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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Gwen Dittmar

Background:

Gwen Dittmar, founder of Gwen Dittmar Consulting, Inc, a Business Coach and Spiritual Guide for executives and entrepreneurs. Her results-driven approach married with her spiritual practice creates the kind of transformation our culture has been craving. Gwen cultivates space for her clients to trust their intuition, build confidence and navigate change. She brings 18 years as a professional in corporate pharmaceutical and start-up biotech research, as well as 10 years of coaching hundreds of clients. Her training includes a Master’s Degree in Spiritual Psychology, certifications in Soul-Centered Coaching, Executive Coaching, Prosperity Coaching, David Elliott's Breathwork Healer Training Levels 1-4, Reiki Mastery, as well as lots of life experience. She has moved from disease to healing, addiction to recovery, employee to entrepreneur, single woman to single mother to married mother of two. She came out of the spiritual closet and integrated her whole self into all aspects of her life and gives her clients permission to do the same while maintaining grounded human lives. Gwen's mission is to empower her clients to use everything as opportunities to wake up and rise. 

Why I practice meditation:

To create space and access intuition and knowing.

Why I teach meditation:

Because I am passionate about the healing and transformative power of meditation and I LOVE to share my passion.

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April Pfender

Background:

A lover of the spiritual arts and a free-spirited Aquarian, April is a Reiki Master & Meditation Teacher who began her lifetime path & healing journey over 15 years ago.  The deep levels of expansion and spiritual connection she experienced from her studies provided a foundation for powerful mind/energy techniques.  She currently hosts Crystal Clear at Unplug, Reiki trainings,  private treatments and crystal healings which include sound and aromatherapy for complete balance. 
  
As an Advanced Akashic Records Practitioner, Meditation Instructor, Author, Yogi, and Soundbath facilitator, April holds events on the westside.  Her book Chakra Balance, A Beginner's Guide to Healing the Chakras, can be found at the Unplug Meditation Shop in Santa Monica. She encourages everyone to explore and activate the healing that lies within and deeply supports self-healing techniques.  Stick around after her classes for a complimentary chakra reading & crystal prescription! 

Why I practice meditation:

I meditate to deepen my connection with the Infinite and to tap into my inner resources of  joy &  peace, which are always available to us if we get quiet enough to hear them. 

Why I teach meditation:

In order to help others reach the tender space of their own consciousness and to help them uncover their deepest truth that lies within.  Meditation empowers anyone who calls themselves a Seeker of Truth!

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Pamela Robins

Background:

Pamela Robins draws on pivotal personal experiences and training in a wide mix of healing modalities to deliver transformational wellness offerings, including group and private sound bath sessions, meditation workshops, sunset nature walks, and specially curated events at private homes with people and their animals, as well as corporate offices and other unique destinations.

Based in Los Angeles, Pamela teaches at Unplug Meditation in Santa Monica. She also hosts events held in her Tipi "House of Two Spirits" on a private ranch in Agoura Hills where her horse Tuxedo and his trusty sidekick Poptart the mini horse reside. Tuxedo and Poptart are part of the team and enjoy joining Pamela’s sunset nature walks.

Pamela is an enthusiastic student of continuous learning and personal growth through traditional therapy; intuitive studies and guidance; healing work (breath, movement, sound and meditation); and nature. She is an animal lover and advocate, as well as an entrepreneur, inspirational guide, speaker, teacher, healer and now author of the new book Meditating with Animals: How to Create More Conscious Connections with the Healers and Teachers Among Us. The book was written after Pamela experienced a series of major life challenges in rapid succession, forcing her to let go of life as she knew it in order to rediscover herself and her passion for healing and championing others.

Pamela is a yoga, meditation, Reiki and sound healing practitioner; and a fitness enthusiast. She has completed her 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training Certification, Reiki 1 + 2 Certification and Sound Healer Practitioner Certification to deepen her own practice in order to share the gifts, teachings, wisdom and magic bestowed upon her during her journey of self-discovery. 

Why I practice meditation:

Meditation allows me to re-set myself at any point in the day and begin again with fresh perspective and energy. It is my most valuable resource to be able to use this modality to tap into my inner world and stay grounded and connected.

Why I teach meditation:

I love being able to share the gifts that I have been given on my own healing journey with others. To provide someone a moment of peace, relief, awakening, understanding or empowerment fills my heart because I am living out my soul's purpose through my teaching.

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Desi Ivanova

Background:

Desi is a certified Clinical Hypnotherapist from HMI College, California. She’s certified in Therapeutic Imagery, Hypnosis for Immune Disorders, Hypnosis in Labor and Childbirth, Smoking Cessation, Weight Loss, Healing the Child Within, Trauma Recovery, Pas Life Regression Therapy, Body Syndrome (derived from psychosomatic medicine) and Fears and Anxieties. She has also studied various energy healing modalities such as Reiki, Chakra Alignment, Clearing Energetic Blocks and Qi Balancing. 
In addition, Desi holds a Bachelor Degree of Contemporary Arts and a Master of Fine Arts in theatre and film, which she believes, has further contributed to her understanding of the human psyche and interconnectivity. 

Why I practice meditation:

To align, open and ground myself.

Why I teach meditation:

To help you achieve a state of inner peace and harmony so that you can come back to yourself and bloom. 

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Teigh Gilson

Background:

Teigh has taught group classes and workshops in meditation, mindful movement and transformation for over 20 years throughout Los Angeles. She teaches her signature meditation classes combining guided imagery, breath awareness and deep relaxation. She is also an intuitive Reiki healer and leads chakra balancing. Every month she leads an intimate New Moon “Sacred Transformation Circle” at her home studio.

Teigh is also a Licensed Spiritual Therapist, through Agape Spiritual Center and went through a 4 year program under the direction of Michael Bernard Beckwith. She counsels individuals for all life issues utilizing spiritual principles and practice, guiding clients to their own answers, insights and healing.

She was the Co-Founder of SWERVE Studio and the revolutionary program Yoga Booty Ballet (which brought together spirituality, meditation and fitness). And is the featured instructor in over 20 YBB DVD’s, including a meditation CD, a pre-natal program and infomercial. Teigh brings humor and love to all of her classes and truly believes in the healing and transformative power of meditation. 

Why I practice meditation:

Because it anchors me in the vibration of peace, allowing me to live a life of greater present moment awareness and less reactivity. Meditation makes me a better parent and connects me to the Infinite.

Why I teach meditation:

Because I am passionate about the healing and transformative power of meditation and I LOVE to share my passion.

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Connect with Teigh:

Unplug Meditation

12401 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 101 Los Angeles, CA 90025

(310) 826-8899

info@unplug.com