March 2021:
Mariana Castañeda-Lopez
Movement is a medicine that can help us get free. Whether through dance, exercise, or somatics, being with my body helps me to explore and connect more deeply with myself. It’s been a practice of learning to claim space and creative power that oppression tries to deny. I found somatic movement about 14 years ago and have continued learning within the field ever since. It's been so powerful for my personal transformation that I feel called to guide folks through somatic experiences to deepen their capacity to listen to & learn from their own bodies, because liberation lies in our healing.
Given my identities and life experiences, I understand personally the ways oppressive forces work to prevent immigrant communities, women + femmes, and people of color from accessing basic resources to live full lives. Anti-oppression is a part of my life in the personal work I do to be an embodied example of healing internalized racism, capitalism, sexism and more. My practice centers anti-oppression by making services accessible to Spanish speakers, low income folks, all genders and to different physical abilities. I believe that through movement practice, each of us can develop more healthy and loving relationships to our bodies.
direct support: Paypal and Zelle (marianalocasta (at) gmail), Venmo (@Mariana-Castaneda-Lopez)
Mariana is a trained dancer with a BA in dance and philosophy from Goucher College, concentrations in dance science and dance movement therapy. Her passion for bringing the physical and mental realms of life together naturally led her to Pilates. She is certified in Pilates Apparatus, Pilates Mat and Pilates-based strength training. Mariana is also a Licensed Massage Therapist, an attuned practitioner of reiki levels 1 & 2.
With a strong appetite for growth and learning, Mariana loves to work in collaboration, listening to client’s needs, encouraging communication throughout the session. She aims to teach awareness and understanding to develop agency, leaving clients empowered with new found strength, abilities and knowledge of their bodies. As an instructor, she believes that through transforming your relationship to your body, you can transform your life. She is excited about helping people re-claim power over their lives through re-claiming power they hold in their bodies.
