I am an advocate for self-care, inclusive care, community care, trauma-informed care and just plain old care.
About your guide, Lauren (she, her, hers).
Some of the ways I identify are: cis-gendered female, queer, incest survivor, C-PTSD (Complex - Posttraumatic Stress Disorder) survivor, a person living with depression and anxiety, internet-rabbit-hole-insomniac, advocate, griever, coffee lover, part of the ‘dead Moms club’ aka the club no one ever wanted/wants to join, ecstatic dancer, life-long learner, baker, science student, somatic explorer, breathwork guide, nature walker, yoga instructor, spiritual seeker, daughter, traveler, joker, storyteller, artist, singer, introvert and dog Mom to the ridiculously sweet and sometimes feisty, Honey Badger the Chihuahua!
I’m fascinated by the elements of the human experience, by the things that make us human, by our nature.
Our stories, our hearts, our spirits. The drama that unfolds from life’s many inevitable conflicts and challenges. The humor and absurdity that makes it all bearable. The love that connects us to our hearts’ greatest desires and to one another. The moments of joy that uplift and the deep grief that we all share, both individually and collectively. The invisible threads that unite us, that make up the intricate web of life, held together by this life force energy, the thing that animates all of life, the breath.
I like to think of myself as a kind of spiritual anthropologist, equal parts scientist and spiritual seeker, excavating and exploring the vast wilderness of what it means to be human. A life-long learner, ever-curious & ever-growing, I believe that I have something to learn from everyone and everything in this amazing multi-verse.
My studies and wanderings have led me to some unexpected places and encounters over the years, from the terrifying to the beautiful, from moments of deep grief to ecstatic bliss, and everything in between. I’ve survived incest, a random kidnapping in Rome, marriage (and a subsequent divorce) and a lifelong struggle with depression.
I’ve been beyond fortunate to meet so many amazing teachers, colleagues and friends through over 10 years of yoga, pranayama (breathing techniques) and meditation practice. Equally, I’ve learned so much through the study of psychology, somatic therapies, loss & grief, the creative & performing arts, and more recently, the health sciences.
My vision for this world is one where we are all deeply cared for, one where we become the salve to one another’s wounds, rather than the salt.
I am an advocate for self-care, inclusive care, community care, trauma-informed care and just plain old care — as in caring, because this world could certainly use more right now. The good news is that care, (another name might be kindness, or love or compassion or caring), is abundant, free & renewable; it’s accessible at any given moment. One way we can access this quality of ‘care’ is through the simple exchange of breathing, we receive oxygen as nourishment, and our exhale nourishes the plant life around us. And the cycle and exchange continues.
Another way to experience care or rather, caring, is through the act of gratitude or appreciation — appreciation for what we have, for who we are, for those that have shown us care; or perhaps for the simpler, maybe the seemingly boring, unremarkable & even mundane moments that make up our ordinary lives. When we slow down to breathe, take closer notice and truly appreciate these moments, everything vibrates & bursts into a symphony of sensory experiences.
I know I still have so much to learn in this life, and I am honored to learn with and from you. I hope you’ll join me in this journey of self discovery, in this journey we call life.
If you’re still reading, thank you! I appreciate you!
For more practical, nuts and bolts information on breathwork (what it is and what a session entails) and bookings, go here.
Experience & Credentials
Currently working on my health science prerequisite classes (Microbiology, Nutrition, & Human Development) with an aim to become a Nurse. I’m stoked to bring all of my experiences together. Right now I’m thinking children’s hospice or psych nursing, but I’m still exploring. I work as a caregiver/ personal support worker for a kiddo on hospice, so I’m excited to learn more and be able to apply it in real life.
2023
Certified Breathwork guide through David Elliott, breathwork practitioner for over 8 years.
2021
Attended one year of graduate school for Dance & Movement Therapy at Naropa University in Boulder, CO. I proudly dropped out due to the pandemic and my Mother needing hospice care, she passed away in 2020 from lung cancer. No regrets.
2019-2020
Completed a 10-day silent Vipassana meditation retreat.
2014
Experienced RYT yoga instructor at the 200 hr level, training was with Yoga to the People in San Francisco, I taught for about 7 years — between SF & Berkeley, CA & San Antonio, TX, in schools, businesses, studios, gyms and various private & community settings. Additional advanced training in trauma-informed yoga, kid’s yoga, yogic philosophy and various styles of yoga asana (Iyengar, Ashtanga, Yin, Hatha). I do not currently teach public classes but I draw from this experience in my breathwork sessions.
2011-present
BA honors in Theater Arts, with an emphasis on performance and directing. I loved performing as a dancer and actor but really, storytelling through writing and directing is where it’s at for me.
2006
