want to help people live in harmony with each other and on the planet.

My job, is to lead with love & compassion for all & in all situations…

My job is to help connect and bring people together. It’s how I show up to whatever I do. Whether I’m working for me or for someone else.

I guess I'm just an extremely thoughtful guy who is always eager to "help people" & to model how we can all work together to make the best, most informed & meaningful decisions for this and for all future generations.

I relentlessly stand for my ideals the very best I can and I’d love to help you however it makes the most sense for you.

I think how I’ve helped the most, was simply with my presence...”

LASTLY,

If I’ve learned anything in these past years...

I think the most important person anyone can ever really save is themselves.

I’m obviously still working on it so I’ll spare you that story, but, it’s a daily task... and I’m having a blast. Just reach out if you have any questions.

D2MGROUP

INSPIRING WORK, AIMED TO

CONNECT & BRIGHTEN THE WORLD.

MY APPROACH,

CONTEMPLATE
< COLLABORATE >
CAPTIVATE

Hi, I'm Drew Maifeld, the founder and Director of dmYOGA, a yoga collaborative that helps people deeply connect to themselves and their higher purpose. 

Most people interact with us by coming to group classes or through one on one conversations. We currently host classes on Monday nights and on Saturday mornings or you can join us for any of the special events we host. You can also work one on one with myself or one of our like minded instructors who you feel would be a good fit for you.

Working a regular yoga practice into your daily or even weekly routine is your chance to breakthrough the hustle and bustle of life and de-stress your mind and body.

Simply put, you won't regret it. Come visit us sooner rather then later and experience the life changing benefits of a dedicated yoga practice and connecting with a conscious community of truly incredible people.

Always gratefully,
dmYOGI

"What I love about you, is that you inspire me to be a better person, every time I see you"

>> Ben Wells, Des Moines

"Seeing you guys is better than therapy! Thank you so much for sharing your your practice and your life with me"

>> Michelle Havran Hilsabeck, West Des Moines

"I HAVE TO PAY YOU A COMPLIMENT MR. -- I DON'T EVER SLEEP THROUGH A FULL NIGHT BUT WHEN I COME TO YOUR YOGA CLASSES I SOMEHOW SEEM TO MAKE IT RIGHT THROUGH! I FEEL so refreshed & ready for my day!"

>> Jeff Goodman, Des Moines