Our Teachers
Ursula Möhrle
My journey of wellbeing and self-care started with meditation and mental training when I was about 20 years old. This experience enabled me to go beyond my personal limits and I became the first Swiss person to swim across the English Channel in 1988. A 20-year sports career in long-distance running, triathlon and mountaineering followed.
As a balance to sports and my office work at UNCTAD, I discovered the world of yoga about 15 years ago. To deepen my knowledge, I completed an Ayuryoga teacher training by Remo Rittiner in Zurich. Two yoga therapist trainings at the same school followed. The longer I practice yoga and the "younger" I get, I see the amazing health benefits of yoga and I am delighted to share this precious knowledge with others...
Satya Jennings
I have worked for OHCHR in the field and at Headquarters for the past 16 years and from 2018 to 2020, I was a member of the Office’s Staff Committee. In that capacity, I realized how many colleagues feel stressed, under pressure, frustrated and exhausted. This triggered some of the following questions on me: How can we, as UN staff working in a high pressure environment, remain physically and mentally healthy and balanced independently from external circumstances?
How can we remain clear, focused but also relaxed and connected to ourselves? For me personally, I found the answer in Yoga Nidra and meditation. After having completed intensive trainings to become an instructor for both techniques, I am thrilled to share Yoga Nidra and various meditation styles with colleagues. My great wish is to support participants in finding their inner strength through techniques such as deep relaxation at the physical, mental and emotional level and balancing and re-gaining of energy through meditation and Yoga Nidra. Through simple techniques, colleagues will find to a more blissful life on a daily basis. So: Come and enjoy, it’s time to exchange stress for bliss!
Jacky Woodford
I am currently working for UNHQ New York and have worked on missions in Iraq, Syria, Bosnia, Croatia, and Eritrea. I have also completed some assignments in Geneve and Manila as well as Australia and New Zealand. My studies include a M.A. Psychology; MPS Industrial and Labor Relations.
I have completed my Comprehensive Pilates training with Polestar in New York and am now completing National Pilates Certification in USA. We are trained to design programs to suit all fitness goals and office workers are certainly one of my most requested which I enjoy being an office worker for 30 years. My aim is for every client to walk away feeling better after each class than before they started. Ten or twenty minutes a day is also a fantastic option. This works!
Mara Arizaga
Mara Arizaga works is a Certified Mindfulness Teacher and has practiced meditation for over 20 years. She runs mindfulness courses for her colleagues at OHCHR and UNOG, aiming at reducing stress, improving health and keeping balance and perspective in life.
Mara holds a PhD degree in the History of Religions and Religious Anthropology at the Ecole Pratique des Hautes Etudes (Sorbonne) in Paris, in co-tutoring with the University of Bern, Switzerland. Her thesis looked at Asian meditation practices and their adaptations into the West.
Alejandra Sikora
My journey with yoga began approximately six years ago when I was a runner, exploring race trails and trekking in the mountains. Yoga gradually became a significant part of my life, starting with the experience of asanas and the benefits they brought to my body, then pranayama, and finally, the philosophy.
To deepen my understanding, I made the decision to undertake yoga teacher training and become a certified instructor. I firmly believe in the profound benefits of this practice and the positive transformations it has brought into my life, which is why I am passionate about sharing it as much as possible.
Judith De Beer-Rojas
I graduated from IDC Institut de Coaching, Switzerland with a Certified Professional Life Coach Diploma.
​
I have been an International Civil Servant for over 25yrs, I decided to become a Certified Life Coach, to fulfill my purpose to help individuals reach their full potential in life. I believe we all need a reminder sometimes of how we all have the possibility to live life intentionally and with our own unique purpose. I would like to help you find your purpose or reach a goal you set for yourself, whether that be professionally or personally.
​
“Ubuntu”, an African proverb, “I Am Because You Are”
Rhea Katsanakis
My journey as a conscious parenting coach began three years ago when my children were 2 and 4 years old. I realized how the work environment as international working parent with little to no family around can lead to parenting burnout and in turn disconnection from our children. After the conscious parenting approach completely transformed my relationship with my children, I became a certified Conscious Parenting and Life Coach to be able to also help others. I have 20 years of experience as a UN employee, public speaker, and educational facilitator in the area of disaster risk and resilience. I believe that resilience starts with ourselves and our families, only when we are resilient can we give to others.