About Us
Reconnect, Regenerate, Relax.
Purple Shore Wellness was born out of a desire to create a safe, nourishing and accessible group immersion in nature. We are a collective of movement and rhythm teachers, entrepreneurs and nature lovers. Purple Shore was seeded during the COVID pandemic as a low-risk, outdoor center for community wellness. Our mission is to facilitate experiences that regulate and anchor the body, and nourish the mind and spirit through movement, rhythm, nature and community. A core part of our mission is also to make these practices accessible to all, and we partner with other organizations to provide our wellness retreats to underserved and at-risk groups. Purple Shore welcomes all ages, backgrounds, shapes, genders, and abilities and is a judgment -free space.
Our Members:
Founder/ Co-facilitator- Carmen Casado
Yoga and Integrative Somatic Therapist Carmen Casado founded Purple Shore with the idea of creating a safe and nourishing group environment in which to explore the healing effects of movement and rhythm while in nature and community. In addition to her work with Purple Shore she serves on the Board of Directors of the Somatic Experiencing® Trauma Institute and the Reciprocity Foundation, both of which are dedicated to supporting trauma resolution and resiliency and its accessibility.
Carmen teaches yoga and co-facilitates the retreats at Purple Shore, as well as engages the organization in strategic partnerships for wellness equity. In her private somatic therapy practice Carmen supports clients in dealing with stress and anxiety symptoms and supports clients seeking general mind-body support or embodied shifts along their life path. She uses mind-body awareness, gentle pendulation, and somatic interventions to help restore nervous system regulation.
She practiced law for over 16 years and is a member of the California and New York State Bars. Carmen is an eco-enthusiast, and is passionate about equitable and sustainable nutrition and lifestyle. She has lived in four countries, and is fluent in Spanish.
Teacher/ Co-facilitator- Yari Mander
Yari Mander is a gifted music educator with a patient, supportive, professional teaching style honed over more than 15 years working with children and adults. He is also a professional drummer who has performed onstage with Joan Baez, Gamelan X, Reverend Michael Beckwith, Agape Choir and many other artists.
His instruction is informed by Orff Schulwerk, an approach to music education emphasizing community music making, in which he is certified. He has trained with master teachers in Ghana, West Africa and amazing musicians in Brazil, Cuba and Bali. Yari’s musical travels led him to discover that rhythm is universal way to connect people, transcending culture and language.
He has taught professional workshops and facilitated rhythm events at San Francisco State University, City College of San Francisco, Oakland Unified School District, Association of Independent Schools, Oakland Mile Project and many more.
Yari’s mission is to facilitate joyful, active and transformational musical experiences for diverse individuals and communities. He enjoys guiding groups to greater levels of connection, confidence, unity and teamwork through making music together.
Yoga Therapist/ Co-facilitator- Rachel Jennine Goudey
Rachel is an IAYT Certified Yoga Therapist and Educator with a Doctorate in psychology. Working from an eclectic background in creative arts, dance, psychology and yoga, Rachel helps clients increase their resiliency and capacity for joy through somatic movement, breath work, reflection, and cultivating healthy life choices. Rachel began studying the human mind and emotions through the Western lens of psychology as a teen, and later through the practices of yoga as part of her own healing journey through anxiety and depression, "as a way to understand and heal myself, but more so because I wanted to offer a place for others to go to feel seen, heard, understood and held; a place I never fully felt I had until I discovered yoga."
Rachel brings years of mental health experience working with at-risk and underserved populations, integrating Eastern and Western practices to help clients move past symptom relief into true healing. Rachel's aim is to guide individuals into states of peace and trust in their life’s story through the mind and body, create community, and bring the teachings and practices of yoga into various settings around the world. She has brought holistic yoga programs into community mental health centers, hospitals, schools and leads professional trainings on Yoga for Mental Health. Rachel is the creator of Therapeutic Yoga for Trauma and PTSD, a 6 week yoga therapy support group that she runs in person and virtually throughout the year.
Rachel's classes are mixed level and meet each student where they are at while still challenging them to reach new heights of self-realization, acceptance, and strength and flexibility, both on and off of the mat. She will push you to challenge yourself while also guiding you to listen to your body and intuition, teaching from a place of authenticity, passion and playfulness. To learn more about Rachel and her work as a Yoga Therapist visit: http://www.racheljenninewellnessandyoga.com/
