Reviews
Reflections from Participants and Collaborators
Welcome, and thank you for visiting this page! Here, you’ll find reflections from participants and collaborators who have experienced the transformative spaces we co-create together. Feel free to explore their stories and insights.
In 2014, I founded Embodied Art of Life to share my interdisciplinary approach to living a soulfully embodied life through individual sessions, workshops, and collaborative retreats. My work emerged from a deeply personal artistic journey, shaped by years of exploring my own body’s innate wisdom and its connection to the natural world.
Through the harmonious interplay of the human body, nature, and spirit, the unique eco-somatic practice EARTH::BODY::CONTACT was born. This journey facilitates an immersion into embodiment, combining guided somatic movement with shared contact improvisation in natural environments—both on land and underwater.
The workshops and retreats I facilitate serve as an invitation to slow down and truly feel. Participants have the opportunity to expand their natural sensory and perceptual capacities, which in turn open doorways to experiencing the beauty of being in deeper communion with All life on Earth.
The EARTH::BODY::CONTACT workshops provide a gateway to profound self-exploration, inviting participants to fully embody the richness of their being. By slowing down, individuals can attune to the subtle currents of energy within, moving through space with heightened tactile awareness and in harmony with their body’s natural rhythms.
The workshops and retreats I facilitate provide space for creative expression, allowing each individual to tap into their felt sense, observe their emotions and thoughts, and deepen curiosity about their inner world. Prompts and shared activities invite participants to embody hidden aspects of themselves, play with imagination, and integrate whatever arises. This process fosters neuroplasticity, creating new patterns of movement, behavior, and relational habits that continue to resonate long after the experience has ended.
Here are a few testimonials that offer a window into the transformative and co-creative essence of this work. If what you read speaks to you, we would love for you to join us on this path of embodied self-discovery, creative connection, and personal transformation.
“Zuzzie has this gift for creating a space where you’re not just connecting with people—you’re connecting with the earth, with the air, even with the light filtering through the trees. By the end, I felt like I had tapped into something so much bigger than myself. I left feeling lighter, more curious, and strangely grounded, like I had peeled back a layer of who I thought I was and found something more authentic underneath. It’s hard to explain, but it was like remembering how to play again.”
- Workshop Participant
“That is the magic of this dance: first connecting with yourself, then learning about yourself through the mirrors of your partners, with each dance being an intimate moment to discover who you are. It’s about facing your fears, letting others in, and uncovering more of who you truly are. Breaking patterns, claiming your power, and knowing who you are. That’s why I love the practice of this dance.”
- Workshop Participant
“Yeah, there’s all the playful fun on the dance floor you’d imagine with beautiful friends & strangers alike, as well as a sense of stepping outside of your comfort zone to connect which feels exhilarating. But for me, these movement workshops are therapeutic as well. It’s a practice that really pushes me to shed my fear of connecting deeply & intimately with others in a very loving, playful but non-sexual way. With each class, my ability to show up authentically as I am in each moment without judgment strengthens. Being in this space teaches me to accept myself for the wonderful soul I am…even in my silliness & imperfections.”
- Workshop Participant
“Collaborating with Zuzzie on her movement workshop as a musician was an extraordinary experience. From the moment the workshop began, it was clear that Zuzzie has a remarkable ability to create a space where participants feel safe, inspired, and completely free to explore. Watching her guide people into movement through embodiment and relationship to nature was mesmerizing. She seemed to intuitively sense what the group needed in each moment, shifting effortlessly between joyful playfulness and deeply reflective exploration.”
- Collaborating Musician
“Zuzzie is one of my favorite teachers because she has the uncanny ability to link into the group energy of the room and lead accordingly to the ever-changing ebbs & flows of the moment. She creates a safe, open & non-judgmental space that beckons your inner child to come out, let loose, experiment and play!”
- Workshop Participant
“I absolutely love Zuzzie’s movement improv classes. My favorite thing is that I never know how to tell people what to expect if they come. Each experience is so unique, you really just never know what you're going to get! It really is quite beautiful the way Zuzzie holds such a safe, free, and accepting space for us all to connect in. Plus, I just love to hear her talk!!”
- Workshop Participant
“The workshop was an amazing mix of movement, creativity, and connection. We started by grounding ourselves: feeling the earth beneath our feet, tuning into our breath, and just noticing the sounds and textures around us. From there, things evolved naturally. Zuzzie guided us through some simple, playful exercises that helped us move and connect with each other and the environment. At one point, I felt completely in sync, like there was a bigger force guiding our movements, and I was part of it. It was such a powerful experience. The live music really helped bring everything together and made the whole experience feel more connected.
- Workshop Participant
“Working with Zuzzie feels like being invited into a world where boundaries dissolve, and possibilities expand. Her approach is both playful and deeply intentional, guiding the creative process with a sense of curiosity and joy. Her sensitivity to energy and emotion allows her to hold space for different dynamics within the group, helping everyone stay grounded while also pushing creative boundaries. Through her presence, there’s a palpable sense of wonder, reminding everyone involved that creation can—and should—be filled with joy, discovery, and magic.”
- Workshop Participant
”What struck me most was how deeply the participants connected—not just with themselves and each other, but with the environment. Zuzzie’s guidance brought out such raw, authentic expression. Observing her lead was inspiring. She has this rare blend of lightness and depth—an ability to bring people into joy and play, but also hold space for something much deeper to emerge. By the end of the workshop, I felt like I had not only collaborated but also been a part of something truly transformative.”
- Creative Assistant and Collaborator