My primary mission is to support people through life’s most difficult journeys, through the illnesses, injuries, and challenges that often change life-as-we-know-it and force us into a new definition of ourselves.
I graduated from the Lotus Pond Center for Yoga and Health located in Tampa, Florida with my 200hr yoga teacher certificate in 2008, my 500hr yoga teacher certificate in 2013, with additional Yoga Therapy Training completed in 2017. I am certified by the International Association of Yoga Therapists and registered with Yoga Alliance. I am also a member of and received training in Mindful Resilience from the Veteran’s Yoga Project.
I graduated from Erwin Technical Center located in Tampa, Florida in 2013 with my certificate in massage therapy, and I am licensed in Florida and Washington states. I am also a member of the Society for Oncology Massage.
Additionally, I graduated with honors from the University of South Florida in 2019. (B.A.).
In previous chapters of my life, I graduated from Hillsborough Community College with an A.A. in Justice Administration, and I was a paralegal for over 20 years! However, my gentle and compassionate nature has been much more supported in pursuit of wellness and knowledge about the healing arts.
Since changing careers, I have been trained in various healing art modalities, including but not limited to, YOGA (Hatha, Yin, Restorative), MASSAGE (Relaxation, Therapeutic, Medical, Oncology), MEDITATION (Guided, Yoga Nidra, Mindfulness, Mantras, Mandalas) & ENERGY THERAPIES (Reiki, Jin Shin Jytsu), with advanced training in Massage, Yoga & Meditation for the Cancer Journey.
In the wellness industry for over 14 years now, I have worked along-side medical doctors, nurses, clinical psychologists, social workers, art therapists, music therapists, occupational therapists, physical therapists, chiropractors, doctors of oriental medicine, acupuncturists, and many other healthcare professionals in various medical and integrative facilities, including three years at Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, Florida, as a yoga therapist and massage therapist.
While working in the Integrative Medicine Department at Moffitt, I was introduced to Art Therapy by our Arts in Medicine Department. Considering the potential for combining yoga therapy and art therapy renewed my fascination with the exploration of healing arts. Little secret, I hope to get a masters degree in Art Therapy one day. For now, I stay in my lane as a yoga therapist offering occasional exercises in expressive arts, Mandalas, for example.
Music Therapy is another interest of mine! Playing African drums with people on their journey with Parkinson's, feeling the vibration of Tibetan bowls clearing your Chakras, witnessing patients in the bone marrow transplant unit relax to the harp, cello, or base there is more to Music Therapy than you might have imagined. Luckily, I have friends in that modality too. Yay!
With many doctors, nurses, and scientists who practice yoga and meditation or receive professional massage or acupuncture, the base of research is expanding and a solid foundation of evidence relating to the benefits of many healing art modalities is building.
All of this information is very fascinating and interesting, but it can be a bit overwhelming too. Right?
Whether you are new or returning to yoga, meditation, massage or any of these therapies that I've been discussing here, if you are interested but maybe have a particular hesitation or challenge, please reach out to me. I will meet you where you are physically and emotionally, We will get you started on your journey with the Healing Arts.. I will do my best to be of service or guide you to someone who can, and I will absolutely work integratively with your healthcare provider(s).
And by the way, in case you didn't notice, my favorite color is purple! It's become my signature, LOL!
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