Gina Barrett, BS, MIA, E-RYT, C-AYT (she/her), author, Phoenix Rising Yoga Therapist, and Founder and Acting Director of Casa de Paz SLV, offers equine therapy, private sessions, sacred unions ceremonies and retreats in Crestone, Colorado and Conway, Massachussetts (June to Sept.). Individuals of all ages and sexual orientations are drawn to Gina's authentic and playful style, as well as her ability to assist individuals and couples with a wide range of trauma related, relationship and sexual health concerns. Participants feel at ease within the safe and sacred container she creates. Gina has been practicing healing arts for 25 years and is the author of Lighter: Living Tantra and the 2nd Edition Connection Post Pandemic..

Gina shares a tantra yoga, shamanic, taoist and chinese medicine path, which is informed by her spiritual practice.  As a Phoenix Rising Yoga Therapist, she creates a safe container for physical and emotional holistic healing.

Gina has assisted individuals with a variety of mental health conditions from anxiety, depression, addiction, ptsd and trauma, as well as injuries, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, cancer, arthritis, pre- and post-natal, peri-menopause, vertigo, multiple sclerosis, post polio and other structural conditions, paralysis, traumatic brain injury, as well as those experiencing sexual concerns and challenges. She is currently using her rescue haflinger painted ponies, Molly and Darling, to offer equine therapy for mental health to the general public and new immigrants.

Gina spent her earlier years working in the environmental and social justice fields.  Maintaining basic Spanish fluency and holding a graduate degree in International Administration, Gina has lived in and shared her holistic health & consultant services in marginalized rural or remote communities in the U.S., Central America and Jamaica for many years. This is where she gained valuable life experience in multicultural sensitivity and the basic needs of BIPOC and rural communities.

She is currently very active in providing respite and holistic trauma support for asylum seekers, new immigrants and refugees world wide. She receive the International Assoc. for Yoga Therapists and The Give Back Yoga Foundation 2022 Seva Award for Trauma Informed Yoga For Asylum Seekers and New Immigrants at the Texas /Mexico Border. She was also one of three 2021 finalists for this award.

Gina has spent her lifetime studying with the Masters of tantra yoga, qigong, chinese medicine, women's health, spiritual counseling, therapeutic movement, women’s empowerment, yoga therapy, meditation, sacred sexuality, shamanism, energy healing, nutrition, conscious communication and natural horsemanship.  As a child, she was inspired by her Grandmother, who provided counseling and deeply loving support for the family. Gina learned so much by receiving this ongoing support from her throughout her childhood.

During her many years of spiritual practice, Gina has been gifted clairvoyance and energy healing techniques. She is able to assist a wide range of clients in clearing away what is masking their true calling and ability to access their Highest potential. Her own journey with healing fibromyalgia and breast cancer has informed her work to be able to assist many to live healthy, joyful & energized lives. She also has personal experience recovering from the long term effects of alcoholism and emotional abuse within her home.

Gina is deeply committed to transmitting her wisdom about tantra, yoga, qigong, chinese medicine, women's health, shamanism, sacred sexuality, social justice, natural horsemanship & emotional healing, so that all live fulfilling and satisfying lives.

CV

2016 – Present Author, Trauma Informed Yoga Therapist, Equine Therapy and Volunteer Acting Director of Casa de Paz SLV in Crestone, CO and Conway, Mass.

Author of Lighter: Living Tantra and the 2nd edition Connection Post Pandemic, private equine therapy, Phoenix Rising Yoga Therapy, Therapeutic Yoga, Qigong, Spiritual Counseling & Mentoring, Workshops and Retreats. Casa de Paz SLV is a nonprofit that Gina created in January 2019 to provide holistic trauma support to asylum seekers, new immigrants and refugees world wide. To learn more visit www.casadepazslv.org

Winter 2019 Phoenix Rising Yoga Therapy Groups and Private Sessions at Laguna Madre Yoga, Meditation and Dance Center, South Padre Island, Texas

2007 – 2016 Sacred Sexuality Educator & Qigong Educator (World Wide Workshops and Retreats) and Private Healing Arts Practice in Portland, Maine
Author of Lighter: Living Tantra, Tantra to Love™ Lifestyle Immersion & 60 hr. Educator Certification Program, Private Sacred Sexuality Instruction for Couples, Phoenix Rising Yoga Therapy, Therapeutic Yoga, Qigong, Spiritual Counseling & Mentoring, Workshops and Retreats.

Winters 2012 – 16  Yoga & Qigong Instructor and Yoga Therapist, Jakes Resort & Spa, Jamaica

Winter 2006 Yoga Business Consultant, Bocas Yoga, Bocas del Toro, Panama
Assisted in start up of new yoga studio (Bocas Yoga), while owner was away for a month. Provided life coaching to owner, facilitated studio set up & created first teaching schedule.

