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About Me 
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"Peace comes from within. Do not seek it without." — Buddha

Welcome! I'm Vanessa, and I'm so glad you found your way here.
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My Journey to Compass Rose
 
If you had told me a year ago where I'd be today—teaching yoga, practicing reiki, creating guided meditations—I'm not sure I would have believed you. But here's what I've learned: sometimes our greatest struggles become the doorway to our most authentic life.
 
This past year has been one of profound healing and transformation. After years of struggling with mental health, and receiving a diagnosis of chronic illness that turned my world upside down, I found myself at a crossroads. I could continue pushing through, ignoring what my body and mind were trying to tell me, or I could finally stop and listen.
I chose to listen.
 
The Turning Point
 
My chronic illness diagnosis didn't just change my body—it changed everything. Suddenly, the way I had been moving through the world—always rushing, always pushing, always putting my own needs last—was no longer sustainable. My body was demanding that I pay attention.
 
I had to completely reimagine how I nourished myself, how I moved, how I rested. But more than that, I had to understand that my body, mind, and soul weren't separate entities I could compartmentalize. They were intimately connected, constantly in conversation with each other. When one suffered, they all suffered. When one healed, they all healed.
 
This realization opened a door I didn't even know was there.
 
Discovering the Practice
 
I began with meditation—not because I thought it would "fix" me, but because I desperately needed moments of peace in the chaos of managing chronic illness and mental health struggles. Those first meditations were messy. My mind raced. My body fidgeted. But I kept showing up.
 
Slowly, something shifted. In those quiet moments, I began to hear myself again—not the anxious voice or the critical voice, but a deeper, wiser voice that had been there all along, waiting for me to listen.
 
Meditation led me to reiki, and reiki led me to restorative yoga. Each practice built upon the last, creating a holistic approach to healing that honored all of me—not just the parts that were "broken," but the parts that were incredibly resilient, strong, and whole.
 
The Healing
 
I won't tell you that these practices cured everything. Chronic illness is still part of my life. Mental health is still something I actively tend to. But what has changed is my relationship to these challenges.
 
Through meditation, I've learned to observe my thoughts without being consumed by them. Through reiki, I've learned to trust my body's innate ability to heal and regulate. Through restorative yoga, I've learned that rest is not weakness—it's where true strength is cultivated.
 
These practices have given me something I didn't think was possible: the ability to live with peace and presence, even in the midst of difficulty. They've shown me that healing isn't about becoming someone else—it's about coming home to yourself.
 
Why Compass Rose
 
I named this space Compass Rose because that's what these practices have been for me—a way to find my true north when everything else felt disorienting and uncertain. When chronic illness made me feel lost in my own body. When mental health struggles made me feel disconnected from myself. These practices were my compass, always pointing me back home.
 
Now, I want to share that with you.
 
Compass Rose Yoga & Wellness exists because I know what it's like to struggle. I know what it's like to feel broken, exhausted, and disconnected. I also know what it's like to discover that even in our darkest moments, there is a path forward—not through pushing harder or being "better," but through softening, listening, and honoring exactly where we are.
 
My Approach
 
Everything I offer—whether it's a restorative yoga session, a reiki healing, or a guided meditation—comes from lived experience. I don't teach from a place of having it all figured out. I teach from a place of: this helped me, and it might help you too.
 
My approach is gentle, accessible, and rooted in the understanding that wellness isn't about perfection. It's about presence. It's about learning to be kind to yourself, especially when things are hard. It's about understanding that your body, mind, and soul are not separate—they're deeply connected, and they deserve to be honored as a whole.
 
Whether you're navigating chronic illness, struggling with mental health, feeling stressed and overwhelmed, or simply seeking more peace in your life—you belong here. There's no prerequisite for wellness. You don't need to be flexible, experienced, or "good at" meditation. You just need to show up as you are.
 
An Invitation
 
If any part of my story resonates with you, I invite you to explore what Compass Rose has to offer. Try a meditation. Book a reiki session. Join a restorative yoga class. See what speaks to you.
 
Healing is not linear. Transformation is not always comfortable. But I promise you this: the journey back to yourself is worth every step.
 
I'm here to walk alongside you, offering the tools and practices that helped me find my way home. May they help guide you to yours.
 
With peace and presence,
Vanessa ✨
 
Ready to begin your own journey? Explore our offerings or reach out to connect. I'd be honored to support you.
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