My story is not my excuse, it’s one of my whys …

Unaware, I have spent half of my lifetime running away from my true self by keeping busy, rarely pausing and operating with little to no sleep. I became obsessed with sports, diets, climbing the career ladder, partying, socializing and the numbing embrace of alcohol until one day I found myself handcuffed for shoplifting $14 worth of goods from a supermarket. I was taken to Miami's Dade County, one of the harshest prisons in the United States because I couldn't prove my identity and I was thrust into a full-blown crisis. Two months later, I made a courageous decision to quit my job and career, leaving behind the path that promised a future as the director of a major hotel chain, and returned to Colombia, my home country, to reconnect. After six months of feeling sad, stuck and helpless, I followed an opportunity to relocate to Australia, a land I dreamed of since I was young.  Armed with just one bag and a loan from my parents, I ventured to the Down Under.  I landed on the Gold Coast, where I found a job at a hip bar and at an outdoor gear store, all while deepening my yoga practice. Gradually , I began to feel myself again.

As my yoga practice deepened, an inner longing grew within me - a desire to share its transformative power with the world. Despite doubts from others, I remained committed to the feeling within myself and the sense of responsibility to share this gift. I knew I would one day pursue this path. Shortly after moving from the Gold Coast to Melbourne, I completed my first yoga teacher training. Within months, I began teaching classes, immersing myself in a lifestyle I had only dreamt of. I was practicing yoga every day, eating what I thought to be wholesome foods, and having a community of like minded humans. And finally, all of the self help books I had previously read began making sense.

During the early days of my yoga career, my journey took an unexpected turn when I encountered challenges within the yoga community. Confronted with individuals grappling with suicidal ideation, panic attacks and emotional releases during classes,  I felt confused, overwhelmed and somehow responsible and unsure how to help. Determined to support myself and the community in the best way possible, I embarked on a journey to learn about trauma and mental health. It was a journey that led me to explore topics like ethics, boundaries, attachment, communication, and the intricate interplay of power dynamics and relationships. I learned how to offer trauma informed embodiment practices and educational experiences. Although I delved deep into it and loved it, there was a big piece missing that I wasn't aware of: my own embodiment of this work.

I went on my first 10 day Ayahuasca retreat, where my intention was to find my life purpose. Instead of receiving a clear directive message from the plants as I was expecting, I found myself battling with social anxiety, profound fatigue and lingering muscle pain, feeling numb and disconnected. Sounds, lights and human touch were unbearable. Things got really dark. I felt my body was dying and to this day I remember telling my now mentor - ‘I feel my soul has been stolen’. I was very confused as to how I got there and at the same time refused to accept this as my reality. 

Seeking relief, I turned to google looking for answers and also to a myriad of experts: integrative doctors, naturopaths, osteopaths, psychologists - I had a ton of  supplements and got obsessed with gut health, anatomy and hormones, meditations on future self, breathwork, cold therapy… you name it! Despite my efforts, I felt trapped in a cycle of despair, feeling unsafe in my own body and caught myself running in a hamster wheel. After some time, I was diagnosed with chronic back pain, chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia. It was only when a quiet voice within me urged me to pause that I began to see the true nature of my journey.

Taking a step back, I created space to tune in and listen. In that space I discovered  that everything I was experiencing mirrored the very lessons I had learnt, taught and read about trauma! It was a revelation that dawned upon me gradually - a realization that true healing begins with presence, not with trying to fix it or running away from it.

As I journeyed deeper into self-discovery with the support of a psychotherapist, the plants and practices, I unearthed layers of trauma, wounds and memories buried deep within my being. Waves of beliefs, images, emotions, sensations, thoughts and impulses began to pour out of my body. I was confronted by my childhood experiences, the sense of unworthiness and disconnection from my body, my essence and feminine power. I allowed myself to feel the full spectrum of emotions,  the anger, fear and sadness,  all the stored trauma my brain had so intelligently hidden from me, especially the childhood sexual abuse I experienced. With each passing day, my body began to feel more spacious and lighter. A new version of myself emerged - one free from chronic back pain, fatigue and fibromyalgia. I was brimming with a new found sense of purpose and empowerment, feeling more connected, alive and purposeful than ever before! 

I had the capacity to heal myself and move from struggle to freedom!!

The inner knowing that healing is possible has been my anchor to do what I do and over the years I have had the honor and privilege of  supporting other people on their journeys of healing and liberation. It is our collective journeys that continue to ignite my fire to keep growing, learning and practicing creating a world that I want to belong to.

Apart from all my qualifications  my work is deeply guided by plant medicine wisdom from Ayahuasca, psilocybin and San Pedro as well as lived experiences of the dietero process supported by master plants, Chiric Sanango, Bobinsana. Chuchuwasi and Renaquilla.

My own personal healing journey has been highly supported by internal family system therapy, “Parts work” by Richard Schwartz, Dana Deb Polyvagal theory and Peter Levine with somatic experiencing. I have been studying also with Tara Brach and Eckhart Tolle as well as exploring conscious relationships with my husband, family and friends. Continuing education is a core value of mine, and that adds up to more impact, better value, and results for my clients.

I carry in my blood lineage a strong drive for equality, so I have a natural interest in the intersection of embodiment practices and social change.

The heart of the wisdom I share today is directly sourced from my own experiences, years of soul level service and all the embodied learning I have done and continue to do. I do what I do because through my experience I know we all have the capacity to grow and heal, even in the heat of adversity.

I invite you to join me on this healing journey.