Meet Laura Cerrano of Feng Shui Manhattan in Sherman Oaks

Today we’d like to introduce you to Laura Cerrano.

Laura, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
When I turned 16, my mother, Carole Provenzale, introduced me to the art and science of Feng Shui. During that time, she was studying his Holiness Grandmaster Professor Lin Yun’s Feng Shui certification program at the Metropolitan Institute of Design. She knew Feng Shui would be the perfect tool to help me gain greater insight on how to perceive my adoption from Colombia and keep me centered during my teenage years.

As time progressed, I apprenticed with my mother seeing first-hand the miraculous transformations in the lives of her clients. In 2000, I became certified through the Proven Feng Shui School in New York. Since Feng Shui requires a range of studies and applied skills, I continued attending workshops, lectures and classes that covered various healing modalities while providing on-site consultations. By learning and teaching Feng Shui, the practice enabled me to forecast solutions during challenging scenarios in life from a young age which has carried over into adulthood.

One project in particular that still captures my heart today is the Viana Hotel & Spa located in Westbury, New York. My mother and I collaborated on this major hospitality development and it has been recorded as the first building on Long Island that is fully Feng Shui-ied and LEED certified. The memory is bittersweet because Carole never saw the completion of this hotel. She passed away in 2010 before the grand opening in 2011.

At age 26, I was left to run the consulting firm full-time and my training from SUNY New Paltz was only in Art Education and Fine Arts. Talk about a learning curve; and it had to happen fast. I researched, attended business classes and learned through first-hand experience (which was not always pleasant and sometimes costly emotionally and financially) how to re-establish and grow the company.

Since that time, Feng Shui Manhattan has expanded beyond New York establishing a second office in California while also consulting with national and international clientele. The company has been featured in highly respected publications and TV networks such as Bravo’s “Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen,” PBS, CBC Television and The New York Times. I have provided in-depth consultations with residential establishments, small businesses, real estate developers, public schools, Fortune 500 companies and healing facilities.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
At age 26, the passing of my mother literally broke my heart and before I could fully focus on nurturing Feng Shui Manhattan, I had to work on healing myself before turning my attention to the business. During this two-year healing period, I felt a stagnation in my consultations and lectures. This is not a negative reflection — it’s simply part of life. In fact, experiencing that stagnation and grieving the loss of my mother allowed for some of my greatest life lessons.

My lack of training in business also took a toll on the growth rate of the company. With persistence, dedication, passion and an open mindset to creative criticism, I was able to redefine and reformat the presence of this company.

Toward the end of 2012, my personal and professional life took off in a more positive direction. As shared, I had to quickly learn and put into practice a more business-oriented mindset. Even today, I remain open and receptive to new ideas and methods to explore so I can help my clients learn and succeed.

Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Feng Shui Manhattan – what should we know?
We provide bi-coastal remote and on-site Feng Shui consultations, seminars, workshops and classes in New York and California. In addition, I am a resident teacher at the Metropolitan Institute of Design in Syosset, New York. I am especially proud of this position because my mother graduated from this Feng Shui school in 1997. This is a beautiful example of coming full circle.

I specialize in blending multi-dimensional healing modalities with advanced Ba-gua Map Readings, The Five Elements, Bön Buddhist Tradition, Shamanism, Mystery School, Environmental Psychology and Emotional Intelligence. The integrated collaboration of these various healing modalities creates a complementary healing felt on all four levels (physical, mental, emotional and spiritual). I’m in the midst of learning and experiencing sound healing and leading scientific research that explores the physical and sociological benefits of Feng Shui.

Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
I make it a point every year to upgrade my knowledge on various topics that may associate with Feng Shui or not. My mentors have come and gone and during our interaction, amazing insights into various branches of the metaphysics have emerged. Emotional intelligence, meditation, sound healing, Reiki, indigenous talk therapy and mystery school are a few of the topics covered. Within my own life, that information is put practice. In short, new perspectives are developed, which means more options to share in how clients could resolve challenges in their lives.

From time to time, I’ll also tap into unlikely sources by working and conducting interviews with skeptics. This is not a means to challenge each other. It provides honest and valuable insight into how our overall Feng Shui community could possibly do better in finding ways to teach and translate Feng Shui to the public.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.FengShuiManhattan.com
• Phone: 646.397.0440
• Email: Laura@FengShuiManhattan.com
• Instagram: http://instagram.com/fengshuibylauracerrano
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FengShuiManhattanLongIsland/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/NYCFengShui
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/feng-shui-manhattan-long-island-new-york

Image Credit:
Bedroom photo, Feng Shui Manhattan, Inc
Vista Building Developers During Feng Shui Groundbreaking Ceremony photo by Donna Dotan Photography Inc.
Laura Cerrano Working with Students in Studio City California Photo by Feng Shui Manhattan, Inc
Laura Cerrano with Carole Provenzale of Feng Shui Manhattan photo credit by Feng Shui Manhattan, Inc
Lobby of Viana Hotel and Spa photo credit by Viana Hotel & Spa

Getting in touch: VoyageLA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.