Dr. Belisa Vranich

Background:

Dr. Belisa Vranich is a renowned clinical psychologist, public speaker, and the author of Breathe: The Simple, Revolutionary 14-Day Program to Improve your Mental and Physical Health (St. Martin’s Press/Hay House). Belisa is also the Director of Breathing Science at The Ash Center for Comprehensive Medicine in New York City.

As founder of The Breathing Class™, Dr. Belisa has taught and lectured nationwide on topics related to dysfunctional breathing patterns and stress. Unique in its straightforward approach, The Breathing Class™ addresses both physical and psychological problems related to oxygenation that is out of balance, and teaching people to breathe in an anatomically congruous way that maximizes balanced inhales and exhales.

Dr. Belisa is a regular guest on national television including CNN, Fox News, the Today Show, Good Morning America, Inside Edition, and VH1, and has been interviewed by Anderson Cooper, Soledad O’Brien, Joy Behar, Matt Lauer, Meredith Vieira, Juju Chang, Bill O’Reilly, Nancy Grace, and Alisyn Camerota. Dr. Oz has recognized her as one of the top US doctors in her field. She recently appeared as an expert guest on Cesar Millan’s new show, Cesar 911.

After fifteen years of experience in private practice Dr. Belisa is recognized as a leading expert in topics that range from health and fitness, stress reduction, nutrition, relationships, to trauma and addiction. Previously, she was the Director of Public Education at the Mental Health Association of NYC; she cotaught Personality Assessment and Projective Techniques at New York University, she was a consultant at the National Mental Health Association in Washington, DC; director of an outpatient clinic at Jacobi Hospital Center, Bronx, NY; a school psychologist in the South Bronx; and part of the Brooklyn Aids Task Force supporting parolees and their families. A public speaker in the areas of health and mental health, Dr. Belisa has a decade of experience in developing educational campaigns, presenting, and lecturing nationwide.

Why I teach meditation:

My mission is that breathing be included in every health profile in a way that is functional. Along with blood pressure and posture – breathing biomechanics has to be assessed if we are truly going to get to root causes, and inspire critical changes.

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Aimée Derbes

Background:

Dr. Aimée Derbes, DACM, LAc is here to help people reconnect with their innate vibrancy and wholeness, so they can navigate being human with more ease. She offers acupuncture, breathwork meditation, and energy medicine sessions and groups in NYC, and works with people all over the country through virtual breathwork and Healing Touch sessions and online groups.

 

Approaching each of her patients as the beautifully unique and complex individual they are, Aimée weaves together many healing tools – acupuncture, gua sha, cupping, moxibustion, energy healing, breathwork, essential oils, guided meditation, and more – to address physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual concerns and support the whole person. In addition to being a New York state licensed acupuncturist and a Doctor of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine, she is a nationally certified Chinese herbalist, a Healing Touch Certified Practitioner, and a Certified Breathwork Healer in the tradition of David Elliott. Aimée’s multidisciplinary healing arts practice, Align Acupuncture, is a refuge for people who are ready to be deeply supported as they let go of living in chronic stress, refill their wells, and heal in a sustainable, lasting way.

Why I practice meditation:

Meditation is a tool that helps me take responsibility for myself and my life. My practice has helped me inhabit my body and my life; fully feel emotions; operate from a place of intuition and trust rather than intellect; and heal pain that no other healing modality could touch. The unwinding, healing, and creativity that come through my meditation practice feels bottomless, and I never cease to be amazed with what shows up.    

Why I teach meditation:

I teach so more people have space to feel, unwind tension, self-heal, discover more of who they are, and expand their ideas of what's possible for themselves and for all of us. Teaching is one of my favorite ways to connect with others, be of service, and share this tool that has been so healing in my own life. And did I mention, it's really fun?! 

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Paige Novick

Background:

Paige is the owner and creative director of Paige Novick, a fine jewelry and lifestyle brand. She recently introduced Gem Story, a luxe range of crystal infused multi sensory oils that disrupt traditional beauty practices by straddling the worlds of fragrance and wellness. With her brand legacy, Paige’s pivot has garnered much attention from the press, and as a result, she has emerged as a thought -leader and influencer in this modern era of health and wellness.

Certified in crystal healing and meditation with Unplug NY,  Paige leads workshops, teaches mindfulness to children at a New York private school and offers chakra balancing and crystal healing experiences to private clients. Paige also appears on various Podcasts, radio shows and has been featured in Vogue, Elle, The New York Times, WSJ, Harper’s Bazaar and many other high profile magazines, blogs and websites.

