About Allie Strina…

Background

There was a time in my life when everything I thought I knew about balance and control was tested. During recovery from a debilitating illness, I discovered mindfulness — not as an abstract concept, but as a lifeline.  I began paying attention to my body in a new way, slowly unwinding the symptoms and sensations, tracing them to their origins in the body and in the mind.  With this new knowledge, I was able to advocate for myself and seek the medical supports that I needed to get well. 

Through mindfulness practice, I found a calm center I could return to in stressful moments.  I also discovered that I could influence how I experience the world by planting seeds through gratitude practice, loving kindness meditation, and self-compassion.  As my practice deepened, I learned more and more about myself and found that the support of my mindfulness teachers and community of mindfulness practitioners was invaluable.  Practicing mindfulness changed the way I move through the world and led to a passion for sharing mindfulness tools with others.  What began as a personal practice became a calling to offer mindfulness to the world at large.

Before I became a mindfulness facilitator, I was (and still am) a licensed attorney.  My legal background taught me the power of focus, discernment, and empathy — qualities that now inform how I teach and hold space for others. Mindfulness showed me that ease and well-being aren’t things we have to chase;  they are things we cultivate, moment by moment.

Training and Approach

I’m a Certified Mindfulness Facilitator trained through the UCLA Mindful Awareness Research Center with additional training in Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC) and Trauma Sensitive Mindfulness.  My work integrates evidence-based practices with a deep respect for each person’s lived experience.

At times, it can be helpful to draw on the four elements — earth, water, wind, and fire — inviting a return to balance.  Other times, any one of a variety of other mindfulness practices is more helpful.  There are so many different doorways into mindfulness.  Each person determines for themself which practice suits them best, and this may change from day to day, or life era to era.  Mindfulness helps us meet whatever is arising with the tools to see with clarity, wisdom and kindness.

Who I Serve

My offerings are available to everyone — whether you’re new to mindfulness or deepening a long-term practice. I also offer specialized guidance for:

• Parents of medically complex children.

• Persons living with chronic illness.

• Anyone seeking trauma-sensitive mindfulness.

My Vision

Mindfulness is not about escaping the world, but about meeting it fully awake. My hope is that my offerings help you reconnect with your own inner resources — your breath, your body, your wisdom — and remember that you already have everything you need to live with balance, compassion, and presence.