MY HEART WORK:
PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH
My heart work integrates mental and physical health, as I practice as a mental health practitioner, fitness instructor and dance educator.
Along with being the founder of Fit Flow Fusion, I instruct private and group yoga, barre, mat Pilates and reformer Pilates sessions. Come and take one of the fun and invigorating classes I instruct!
I also teach dance! I offer dance choreography and private instruction.
In addition, I provide mental health coaching. I specialize in the field of recovery, relief and restructuring the relationship with: eating disorder(s), chronic illness, anxiety, and body image development. Learn more about my therapeutic approach to mental health and resources I recommend for support.
This is one of my favorite dance teachers on the planet.. Natalie Makardish.. and I want the whole world to get a load of this very bright star!
What I love about Natalie is her energy.. she makes doing Navasana, (boat pose) look like she's on a Caribbean vacation, and inspires you to keep reaching into your strength, flexibility, control and grace. And, she has a great attitude and a heart of gold! Rare to find!
-Joanna
TESTIMONIALS
“Honestly, I have a hard time even expressing how grateful I am to have met you. You somewhat randomly landed in my life, right before it decided to turn on its head. I don’t know where exactly I would be right now without you. You taught me to be uncomfortable, fragile, emotional, open to change, and you did it so gracefully. Thank you for being there as a source of strength and inspiration. Thank you for teaching me to cry. And thank you for being a rock when I could barely take care of myself.
Your wisdom, your words, and your inspiring self of being, will forever be with me.”
— EVOLVE WELLNESS CLIENT
“I loved the opportunity to meet and learn from such a wonderful and inspiring teacher, Natalie Makardish, from my favorite yoga studio in Petaluma. Regardless of what level you are at in yoga, dance or Pilates, you will enjoy every movement of practicing with her. you are getting a great work out not just for your body, but your mind and soul. Her own passions and gratitude in everything she does, shines through.
Natalie is a joy to be around and truly a terrific human being. In addition to being a yoga instructor, she is also the founder of Empowered Artist Training and Fit Flow Fusion. She is also a mental health practitioner. She is involved in two non-profit organizations within the eating disorder recovery community. Thank you, Natalie, for all that you do.
— ANELA
I’ve been hesitant to write this testament to how Natalie’s teaching has changed my view and feelings on moving my body because it is truly an energy that is felt in my being and that is hard to explain in words and much easier felt. But here goes: First, a little background about me. I was put on diets from the time I was a small child which taught me that being smaller meant better and that translated in my young mind to smaller equals more love. I also grew up in an abusive alcoholic household so because my life was out of control I was always searching for something I could control to make me feel safe. So began a lifelong obsession with food, punishing exercise and negative body image. I was never diagnosed as Anorexic because I was in a larger body ( which is altogether a whole other topic for another day) but I know now I was. I have battled several EDs my entire life.
Before taking Natalie’s classes, movement was always about punishment and trying to mold my body into something it wasn’t meant to be. The first thing that drew me to Natalie was her smile, then I felt her nurturing energy. In Natalie’s classes I am at peace in my body. I am grateful for the movement because it allows me to recognize that I am powerful and I am enough. I have never felt this way in any other class. Natalie truly has a gift. Natalie is a safe guide and truly makes you feel like everyone and everybody should be there. Her welcoming spirit draws you in and her compassion and love for body and movement creates a vibration of love that is so easily felt. There is no judgment in her classes, no shame and no comparison. You are where you are in Natalie’s class. If you are tired, then you rest. If something is being done that you can’t do or doesn’t feel good in your body you modify, which could be as Natalie so lovingly says “ dancing it out”.
Natalie ALWAYS teaches and lives her life with the intention of creating a space of love, acceptance, and honesty of what our bodies are trying to tell us through movement. I believe we store trauma, joy and love inside our muscles , deep in our bones in these bodies that are housing for our souls. Natalie is a safe harbor and a light in the darkness that says it’s okay and I’m here with you. She encourages us to feel the beats in our hearts and find joy in our body. Thank you Natalie.
-Terry
