In this thoughtful and deeply embodied conversation, Stephanie Romero sits down with meditation teacher, somatic psychotherapist, and Dharma practitioner Gavrila Abramson to explore the intersections of Buddhism, trauma-sensitive practice, embodiment, and healing. Gavrila shares her personal journey from burnout and depression while working as an engineer in New York to discovering meditation and spiritual practice in an ashram in the Israeli desert—a turning point that transformed the direction of her life.

Together, Stephanie and Gavrila unpack how many people come to the Dharma through suffering, and how Buddhist teachings can offer not only insight into human pain, but compassionate pathways toward liberation. The conversation dives into trauma-informed meditation, the importance of choice and safety in practice, and the ways modern mindfulness often overlooks the body, ethics, and relational aspects of the Buddha’s original teachings.

They also discuss patriarchy in Buddhist communities, the need for diverse voices in spiritual spaces, and the importance of finding teachers and practices that resonate with one’s lived experience. Gavrila reflects on her evolving work around “Buddhism Beyond Patriarchy,” the healing power of chanting and music, and her philosophy of “Whole Complete Perfect”—a practice of radical acceptance rooted in compassion rather than self-improvement.

This episode is a rich exploration of embodied spirituality, nervous system healing, authenticity, and what it means to belong fully within a liberative path.

Topics include:

• Trauma-sensitive mindfulness and meditation
• Somatic psychotherapy and embodiment
• Buddhism beyond patriarchy
• Healing through chanting and sacred music
• The Four Foundations of Mindfulness
• Ethics, non-harming, and engaged Buddhism
• Perfectionism, self-acceptance, and wholeness
• Finding teachers and practices that truly nourish

Recommended resources mentioned in the episode:

• The First Free Women by Matt Weingast
• Deepa Ma: The Life and Legacy of a Buddhist Master by Amy Schmidt
• Listening to the Heart: A Contemplative Journey to Engaged Buddhism by Kittisaro and Thanissara
• Teachings from Thich Nhat Hanh, Jack Kornfield, and Shunryu Suzuki

Learn More at www.awakencollaborative.com

Music: Weather Any Storm by Cody Francis and Forever and A Day by Kim Aspen (canva.com)

Produced by Say Some Thing Studios, a creative media division of Elevate 1 Consulting.

The Awaken Collaborative supports Awaken Pittsburgh!

Awaken Pittsburgh, a 501c3 non-profit organization, relies on the generosity of our community to achieve our mission of fostering well-being, empathy, and compassion for all. Your support helps mindfulness practitioners reach individuals across the Greater Pittsburgh Area through evidence-based programs, activities, and events. Give Today! www.awakenpittsburgh.org/support

Music: "Chill Mode" by Audiobinger from the free music archive. This work is openly licensed via CC BY 4.0.

In this conversation, Stephanie Romero speaks with Allie Greene about the healing power of mindfulness, somatic therapy, and coming home to the body. Allie shares how her background as a professional dancer, along with her own experience with anxiety and disconnection, led her toward body-based practices that help people regulate their nervous systems and reconnect with themselves. Together, they explore how trauma can show up as busyness, shutdown, disembodiment, or discomfort with stillness, and why meditation and movement are not one-size-fits-all practices. The conversation also broadens into the cultural and collective dimensions of healing, naming somatics as a path toward right relationship with ourselves, others, the earth, and the larger work of liberation.

Resources:

• The Politics of Trauma, Staci Haines
• Lisa Clark Body-Mind Centering
• Body-Mind Centering
• Alexander Technique
• Feldenkrais Method
• Otto Scharmer's Theory U
• Arayana Hayashi's Social Presencing Theater

Learn More at www.awakencollaborative.com

Music: Weather Any Storm by Cody Francis and Forever and A Day by Kim Aspen (canva.com)

Produced by Say Some Thing Studios, a creative media division of Elevate 1 Consulting.

The Awaken Collaborative supports Awaken Pittsburgh!

