about marisa
My highest aspiration is to practice what I preach -- that I may continue to foster a deep love and connection to these practices so my teachings may come forth from a place of experience and gentle awareness.
There is no "right" or "wrong" when it comes to implementing Yoga and Ayurveda practices, Every attempt - exciting, botched, eye-opening, imperfect or otherwise - can foster awareness, can bring more softness and grace into our lives.
My life has been a journey through crippling perfectionism and a slow walking backwards from that intoxicating vortex; it is my understanding that many people have dealt with similar obstacles around shame and fear of not being enough.
Yoga and Ayurveda, if used in the right way, can offer a way beyond that egoic, small framework of the mind. I want to convey Yoga and Ayurveda with this level of sensitivity, with this intention of helping others - and myself - love themselves, find joy and stillness alongside all that is chaotic and flawed about our lives. Self-love, self-care and awareness are accessible; our bodies and our minds can feel like Home. It is my aim to help people find their way on a path towards this end.
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Full Disclosure: Yoga and Ayurveda both knocked on my door for a long time before I finally answered.
My passion for movement precedes my earliest memories. As a young child and well into young adulthood, most of my days were spent immersed in my love affair with dance, and my formative post-college years were spent in New York City exploring the depths of my artistic well. Yoga and Ayurveda had piqued my interest and awarded me glimpses of peace and introspection during my years of formal education, but it wasn’t until I landed in NYC that I began to dive into these practices in earnest. Their influences provided a necessary complement to my fiery drive - a sense of trust, patience and gratitude towards myself and this life that I hadn’t yet experienced.
My growing fascination with Ayurveda led me to embark upon a journey of self-study through Kripalu's Foundations of Ayurveda program, and after two years of self-study, I received my NAMA certification as an Ayurvedic Health Counselor. Concurrently, I completed my 200-hr Yoga Teacher Training, and from these profound experiences, my
passion for guiding and supporting others through their own journeys of introspection and self-realization became apparent.
With these intentions sealed on my heart, I set off to start anew in Vermont. After several years spent building community and sharing bits of Yoga and Ayurveda whenever and wherever I could, I feel blessed beyond measure to be a part of the team at Blossom Wellness Center. My on-going apprenticeship with Joanie, learning and growing more attuned to the wisdom of traditional Ayurvedic bodywork through her sincere, intentional lens, has been an incredible gift. Sharing my passion for Ayurveda, co-creating this safe and sacred space for folks to heal themselves, and continuing this lifelong journey as a student of Yoga & Ayurveda - I am so very humbled + grateful. Thank you for being here with me, and for allowing this all to exist.
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With deepest gratitude to my teachers and mentors:
Joseph Aldo, Joanie Begin-Morin, Norma Nirmala Berrios, Adena Rose Bright, Christopher Campbell, Raghunath Cappo, Anisha Durve, Larissa Hall Carlson, Erin Casperson, Dr. John Douillard, Angela Kaplan, Dr. Vasant Lad, Paula Loose, Dr. Rosy Mann, Manorama Devi, Jade Miller, Allison Morse, Surinda Oberai-Cavanagh, Kate O'Donnell, Adriana Rizzolo, Deb Rutledge, Keri Setaro, Kristen Rae Stevens, David Harshada Wagner, Dr. Claudia Welch, and Justin Wolfer.
And of course, my beautiful family and friends, forever my roots and my wings.