Maria has been honored to have taught Yoga at every Spirit Weavers Gathering, as well as curating the Yoga Village for 5 years. Maria is half Peruvian. In her youth she developed a deep connection to her Andean heritage through several folkloric Art mediums through her traditional artisan father. Her journey began with the creative sacred body at a young age through figure skating, competitive diving, and 110m Hurdles and has always been drawn to challenging the physical. In 2002, she was diagnosed with Lupus and Rheumatoid Arthritis leading her to Yoga and sacred movement in 2003. This experience opened a doorway to various modes of holistic medicine and movement to navigate healing. Much of her strength to overcome illness was driven by her spiritual ancestry in order to draw intuitive stability.

She is a 200 RYT and has been teaching Yoga for 11  years. She is also an interdisciplinary Artist focused on fiber, painting, and indigenous plant dye traditions. Her classes are a reflection of both her Art and social practice. Maria began and hosted Yoga in The Park in Kansas City, MO which continues today 12 years later at the sculpture garden each week at The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. She draws the majority of her inspiration from combining Andean tradition with body chemistry and physiology.