Lauren Mahakian

Supporting folks in finding connection, balance, and healing in life—true mental health and wellness—is my passion. I believe that living mindfully and authentically is the key to developing the connection that we are all craving: connection to the people closest to us, to our community, to our earth, connection to that which is greater than us, connection to our lineage, and most foundationally, connection to ourselves. Finding wellness is, I believe, best discovered through holistic means, as we are very complex individuals in a complex world. Utilizing what we know about the impact of traumas (old and new, big and less big) on the inner workings of the brain and body can be extremely helpful in reestablishing physiological balance within our entire system—an incredibly important aspect to our overall mental and physical health. Additionally, shifting the narrative in our minds is another deeply important piece of fostering connection, as the often critical or distorted lens from which we view ourselves and others can cause significant pain and unbalanced energy within us, creating quite a barrier to vulnerability—a necessary state of true openness in order to find and feel connection. The internal turmoil created from these narratives, often stemming from traumas throughout life and pressures from society, can have a direct (or indirect) impact on how we treat our bodies including what we are consuming and how much we are moving, two other major components of overall wellness. Creating and evolving our spiritual practice, I believe, is another critical part of what helps us foster connections and balance, and helps create a solid foundation on which we experience life. This is important when we are trying to heal ourselves, when we are navigating life's messiness, and it's especially important for when we inevitably make decisions out of alignment with our highest selves and need the grace to get back to center. I find that integrating elements of psychology, human behavior, neurophysiology, movement & nourishment of our bodies, along with a development or deepening of our spiritual practice and connection to nature is a holistic and effective approach to the ongoing navigation of finding balance in life. Balance can lead us to acceptance of what is, which ultimately brings us a sense inner peace. Perfection? No. But peace, absolutely. Within peace we find healing, and within healing we find peace. This is not a destination, but are rather moments in life that, if we are mindful enough to catch them, can be beautiful and expansive to experience.