My Story

Hi there! I'm Terra! Thank you for being here.  If you've made it to my website, there's a good chance at least one area of your life could use some extra love and support. Maybe you know what needs to shift, but it feels so hard to move towards that goal alone and find the motivation to prioritize yourself given your busy schedule. Maybe you've been told you have "mystery symptoms" and you're tired of being handed medications or treatment plans that aren't working.  

If you're anything like me, I have struggled big time with self-love and listening to my body. I spent the majority of my life not having any concept of self-care, let alone having love for myself.  The result of over 30 years of criticism for almost everything I did, said, or felt, was that I no longer knew who I was nor trusted any sense of a "gut feeling." How could I love someone I didn't know? I felt like a puppet, allowing the beliefs and expectations of others to conduct my life. I believed prioritizing my needs before my children's was a selfish act -- if I wasn't suffering in some way, I wasn't being a good mother and giving my all to my kids.  

In addition to losing my connection to my intuition, I believed doctors always knew best.  In high school, I had severe back pain that led to chronic sciatica and was diagnosed with degenerative disc disease, bulging discs, and was told I could never run again.  My doctor said the only way to ease the pain would be to receive cortisone shots into my spine. Desperate for any relief, I agreed without question. Unfortunately, the pain never fully subsided, and the next 15 years were full of heat pads, Salonpas back patches, lumbar support pillows, and absolutely no rigorous activities. I was handed bandages instead of conversations and care. Throughout all the doctor visits, my grandmother would always tell me in Korean, "Don't rely on other people to heal you. You have to do it yourself." 

In 2018, my world was shattered after the sudden and traumatic passing of my grandmother. I was completely broken and lost full control of my body and spirit. A few months after her death, I began to feel burning pain from the top of my head to the tips of my toes. After multiple scans and blood tests, the neurologists, psychiatrists, and infectious disease doctors had no diagnosis for me. Instead, they gave me medication after medication to mask the symptoms, to no avail.  I had officially arrived at my personal rock bottom.  

A grief therapist eventually diagnosed me with PTSD and major depressive disorder. Without a clear treatment plan, I was left with no choice but to take matters into my own hands. My quest for wellness began with signing up for my first yoga class and acupuncture treatment. From these two experiences, I began to learn about the powerful effects of the literal and energetic food we put into our bodies; toxic people, unhealthy home or work environments, and negative self-talk all get absorbed into our bodies on a cellular level. Through extensive whole-body work that included changes in my diet and overall mindset, I am now without any burning pain, back pain, or other symptoms. I wish I had the chance to tell my grandmother that I finally did it -- I finally woke up and healed myself just like she said I could.  Throughout this process, I've learned to prioritize whole-body wellness through simple acts of self-love. In order to be in tune with what needs attention, I've learned to stop and listen to my body's needs.  Self-love looks different for each individual, and it is a lifelong practice that I wish for everyone to incorporate into their lives. 

Many of us know what we can do to improve our health, or, at the very least, we know a quick Google search will give us some direction. What I was missing was the accountability and unbiased guidance to be able to connect to the root causes and warning signs that were being graciously offered to me by my own body. 

My intention is to be a vessel of clarity for anyone I work with, whether it be clients or students, by walking alongside them as they become more self-aware and connected to their bodies.  With a stronger understanding of how intertwined our minds, bodies, hearts, and souls are, we all have the opportunity to find our way through the physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual blockages that accumulate throughout our lives, lighting the path to wellness and a more balanced life.