The Heart Behind Zana Well

I was born in Romania and immigrated to Canada 25 years ago, carrying with me a deep connection to my ancestors who have been guiding lights in my journey. My great-grandmother, whose home was both the village store and a gathering place for celebrations and rituals, embodied the spirit of community. As a child, I spent my summers walking barefoot on her land – my sacred ground in Romania, washed my hair with rainwater, laundered clothes by the river, and helped my grandfather tend to rows of vegetables that later nourished us at the table. This early experience of reciprocity showed me that all life exists in relationship.

My own path has been deeply shaped by movement and dance. As a passionate Argentine tango dancer, I discovered that presence within each step – being grounded and responsive in the moment, has the power to transform and remember.

For the past 20 years, I have embraced alternative medicine and holistic practices, raising my two beautiful boys with natural approaches from birth, supported by midwives and traditional wisdom. My training as a certified Eden Energy Medicine practitioner continues to teach me that true healing resonates beyond the individual – it ripples outward into families, communities, and generations.

Three years ago, I experienced a profound awakening in Costa Rica during a cacao ceremony. The cacao reconnected me with both my ancestors and a vision of collective healing. That ceremony was an invitation to step into service, to create spaces where people feel welcomed, safe, and free to engage at their own pace – to meet them where they are. It became the seed of what Zana Well is today.

The birth of Zana Well has also been my teacher, reminding me of the importance of balance. To bring this vision into form, I’ve had to learn how to walk between inner knowing and logic, stillness and motion, softness and strength, surrender and action. This balance is not static, but a living dance, one that guides how I nurture and lead Zana Well.

Zana Well is my offering to the city I now call home – a sanctuary for healing, movement, and connection. A place where reciprocity, presence, resonance, invitation, and balance are not just values, but lived experiences.