About Me

Photo: Maria Palacio

My path to this moment has included many ups and downs, twists and turns. I am thankful for my body and its beautiful energy that has allowed me to experience so much. For many years, I ignored the signs my body was showing me to slow down and listen. The signs got louder and louder. They showed up in my system as chronic pain, sleepless nights and anxiety. Living with chronic health issues is no fun and made me seek out many ways to find relief. In 2016, I had an incredible craniosacral therapy session. My body went into a deep, relaxing space where I could no longer feel pain and was at peace - something I hadn’t felt in years. Memories emerged. I left the session extremely happy but very confused. “What was that?” I said to myself as I skipped down the street. I needed to learn more.

I began to visit my cranial practitioner for regular session work. The physical touch and verbal dialogue during the sessions brought many things into clarity, including early sexual trauma. I started questioning what I knew about myself, and also what I knew about my body, medicine and pain. I would run to sessions, barely making it on time, carrying many bags and out of breath. My practitioner helped me realize that I was arriving in a frantic state. I realized I needed to be more aware of how I was showing up in the world. How could I plan my day so that I could arrive to my session with the intention of slowing down and listening to what my body wanted to show me?

Biweekly sessions, along with prompted artistic assignments, gave me a space to reflect and process. I became more present and open to new ideas. I started creative writing and returned to my meditation practice. I began studying various bodywork and holistic modalities. It even affected how I felt about my job. In 2017, I shifted my life path to therapeutic bodywork.

By studying craniosacral work, I learned how to hold a therapeutic space for my clients, one that was focused on comfort and attentional distance. I learned how to listen to the body and tap into its intrinsic health.

I am fascinated by the body: its triumphs, memories and its pains. The body holds onto things. It is capable of so much. It wants to be healthy. I intend to assist my clients in slowing down, holding space and noticing what is most important to focus on today.

Training &

Education

I started studying Craniosacral Therapy (CST) with John Eddowes at his school, Manos Con Corazones Terapéuticos, while living in Lima, Perú from 2018-2019. This training mixed traditional Upledger CST theory and techniques with shamanistic practices. In 2019, I started studying Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapy (BCST) at Stillpoint in New York City under the direction of Shannon Dailey and Clara Favale and later finished the school’s 2-year Foundation Training. In October 2022, I started a 10-month training for bodyworkers to learn how to work with hypermobile clients with Hyp+Access. I am currently a Teacher’s Assistant at Stillpoint for their Foundation Training in BCST.

I am endlessly curious and love to learn. I am lucky to have had the opportunity to study with Franklyn Sills, Sharon Salzberg, Rev. Sam Rudra Swartz, Michael Shea, Katherine Ukleja, Vanessa Lillie, David Treleaven, Lisa Levine, Malorine Mathurin, Sadie Kadlec, Luke Simon, Olivia LaBarre and many more.

While studying with John Eddowes, I witnessed what he truly believes in and lives by: healing and education should be available to all, regardless of finances. He brought this into his teaching and his practice, and I strive to do the same. Rev. Sam Rudra Swartz, a pioneer of accessible yoga, encouraged me to constantly improve my knowledge on accessibility needs so that more people have access to the wonderful benefits of yoga and meditation. I believe all practitioners should learn about accessibility to help create an inclusive world where people can be seen and met.

I also have a background in design and extensive knowledge of meditation, female sexual empowerment and sexual violence advocacy, consent, grief processing, crystal healing, astrology, Reiki, human design and plant cultivation.

I have lived in Italy, Peru, Argentina and various cities across the U.S. I call Brooklyn, NY my home.

Craniosacral Training

Foundation Training in Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapy, Shannon Dailey and Clara Favale, Stillpoint BCST (NY, NY)
August 2021-June 2023
Upledger Craniosacral Therapy, John Eddowes Villarán, Manos Con Corazones Terapéuticos (Lima, Perú)
November 2018-February 2019
Orienting to Health-Movement & Meditation Practice From BCST, Isabel Umali and Tai Chou-Kudu, Minka Brooklyn (online)
Summer 2020

