I was born in a small town called Kavajë in Albania, surrounded by a large family of cousins, grandparents, aunts and uncles. Albanian is my first language! 

Wanting a more expansive life, my parents made the decision to leave everything they knew behind.

They crossed the ocean, and started over with 2 small kids, 2 suitcases, and a handful of change.

I’m grateful for their courage and sacrifice so I could live a life of freedom.

I struggled with bullying throughout most of my childhood, but it peaked in middle school, where I was subject to constant ridicule, social exclusion, and even threat.

Not knowing how to make sense of this, it influenced low self-esteem, body image issues and mental health struggles including depression, self-harm, and panic attacks.

I directed my loneliness, confusion, and emotional pain into obsession over my body, trying to find a means for control, and fit the standards of beauty which I thought would finally help me be accepted and liked.

This took over my life, spiraling into a full-blown eating disorder.

What started as a routine check at the doctors turned into immediate admission into the psychiatric ward at Sick Kids Hospital - the nurses told my mom and I that just one more day in the state I was in, and I most likely would have died. I was admitted a week before Christmas.

The 2 months I spent through my in-patient eating disorder treatment was one of the hardest experiences of my life to date, and would later fuel a drive in me to create more holistic systems for recovery and healing.

Determined not to relapse after my release from the hospital, I began practicing yoga and meditation to establish a deeper connection to my body and take care of my mental and emotional health.

I started strength training a year later, falling in love with feeling strong and powerful in my body after years of trying to shrink myself down.

I started seeing how movement could be used to empower me, rather than a form of punishment.

I experienced a significant struggle with my mental health while adjusting to life at University, still struggling with the psychological after-effects of my eating disorder, as well as witnessing my family struggle with my brother's substance abuse.
‍
This led to me seeking various treatments including psychiatry, counseling, group therapy, and even trying out antidepressant medication.

I never felt like I truly got the support I need, and continued to blame myself. I was diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder, depression, bipolar, and OCD.

I let these labels define me for years.

My passion for holistic health & wellness continued to grow, and I did everything I could to take care of my well-being while in school.

Prior to graduating with a Bachelors of Kinesiology, I launched my fitness career as a group fitness instructor and personal trainer in Toronto, pouring myself into helping others develop a relationship with their bodies and fitness that stemmed from love and empowerment.

Once again, on the outside, my life looked successful, but on the inside I couldn’t shake this overwhelming anxious feeling.

I was wanting answers to questions I didn’t even have. I started to feel a strong pull to devote myself to my yoga practice in a way I haven’t before, and learn the roots of the practice from the place it originated.

My month in Dharamsala, India awakened my spirit and showed me the next direction, starting to teach yoga shortly after.

Through patterns of toxic relationships and ongoing panic attacks, I eventually asked myself “why am I feeling this way? And how can I feel better?”

This spiritual awakening prompted my personal healing work through programs, courses, and working with coaches.

A few months after I shared my journey online and found that my experiences really resonated with others - I felt a sense of community.

I launched a pay-what-you-can holistic health & fitness program during the COVID-19 pandemic to support others with their physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health during the pandemic.

I didn’t know it at the time, but this became the seed that would eventually grow into my business.

After working with my first business mentor a few months later, The next few years were a crazy ride of entrepreneurship with a lot of failures, mistakes, and confronting my shadows.

I dove deep into mentorship, and continued my education through a 9 month trauma-informed coaching certification.

Over the past few years, I transitioned to becoming a full-time entrepreneur and coach, while continuing to share my love for the healing arts as a part-time yoga instructor and holistic wellness practitioner.