ABOUT
Astrid Merkt
Hi, I’m Astrid and I am a consultant on mental fitness, breathing and performance enhancement. I use a psychodynamic approach to boost your mindset and health .
With 13 years of experience in providing counselling to youth and adults, Astrid’s holds background in child developmental psychology and exercise science. She bridges the treatment-based approach of professional counselling with the preventative approach of mind-body interventions to offer holistic counselling.
Her training in CBT, crisis intervention, breath work, yoga, and youth and family therapy is blended to bespoke a plan that will get you to go beyond your edge and being the best version of yourself.
She has lived all over the world teaching yoga, living with Monks in Japan, coaching skiing and first aid, and providing counselling in person and virtually.
Astrid focus on working with your nervous system and breathing patterns to support your ability to regulate emotions and improve performance. You will feel a safe space and to ease into being guided to resolve and overcome challenges professionally, personally, and emotionally.
She spent 8 years working at BC Children’s hospital helping youth and family navigate through trauma, and continued her education towards a holistic approach by becoming a certified meditation and breathwork practitioner and 500 hour registered Yoga instructor.
My Passion
My passion lies in the neuroscience behind emotions and behavior, and how that ties in with techniques used to increase self-awareness and self-regulation, build mental resilience, and improve your ability to handle stress and trauma. By bridging eastern philosophy of breath and energy and western science research, you elevate your well being which then nurtures better relationships at school, work, and home.
Education
M.A. Psychology - (additional training in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Mind-Body Integration, Conflict Resolution, & Autogenic Training) 2008
B.H.K – Exercise Science, B.A. Psychology (Major in Counselling & Child Developmental Psych.) 2006
Child and Family Counsellor – BC Children’s Hospital foe eight years
Buteyko Method Breath Instructor – Training in Buteyko, hylotropic and Wim Hof breathing approaches. Along with continuing education in the Polyvagal Theory. 2017
MBSR – Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction Practitioner. 2018
RYT- 200 Hr Yoga Teacher training in 2011 & 2018 • RYT – 500 Hr Advanced Yoga Teacher training in 2018 (Focused on the 5 elements in TCM and Ayurveda within yoga therapy) • Additional Certifications: Pre/post-natal yoga / YIN yoga / Kids yoga / Bikram yoga / Power yoga
NSCA - Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist 2002
Meditation Instructor - Mindfulness meditation and TM. With eight years of Vipassana courses. 2011
My Mission
My mission is to empower and inspire you to unleash your full potential spiritually,mentally, and physically. I want to help humanity realize that they can Curate the life they desire with Confidence; Elevate their mood and mindsets; and Optimize their health. C.E.O. your own life!