BIO
Body Mindful Wisdom
THE TRUTH WILL SET YOU FREe. ALL yOU HAVE tO DO IS LISTEN . . .
Z Marcus is the founder of Body Mindful Wisdom. Thee (preferred gender non-specific pronouns: thee, thees and thim, will be used throughout) began thees lifelong foray into mindfulness in 1997, when a series of accidents and disability returned thim to the healing path of yoga, which not only became thees refuge from pain but also from the stress of thees job as a Public Defender. Eventually, Z transitioned away from the law and, in 2000, began teaching yoga, sharing thees unique expression of practice that emphasized breathing and mindfulness of body sensations. In 2001 thee began training in Phoenix Rising Yoga Therapy (PRYT), which includes both the stretching aspects of thees work as well as the psycho-therapeutic support. Thee became a certified therapist in 2002, delving right into a private therapy practice. Later thee helped train other budding Phoenix Rising Therapists. Thee is also certified with the International Association of Yoga Therapists (at the 2000 hour level).
Also around 2002, Z began a mindful meditation practice, which soon influenced thees teaching by inviting thees students' mindfulness to also include the mind (moods, thoughts, emotions, preferences, etc.). Thee has since studied and practiced extensively in the Theravada Buddhist tradition, which has found its way into thees therapeutic work as well (thus the departure from the pure form, and name, of PRYT, which is still greatly incorporated). Thee began teaching mindfulness in 2009, which, years later, led to a weekly sitting group in San Diego. Many of the written teachings for that group are available on this site, under "Dharma."
Throughout thees career Z has developed and offered numerous body-mind based workshops as well as evolving thees therapeutic offerings to incorporate all the healing tools thee has practiced and studied over the last eighteen years.
Z considers it a great joy and privilege to help others access their deepest truths and connect to the healing wisdom within them.