Shanila Sattar

Background:

Shanila is a wellness activator, women’s researcher, speaker, and the founder of AlwaysPlay based in Los Angeles. She uses ancient modalities with a modern twist to balance and connect the emotional, mental, physical, and spiritual bodies. She came into the world of meditation from her own need after experiencing health and mood imbalances, and from not having proper wellness practices in place. Now, she loves to share these tools for others’ journeys as well.

Shanila grew up in Bangladesh and on the East Coast, working with groups with anxiety, stress, depression, mood imbalances, and sleep troubles. She loves to mix the science and the woo in her practice and hopes that she’s able to reach people who may feel that wellness is inaccessible to them.

Shanila has implemented several programs in the Los Angeles area through the support of several grants from the State of California to bring the art of sound baths and breathwork as emotional and mental wellness tools, hosts workshops in underserved populations, and continues her work in women’s research through partnerships with Universities.

Shanila’s sound bath classes are described as dreamy and otherworldly; her breathwork workshops have been described as a “must experience gift". 

Why I practice meditation:

I practice meditation because through it, I am able to access and maintain a calmer sense of being. I’m able to gain perspective of things that may have been sources of worry or anxiety, and transmute that energy into feeling calm, relaxed, blissful, and joy!

Why I teach meditation:

I teach meditation because I believe that having small practical mindfulness tools in our wellness bag is a better world for everyone. I love to create safe and inviting spaces so that the pretenses of who can and should meditate are removed. Helping people simply relax in the midst of a very busy world is beautiful.

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Alison Canavan

Background:

Alison Canavan is a meditation teacher, author of wellbeing book Minding Mum, an integrative and intuitive health coach and motivational speaker. She is a UCLA-trained Mindfulness Facilitator from The Semel Institute of Neuroscience and Human Behaviour, a HeartMath coach and facilitator, a Master NLP Practitioner, nutrition coach and raw foods master. She runs an integrative coaching clinic and delivers motivational talks on health and wellbeing, all over the world, specialising in mental health and addiction. Alison was a successful international model for nearly two decades before devoting her time to her greatest passion: the achievement of true health and wellbeing for everyone as she strongly believes in the power of human potential. She wrote the first postpartum wellbeing book for new mums in 2015 called Minding Mum – It’s Time to Take Care of You and following on from that created The Full 360 events. These innovative events look at connecting the dots with our health and wellbeing using accessible practices that we can easily integrate into our daily life to create positive change. Alison has a weekly wellbeing column in The Sunday Independent and is a regularly contributor to newspapers, magazines, radio, online and various podcasts worldwide.

Why I practice meditation:

For me my practice is a way of coming home to myself each day. A way of checking in to see how I am doing. It’s a connection to my inner world and a beautiful feedback pathway that enables me to live more authentically. Through my practice I feel I can make sense of what can sometimes be a crazy world.

Why I teach meditation:

It’s such an honour to share the practice of meditation with people and teach. It’s such an incredible tool to have in today’s world and I love helping people connect within and cultivate their own practice. I also believe that meditation is a fantastic tool to help you reach your full potential and live with purpose on purpose.

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Sitara Hewitt

Background:

Sitara has been teaching meditation in classes, workshops and one on one coaching sessions for 15 years. A certified energy healer & former professional dancer; she led the Mindfulness Program at the Toronto Film School for 4 years. She loves empowering others in their practice & supporting their unique journey.

Why I practice meditation:

Because when life can be tough, the inside of my own head doesn’t need to be! My life changed dramatically when i started to meditate..I let go of anxiety and anger and tapped into a peace & joy that continues to expand.

Why I teach meditation:

Seeing others peaceful and happy at the end of a session is one of my favorite experiences. Sometimes feeling good is just 15 minutes of meditating away and I feel grateful that I can facilitate that.

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Shanila Sattar

Background:

Shanila is a wellness activator, women’s researcher, speaker, and the founder of AlwaysPlay based in Los Angeles. She uses ancient modalities with a modern twist to balance and connect the emotional, mental, physical, and spiritual bodies. She came into the world of meditation from her own need after experiencing health and mood imbalances, and from not having proper wellness practices in place. Now, she loves to share these tools for others’ journeys as well.

Shanila grew up in Bangladesh and on the East Coast, working with groups with anxiety, stress, depression, mood imbalances, and sleep troubles. She loves to mix the science and the woo in her practice and hopes that she’s able to reach people who may feel that wellness is inaccessible to them.