Awaken Pittsburgh, a 501c3 non-profit organization, relies on the generosity of our community to achieve our mission of fostering well-being, empathy, and compassion for all. Your support helps mindfulness practitioners reach individuals across the Greater Pittsburgh Area through evidence-based programs, activities, and events. Give Today! www.awakenpittsburgh.org/support

Music: "Chill Mode" by Audiobinger from the free music archive. This work is openly licensed via CC BY 4.0.

Often when I sit to meditate, it is the only time that I take a moment to notice what I am holding in my body -- and many times that means tension. We try to tell our minds to relax, but the body is still holding onto the stress of the day.

Sometimes, we can't just think ourselves into calmness—we have to show our body the way.

In today’s episode, we’re practicing Tensing and Relaxing. This is a physical practice where we intentionally create a small amount of tension in a muscle group and then—very consciously—let it go. It’s a way of speaking the body’s language to signal that it is finally safe to exhale.

If you’ve been feeling restless or "jittery" lately, this practice is a wonderful way to discharge that extra energy so you can find a bit more internal quiet.

Learn More at www.awakencollaborative.com

Music: Weather Any Storm by Cody Francis and Forever and A Day by Kim Aspen (canva.com)

Produced by Say Some Thing Studios, a creative media division of Elevate 1 Consulting.

The Awaken Collaborative supports Awaken Pittsburgh!

Awaken Pittsburgh, a 501c3 non-profit organization, relies on the generosity of our community to achieve our mission of fostering well-being, empathy, and compassion for all. Your support helps mindfulness practitioners reach individuals across the Greater Pittsburgh Area through evidence-based programs, activities, and events. Give Today! www.awakenpittsburgh.org/support

Music: "Chill Mode" by Audiobinger from the free music archive. This work is openly licensed via CC BY 4.0.

This guided Six Anchors meditation invites listeners into a steady, grounding practice that gently moves attention through breath, body, sound, thoughts, emotions, and open awareness. Designed to cultivate presence and reduce stress, the practice offers a simple yet powerful framework for reconnecting with yourself in the midst of daily demands. Whether you are new to mindfulness or deepening your practice, this episode creates space to pause, reset, and return with greater clarity and calm.

Learn More at www.awakencollaborative.com

Music: Weather Any Storm by Cody Francis and Forever and A Day by Kim Aspen (canva.com)

Produced by Say Some Thing Studios, a creative media division of Elevate 1 Consulting.

The Awaken Collaborative supports Awaken Pittsburgh!

Awaken Pittsburgh, a 501c3 non-profit organization, relies on the generosity of our community to achieve our mission of fostering well-being, empathy, and compassion for all. Your support helps mindfulness practitioners reach individuals across the Greater Pittsburgh Area through evidence-based programs, activities, and events. Give Today! www.awakenpittsburgh.org/support

Music: "Chill Mode" by Audiobinger from the free music archive. This work is openly licensed via CC BY 4.0.

In this episode of The Ripple Effect of Wellbeing in Work and Life, Dr. Stephanie Romero sits down with educator and mindfulness practitioner Tina Raspanti to explore how a non-linear journey through mindfulness can transform both personal life and professional practice. Tina shares how integrating mindfulness and positive psychology into education creates more compassionate, connected classroom environments and supports both student and teacher wellbeing. The conversation also highlights the power of presence, emotional regulation, and the “next play” mindset in navigating challenges in school, sports, and life. Ultimately, this episode is a reminder that mindfulness is not just something we practice, but how we live.

Learn More at www.awakencollaborative.com

Music: Weather Any Storm by Cody Francis and Forever and A Day by Kim Aspen (canva.com)

Produced by Say Some Thing Studios, a creative media division of Elevate 1 Consulting.

The Awaken Collaborative supports Awaken Pittsburgh!

Awaken Pittsburgh, a 501c3 non-profit organization, relies on the generosity of our community to achieve our mission of fostering well-being, empathy, and compassion for all. Your support helps mindfulness practitioners reach individuals across the Greater Pittsburgh Area through evidence-based programs, activities, and events. Give Today! www.awakenpittsburgh.org/support

Music: "Chill Mode" by Audiobinger from the free music archive. This work is openly licensed via CC BY 4.0.

