“Pain can be a doorway to consciousness. I discovered that I was not alone. So many others awaken through moments of breaking and loss.”

Raised Mormon as a third generation member in Quito, Ecuador, I followed the path I had always been taught was right. Just two weeks after turning 18, I moved alone to Salt Lake City, Utah for college, checking every box of what I believed I was supposed to do. I married at 19 and divorced at 24, just after I graduated college with an International Business degree. The most important things I learned in college were the concepts of ethnocentrism and neuroplasticity. I also discovered my passion for diversity and inclusion.

In the unraveling of that chapter, I found myself. At the same time my marriage ended, I was diagnosed with a prolactinoma brain tumor while living alone in a new city. At 24, I met my dark night of the soul. When you reach the basement of your life, there is only one direction left to go, up. Through that experience, I learned that pain can be a doorway to consciousness. I discovered that I was not alone. So many others awaken through moments of breaking and loss.

I began questioning inherited beliefs that were never truly mine, beliefs rooted in fear, patriarchy, and survival. I turned inward and outward at the same time by committing to therapy, running daily, and exploring wisdom beyond the confines of my upbringing.

I was lucky and courageous enough to begin traveling alone, with no plans, just last minute bookings in random cities. I let life teach me a master’s degree in human connection and consciousness. Asia, Europe, Australia, and all the Americas taught me so much. I learned that indigenous cultures around the world carry potent medicine and knowledge.

Twelve years later, as I am about to turn 35, I share my knowledge with those who reach out, for a hug, a conversation, a piece of advice, or healing. In that process, I reclaimed my body, my mind, and my spirit. Yoga has been my refuge for over 16 years, and I became a certified instructor in 2020.

Today, I serve my community through bilingual yoga classes, retreats, and monthly holistic events in collaboration with a psychologist. Together we bridge yoga, meditation, and psychology, with a special focus on the Hispanic community. My 30s have become a time of service and giving back. I empower women to remember that their desires and dreams matter. I hold space for men navigating the often silent and lonely process of deconstruction.

Healing isn’t linear — sometimes what we need most is movement, presence, or simply a hug.