Additional Trainings and Classes

Introduction to Nonviolent Communication, Clara Moisello, PhD, The New York Center for Nonviolent Communication (Brooklyn, NY)
June 2024
Grief School: Summer Camp, Ari Simon and Kwonyin, Grief School (Brooklyn, NY)
June 2024
CORE 40-Rape Victim Advocacy Training, ICESAHT (online)
March 2024
Pandemic Era Processing, Ari Simon and Kwonyin, Grief School (online)
Fall 2023
Are We Really Damaged By Trauma? Bessel A. van der Kolk, M.D., Rachel Yehuda, PhD and Janna Levin, PhD, Pioneer Works (Brooklyn, NY)
October 2023
HAPT Training Program, Hyp+ACCESS (NY, NY)
October 2022-July 2023 b.
Unwinding Codependency, Regina Sewell, ASGPP (NY, NY)
March 2023
Post Pandemic Healing, Louis Lipman, ASGPP (NY, NY)
March 2023
Love, Attachment and the Nervous System, Kimberly Ann Johnson (online)
February 2023
World Peace Meditation, Micheal Shea, BCST/NA (online)
March 2022
Massage for World Peace, Lisa Levine, Maha Rose (Brooklyn, NY)
September 2021
Touch and Connection, Carmen Leilani and Robyn Dalzen, School of Consent (online)
July 2021
Nonverbal Consent, Mia Schachter and Lola Jean, Consent Wizardry (online)
May 2021
Breathwork and Consent, Marisa Sullivan (online)
March 2021
Impact of Masks on Nervous System, Shannon Dailey and Clara Favale, Stillpoint BCST
(online)
March 2021
Shadow into Light, Dr. Erica Matluck and Paul Kuhn, Seven Senses (online)
February 2021
Unveiling Chakras, Dr. Erica Matluck and Paul Kuhn, Seven Senses (online)
February 2021
Psicología Intercultural y Plantas Maestras, John Eddowes Villarán (online)
January 2021
Meditation with Helper’s International, Eli Ryn Brown (online)
August 2020-July 2021
Cultivating Somatic Resilience, Tai Chou-Kudu and Holly Sass (online)
December 2020
Body as Altar: Nourishing Grief, Roshni Kavate, Reimagine Festival (online)
December 2020
Health and Human Design, Erin Claire Jones (online)
November 2020
Trauma-Sensitive Mindfulness: Navigating the Double Edged Sword of Inner Awareness, David Treleavan, The Embodiment Conference (online)
October 2020
Female Sexual Empowerment, Marisa Sullivan (online)
October 2020-January 2021
Self Awareness in a Crisis, Yancey Strickler, Creative Mornings Field Trip (online)
July 2020
Human Design, Clare Marie Edgeman, Creative Mornings Field Trip (online)
June 2020
Energy Body, Jeffrey Allen, Mindbody (online)
June 2020
Self Massage, Jillian Werhowatz, Minka Brooklyn (online)
May 2020
Reiki Refresher, Manu Del Prete and Aki Hirata Baker, Minka Brooklyn (online)
April 2020
Crystal Healing, Sadie Kadlec, Maha Rose/Mineral Muse (online)
April 2020-December 2021
Women, Poetry & Spirituality, Annie Finch and Marianela Medrano, Garrison Institute (Garrison, NY)
December 2019
Changing Lives: Meditation for Underserved Youth, Sharon Salzberg, Ali Smith, Atman Smith, JCC Harlem (NY, NY)
December 2019
Hellenistic Astrology, Malorine Mathurin, Minka Brooklyn (Brooklyn, NY)
Nov 2019-June 2020
Intro to Meditation, Rev. Sam Rudra Swartz, Integral Yoga (NY, NY)
Fall 2019
Intro to Essential Oils, Joe Richkus, Enfleurage (NY, NY)
September 2019
Reiki 2, Sandra Vallvé, Terapias Conscientes (Lima, Perú)
January 2019
Gardening Benefits for Mental Health, Daniela Silva-Rodriguez Bonazzi and Cecilia Viteri, Instituto de Horticultura Terapéutica (Lima, Peru)
September 2017
Reiki 1, Lyndsey Harrington, Maha Rose (Brooklyn, NY)
February 2017
Accessible Yoga, Rev. Sam Rudra Swartz, Integral Yoga (NY, NY)
January 2012-ongoing

Teaching and Public Speaking

Teaching Assistant, Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapy Foundation Training, Stillpoint BCST (NY,NY)
July 2023-ongoing
Guest Speaker, Attentional Distance Mini Workshop, Brooklyn Cottage, (Brooklyn, NY)
April 2024
Guest Speaker, Audience Takes the Stage- Mini Talk on BCST, Creative Mornings (NY, NY)
August 2023