“Riyah is a great listener and highly intuitive. She always knows exactly what to ask to lead me down a path of growth. She is extremely accepting and inviting of all sides of me, which has helped me learn how to do the same for myself. I always feel safe being open and authentic with her. She has a gift with pacing experiences perfectly.” -Client Review

Credentials

• Founder of Descendance Somatic Dance practice and The Embodied Transformation Process

• Professional Certified Coach (PCC) and Somatic Coach since 2015

• Somatic Coach Certification Trainer since 2022

• Certified Practitioner of Positive Psychology (CAPP)

• 10+ Year Transformational Dance Movement Practitioner

• Certified Vision Quest Wilderness Guide (EBI)

Somatic Coach and Artist

I am a professional coach, (internal) wilderness guide, and artist. With over 12 years of experience supporting women one on one, in group workshops, and in the wild, I have dedicated my life to learning and sharing the art(s) of somatic reconnection so we can all live more fully alive. I believe that authentic expression leads to a more beautiful, vibrant, and sustainable world. When we know how to get our needs met and give to others, our communities thrive.

Some History

At 17, I asked the universe how to heal. I heard one word: “dance”, so I began. I spent the next 18+ years studying what my body remembered in that moment, in order to offer it to others.

My main inspiration is a decade of 5-Rhythms and Movement Based Rites of Passage training with Melissa Michaels (one of Gabrielle Roth’s first students). I’ve also been informed by somatic trauma training with Katie Asmus, Mogadao Qi Qong, Lila Yoga, plant medicine and breathwork, and guiding transformational wilderness quest work.

“I have learned how to be friends with my body and truly love who I am as a person. I also learned that even though I thought I was easy going, actually, I'm usually trying to control everything around me and inside of me. As a former perfectionist/people pleaser, I have always lived my life for others, but finally, I am getting a chance to live life at my pace, taking risks that I feel are comfortable and using my own judgement to decide if I am on the right path. It is quite liberating. I have so many new connections and friendships. My son and I have a better relationship because I am a better parent to him. I am really happy to be moving to a place of authenticity.” -Client Review

“At the beginning, working towards my goals was something I held at the superficial, without the awareness that there were deeper driving forces behind why I was living the life I had. I've since been able to do the work, with practice and coaching from Riyah, to peel back each of my own layers and find where this version of myself was all along. This has included recognizing and thanking myself for keeping me safe, learning about healthy anger, healing from trauma in a safe way at my own pace, and celebrating my true self coming out. I now look at self-work more with intrigue and excitement than with fear. The more work I do, the more I want to keep doing this work and celebrate each step of the way. It's an amazing journey where I get to truly step into who I am.” -Client Review

Have another question?