My journey in mindfulness, movement & medicine.
Spring in Northern Michigan = Cherry Blossoms, Sunshine, & Green Grass.
My Favorite People. In one of our Favorite Places.
My story…
I’m a mother, doctor, yoga teacher, runner, and lover of nature. I enjoy people, books, and coffee, but the combination of any of those three things make each even better.
I like experimenting with cooking, baking with my daughter, and growing an herb garden. It’s hard for me to pass up a farm stand or a bouquet of cut flowers. Wildflowers from my son are my favorite though.
Dancing in the kitchen is the best (often to salsa music), but I also love running on one of our beautiful northern Michigan trails. I’ve learned to enjoy doing so in all four seasons.
I’m grateful to have found a profession in medicine and as a yoga teacher, where each day I partner with people to improve their health. This has inspired me to grow further!
I hope that here, with Mindfulness, Movement & Medicine, to create additional offerings that support the well-being of both individuals and communities.
Finding Yoga…
Yoga has been a lifeline for me.
It’s been an anchor when things are hectic. It’s helped me recover from stressors -whether it was a physical injury or a big life event.
It’s been a joyful practice. A deep practice. A lighthearted fun way to connect with a group. An emotional release at times. A literal breath of fresh air when needed.
I found yoga while in medical school, thinking I could use some stretching, and needing support for a running injury. I had no idea the world that would open up, the ease I would find, and the calm it would foster.
I’m grateful I had the opportunity to do Yoga Teacher Training, at Hilltop Yoga in Lansing, now over a decade ago. My own practice has grown alongside me in my journey as a doctor, mother, runner, and teacher. Initially I trained in a Power Yoga and Vinyasa studio. I now deeply appreciate Restorative and Gentle classes as well.
Currently, I’m expanding this part of my life’s work by doing a 500-Hour Advanced Teacher Training through Yoga Medicine.
I am excited to share my love for this practice and support the well-being of others.
Becoming a Doctor…
I never expected to be a physician.
Unlike many of my friends who became doctors, I didn’t dream of doing so “since I was a little kid”. I was a bookworm, exploring other places on each page I read. I loved stories, and learning about what motivated the characters in them, how they grew past challenges they faced, and their adventures along the way. I enjoyed music, drama, art, and creative writing.
I was pretty sure I wanted to work for National Geographic and see the world!
My focus in health and wellness began in college, when I majored in Nutritional Sciences at MSU. This coincided with beginning to teach Group Fitness and finding joy in movement! It felt like a natural path to enter Osteopathic Medical School, as it appealed to my interest in preventative health and a holistic approach to well-being.
I also realized that the practice of medicine is about not only science and health. Medicine is about the art of connecting to people and hearing their story. Sitting with patients, holding space, and really learning about them has been one of the most fulfilling aspects of my profession.
It’s not too far off from my interest as a young girl. (Although I still read National Geographic and want to travel more!)
I currently work in Traverse City, MI at West Front Primary Care and specialize in Family Medicine & Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine.
My next adventure? Continuing to learn. Growing my knowledge of and interest in Lifestyle Medicine. Blending my background in mindfulness, movement and medicine with my passion for wellness, to create new programming and offerings for the community I serve.
I can’t wait to continue this journey and see where it takes me.
In Health,
~ Tina Maria
