Written By: ALLOVEUS COLLECTIVE
Published: March 01, 2023
Hello to ALLOVEYOU!
Let me start by expressing how grateful I am for the experiences that have prepared me to help others heal themselves.
I consistently worked towards consciously healing my own trauma, and have found some very unique ways that involve simply MOTION... simply moving the body.
On top of how freely I can express myself through movement, I do not shy away from speaking about the depths of the human experience.
Because of the tools I've acquired like Psychological Understanding, Yoga, Ecstatic Dance, and Philosophical Inquiry, I am well equipped to support others who choose to embark on the self-healing journey as well!
Here's a taste of some pivotal moments that have impacted who I am today. Enjoy learning about the Incredible Life of Aley... and I'm only just getting started!
My honest to God favourite part of my university experience was s†udying... the PHILOSOPHY OF CONSCIOUSNESS. I was an executive for the Philosophy Club for nearly my entire time at York University... and I was there for 6 years to achieve my Bachelors of Arts Honours degree in Psychology and Cognitive Science.
During my last year on campus, I finally fulfilled my dream of writing for the field of psychology!
In my position as a contributing writer for the Trauma and Mental Health Report, run out of York University by Dr. Robert Muller, I researched unique ways to heal trauma.
I had even compiled research and wrote an article about the process of psilocybin assisted psychotherapy, which was shared on PSYCHOLOGY TODAY!
Other psychological findings I passionately wrote about include the potential to heal through breathwork and restoring well-being with ecstatic dance. I also created a podcast episode about good communication with my good friend Loren Harssar.
After travelling to Northern British Columbia and living off-grid at Anuttara Ashram with a conscious community for just over a month, I completed my 200-hr Trauma Sensitive Tantra Yoga and Meditation Training.
As a certified Trauma-Sensitive Yoga and Meditation Instructor, I'm trained to help others feel safe and connected to their bodies.
People have noticed that I'm calming to be around and sensitive to the needs of others. Having a great deal of emotional intelligence and empathy allows me to connect and attune to the emotions of others with ease. I have confidence in creating connections that feel safe for others to grow and evolve.
For just over a year, I volunteered as a telephone responder for the Distress Centres of Greater Ontario. I’ve had many unique conversations with a wide variety of people that I otherwise may never have crossed paths with. I witnessed the challenging impacts of disconnection on vulnerable populations, especially the elderly, mentally ill, and physically disabled during the pandemic.
Throughout my time with the Distress Center, I gained a strong sense of patience as I listened non-judgmentally to gain a strong sense of understanding for the needs and issues of various social groups. This was during the challenging times of C0VID where many were isolated and feeling disconnected from civilization... talk about loneliness...
I am trained in suicide prevention and know how to effectively create safety plans with individuals who are at risk. I am also a certified Mental Health First Aid, prepared to support a variety of mental health issues such as substance abuse, anxiety, depression, panic attacks, and other residue of trauma including PTSD.
During the summer of 2019, I attended a soul-enriching leadership retreat called ASCEND... Although I've had several other volunteer leadership experiences that taught me how to lead, support others, and speak up for my fellow peers when necessary, it was at ASCEND that I learned how to empower students to look within themselves.
Following that experience, I promptly removed myself from Western civilization for a month as I travelled to the beautiful land of Nepal... thus starting my nomadic journey.
I explored the Nepali culture, visited various Buddhist temples, and even volunteered at a Buddhist orphanage.
I trekked Himalayan mountains and made my way to the base camp of Mt. Everest, questioning my ability to continue on my quest just about every step of the way.
Having gained a great sense of mental and physical strength, I can look back and know how deeply I pushed myself to complete that mission.
Upon my return from Nepal, I had an expanded need to be of service.
I became a Peer Mentor for the Undergraduate Psychology Student Association at York University, I learned how to confidently help individuals set goals for themselves and navigate resources that support the achievement of those goals.
For two consecutive years I volunteered as an elementary school mentor for an organization called Peace by Peace. I spent a few hours a week delivering playful lessons and facilitating educational activities for elementary school classrooms. The themes we taught surrounded important life topics such as self-esteem building, empowerment techniques, and conflict resolution skills.
I taught a couple of students in Costa Rica ESL for an international internship program during the summer of 2020, the first year of COVID... it was fully online. I was meant to go abroad for this internship, working as a counsellor in St. Kitts & Nevis, but I quickly adapted to this new opportunity, and found a lot of fulfillment connecting with the children from COTERC. I planned their lessons according to what they were interested in which kept them engaged, and I helped them to achieve their goals of learning English!
I felt especially drawn to this opportunity after I met the children at the Buddhist orphanage in Nepal just the year before, and I witnessed the great opportunity that knowing English can provide.
Outside of teaching, I was the Vice President of the Neuroscience Research Group at York University, where I co-facilitated in person and online events.
Some of the educational events I coordinated involved radical topics such as dreaming, consciousness, neurotheology, as well as the neurological effects of psychedelics.
Throughout this time, I learned how psilocybin can be an extraordinarily positive tool for helping people become aware of the root causes of addictions, mental illnesses, and overall suffering, allowing new neural pathways to inspire different ways of thinking.
In my own personal life, I hold loving space for friends and family in many ways. I honestly feel like a natural born connector. I love meeting new people and I'm such a social butterfly 🦋. I recently became a mother, so I'm constantly offering unconditional love and holding space for the learning experiences and growth of my one year old son.
I am passionate about the beautiful benefits of human connection. I'm not afraid of diving into deep rooted issues with people who are willing to look within and create positive changes for their own lives.
I have explored the topic of love in depth along my academic studies and personal research. I understand love as an energy that we can resonate with in every moment of our lives. This can lead us to feel joy, peace and ultimately experience enlightenment.
Image from Souls Space
Aligning ourselves with the vibratory state of love encourages an evolution of consciousness, allowing the human potential to be actualized.
By choosing to love yourself and life around ALLOVEUS, we accept the present moment for exactly how it is. This offers us the ability to live in harmony and in a state of FLOW : )
I invite you to experience the magic of pure being... this is available to ALLOVEUS at any given point in time.
Clearly, I am so much more than all of these credentials, however I do hope allove this information helps to paint a picture of all that I've accomplished in order to be able to serve humanity as I intend to!
If you've read this far, check out where I am now on my instagram page @peace_of_aley!