Youth Program Teacher

Mariana, a certified bilingual Mindfulness Instructor for kids and teens, completed the Mindfulness and Self-Compassion Teacher Certification Program at the UC San Diego Center for Mindfulness. Additionally, she successfully underwent the Mindfulness in Schools Education Project (MiSP - .b program) Teacher Training, a UK-based initiative. This qualification empowers her to deliver the dynamic, classroom-based program to middle and high school students.

Having earned the title of Mindful Self-Compassion for Teens Trained Teacher (MSC-T), formerly known as the Making Friends with Yourself Program, Mariana draws from the extensive research of Kristin Neff, PhD, and Christopher Germer, PhD, in the realm of Self-Compassion. Furthermore, Mariana is a Level 1 MBSR (Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction Program) Trained Teacher and has successfully completed David Treleaven’s Trauma Sensitive Mindfulness course.

Since 2015, Mariana has been an integral part of the Youth and Family Programs Division at the UC San Diego Center for Mindfulness. She is also involved in teaching MSC-T and Mindfulness courses to underserved populations in Mexico and Latin America. She also serves as a simultaneous translator for Teacher Trainings and conducts Mindful and Compassionate Parenting Workshops in both English and Spanish. Fueled by a deep belief in the transformative power of Mindfulness, Mariana has dedicated herself to helping children and teens develop self-regulation, resilience, and social-emotional skills. Her commitment is evident in her pursuit of further training in the Little Flower Yoga Program.

As a global citizen with a multicultural mindset, Mariana is fluent in Spanish, English, French, Italian, and German. In her leisure time, she enjoys exploring the world and biking around the picturesque landscapes of San Diego with her husband.