Today we’d like to introduce you to Marie Belle Pérez Rivera.
Hi Marie Belle, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I was born and raised in Puerto Rico. My father joined the military when I was young and had us move every couple of years across the southeast coast of the US. This amount of relocation really affected me in ways I wasn’t aware of but have become obvious as I’ve grown older. For example, I live inside and am very aware of all the ways I am different culturally, linguistically, and intellectually.
I wanted to achieve and be successful and be good at all the things that my parents valued so I was in all kinds of sports throughout school (volleyball, basketball, softball, soccer, etc.). and eventually into my Ph.D. (Psychology). I realize I’ve been interested in culture and the human condition since I was little. I am fascinated by all the ways we are trained/ educated/ socialized to think about, express, and process our emotions. It all began studying across cultures and ethnic identities. During graduate school at Virginia Tech, I became more interested in the individual experience – my own. I graduated and started traveling the world on my own pilgrimage of understanding my own condition through yoga, mindfulness, critical thinking, and non-normative states of consciousness. I now live, travel, and teach in DC, Puerto Rico, Bali, and Latin America. I am grateful.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It hasn’t always been easy. I realize and am grateful for the many advantages of living such an expansive life of travel, self-development, inspiration, teaching, training, and adventure.
There are times walking this path that I come face to face with the drawbacks and disappointments. For example, one needs to be clear on what their priorities are. For me, I wanted freedom, a new beginning, and to explore the world and different world views. I’ve definitely enjoyed and gained so much wisdom living like this. Long-term romantic relationships were not a priority when I first began. I was on a mission to get to know myself, reprogram old patterns, process my past, and meet myself anew in different situations. Now that I have been teaching and traveling for 16 years, I am becoming more interested in finding a home that I want to invest in for years. My body and spirit are asking for me to slow down, buy land, and start really deepening my intimate relationships in a slower, more embodied and reciprocal way. I’d like to start cultivating a family- animal or human within the next year 🙂
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Marie Belle Pérez Rivera, PhD, is a powerhouse of a teacher, athlete, artist, writer, community leader, and experience maker. She is a globally recognized yoga teacher, expert in Somatic and Embodiment Practices for Reducing Stress, Developing Resilience, and Healing Trauma, and a Latina health coach and small business owner. Marie Belle is an anthropologist of movement, yoga, mindfulness, personal growth, and critical thinking throughout the United States, Caribbean, Latin America, Spain, and Bali.
I have two Bachelor’s degrees from North Carolina State University (Psychology and Communication), a Graduate Certificate (Women’s Studies), a Master’s degree (Biological and Developmental Psychology), and a Doctorate degree (Psychology: Social and Emotional Development) from Virginia Tech with a focus on Women as Active Constructors of Knowledge. I currently offer public yoga classes, workshops, teacher training, private and group coaching, and transformational retreats in Costa Rica, Puerto Rico, Canada, and Bali. I also mentor, coach and offer counsel on an individual basis.
In addition, I am the founder of Roots Love Yoga, a Latina woman-owned small business, yoga school, and creative multidisciplinary project with the purpose of uniting, educating, and inspiring teachers, artists, movers, intellectuals, healers, and world travelers. I have been featured in The Washington Post, People are Awesome, Mantra Magazine, Telemundo, Sweat Magazine, Peace Revolution, Active Life DC, and others. I currently reside in Washington, DC with my 94-pound Silver Lab, Zion Zeus.
Before we go, is there anything else you can share with us?
Thank you. Let’s connect 🙂
I curate grounding and expansive experiences for our community to learn, practice, and move with more love and receptivity. Next up: Canada in June. I will love to have you join us for this Epic Adventures + Yoga Retreat (https://mariebellepr.com/canadaretreat)
Contact Info:
- Website: https://mariebellepr.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mariebellepr/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rootsloveyoga
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mbperezrivera/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/mariebellepr
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/mariebellepr
- Other: https://www.rootsloveyoga.com/
Image Credits
Spencer Bentley (https://www.spencerbentleycreates.com/)
