Nature has been my saving grace, my refuge, and my inspiration for as long as I remember myself.
My first memory of a special encounter with plants comes from my early childhood in St. Petersburg, Russia. Back then, winters used to be long, cold and full of snow. Towards the end of March, as the days grew warmer, the sun would start melting the snow bit by bit. And all of a sudden, surrounded by the white mounds of snow, I could see bright yellow flowers of colts foot peeking from the ground. It felt like an absolute miracle, and a sure sign that the spring was on her way. From then on, I would seek out those tiny yellow colts foots, and my heart would sing every time I found one. Later that summer I would discover and make friends with the marsh orchids, fireweed, plantain, dandelion, clovers, yarrow, lupines... Forest became my favorite place to be and a whole new, fascinating and magical world to explore. I remember sitting on the grass and marveling at the emerald moss, white daisies, yellow buttercups, blue bells and wild strawberries, breathing in the summer aromas of the earth and listening to the constant buzzing of the bees. I was home.
I started studying herbal medicine in 2006 when I took my first Green Medicine class with Peeka Trenkle at the New York's Open Center. Just two short years later I was calling on the healing powers of plants to help me recover from a devastating traffic accident. Lovingly and patiently, they helped me restore my physical body and held space for the much needed emotional healing grieving loss of a loved one. Plants guided me on a long journey of self-discovery to a place of harmony with the deepest essence of my soul.
Many significant life changes had to be embraced along the way, including quitting my convenient yet no longer inspiring work in finance, moving out of the city and re-visiting some of my important relationships. On a sunny spring equinox of 2010, as I was trekking the spectacular Cordillera Blanca mountains of the Peruvian Andes, I sat down by the sparkling blue waters of a mountain lake. As I was admiring the white snow-covered mountain tops, I suddenly felt a sense of deep, overwhelming peace and commitment to fully embrace my life-long journey with the green beings.
Years of herbal studies, adventures and work have followed. Plants have taken me around the US, South America and Europe – growing herbal medicine, making plant remedies, working with private clients, and holding plant medicine circles and retreats.
Along this amazing journey I received many precious healing gifts and met my beautiful tribe for which I am eternally grateful.
In my private practice with clients I use dynamic kinesiology to uncover the deepest roots of physical or energetic imbalances. I rely on the healing powers of Western herbs, precious teachings of TCM and Ayurveda, and magical gifts of the Amazonian plant medicine. When the work calls for shifts in the non-physical realms of being I frequently use flower essences, gem elixirs, guided meditation, inner child work, ritual and ceremony.
I hold plant walks, host women’s circles, and teach plant medicine workshops & retreats in NYC, the Hudson Valley, the Andes and the Amazon.
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Click HERE to learn about Katya's private consultations.
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Katya's herbal education includes Chartered Herbalist Program from the Dominion Herbal College; Green Medicine, Practical Homeopathy & herbal apprenticeships with Peeka Trenkle; flower essence studies with Kate Gilday & Pam Montgomery, Farm to Pharmacy intensive trainings at Goldthread Herbal Farm in Conway MA, and a diploma in naturopathy from the CENATHO College of Naturopathic Medicine in Paris, France.
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“And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom.” ~ Anais Nin.