Winter 2006 Yoga Instructor, La Fluente del Futuro, Bocas del Toro, Panama
Provided weekly yoga classes for families in indigenous village, assisted Directors with organizational development & with English & art classes.

2005 – 2007 Private Practice & Yoga Instructor, Northampton, MA area
Same private services offered above. Taught at Shelburne Falls Yoga & Northampton Athletic Club (4 – 5 classes/week)

2004 – 2005 Therapeutic Yoga Instructor & Yoga Therapist, Boulder BodyWorks, Boulder, CO
Offered 5 classes per week including mixed level hatha, prenatal, Baby & me & restorative. Provided yoga therapy sessions to clients receiving physical rehab treatment at this clinic.

2003 – 2004 Yoga Instructor, Good Karma Garage, Nederland, CO
3 mixed level hatha classes per week

2002 – 2004 Private Practice, Nederland, CO
Life Coaching, Spiritual Counseling & Yoga Therapy

Winter 2003 (3 mos) Yoga Instructor, Bosque Encantada, Nosara Costa Rica
Offered my own daily a.m. mixed level hatha classes in this outdoor studio.

1999 – 2003 Owner & Director of Gaia Center for Transformational Healing, Conway, MA
Private Practice of Life Coaching, Spiritual Counseling and Yoga Therapy, offered daily mixed level hatha classes, hosted and facilitated a wide range of holistic health workshops & retreats, including priestess path apprenticeship, moon circles, sweat lodges, kirtan, JourneyDance & breathwork.

Festivals & Conferences

2023 Symposium for Yoga Therapy and Research, Hyatt Regency Hotel, Reston, VA

Cofacilitated a 3.5 hr workshop on The New Immigration Crisis: Creating Trauma Informed Yoga Programs for Asylum Seekers, Refugees and New Immigrants

2017 Festival of the Muses:  A Goddess Gathering at Joyful Journey Hot Springs, Moffatt, CO

Facilated a workshop called Women's Body Temple:  Embodying the Divine Feminine

January 2019 Cofacilitated a training demonstrating the use of Phoenix Rising Yoga Therapy for Mental Health at the Tip of Texas Counselors Conference, Hilton Garden Inn, South Padre Island, Texas

2017 Qigong, Taichi and Eastern Medicine Conference at Eastover, Lenox, MA

Shared workshops on Energy Balance, Connection and Sacred Sexuality

2016 Phoenix Rising Yoga Therapy Practitioners Conference in Bristol, VT

Shared Transforming Sex Abuse with Phoenix Rising Yoga Therapy workshop

2016 Qigong, Taichi and Eastern Medicine Conference at Eastover, Lenox, MA
Taught opening qigong class where I focused on building community and creating connection.

2013  Burdock Gathering, Pittson, Maine

Intro to Tantra to Love™ & Qigong workshops

2008 – 2012 Dance New England Dance Camp, Poland, Maine and Ossippee, NH

Conducted Therapeutic Yoga Classes & gave private sessions

2008 & 2009 SpiritFire, secret location, NY

Conducted daily yoga classes & Phoenix Rising Yoga Therapy Workshop, as well as offered private sessions

2008 Belly & Womb Conference, Shutesbury, MA

Conducted Yoga for Strengthening your Center workshop

2004 & 2005 Dreamtime, Paonia, CO

Sacred Sexuality Workshops and Trainings

Conducted yoga classes on Main Stage & Opening to the Love Tantra Workshop

cofacilitated with husband John Rene Berard, BS, MBA,CMT

Spring 2013 - Present  TantratoLove™ Lifestyle Immersion & 60 hr. Educator Certification, Portland, Maine and Crestone, CO

Spring 2014  Lighter: Living Tantra Book Tour, various locations in New England

Mar 2011 – 2014  TantratoLove™ Annual Retreat, Kripalu, Lenox, MA

Feb. 2014  TantratoLove™ Workshop Series, Afya Yoga, Kingston, Jamaica

June 2013  Sponsored Teacher Ann Carroll, PhD:  Qigong in Meditation Gardens, Brunswick, Maine

May 2013  TantratoLove™ Sacred Touch, Solstice Center,  Medway, MA

Oct. 2012 Interviewed for Ignite your Heart Transform your Relationship Telesummit, world wide

Summer 2012  Intro to TantratoLove™ Workshops, Portland, Maine

May 2012 TantratoLove™ Sacred Touch, Boston, MA

Jan. 2012  TantratoLove™ Yoga Series, Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica

Nov. 2011  Tantric Partner Yoga, Boston, MA

Oct. 2011  Tantra Yoga, Northampton, MA

Sept. 2011  Hosted Fall Tantra Gathering:  What is Tantra Anyway?, Portland, Maine