Why I practice meditation:

I practice meditation because research in psychology and neuroscience has shown that that quieting the mind and being still in one’s body can ease stress, make us healthier and be deeply transformative. As Carl Jung said “Who looks outside dreams; Who looks inside awakens”

Why I teach meditation:

I teach meditation because my dream is to equip children and adults with the tools for life; emotional literacy and self love among the most important. 

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Melanie Kaplan

Background:

My path to meditation began with yoga. I began doing yoga in college, it seemed like the natural transition from ballet.  It was yoga that opened me up to meditation, breath work and the myriad alternative healing modalities.  Upon graduation from college, I entered the hectic world of advertising which left me stressed and feeling unfulfilled.  I pursued a path in massage therapy, Acupuncture and traditional medicine.  During my education, my meditation practice expanded to include many other forms.  I have been practicing acupuncture since 2004, and shortly after getting my license, found myself working with patients overcoming addiction, eating disorders and other mental health issues. While I personally had felt the benefits of meditation myself, it was incorporating meditation with acupuncture in the setting of rehab centers or in my office with patients that I began to fully realize the universal power and depth of transformation that meditation offers. 

Why I practice meditation:

The very nature of the word "practice" means that there is an inherent ritual, and  I clearly like things that need to be "practiced" meditation and acupuncture! I feel that having rituals are grounding and supportive.  I practice meditation to slow myself down and to slow the world around me, to bring me more fully into the present moment, and for those blissful moments when there are no thoughts...just silence and stillness.  Meditation also makes living with me and living with myself infinitely more tolerable!

Why I teach meditation:

Besides believing that the world as a whole can change if everyone meditated, I feel that meditation is a gift, being able to share that with others is a true joy and so fulfilling.  Teaching anything for me has always been an exchange, to foster something in others has always deepened and furthered my own experience.  I believe that we are forever learning and expanding, and teaching others teaches me so much.

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Stephanie Carson

Background:

Stephanie Carson believes anyone can discover the best version of themselves through meditation and breathwork. As a former Fortune 500 marketing executive and a busy mom, she felt more like a frenzied "air-traffic controller” than anything else. Not surprisingly, she became a “crisis meditator” in search of peace and quiet amidst the stress and craziness of, well, everyday life. Upon finding meditation and breathwork, Stephanie was shocked when she experienced immediate positive change that rippled through all aspects of her life (and her family’s, too). Yes, she is still an on-the-go, busy, multi-tasking, Type-A at heart, but her house is calmer, with less stress and anxiety.  Just ask her three children, who now say, “Meditation Mommy is a much better Mommy.” Today, she draws upon her real-life experience and specialized blend of training to create a bespoke practice for each person’s present needs and lifestyle. Her unique yin (soft, feminine, loving) and yang (strong, directive, clear-seeing) approach truly allows clients to let go, renew, and reconnect with their best selves. Stephanie received her Meditation Teaching Certificate from the inaugural Unplug + davidji Teacher Training program, her Breathwork Training levels 1-4 from David Elliott, and is a certified Reiki Level 1 and 2 healer.

Why I practice meditation:

 I practice meditation and breathwork because it makes me a better mom, wife and person.  Since starting my practice, I have seen profound positive changes in my life and in the lives of my family.  Meditation and breathwork help me release emotions and energy buried inside while helping me become more present, calm and more in touch with myself and my own needs and goals.    

Why I teach meditation:

After experiencing the benefits of meditation and breathwork personally I knew I had to share this amazing gift with others.  I love helping people find the best version of themselves and guiding them on their personal journeys of discovery, healing and transformation.

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Ryan Weiss

Background:

Ryan Weiss is the guy people turn to when they feel stuck, lost, depressed, anxious and fed up - when they yearn to feel alive, happy, inspired, safe and can't quite seem to find their way. Ryan helps people accomplish their big goals at work, in relationships and with their health by becoming centered in their confidence, creativity and power.

Ryan has been referred to as Los Angeles premier life coach and is a certified kundalini yoga and meditation teacher. Ryan is also the creator of the morning email reaching thousands of people aptly named Waking Up With Ryan. 

Through his one-on-one coaching, emails, interviews, corporate retreats and international wellness retreats, Ryan breaks down the spiritual and psychological tools we all need to thrive in our daunting, complicated world. His irreverent banter allows his clients and attendees to feel connected to someone who just “gets it”. Ryan is not a guru - he’s a guy with a life much like yours who loves to share how he’s finding hope and joy even when the world seems to crumble.  

