Hello, my name is Mayerling Márquez and most people call me Maya.
Experiencing the benefits of working on my own self-development inspired me to focus on helping others to get rid of unnecessary stress, find clarity about their needs and make changes to increase wellbeing in their life.
My ‘personal evolution journey’ started over 20 years ago. As many people in the helping professions, my interest in learning more about all this started from wanting to improve my own reality, and let’s face it the willingness of making life changes usually comes after some struggle. Thankfully, I’ve found really good tools and people along the way that supported me.
Understanding myself better, consciously evaluating my options and being able to make important life decisions that responded to my own aspirations and needs -despite my natural inclination to please others first- are key factors to make important life adjustments and achieving my goals. In 2012, I decided to move from Venezuela to Ireland to pursue the aim of living abroad and improve my quality of life by scaping the unsafe reality I was facing living in my home country. Moving countries was a major life change with many personal challenges and opportunities. I’m happy to look back and see that I met my objective of becoming fluent in English, working abroad and travelling to other countries to experience a diversity of cultures. I also became an Irish citizen and started a family in Ireland. This life experience has helped me to rediscover and transform myself in a way, but I’m not saying you need to go far away to deepen your self-knowledge!.
I was yearning to discover what I really wanted for myself? what was my purpose in life? and how could I manifest it in my current reality? so I could feel whole!… and that brought me to study and integrate Somatic Coaching in my work, which focuses on exploring the body-mind connection to get a better understanding of ourselves and how we can coregulate and self-regulate our nervous system, heal negative beliefs and move forward creating our best possible life experience. As I grow into “my actualized versions” I notice that working with people seeking life changes is as fulfilling for me as it was experiencing my own personal growth.
In my practice I also draw knowledge from a rainbow of sources, such as life coaching, the philosophy of yoga and mindfulness to support my clients. Now have much better resources to cope with the difficulties and challenges I find on my way, which help me maintain a state of harmony. – That’s exactly what I aim to support with and as a result for you to to feel heard, accomplished, and happier!-
For many years I worked in the IT sector, and my professional experience as lecturer and facilitator, project manager, and event organizer also helped to pave the way to who I am now, adding useful resources and experience to my toolbox. This is just to say that it hasn’t been a straight path for me but more like a winding ride that stands in my life story just as evidence that the learning we get from our life challenges and changes are a really important part of our experience, that make us stronger and wiser! Having the courage to be just my real-self, knowing that is enough feels like when a butterfly comes out out its chrysalis to open up her wings and fly! yeah, I know, it might sound a bit cliché but honestly that’s the feeling of transformation: a sense of expansion, space and lightness in the body-mind and heart that feels really good!
The importance of the relationship with the body have been very present for me since many years ago. I started practicing yoga and Egyptian Oriental Dance (Bellydance) looking for ways to improve my posture, relieve back pain and reduce stress. Over time I learned that working with the body can drive significant changes in the mind too, such as improving our attitudes and behavior, as well as strengthening our capacity to listen to our intuition or inner guidance. More recently, I’ve started exploring the practice of Qigong and Tai Chi with a focus on using movement and energy to find balance and joy, be more present, and increase my overall wellbeing.
When I came across Somatic Coaching I was really excited to get into it. All I heard about it made sense to me, as it did the way of being of wonderful people which whom I did my training with. I just knew this was a way to contribute on making my life purpose coming alive.
I am determined to make a positive impact on people’s quality of life by using my knowledge, experience and creativity to wholeheartedly support others on their personal evolution, holding space for meaningful life transformations that involve mind, body and soul.
Thank you for reading my story. If you’ve got until this point, I feel now you might have an idea of who I am and I look forward to getting to know you too!
If you’d like to ask me any question don’t hesitate to reach out, I’d be delighted to get back to you.
Best and warmest wishes,
Maya.