June 2011  Tantric Partner Yoga, Northampton, MA

May 2011  Tantra Yoga, Boston, MA

May 2011 Tantra Sampler, Portland, MA

Feb 2011 Intro to Tantra Practices, Virtual Yoga and Meditation Conference, World-Wide

Feb 2011 Therapeutics~ Blend of Tantra Yoga, Qi Gong and PRYT, Portland, Maine

Dec 2010 Therapeutic Yoga & Qi Yoga Series, Portland, Maine

Fall 2010 Intro to Tantra, Spiritual Horizons, Portland, Maine

2010 Karma Sutra (yoga & energy movement flows), Portland, Maine

2010 Intro to Tantra (Sacred Sexuality) , Portland, Maine

Break due to relocation back to east coast & breast cancer healing

2004 Opening to Love, Solstice Institute, Boulder, CO

2004 Opening to Love, Northampton, MA

2004 Opening to Love, Dreamtime Festival, Paonia, CO

Education & Training

2023 International Assoc. of Yoga Therapists Global Yoga Therapy Day professional development training

2021, 2022 & 2023 International Assoc. of Yoga Therapists Symposium for Yoga Therapy and Research

2020 - 21 Phoenix Rising Yoga Therapy Group Facilitator Training (8 months)

2017 International Association of Yoga Therapists Certification (C-IAYT)

2017  Qigong, Taichi & Eastern Medicine Symposium (5 days) at Eastover, Lenox, MA

2014 - Present  Private Voice & Piano Instruction with Hannah Ardenski, Empower Sound

2011 – 2020  Qigong Instruction and Mentoring with Ann Carroll, Qigong & Taiji Master who also shares Chinese Medicine & Toaist Philosophy.  Topsham, ME

2011 – 2017 Classical Pilates Instruction, Springboard Pilates, Portland, ME & Laguna Madre Yoga, Meditation & Dance, South Padre Island, TX

2016   Radiant Lotus Women's Qigong Level I & II Training

2016  Qigong, Taichi and Eastern Medicine Symposium at Eastover, Lenox, MA

Fall 2013  5 day Principle-Based Partner Yoga Assisting Training with Elysabeth Williamson

2000 – 2010  Tantra & Spiritual Counseling Mentoring with Sylvia Brallier

1997 – 2007  Tantra Yoga Instruction Mentoring, with Satya Gita Aune

2009 - Present  Phoenix Rising Yoga Therapy Recertification

2006 – 2009  Couples Counseling & Spiritual Counseling Mentoring with Gabrielli Lachiara

2004 – 2007  Sangha Member of Eldorado Mtn. Ashram, Boulder, CO (“White” Tantra Yoga & Meditation practiced here)

2005  Tantric Massage with Steve and Lokita Carter

2004  Intro to Tantra with The Muirs

2004  Phoenix Rising Yoga Therapy 650 hrs., Stockbridge, MA

2003  Interdisciplinary Yoga Instructor Certification 200hrs., Nosara Institute

1998 – 1999  Priestess Path Apprenticeship with Alisa Starkweather 

1996 Master in International Administration, School for International Training, Brattleboro, VT

1987 Bachelors of Science & Certification to Teach High School Biology, UMass, Amherst

Affiliations

2017 - Present International Association of Yoga Therapists (C-IAYT)

2003 – Present Yoga Alliance

2009 – Present Phoenix Rising Yoga Therapy Practitioners Facebook Groups

Awards

2022 - Recipient of the International Association of Yoga Therapists Seva Award for Holistic Trauma Support for Asylum Seekers and New Immigrants

2021 - Finalist for the International Association of Yoga Therapists Seva Award for Holistic Trauma Support for Asylum Seekers and New Immigrants

Media

Selfcare for Mental Health: How Phoenix Rising Yoga Therapy Can Manage Day to Day Emotions During Challenging Times, Art Love Lifestyle Magazine, Fall 2021, Page 28

Bringing Harmony and Love into your Relationships, Consumer Health Digest, 2018

Learning to Live from the Heart as Center, 1440 Multiversity Blog, 2017

Let's Talk about Sex podcast interview on The Adult Chair, 2017

A Tantric and Astrological Approach to Living in Balance, Web Talk Radio Interview, 2015

Queering Tantra:  Beyond Masculine and Feminine, Decolonizing Yoga, 2015

Tantra Meditation to Expand the Love in your Life, Mind Body Green, 2015

Deepening Intimacy and Connection with Tantra, Kripalu Thrive, 2015

Author of Lighter: Living Tantra, copyright 2014, Evolve Press, Portland, Maine

Five Lifestyle Practices for Creating a Thriving Relationship, Kripalu Thrive, 2014

Prana Heals When Technology Takes Over, Elephant Journal 2010

Tantra as a Safer Sex Practice, Loving More Magazine 2007 (printed version)

The Mind Body Connection: Are You Blocking Your Pathway to Success and Fulfillment, NE Holistic 2000 +/-