Our Story
The Shift Holistic Wellbeing was born out of Melissa's personal journey as a new Australian and her experiences with IVF, birth trauma, and post-natal depression. After migrating from Lima, Peru, nearly eight years ago, she struggled to find holistic practices that truly supported her emotional and mental health. This challenging path ignited her passion to create a space where others could find the support she once sought.
Driven by her belief in the power of holistic wellbeing, Melissa founded The Shift, a social enterprise dedicated to offering educational and wellbeing programs that promote good mental health in adults and young families. In her programs, Melissa integrates mind, body, and spirit practices, sharing the tools and strategies that have been instrumental in her own healing and recovery journey. With over 14 years of personal yoga practice in various styles, including vinyasa, yin, and gentle flow, Melissa holds a diverse array of qualifications that further enhance her expertise in holistic wellbeing:
• Graduate Certification of Mental Health
• Certificate IV Mental Health Peer Support Work
• Advanced Certification in Yoga Teacher Training (350 hrs)
• Trauma-informed Yoga and Breathwork (50 hrs)
• Women's Health retreat training in Bali (25hrs)
• Embodied Flow Mentoring (200 hrs)
• Birth with Confidence (16 hrs) Rhea Dempsey
• COPE Perinatal Mental Health Education
• CBT Post Natal Depression and Anxiety
• 12+ years in corporate roles: Business advisory, transformation, strategy development, and finance
• Master of Business Administration (MBA)
• Bachelor of Science in Accounting & Management
"The intention of my practice is to create a safe space for connection and exploration empowering participants to notice and choose what works best for them"
Our Approach
At The Shift, we believe that wellbeing is an experiential journey that arises when we address our physical, emotional, mental, social, and spiritual needs and desires.
Our person-centric approach is rooted in trauma-informed practices, ensuring that all participants feel safe and supported. We also prioritize cultural sensitivity, recognizing and honouring the diverse backgrounds of our participants, which allows us to create inclusive programs that resonate with everyone.
We empower participants to tune into their feelings, notice sensations, and make choices that enhance their sense of agency, fostering resilience and self-compassion throughout this process.
After each practice, we encourage participants to pause and reflect on any shifts in their state of being. We provide journaling tools that foster connection, reflection, and self-inquiry, allowing individuals to deepen their understanding of their experiences and promote personal growth.
Explore our Offerings
We support and collaborate with:
PANDA
MARIBYGNONG CITY COUNCIL
