My history...
Hi, I'm Ana Sofia Rodrigues.
Since I remember, I have always been curious about the Human Being, in his way of being and feeling. From an early age I asked myself about emotions, behaviors, thoughts, health, food ... I spent a good part of adolescence in nature with my notebooks and writings. Even today, I cherish all the little books with countless reflections and philosophies on the most varied themes.
My inner journey became deeper and more dedicated in 2001, with the study and integration of countless aspects of self-knowledge and personal development.
At that time, I still had my old profession, Client Manager - which I exercised from a very young age and for 14 years, in two renowned Banking Institutions in Portugal. During this period, I was always trying to “nourish myself” outside the profession, seeking to be more and better, participating in countless workshops, training, retreats and events within the scope of Self-Knowledge and Personal Development.
In 2003, after a few years of suffering with low back problems, I accepted the suggestion of Conventional Medicine, did the sugery and operated on for a herniated disc. At that time, I still didn't know everything I know today about this topic. I did a lot of sport and I just wanted to get back to my training. However, after the surgery I had the worst pains of my life and not even the typical conventional medication relieved me. That was how I started my search, knowledge and experience for various alternative approaches and for Non Conventional Therapies.
In 2006 I came across a critical moment in my life. The pressure, stress and also the dissatisfaction of my daily life, mostly associated with the profession, led me to a state of depression. It took me a long time to assume and accept this state, because who knows me well, knows the great flame of living energy that leads me in life. However, it was exactly this state that led me to question everything and as I usually say “doubt is the principle of knowledge”. And today I say: "blessed depression".
The recovery from this state involved retreat, therapy and also immersing in countless challenges and dreams that I avoided before with fear, such as singing and giving concerts or taking a diving course. I felt that the crucial moment was, during the most critical state, to participate in a 7-day retreat in a wonderful place, where I was accompanied and treated with Chinese Medicine and here my fascination with this ancient medicine began. Back in my routine, I changed my diet and several other things in my life. I found myself again and went back to my inner journey, integrating at this time a complementary Psychotherapy training. It was during this training that I became aware of my purpose and that all the knowledge I had acquired in these areas until then, after all, was not just for me, but should be shared.
So I embraced one of the biggest challenges of my life: the very demanding, deep and intense 5-year course in Traditional Chinese Medicine, in the after-work regime, with a clinical internship at the weekend, starting still as a Client Manager in Banking.
I said goodbye to Banking Institutions in early 2012 to finally dedicate myself wholeheartedly, to health and personal development.
Since 2001 my experience has gone through Psychotherapy, Reiki, Clown Course, Louise Hay Method, and countless other workshops and events focused on human development. Later on I added specializations in Mental and Emotional Pathologies and also in Rheumatology in Chinese Medicine and other tools such as Experiential Games, Dance Movement Therapy, Coaching, NLP, Emotional Intelligence, Multidimensional Therapy, among others.
Throughout this period, I attended many therapy sessions and participated in various therapeutic retreats, from various and different strands, from Buddhism to various other experiences of energetic and transforming practices. I consider it essential to have done this whole journey with myself, before focusing on helping others.
As clinical and professional experience progressed, it became clear what kind of therapist I wanted to be and what else I had to give to the world. Thus, in 2015, I created several workshops and retreats, in a unique model, "very mine", where I integrate a little of everything I have been learning and experiencing throughout my life, both personally and professionally.
I believe that we can be, feel and express, a little bit of the great All that we are, if we know how and when to Be that.
I love to sing and dance. I love to write. I love to communicate! I love nature and I love to travel. I love meeting people and exchanging our stories. I am very creative and I love to invent something, all the time. Thirsty for new knowledge and experiences. I love helping others. I just love being able to make someone smile on a less good day. I love to greet everyone wherever I go. I love treating everyone by their name and looking at them, watching them, smiling at them, thanking them. I love to praise. I love people.
Today, I can say that I am what I am, in all areas of my life. I live in integration in the whole that I am. I am all of this and more. In my profession, I integrate a little of these all aspects of me and I am blessed to be able to do it and be it.
I share, with those who pass me, everything I can share, to enrich and improve the lives of these people.
And I continue to learn.
And the more I take care of the other, the more I nourish myself.
And the more I teach, the more I learn.
And as much as I give, I get twice as much!