Vanessa is passionate about what it means to thrive and loves creating spaces of healing and rest. She brings a unique blend of experiences to her classes—as a former management consultant with Fortune 500 companies in NYC, she understands the pressures of a busy life and advocates for the transformative power of slowing down and reconnecting within to create alignment. A 500-hour certified yoga teacher and Reiki healer, her yoga journey spans continents and healing traditions—from India to Bali, Guatemala, and the sacred Andes in Peru—enriching her teaching with powerful practices from Ayurveda, the Shamanic Medicine Wheel, and energetic healing. Deeply rooted in the belief that nature is a profound teacher and connected to our healing, Vanessa invites students to remember our innate connection to the earth through somatic awareness, breath, and ritual. Passionate about fostering restorative spaces for BIPOC communities, she loves sharing offerings like women’s circles, cacao ceremonies, restorative yoga, sound healing, and vinyasa. Vanessa’s classes are motivational, light-hearted, and emphasize somatic connection and embracing the precious pauses.

Vanessa joined Hollyhock this summer to support strategy and operations while pursuing her MBA. She is entrenched in the wellness and social impact space as a 500-hour trained yoga teacher, Reiki healer, and long-time activist focused on racial equity and climate justice. Prior to this role, she worked in the climate and regenerative agriculture space and has spent years building community through wellness programs and systems change initiatives. Her work bridges strategic thinking with embodied practice, and she is honored to contribute to Hollyhock’s mission of cultivating a more just, regenerative, and loving world.