Hi! I’m STEPHANIE, FOUNDER OF SRL WELL-BEING.
I’m a Chopra-certified Ayurvedic health instructor, meditation instructor and well-being coach based in sunny South Florida. You might know me as the former Deputy Director of Enterprise for Unbothered—Refinery29’s sub-brand for and by Black folx—where I oversaw health, wellness, and spirituality content. You might also know me as the host of In Case Nobody Told You—my wellness podcast aimed to ground, uplift, and empower—which premiered in January 2022. Beyond my coaching endeavors, I'm a fierce advocate for accessible wellness and the decolonization of sacred practices, and I'm deeply committed to amplifying these messages through research, insightful reporting, and educational initiatives.
I hold a B.S. in Communication from Florida International University and received my wellness certifications via Chopra’s coaching program at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition. As I deepen my own wellness journey and support others on theirs, I'm also preparing to sit for the National Board for Health and Wellness Coaching certification exam to earn my NBC-HWC designation.
My approach to well-being is comprehensive, blending Ayurveda, meditation, positive psychology, and life coaching to address all facets of life—physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual. As a queer Black practitioner committed to inclusivity, I center the needs of BIPOC and QTBIPOC communities, which are often overlooked by the wellness industry. Drawing from my experience as an editor for a prominent brand, I also specialize in assisting professionals, creatives, and changemakers in finding harmony amidst their busy lives, tailoring support to their unique journeys.
My own wellness journey began in 2018 with my Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) diagnosis. Since then, mindfulness and meditation have become my anchors, helping me navigate anxiety and show up fully for my community. Enrolling in the Chopra coaching program in 2021 introduced me to Ayurveda, sparking a quest to understand how my daily choices impact my holistic well-being. Sharing what I've learned is my way of paying it forward.
While I don’t share lineage with every practice I teach, I approach this work with respect, gratitude, and a commitment to making wellness accessible to all who seek it. Compassionate and perceptive, I consider it my life's purpose to support others on their journey to self-discovery. Thank you for allowing me to be part of your path.
My Approach
I operate as a mirror, reflecting the inherent power, wisdom, and brilliance residing within you. Rooted in the Vedic understanding that forgetting our true selves is the source of suffering, my role as an Ayurveda teacher, meditation instructor, and well-being coach is to remind you of your wholeness and unlimited potential. You are already complete—just as you are.
claim your well-being vision—Then, step into it
Whether you want to learn more about Ayurveda, build a meditation practice, or optimize your well-being through coaching, our initial conversations will be dedicated to assessing your current state of wellness, setting intentions, and paving a path forward to fit your unique needs and goals.
As you move along your journey, I’ll help you discover ways to integrate habits and practices that feel right for you. The outcome: a more grounded, clearheaded, and self-empowered version of yourself.
what is ayurveda?
Ayurveda is an alternative medicine system developed by the sages of India over 5000 years ago, and it’s known as the original lifestyle medicine. The term Ayurveda comes from two Sanskrit words: ayus, meaning “life,” and veda, meaning “knowledge” or “science.” Ayurveda is “the science of life,” and at its root, it’s a way of living that can help us claim our wellness.
A holistic healing system, Ayurveda heals through our lifestyle choices and encourages us to be an active participant in our journey toward healing.
Ayurveda can help us:
Discover and align with our inner nature
Recognize our strengths and challenges
Transmute habits and choices that don’t serve our well-being
Create balance in our daily lives
Maintain balance in the face of stress
What else?
Ayurveda is highly experiential, which means the choices you make about your food, personal relationships, sensory experiences, sleep, work, social interactions, and daily routine all effect your body. As you shift your experiences, your biology shifts, because your biology is essentially the metabolism of experience.
In Ayurveda, there’s no one-size-fits-all prescription for well-being; instead, Ayurveda teaches us to see the world as it relates to the elements—or doshas—of Vata, Pitta, and Kapha, which also represent the three mind-body types. Every health-related measure is based on an individual’s mind-body type, and according to Ayurveda, everyone is born with a mixture of these three doshas.
Determining your primary dosha is the first step toward finding your optimal state of balanced, natural health. If you’re curious about yours, I created a free dosha quiz that you can take. At the end of it, you’ll receive some tips on how to begin balancing your dosha.
what is meditation?
Meditation is a transformative practice that holds the key to unlocking inner peace, mental clarity, and overall well-being. At its core, meditation is a conscious effort to cultivate mindfulness and achieve a heightened state of awareness.
This ancient practice, rooted in various cultural and spiritual traditions, has evolved into a valuable tool for holistic wellness in today's fast-paced world. The essence of meditation lies in intentional attention to breath, mantra, or the present moment, which activates our parasympathetic nervous system.
Scientific research consistently validates meditation’s many benefits, including:
Stress reduction (by lowering cortisol levels)
Improved mental health
Improved cardiovascular health
Improved sleep
Enhanced self-awareness
In sum, this mind-body connection empowers holistic well-being. Additionally, meditation enhances focus and concentration, boosting our cognitive abilities.
My Personal Meditation Journey
My GAD diagnosis led me to embark on a path of self-discovery and healing, in which meditation played a significant role thanks to my therapist. In combination with my Ayurvedic routines, I’ve experienced the power of connecting with my breath in managing anxiety and deepening my spiritual practices.
Meditation offers an inner peace that I feel compelled to share with others navigating stress and anxiety or seeking a deeper connection with themselves. Additionally, it can be a transformative tool to navigate the intersectional challenges we face in a society where racism, homophobia, and discrimination persist.
Meditation creates a space to process emotions, build resilience, and reconnect with our joy. Through mindfulness and self-compassion, we’re able to reclaim our well-being, celebrate our identities, cultivate self-love, and navigate the world with greater emotional balance and clarity.