I’m Adria, a biracial Black woman, and a guide for those most impacted by systemic and institutional oppression. Actively healing from Crohn’s disease and complex PTSD, I show up in wellness differently—bridging somatics, love, and language to support others in reclaiming their agency, bodies, and voices.

May we always meet at the intersection and help each other find our way.

At just 12 years old, I was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease, a chronic autoimmune and inflammatory condition that shaped my teens and early twenties. In 2013, my illness became life-threatening. After emergency surgery, life support, and a 60-day hospitalization, I awoke not only to the sound of an oxygen tube but also to the realization that my healing would require a radically new perspective.

But survival wasn’t easy. Medical trauma led to PTSD, anxiety, and depression. In 2014, overwhelmed by grief and somatic disruption, I attempted to take my own life. Surviving this moment demanded that I move forward—starting not with my mind, but with my body.

Intuitively, my healing journey began on the mat. Yoga, though unfamiliar and challenging, became a pathway back to myself. It allowed me to reconnect with my body, mind, and spirit, even when I often found myself the only brown woman in the room. Inspired by this transformation, I pursued my 200-hour Yoga Certification in 2016 and began sharing this practice with others.

In 2017, I launched The Art of Yoga, an event blending yoga, creativity, and community at Detroit Is the New Black, centering BIPOC experiences. This marked the beginning of my leadership in wellness, which soon garnered attention from outlets like HOUR Detroit, where I was featured on their 2018 Health Guide cover. That same year, I became a lululemon ambassador and collaborated to launch my first trauma-informed yoga program for 120 BIPOC youth at Detroit’s Downtown Boxing Gym.

From Survival to Radical Healing

My journey—spanning from diagnosis to being featured in Yoga Journal and sharing the stage with NBA professional Derrick Rose—has always been about reclaiming what trauma had taken. In 2020, I founded the School of Radical Healing, a digital liberation space focused on teaching self-regulation, trauma recovery, and collective care through somatics, love, and language.

Through the School, I’ve trained hundreds of individuals, practitioners, and educators via immersive programs like The Trauma-Informed Approach to Creating Safe Spaces and dynamic workshops that cultivate agency, empathy, and communication.

Current Work and Vision

I am an E-RYT 200 Yoga Instructor and certified Trauma-Informed Teacher through Connection Coalition. As a sought-after speaker and facilitator, I lead trauma-informed keynotes and workshops for organizations like LinkedIn and CUNY, guiding people toward healing and resilience.

I am also deeply committed to nonprofit work that uplifts communities and fosters systemic change. This includes partnerships with:

• Empowerment Plan: Supporting and empowering individuals transitioning from homelessness through weekly trauma-informed yoga offerings.

• Just Leadership USA: Leading yearly embodiment and trauma workshops for formerly incarcerated fellows.

• MI Liberation: Facilitating monthly radical healing sessions to address trauma and promote liberation.

• RiseBoro Community Partnership: Collaborating quarterly on initiatives that build organizational resilience and well-being.

Author and Visionary

I am an author of transformative works, including the forthcoming Book of Gems and Get In, Beloved, We Healing: A Radical Manifesto to Post-Traumatic Recovery. Every space I create—whether physical, digital, or through the written word—is an invitation to heal, connect, and imagine new futures together.

I am passionate about empowering people to uplift themselves so they can uplift the collective. Together, we can build a more compassionate and equitable world.