What does it mean to decolonize wellness?

In this thoughtful conversation, I sit down with Arianna Fotinakis and Vanessa Lesperance, the founders of Decolonize and Rize, to explore the decolonization, healing, and community care. They discuss how colonial mindsets shape the wellness industry, and why reconnecting with Indigenous wisdom is essential for collective healing.

They also dive into the role of nervous system work in reconciliation, the importance of community resilience, and practical ways people can engage respectfully with Indigenous knowledge. This episode invites listeners to reflect, unlearn, and reimagine what true well-being can look like, both individually and collectively.

Somatic Sisterhood Circle with Marie

The Somatic Sisterhood Circle is a weekly touch point to attune to the wisdom of your body while being held in sisterhood. Each circle includes embodiment practices and meaningful conversations. The next circle begins on April 7th. Learn more.

Reconciliation and Well-Being Cohort with Decolonize and Rize

A cohort for leaders, practitioners and change-makers who want to engage in Reconciliation with care, integrity and trust—without causing harm to others or themselves. Learn more.

Stay in Touch!

Marie on Instagram: @althaeaherbals

Ariana on Instagram: @arianafotinakis

Decolonize and Rize Website

Decolonize and Rize Linkedin

Marie's Substack: @marieembodied

Book a somatic therapy and/or herbalism session.

What does it mean when people quote Bessel van der Kolk and say "the body keeps the score"?

In this episode I sit down with guest Tess Rouse to delve into the transformative power of breathwork and the mind-body connection. Tess shares her personal journey from battling autoimmune diseases for nearly two decades to discovering breathwork. Through the breath she realized that the diseases that she'd been told were incurable were rooted in unprocessed chidhood trauma, and her willingness to breath through her emotions became her pathway to healing.

We explore how the breath can support people to awaken within their own lives by processing unfelt emotional baggage from the past, and widening people's capacity for presence, leadership, and authenticity. If you have been seeking out practical somatic tools for nervous system regulation, emotional processing, and mind-body healing - this conversation is for you.

Somatic Sisterhood Circle

The Somatic Sisterhood Circle is a weekly touch point to attune to the wisdom of your body while being held in sisterhood. Each circle includes embodiment practices and meaningful conversations. Learn more.

Stay in Touch!

Marie on Instagram: @althaeaherbals

Tess on Instagram: @trwellness_

Tess's Website

Marie's Substack: @marieembodied

Book a somatic therapy and/or herbalism session.

What once appeared stable is being uprooted, people are not okay, and we're in for a bumpy ride.

While I don't have all the answers about how we can collectively deal with a crumbling empire, I do have insights from a somatic therapy and herbalism lens about how we can tend to our bodies and nervous systems while supporting our communities during tumultuous times. In this solo episode I explore the concept of self-parenting and stepping up as the adults in our lives to set boundaries around media consumption, and nourishing ourselves through food, movement, sleep, connection, pleasure, and community.

I also discuss four herbs that I'm loving right now and how you can work with them to reduce stress, ground your nervous system, soothe anxiety, release pent up emotions, recover from burnout, and stay anchored to your heart in times of darkness.

Somatic Sisterhood Circle

The Somatic Sisterhood Circle is a weekly touch point to attune to the wisdom of your body while being held in sisterhood. Each circle includes embodiment practices and meaningful conversations. Learn more.

Stay in Touch!

Althaea Herbals on Instagram: @althaeaherbals

Marie's Substack: @marieembodied

Book a somatic therapy and/or herbalism session.