About your Practitioner
My name is Ariana, or Ari (pronounced airy). I am 30 years of age, residing in Richmond, Virginia. I am half Pakistani and half Caucasian, and have lived in Northern VA, DC, and Pakistan.
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My Vision:
With my psychology and clinical counseling education, and my yoga, Reiki, breathwork, intuitive mediumship, and meditation experience, I wish to explore the world of psychedelic research in treating substance use, depression, anxiety, and PTSD/general trauma. I believe that forming a relationship with the body and utilizing movement to express emotion and memories that have lodged themselves inside the body, one can return to a state of embodied liberation, begin to remember how to access pleasure, awaken to their own psychic and intuitive gifts, and reignite their own inner flame. My goal is to combine yoga, nervous system regulation techniques, body psychotherapy/somatic, breathwork, Tantric Ayurveda, Shamanic practices, transpersonal psychology, Reiki, and mindfulness-based techniques to cultivate a holistic approach to therapeutic healing. I am extremely passionate about the utilization of psychedelics and embodiment/movement to explore the therapeutic experience. I intend to open an integrative wellness centers and a retreat center offering these services, while including clinical and medical care.
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The philosophies that I subscribe to is based in my personal experiences in life and the exploration of why and how we facilitate the lives that we do. When we go deep, we go wide, thus expanding our capacity to take in more LIFE. When we are disembodied, we end up feeling dysregulated, fragmented, numb, disconnected, and a sense of heightened arousal. Additionally, our motor function, coordination, and movement patterns may be affected. When we are disconnected from our bodieds, we may be more susceptible to the effects of stress or trauma, which can exacerbate symptoms and hinder our ability to effectively cope. We can become accustomed to living in this way, or living in the fight/flight/freeze/fawn response without even knowing it. This can happen due to traumatic material, energy, or emotions that were not able to discharge at the time of the traumatic experience.
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What happens when the body cannot discharge the energy? We hold onto it. The body remembers, even if our conscious mind does not. The subconscious mind and our past is running the show.
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I believe that by guiding one through the experience of connecting with the the body-mind, we can discover new ways of BEing in this world that are no longer counterproductive. When we eliminate habitual holding patterns in the body and energy field, we are opening up our vessels to receiving clear messages and divinely guided life force energy. I am ecstatic to help awaken you to the abundant resources that are available to you within yourself, as well as support you in outsourcing. I look forward to accompanying you on your journey of saying yes to embodiment and living more colorfully and fully. ​
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Chose Love,
Ari
xoxox
Founder of Grounding Light
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Education:
Associate's degree in Liberal Arts with a Psychology focus
Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology with an Addiction studies concentration, and a Philosophy minor in May of 2019. at Virginia Commonwealth University
Former behavior therapist for children who have developmental delays and disabilities, as well as challenging behaviors
Certification for Substance Abuse Counseling
SNHU Master's degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Substance Use Counseling clinical internship in men's recovery home 2021
Peer recovery internship with The Well 2019
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Experience, Certifications, and Credentials:
Karuna Yoga’s 200-hour yoga teacher training in 2018
Usui Holy Fire II Reiki I and II training Emerald Healing Arts in 2018
Usui Holy Fire II Reiki III/Advanced Reiki Training and Holy Fire Master Teacher's certification in 2019
Karuna Reiki Master training with William Lee Rand in 2020
Shamanic Energy Medicine with the Four Winds Society
Core Energetics with Next Generation Core somatic/body psychotherapy training 2021-2025
Tantric Ayurveda Wellness Practitioner at Shakti School with Katie Silcox
Intermountain Psychedelic Symposium and Zendo Psychedelic Peer Support Training 2020
Microdosing Movement Masterclass 2019/2020
Grieving and Dying Consciously w/ Four Winds in 2020
Breathwork Healer Facilitator Training 2021 w/ Danielle Hering and David Elliott
Crisis Text Line 2020
Transformational Life Coach Training 2020-current
Mediumship Mastermind 2022
Meditation and yoga classes at Electric Nomad Dance Studio
Yoga with a chiropractor, which was intertwined with guiding clients through functional movement and corrective exercises (SFMA)
Buddhist recovery group meetings, Refuge Recovery, at The Well on the VCU campus
Breathwork Alchemy at Electric Forest 2022
Breathwork Alchemy at Burning Man 2022, 2023
Breathwork Alchemy at Elements Festival 2022
Breathwork Alchemy at Burning Man 2022, 2023
Seasonal Equinox and Solstice Portal events
Sound Healing for Ecstatic Dance DC
Full and New Moon Circles, virtual and in person
Ecstatic Dance Facilitator training Umaya Love 2022
Awaken Your Magic Reiki Training and Embodiment Retreat at Anahata Intentional Community 2022
Cacao Ceremony + Breathwork + Sound Healing at Interfusion Festival 2023
Akhila Adventure Retreat in Roatan 2023
Atira Tan's Trauma-Informed Plant Facilitation Training 2023
Atira Tan's Trauma-Informed Working with Ayahuasca and Psilocybin Masterclass 2023
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Where Can You Find Me?
Reiki and yoga at Well Into Life Massage and Bodywork
Virtual offerings (see "Book Online")
Taou Studio for Breath + Reiki + Sound monthly
Seasonal Equinox and Solstice Portal events
For group offerings, trainings, booking for private events or one-on-one sessions, please contact me directly
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A few fun facts about Ari!
In my "free time" where I am not leading events or doing homework for grad school/trainings, I spend my time engaging in practices that promote embodiment through nature and movement. I enjoy outdoor activities, ecstatic dance, traveling, and sitting by the James River when the weather is warm. I share a love for cabaret, fusion, sword, and bellydance with my fusion bellydance dance troupe local to the Richmond area called Laterna Dance Company. I also dance with a fire conclave called Exothermia that works for most of the year to prepare to perform at Burning Man. I have a love for all dance, with a background in modern, waving, ballet, gogo, pole acrobatics, and am always looking for opportunities to learn more about dance from all over the world.