Q: Please tell us a bit about yourself.
I am a West Indian immigrant, born and raised in Trinidad, an island in the Caribbean consisting of numerous racial, ethnic and religious groups linked to every continent on Earth. I am also of mixed race with Venezuelan and Indian roots on my maternal side while my paternal roots can be traced back to Africa.
Q: Please tell us a little bit about your family.
My husband is also an immigrant, an Arab Caucasian born during the height of the Lebanese civil war. We are blessed to be parents to 3 beautiful and spirited daughters!
Q: Please tell us about your current, past, or future career.
I am a wellness entrepreneur and former pharmaceutical executive with over twenty years of healthcare experience having held several global and regional roles as part of cancer drug launches. My journeys led me to incorporate this background and my passion for yoga to form YOGAMAZIA in 2020, a yoga studio in Richboro. The studio is dedicated to helping pregnant persons, children and families. I also serve as a health and wellness educator with Integrative Health at Children’s Health of Philadelphia and Ambassador to Yoga Gives Back, a non-profit charity organization specifically focused on support the challenges of poverty and related social issues to women and children in India.
Q: What do you love most about what you do?
I love being able to use yoga as a doorway for discussions on race, gender and other social inequities to help empower the future generation of leaders and continue educating potential advocates who can help effect change on these relevant issues.
Q: What are a couple of your favorite restaurants in our community?
Guru’s Fine Indian Cuisine in Newtown, 59 Almshouse in Richboro, Dominick’s Pizza in Wrightstown. I also love that Halal Guys recently opened up in Newtown.
Q: How long have you lived or worked in our community?
We’ve been PA residents for over 10 years now but moved to Bucks County in 2017.
Q: Who is the most interesting person you’ve met here in our community?
I can’t say there is any one person as I’ve met a lot of amazing people throughout our community and each of them go the extra mile and never hesitate to lift others up.
Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world right now, where would it be and why?
To Trinidad, the country of my birth still has a dear place in my heart. The cultural heritage, the weather, the beaches, the food. Prior to the pandemic we would visit more often but this has lessened now.
Q: What is one of your favorite movies? TV shows?
I am a big fan of the Fast & Furious series, Game of Thrones and recently House of the Dragon.
Q: What advice would you give to people?
Keep asking yourselves what part you play in making tomorrow’s world a better place for those that come behind us.
Q: What is something on your bucket list?
Lately I have been more of the thought to live in the present moment. To be grateful for every breath, every day on this earth, every moment with my loved ones. And if a once in a lifetime opportunity arises to let go and take the plunge!
Q: What is your go to band when you can’t decide what to listen to?
I don’t have any one band in particular, I am open to all types of music but when I can’t decide what to listen to, I turn on K-LOVE radio station.
Q: If you could choose anyone that is alive today and not a relative; with whom would you love to have lunch? Why? And where locally would y’all meet for this lunch?
I would love to meet poet and author Nikita Gill because she has a unique way of profoundly voicing the emotions of women. I would probably take her for ice cream though!
Q: What is your favorite thing or something unique about our community?
The opportunity to be a part of nature via the many parks and hiking trails in our area within Newtown, New Hope and Washington Crossing to across the river at Lambertville, Hopewell Valley and Lawrenceville. It’s impossible to note be grateful and embrace all that Mother Earth provides to us and want to preserve them for the next generation.
Q: Where do you see yourself in 5 to 10 years?
I see myself still working through yoga in a variety of ways but with the same overall goal in attaining positive social change in our communities through Yogamazia’s values of G.R.A.C.E. – gratitude, respect, authenticity, community and equity
Q: What is something interesting that even your friends of family may not know about you?
I am actually terrified of heights but quietly breath my way up tall buildings and mountains when needed :).
Q: What is the most beautiful place you have ever been?
Hands down The Maldives!
Q: Favorite month? favorite holiday? and best single day on the calendar?
Loving Day celebrated on June 12th – it’s the anniversary of the historic U.S. court decision for interracial marriage.
Q: What would you rate a 10 out of 10?
Is anything/anyone perfect? “Perfection is not attainable, but if we chase perfection, we can catch excellence.”
Q: Who inspires you to be better?
My children. Ensuring that they are empowered to be proud of who they are and who they want to be, irrespective of factors like race or sexuality or gender or social status.
Q: What is one or two of your favorite smells?
lavender and sage
Q: What 3 words or phrases come to mind when you think of the word HOME?
Family gathers here. Home is where love resides, memories are created, friends always belong, laughter never ends. Charity
Q: Where can people find you or your business?