A LITTLE BIT
ABOUT OUR
STUDIO
We are a relaxing, cozy, community space to spend some time to connect with yourself and others. We promote self care, mental health, and holistic well being.
We are in a historic building from the 1920's. Expect vintage living room industrial vibes with perfect imperfections. :-)
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We are creating a mystery school-merging many traditions right here in Buffalo, NY. Our intention is create and hold an authentic space for community to connect and evolve together. For growth, healing, magic, love, and elevation. For many to gather and share their unique gifts, presence, wisdom and light…..to explore the depth of our body’s, minds and hearts. To play and remember our true nature.
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The Full Story
Hi- I’m Kristie… the founder of PRESENCE and I am psyched you are here!
​​​The pursuit of self knowledge and cultivation of Presence has very much been to focus of much of my life. Since I was young I was drawn to esoteric and sort of "weird things," and was always called to expand my perception of the world and myself. This inner "search" coupled with an insane obsession for rock climbing gave me the momentum and courage to work and travel the world for nearly two decades.
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Don’t get me wrong- I had to work throughout my 19 years of world-travel-spiritual adventuring… but working in China or Thailand or India offers a plethora of lessons in itself.
I was born and raised in Buffalo NY but caught the travel bug young and lived in a van for 2 years rock climbing and vagabonding around as I worked odd jobs. Soon my sights were set on Asia where I ended up for 10 years alternating between seasonal jobs as a rock climbing guide in China and as a Yoga Teacher in Thailand.
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In my off time I immersed myself in traditional Yoga in India, studied Tantra and Mystical Dance, did dynamic and Gurdjief meditations in Osho centers, meditated with Gurus and spiritual masters throughout India, cried and laughed and healed deeply with Breathwork facilitators in Thailand and South America, studied shamanism and drank plant medicine with Curanderos in Peru and Brazil.
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I later built a successful travel company and facilitated Yoga adventure retreats in Peru, India, Thailand, and China.
I learned from many masters and cultivated (a bit of) wisdom from very diverse experiences in a sort of spirituality without religion.
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Then Covid happened and everything changed. FOR ALL OF US….
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I came back to my roots in Buffalo to become a registered nurse.
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Now here I am back in the western world and can see how so many people are searching for more joy, mindfulness, connection, healing, growth, purpose, and community. I felt I can offer some unique perspectives on these aspects of life and some profound, authentic, and really fun practices too.
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From this space I was inspired to share grounded and practical practices, techniques, and teachings that I learned over the past 2 decades dedicated to personal growth and self knowledge.
PRESENCE was born.
Mission
Hold the space for a community to gather and grow in PRESENCE. Share grounded, meaningful practices in breathwork, mindfullness, movement arts, yoga and ecstatic dance. Further share these practices in corporate spaces, bacehlorettes, and private/small group sessions.