I acknowledge that I live and practice within the ancestral lands of the Attawandaron/Chonnonton, the Anishinaabe, and Haudenosaunee peoples and the Treaty 3 lands and territory of the Mississaugas of the Credit. I recognize the significance and inherent value for humanity, of the Dish with One Spoon Covenant to this land and offer my deep respect and gratitude to the Indigenous peoples of Turtle Island who have stewarded, loved & defended this land for centuries, and continue to live here today.
As a mental health and holistic wellness, bodywork & sound healing professional, I am also a lifelong social justice advocate, and name that it is within my scope of responsibility as a settler, and simultaneously as an ancestor to my Indigenous and Black children and grandchildren, to be in right relationship with the land in and its people, in all places I visit.
I strive to live, work and communicate with right responsibility, through right actions, right livelihood as an advocate for healing , in all the forms that it must take: anti-racism, Land Back, Reparations, Reconciliation, and support of Indigenous, Black & Racialized owned businesses, culture language & art.
As a “healer”or, more precisely, a facilitator for the conditions of ongoing healing, it is imperative to be in solidarity with liberation and social justice movements, as our own healing and “freedom” is intertwined with the liberation of all oppressed people. I recognise the healing potential of local and global liberation struggles as essential for attaining Justice as a pre-requisite for lasting Peace.
As a trauma informed practitioner, I support whole-person health, and recognise that trauma informed work that seeks to promote nervous system health, demands it’s practitioner take into account intersectional privilege, and an awareness of the impacts of ongoing, collective, and ancestral trauma, like systemic racism, land & language theft, genocide, displacement, disproportional incarceration & suicide rates and access to health resources and equitable care, and the multi layered harms of colonialism that shows up in the lives in the people of the Global Majority.
As a practitioner of the Kripalu Yoga lineage and traditional Thai Massage, I acknowledge that I lack ancestral or cultural ties to these ancient and comprehensive systems that are contained within Ayurvedic Medicine, and interface with Buddhist philosophy, and with some aspects of Traditional Chinese Medicine (Qi Gong). I am committed to lifelong learning & continued practice of the core ethics ( Yama & Niyama ) and the energetic and emotional foundations of Yoga, Marma Therapy, Thai Massage, as ancient and original forms of Applied Neuroscience, that are practiced as medical systems in many countries to this day. These practices are energy healing modalities, and inform both my personal practice and professional scope to promote physical , mental , emotional and spiritual health, for individuals and communities alike.
The core guiding principles of the healing practices I work with are embodied presence (somatic awareness), “metta” (intentional compassion), and energy work of the human biofield – energy fields, the physical, mental and emotional body subtle bodies- koshas, fascia, vagus nerve, mudras, nadis, marmas and chakras, as I understand them. I strive to follow the concepts of “jivan mukti” (liberated while living) and the “bodhisattva path”, working to become a beacon for the upliftment of all people, to live and thrive with autonomy and whole-person-ness.
As a practitioner of Sound Therapy, I recognise that, while the healing power of the voice and sound may be universal and its use is found within all cultural traditions, many Indigenous people and cultural groups have been historically cut off from their own systems of healing by violent means, their languages criminalized, their instruments and practices historically banned, their literal voices silenced, and their lives sacrificed to protect their sacred teachings. I recognise that my privilege, or unearned advantage as a white person, opens access to learn and practice different forms of healing and the use of healing instruments with relative ease and without discrimination or fear of persecution.
As part of my commitment to equitable accessibility and in recognition that persons of the Global Majority most often carry the burden of systemic inequities, leading to disproportionately receiving the negative health effects of chronic illnesses, anxiety, chronic pain & burnout, I offer 2 sliding scale / by donation private sessions per month, for anyone looking for nervous system & emotional health support through sound therapy. Priority will be offered to self- identifying Global Majority and QT2+ folks, and anyone who is underwaged and affected by domestic partner violence. Sliding scale is also an option for my group monthly soundbaths and yoga nidra session offerings.
Please send me an email to [email protected] to inquire.
Would you like to see the map of whose land you are on and which treaty you live under?
While there are many organizations to support, here are some organizations who promote the health and wellness of Indigenous people within the Haldimand treaty that I support:
SOAHAC, Southwest Ontario Aboriginal Health Access Centre
Woodland Cultural Centre
Anishnabeg Outreach