Ryan is one of triplets and most of his siblings are Jewish spiritual leaders - one rabbi and two cantors. Formerly he performed on Broadway in Wicked and departed from a career as a film/television producer to launch his coaching and speaking work.

Why I practice meditation:

I practice meditation because it expands everything about my life. Meditation gives me a practice to allow everything to happen without constantly trying to change it. Through meditation I’ve learned the true power of getting out of my own way. As a result, my whole life is unfolding in ways that I couldn’t have planned. And it brings me joy to watch it all happen. 

Why I teach meditation:

Honestly, I teach meditation because it helps me. Through teaching, I get to explore all the in’s and out’s of the practice and dive deeper inside myself. Of course, I love supporting people in their healing and watching others grow brings me joy. As A Course In Miracles says: teaching and learning are the same. 

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Light Watkins

Background:

Light Watkins has been operating in the meditation space since 1998, first as a practitioner, then as an apprentice to his Vedic Meditation teacher, and finally as a teacher himself. He's currently based in Santa Monica, CA, but travels the world giving talks on happiness, mindfulness, inspiration, and meditation, as well as leading popular meditation trainings and retreats. 

His passion is to teach people simple tools for increasing happiness. To date, Light has taught meditation to thousands through his live courses, books, and online trainings. He's taught at Apple, Soho House, Summit, and several tech start-ups around the U.S. His first book, The Inner Gym, is a 30-day "inner workout" for strengthening happiness, and latest book, Bliss More: How to Succeed in Meditation Without Really Trying, is a straight-talk how-to book that teaches busy professionals how to enjoy meditation. 

Light contributes to multiple wellness blogs and writes a popular daily email called Light's Daily Dose of Inspiration. Light's TEDx talk has garnered hundreds of thousands of views, and he is the founder of The Shine Movement, a global pop-up inspirational variety show on a mission to share the stories of regular people who are making a difference in the world.

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Alexa Silvaggio

Background:

Alexa Silvaggio is a wellness entrepreneur based in New York City, and Los Angeles.   She is a yoga instructor, meditation teacher, writer, speaker, podcast host, social media influencer, retreat leader, life coach, mover, and shaker.

She wants you to create a life you dig, a life that is in alignment with your highest good, your deepest desires, your absolute truth.  She wants you to cultivate a more loving relationship to yourself and that body of yours. Creating a kind internal and external environment, so you can go out there and make that epic life happen.

Alexa has been practicing yoga and meditation since 2005, and is well versed in vinyasa, restorative, power, and slow flow yoga by Pure Yoga New York, and Kripalu Center for Health. She leads wellness retreats all over the world in places like Bhutan, France, Italy, Mexico, Iceland, and the Galapagos Islands, as well as workshops throughout the United States.

Alexa was recently selected to be the featured teacher at Yoga Day in Dodgers Stadium, teaching over 1,000 people to celebrate this ancient practice.  Yes, she was on the jumbotron and it was rad. She also presented at Yoga Reaches Out, a fundraiser for the Lazarex Cancer Foundation which treats children with late stage, rare cancer, offering both alternative and Western care.  She is also a proud ambassador of a multitude of yoga brands,  Lululemon Athletica, The Travel Yogi, Tanya-B New York,  Noli Yoga, Sweaty Betty, and Gaiam.

She has been published by the NY Post, gaiam.com, Mind Body Green, Class Pass, The Beauty Bean, fitnessgoals.com and many others.  Alexa is a regular speaker on all things wellness at the Soho House in both New York City, and Los Angeles.  Next year she will be privileged to speak at the illustrious Wanderlust Festival in Stratton Vermont and Squaw Valley California, speaking on body image, mindfulness, and yoga, as well as teaching yoga classes to hundreds of yogis at the festival.  She is an inspiring member of the growing yoga community, empathic, passionate, driven, and goal oriented, Alexa helps assist others in producing lives they love.

Why I practice meditation:

I practice meditation because it buys me time. It buys me time between when the you-know-what hits the fan, and my reactivity to it.  It enables me to slow down, embody my body, and discern what serves and what doesn’t.  Meditation is a powerful tool for me, that has shifted my perception not only of myself, but of the collective.  The deeper the connection to breath, the deeper the connection to myself. 

Why I teach meditation:

Because these tools aren’t a secret anymore.  I want everyone to feel good, to be present, and to live as consciously as possible! 

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Connect with Alexa Silvaggio:

Unplug Meditation

12401 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 101 Los Angeles, CA 90025

(310) 826-8899

info@unplug.com