“Peace is a journey of a thousand miles and it must be taken one step at a time.” —Lyndon B. Johnson
Hi, I’m MANDY Garcia Sopkin
Registered Nurse | Chinese Medicine | Near Death Survivor | Mother | Mindful Movement Yoga Instructor | Sound Healer | Breathwork Facilitator | Nervous System Advocate
As a modern-day nurse with a passion for ancient practices, I have deeply explored our capacity to heal through a blend of science + somatics, breath and bodywork, energetics, intention, and ritual. I believe in our capacity to heal through a holistic approach that engages the whole self, mind, body, and spirit.
Today’s fast-paced and disconnected society is immensely impacting our nervous systems, mental health illnesses are at an all-time high, and burnout is becoming the norm. Only making matters worse is the pervasive idea that pharmaceuticals are the solution to everything.
What if we were our own source of healing? What if we had the capacity to get to the root of presenting issues and deeply heal at the source, instead of masking symptoms, hiding emotions, and putting on a brave face?
As a survivor of trauma and a near-death experience, I have spent decades uncovering my own capacity to truly heal. I have discovered that, though healing is not a one-size-fits-all protocol, we have access to a vibrant spectrum of modalities that when combined have the ability to empower us to transform through our trauma, experience radical self-acceptance, and establish an unshakeable sense of peace, deep healing, and lasting change.
Transforming through trauma – From pain to purpose
“I am a near-death survivor of a violent attack when I was 14. After years of suffering from anxiety and PTSD, I was able to begin healing my nervous system. As a nurse, I am your advocate, and I have a passion for healing trauma by rewiring our nervous systems and introducing new patterns with breath, diet, mindfulness, and overall lifestyle changes.”
My personal healing journey began after surviving a violent attack and near-death experience at 14. Suffering from anxiety and PTSD for years led me to search for solutions.
In my 20s, I received a degree in communications and began studying Chinese Medicine and continuing on to study at California State University, becoming a Registered Nurse in 2017. Throughout this chapter, unresolved trauma continued to affect my life, and I was diagnosed with anxiety, heart problems, an autoimmune disease, and a nervous system illness.
In search of peace and answers, I went to live at an ashram to obtain my Yoga Alliance certification. A life-changing experience. My time at the ashram introduced me to a new way of living dedicated to the earth, stillness, community, meditation, and a holistic, plant-based diet. I gained a deep understanding of the power of lifestyle choices to change our physical, mental, and emotional experiences. It was a pivotal moment in which I connected more deeply to my heart and purpose than ever.
These years of research, self-awareness, and discovery revealed to me that my various health challenges were rooted in the trauma I had experienced, and healing that trauma at the source was the solution. I began to layer my traditional nursing background with the holistic insights I had gained, healing my nervous system through diet, lifestyle changes, energetic practices, and rituals.
Shortly after my time at the ashram, I experienced another sequence of life-changing moments. I became a mother and decided to follow my heart’s calling to share the healing practices I had discovered, launching The Modern Nurse.
Becoming a mother led to another about of OCD and anxiety, deepening my desire to understand the nervous system, create awareness, and hold space for others who were also struggling. I was determined to shift the narrative that we are powerless to our nervous systems and that the only solution is to bandage and mask symptoms with pharmaceuticals. Having experienced the power of yoga, breathwork, sound healing, and other practices, I knew these modalities had the power to regulate our nervous systems in a way that healed us at the source.
In a world where anxiety and nervous system dysregulation are the norm, it’s more important than ever to spread awareness of the practices, modalities, and lifestyle changes that have the capacity to support us in taking ownership of our health from an empowered place. The beauty of the modalities I practice is that they work for everyone from any walk of life. Every session I lead is customized to the individual’s unique nervous system and needs, safe, gentle, and intended to empower you to unlock your own capacity to heal.
I have worked 1:1 with clients from Beverly Hills to Scottsdale to Scotland, assisting them in healing their nervous system and becoming CEOs of their bodies through yoga, breathwork, diet, and sound. I sincerely believe that healing our nervous systems and developing a strong foundation through holistic practices and healthy lifestyle choices is the key to living a life of alignment, fulfillment, and true well-being. I look forward to meeting you and joining your journey!
My MULTI-MODALITY Approach
Through my personalized coaching and healing sessions, I’ll work alongside you to develop an integrated plan to achieve full body wellness — often combining the practices of nutrition, exercise and movement, acupressure, meditation, nervous system regulation, clean living, and more.
YOGA
I have maintained a dedicated yoga practice for 10 years, throughout which it has helped me overcome stress, anxiety, chronic pain and injury, as well as process PTSD and trauma. Yoga had such a profound effect on me, that I knew early on I had to share this experience with others. I am passionate about making yoga accessible to all, eliminating the fear that comes with being a beginner, and sharing it as a tool for those recovering from physical or emotional trauma.
Yoga is a powerful tool in healing and regulating the nervous system, cultivating a deeper connection with self, and for simply navigating the emotional and physical stress of everyday life. It’s a practice of mindful movement and breath, less about flexibility and more about clearing the mind for a sense of peace. My personal style is intuitively guided, combining poses and sequences from Yin, Hatha, and Vinyasa.
BREATHWORK
Breathing techniques date back to 7,000 years ago with ancient Vedic Pranayama. Breathwork increases energy, mental clarity, blood and oxygen flow, boosts the immune system, lowers stress and anxiety, and can improve sleep, overall mood, and health. Even 10 minutes a day of breathwork can benefit your physical, mental, and emotional wellness.
When you work with me, I use my nursing background to observe your breath, understand how to improve flow, locate areas of tension, receive cues from the nervous system, and guide you on how to deepen, improve and connect with your breath, to experience profound benefits, both in the practice and throughout your day.
Sessions with me are an excellent way to receive support, healing, and jumpstart your own daily breathwork practice.
ACUPRESSURE
In traditional Chinese Medicine acupressure points that lie along meridians throughout the body are connected to specific organs, cause certain biological responses, as well as can improve the flow of “qi” or energy. Physically these points stimulate the circulatory, lymphatic and hormonal systems. Incorporating acupressure into the sessions allows me to help you release stuck energy, improve overall physical wellness, and release anxiety, stress and overwhelm.
AROMATHERAPY
The physical, mental and emotional benefits of aromatherapy are vast from improving mood and sleep quality to reducing stress, agitation, and anxiety. I infuse aromatherapy into each session enhancing connection to the body and the senses, and cultivating an overall sense of well-being.
SOUND HEALING
The use of sound as healing is an ancient practice. Certain frequencies have the power to stimulate calm brain waves and help us access more relaxed states of consciousness as well as benefit our physical bodies, decreasing heart and breathing rate. Integrating sound healing into my sessions helps regulate the nervous system and align our energetic bodies.
MEDITATION
Meditation is proven to improve overall physical, mental, and emotional health in a variety of ways. If you have struggled with meditation or quieting your mind, my sessions are a powerful way to break through resistance and establish a strong meditation practice. Guided meditation is a great way to ease back into a relaxed state of mind and begin to cultivate peace and presence.