Greetings dear friend! I’m truly thankful that you found this space!!!! A WARM WELCOME!!!!!

This is a heartfelt invitation to unwind, breathe deeply, and fully embody the peace and presence of this very moment.

My name is Stefani VanDeest, and I am the owner and somatic educator at SomaSarana.

For two decades, I’ve been engaged in organizing community events here in Spokane. I’ve facilitated and coordinated weekly music, fire, and flow jams called "SpoFlow" in various parks and community spaces, and I have served as a yoga, group exercise, and somatic educator/instructor at Rare Wellness, Spokane Yoga Shala, and the YMCA.

For the past 16 years, I have focused more on mindful movement medicine aimed at our 55+ demographic, assisting with pain management at NW Pain and Spine Clinic through group somatic yoga classes. I'm enthusiastic about improving mobility, longevity, and neuroplasticity while challenging the misconceptions around aging through mindful movement, which broadens our understanding of what is achievable as we "age". My passion lies in movement methods

that promote longevity, resilience, and mobility, enabling us to pursue what we love for as long as we desire! I have choreographed and performed with professional performance arts groups like Visual Vortex and Bio Luminesce, and I have had the privilege of traveling the world as both a student and instructor in performing and somatic healing arts, including Yoga, Fire, Flow, and Hanna Somatic Education.

I’ve been fortunate to learn from some incredibly talented teachers and mentors! My adventure began with HoopDance, flow and fire arts at 17 years old. I obtained my certificate in the Hoop Revolution's HoopDance Mentor program under Anah Reichenbach (aka Hoopalicious) in 2010. My initial 200-hour yoga certification was earned with Lee "Bear" Tobin from Lila Yoga in Spokane, and I also supported my dear friend and teacher Rhea Slichter in her 200-hour yoga teacher training at Spokane Yoga Shala. While assisting Rhea, I was enrolled in a 3-year program with the Novato Institute of Somatic Research and Education. I graduated as a certified Hanna Somatic Educator under the guidance of Susan Koenig, Phil Shenk, and Eleanor Criswell Hanna in 2017. I’ve also had the great fortune to study with Malaika MaVeena Darville, earning a certification in 5 Element Dance Activation, shamanic earth wisdom in 20??, as well as with Michelle Nayeli Bouvier from Kutilaa Yoga School for Embodied Resilience, and Cristabel Zamor from Breath of Bliss in 2024, where I received certification as a "Heart Centered Leader", High Frequency Channel, and ????????. Additionally, I received my first and second Reiki Degree certifications from Cami Cote of Heart Rhythm Reiki in 2024. I am committed to being a lifelong student of all things science, spirit, and source.

Establishing a dedicated space for ongoing opportunities to grow, enhance, and support our community and individuals has been my lifelong dream. In this space, I intend to develop, expand, and offer various modalities of mindful movement medicine that I have immersed myself in as a continuous learner, along with providing somatic sound healing and the clinical practice of Hanna Somatic Education, all under one roof! This is my next exciting journey, and I hope you will join me!