Shanila has implemented several programs in the Los Angeles area through the support of several grants from the State of California to bring the art of sound baths and breathwork as emotional and mental wellness tools, hosts workshops in underserved populations, and continues her work in women’s research through partnerships with Universities.

Shanila’s sound bath classes are described as dreamy and otherworldly; her breathwork workshops have been described as a “must experience gift". 

Why I practice meditation:

I practice meditation because through it, I am able to access and maintain a calmer sense of being. I’m able to gain perspective of things that may have been sources of worry or anxiety, and transmute that energy into feeling calm, relaxed, blissful, and joy!

Why I teach meditation:

I teach meditation because I believe that having small practical mindfulness tools in our wellness bag is a better world for everyone. I love to create safe and inviting spaces so that the pretenses of who can and should meditate are removed. Helping people simply relax in the midst of a very busy world is beautiful.

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Connect with Shanila :

Lane Carlson

Background:

I’m originally from Minnesota and have spent a decade in transformational exploration. I hold a master is Spiritual Psychology from the University of Santa Monica and am a seeker of non invasive practices and modality that are helping make people’s lives better.

Why I practice meditation:

I practice meditation and breathwork to stay calm and approach each day in peace and harmony.

Why I teach meditation:

To open people to a beautiful instrument of healing. Their own breath! We all have the ability to heal ourself and I’ve found profound benefits from breathwork and meditation and I’m happy to share these benefits with others.

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Travis Eliot

Background:

After surviving a near death experience in Kauai and another during the Thailand Tsunami of 2004, Travis Eliot dedicated his life to spreading the teachings of yoga and meditation to as many people as possible.

Travis has become a world-renowned yoga and meditation teacher and author. He teaches his signature Holistic Yoga Flow classes in Los Angeles and in workshops, festivals and retreats around the world. His style is intensely dynamic and has inspired many of today's top athletes, celebrities, and entertainers.

Most recently Travis has become passionate about spreading yoga and meditation inside maximum security prisons. This work has proven to bring light to the darkest of places.

He is the creator of the groundbreaking programs The Ultimate Yogi, Yoga 30 for 30, along with many other best-selling yoga DVDs. He is the author of “Journey Into Yin Yoga,” co-author of “Holistic Yoga Flow: The Path of Practice.” His highly acclaimed chant album, The Meaning of Soul, debuted at No. 3 on the iTunes world music chart. He is the CEO of Inner Dimension Media, director of Holistic Yoga Flow teacher trainings and a member of the faculty of the prestigious Kripalu Institute and 1440 Multiversity. A Yoga Alliance-certified E-RYT 500 instructor, Travis has been featured in Yoga Journal, Yoga Magazine, LA YOGA Ayurveda and Health, Mantra magazine, Om Yoga magazine, Conscious Lifestyle, Asana Journal, Self, Fitness Trainer, Access Hollywood, and The Huffington Post.

Why I practice meditation:

I practice meditation to make friends with the crazy person inside of my head! It also helps me feel spacious and open. From this place wisdom and compassion grows.

Why I teach meditation:

I want people to be joyful, healthy and empowered. I teach to help people master their mind and therefore their life.

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Heather Reeves

City & Country:

Mount Forest, Ontario, Canada

Background:

Heather Reeves has been a Registered Massage Therapist for over 20 years and a Fitness and Yoga Instructor for over 15 years. Works hard to facilitate people to better health and well being.

Why I practice meditation:

I practice meditation to bring clarity and reduce stress. I practice so that I can start each day with intention. I practice to stop the constant chatter so common in many minds.

Why I teach meditation:

I teach meditation to help people to find the calm and still within and guide them to the answers inside of themselves.

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Ryan Nell

City & Country:

London, United Kingdom

Background:

After studying Mandarin at university, I spent 12+ years in a high-pressure career the advertising industry. Much of that time was spent battling chronic anxiety, though always beneath the radar. Along with traveling the world and training as a documentary photographer, meditation was one of the healthier ways that I managed my stress levels during that period of my life.

Why I practice meditation:

Meditation keeps me balanced and calm amidst the chaos that is London life!

Why I teach meditation:

I have found meditation so transformative on a personal level that I feel compelled to share it with a larger number of people. Mental health in the UK (and wider world) is at an all time low, and there has never been a better time to battle the stigma, open up the conversation, and give people the tools they need to proactively manage their well being.

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