In this guided practice, Stephanie Romero invites listeners into a gentle, accessible approach to mindfulness rooted in awareness, compassion, and self-acceptance. Rather than striving for perfection, this episode encourages participants to simply notice what is present in their bodies and minds, using a steady anchor such as the breath or physical sensations to remain grounded.

Through the practice of naming thoughts, emotions, and sensations without judgment, listeners learn how to relate differently to their inner experiences. Instead of pushing discomfort away, the invitation is to acknowledge it, give it space, and allow it to pass, much like leaves floating down a stream.

This episode also offers practical tools for moments when emotions feel overwhelming, reminding listeners that they can pause, reorient, and return to a place of steadiness. The practice closes with an important reminder: simply showing up to notice what is happening within us is an act of care and healing in itself.

A calming and supportive experience, this episode serves as both a reset for the present moment and a skill-building opportunity for navigating stress, emotion, and attention in everyday life.

Learn More at www.awakencollaborative.com

Music: Weather Any Storm by Cody Francis and Forever and A Day by Kim Aspen (canva.com)

Produced by Say Some Thing Studios, a creative media division of Elevate 1 Consulting.

The Awaken Collaborative supports Awaken Pittsburgh!

Awaken Pittsburgh, a 501c3 non-profit organization, relies on the generosity of our community to achieve our mission of fostering well-being, empathy, and compassion for all. Your support helps mindfulness practitioners reach individuals across the Greater Pittsburgh Area through evidence-based programs, activities, and events. Give Today! www.awakenpittsburgh.org/support

Music: "Chill Mode" by Audiobinger from the free music archive. This work is openly licensed via CC BY 4.0.

In this thoughtful episode of The Ripple Effect of Wellbeing in Work and Life, Stephanie Romero sits down with Fitzhugh Shaw to explore the deep connections between mindfulness, justice, ancestry, and everyday human growth. Their conversation traces Fitzhugh’s spiritual journey through Christianity and Buddhism, his work in food justice, and the ways meditation can help us build the courage, capacity, and self-awareness needed to care for ourselves, our communities, and the world around us.

Learn More at www.awakencollaborative.com

Music: Weather Any Storm by Cody Francis and Forever and A Day by Kim Aspen (canva.com)

Produced by Say Some Thing Studios, a creative media division of Elevate 1 Consulting.

The Awaken Collaborative supports Awaken Pittsburgh!

Awaken Pittsburgh, a 501c3 non-profit organization, relies on the generosity of our community to achieve our mission of fostering well-being, empathy, and compassion for all. Your support helps mindfulness practitioners reach individuals across the Greater Pittsburgh Area through evidence-based programs, activities, and events. Give Today! www.awakenpittsburgh.org/support

Music: "Chill Mode" by Audiobinger from the free music archive. This work is openly licensed via CC BY 4.0.

In this episode, Dr. Stephanie Romero talks with Janice Martellucci of Peace in Schools about her personal journey into mindfulness, the healing power of contemplative practice, and what it means to build more human-centered, compassionate school communities. Together, they explore how mindfulness can move beyond crisis response to become a universal part of education, helping teens and educators cultivate resilience, belonging, and emotional well-being. Janice also shares how leading with both softness and strength has shaped her work, her leadership, and her vision for transforming schools.

Learn More at www.awakencollaborative.com

Music: Weather Any Storm by Cody Francis and Forever and A Day by Kim Aspen (canva.com)

Produced by Say Some Thing Studios, a creative media division of Elevate 1 Consulting.

The Awaken Collaborative supports Awaken Pittsburgh!

Awaken Pittsburgh, a 501c3 non-profit organization, relies on the generosity of our community to achieve our mission of fostering well-being, empathy, and compassion for all. Your support helps mindfulness practitioners reach individuals across the Greater Pittsburgh Area through evidence-based programs, activities, and events. Give Today! www.awakenpittsburgh.org/support

Music: "Chill Mode" by Audiobinger from the free music archive. This work is openly licensed via CC BY 4.0.