Tatiana Forero Puerta

Who I am and my beliefs

I am an educator, somatic practitioner, trauma-informed yoga instructor, and award-winning poet and author. I full-heartedly believe in the immense power of healing, and believe that healing is a life-long journey of insight and is available to all bodies. I am on a mission to make transformational healing work available to all, and am especially passionate about this conversation within BIPOC communities, as we collectively heal from the effects of colonization. 

Education & training

Tatiana holds undergraduate and graduate degrees from Stanford University and New York University. She taught at the university level for years, before deciding to focus on developing her private practice and deepening her apprenticeships. Tatiana has been a dedicated student of yogic modalities for over twenty years, including training in Trauma-Informed yoga, Yoga for Cancer, Yoga and Mindfulness-Based Interventions for Youth, and Body-Reading Taoist Methods, in addition to training in EFT, Neuro-Emotional Technique, and Mindlight techniques for trauma integration and healing.

What Tatiana does

Tatiana has been an educator for 18 years, and worked with trauma-informed somatic practices for over a decade. Tatiana has dedicated a large portion of her career to working with underrepresented youth, advocating for Yoga, Mindfulness, and Tapping interventions instead of detention, and working with educators and administrators across the NYC Tri-state area on developing mindfulness-based programs. Tatiana also works in the arena of chronic pain, and taught Yoga and Mindfulness for Cancer at Sloan Kettering Cancer Hospital. Tatiana is deeply passionate about healing, and is honored to have witnessed her clients’ beautiful healing journeys. A survivor of Traumatic Brain Injury herself, Tatiana is in awe of all those who choose to walk the beautiful and humbling path of healing and self-discovery, where she believes much magic can be found. As a decorated writer, Tatiana is currently working on her third book. 

Interested in studying at Mindlight Institute? 

Fatima Mann

Who I am and my beliefs

My journey is guided by the profound wisdom of Buddhist philosophies, yoga, and other African centered spiritual practices as I strive to help others discover the boundless joy of self-love and acceptance.

Education & training

Fatima’s transformative path began with AmeriCorps Vista, propelling her into a life dedicated to service. Co-founding the Austin Justice Coalition, she fearlessly fought against police brutality, actively contributing to the formulation of body-worn camera policies for the Austin Police Department. Graduating from Southern University Law Center, Fatima co-founded Counter Balance: ATX, an Austin-based organization intertwining self-care and social justice. As Executive and Policy Director, she earned prestigious accolades, including the National Association of Social Workers Public Citizen of the Year Award and the Austin Community College Equity Activist Award.

What Fatima does

Through Love and Healing Work, her consulting, training, and healing business, Fatima melds her legal expertise, yoga, trauma-conscious practices, and mindfulness to inspire others on their self-love journeys. A vessel of wisdom and compassion, Fatima shares her learnings and opportunities through powerful public speaking engagements and transformative learning experiences. You’re invited to connect with Fatima, her profound teachings, and discover the transformative power of love and acceptance. Recognizing the vital need for advocacy grounded in healing, Fatima founded the Community Advocacy and Healing Project, crafting culturally mindful and human-centered spaces. During Hurricane Harvey, the Community Restoration Project emerged, exemplifying her commitment to disaster relief focused on people's needs. Over the years, she has rescued hundreds, raised funds, and distributed vital supplies in multiple cities and regions.

Interested in studying at Mindlight Institute? 

Cat Gelinas

Who I am and my beliefs

I believe we’re all connected to each other and an infinite wisdom. I believe we all have the potential to live healthy, fulfilled, and loving lives aligned with joy and our highest potential. I’m here to compassionately serve and unconditionally love all those who cross my path. I’m here to support growth, healing, and evolution through healing work, teaching, and presence.

Education & training

Since 2017, I’ve had a private practice working with people in healing emotional triggers, inherited ancestral trauma, shadow work, adult ego development, and developmental trauma. I was mentored by Mindlight’s co-founder Lillian Moore and was certified in their 2 yr Practitioner Program.

What Cat does

She has brought deep emotional healing and transformational shifts over the last 6 years working with private clients. She co-founded and taught a Developmental Coaching program at Yugen Institute for 3yrs, Circling Facilitation at the Connection Institute for 2yrs, Family Constellation Workshops, and now teaches Human Potential 1 at Mindlight Institute.

Interested in studying at Mindlight Institute? 

I’ve taken personal and spiritual growth trainings since 2002. From meditation intensives, relationship courses, authentic relating, and other transformative teachings ~ it’s a lifelong passion and purpose to serve and share any benefit I receive. I have a B.A. from Rutgers University and in earlier chapters of my life was an SAT prep teacher and software engineer.

Prof. Raj Raghunathan, PhD

Who I am and my beliefs

I'm Dr. Raj Raghunathan, a researcher focused on how people's decisions impact their happiness and fulfillment. I firmly believe that understanding the keys to happiness and fulfillment can positively transform lives, and I am dedicated to sharing this knowledge globally through my research, teaching, and writing.

Education & training

Prof. Raj Raghunathan earned his PhD from the Stern School of Business at New York University. Raj’s work has been published in top marketing and psychology journals such as, Journal of Marketing Research, Journal of Consumer Research, Journal of Consumer Psychology, Journal of Marketing, Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, Motivation and Emotion, and the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. His work has also been cited in the popular press, such as The New York Times, the Austin American Statesman, and Self magazine. 

What Professor Raghunathan does

Dr. Raj Raghunathan studies the impact that people’s judgments and decisions have on their own happiness and fulfilment. Based on his research, he teaches a very successful online course named A Life of Happiness And Fulfillment with 200,000 students from literally every country in the world. The course was featured as a Top 10 course by Coursera for several weeks. It has also garnered an overall rating of 4.8 out of 5.0 from over 2500 learners, one of the most highly rated MOOCs (Massive Open Online Course). It was additionally rated the Top MOOC of 2015 and subsequently, as one of the TOP 50 MOOCs of all time by Class-central and as one of the most popular MOOCs ever by Poets & Quants.

Interested in studying at Mindlight Institute? 

Raj is an award-winning Professor of Marketing at the McCombs School of Business at The University of Texas at Austin. He is also a visiting Professor of Marketing at the Indian School of Business at Hyderabad.

His book titled, "If You’re So Smart, Why Aren’t You Happy?" was released in the US, UK, and India in 2016.

Dr. Kazique Jelani Prince

Who I am and my beliefs

I am Dr. Kazique J. Prince (pronounced ka-ZEE-kay), based in Austin, Texas. As the Global Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging at NI, formerly National Instruments, I am dedicated to developing and implementing comprehensive DEIB programs to foster inclusivity and celebrate differences. Additionally, I am the founder and CEO of Jelani Consulting, LLC, with nearly fifteen years of experience in promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion across industries through initiatives like Djembe: Inspiring Inclusive Connections.

Education & training

He received his Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology at The University of Georgia at Athens, Ed.S. in Counseling Psychology at Georgia State University, Ed.M. in Counseling Psychology at Rutgers University, and B.S. in Psychology from the Benjamin Banneker Honors College at Prairie View A&M University. He is also a Board-Certified Diplomat in African Centered/Black Psychology through The Association of Black Psychologists and certified administrator of the Intercultural Development Inventory through IDI, LLC. Father of two adult children and supports various other activities in the Austin area.

In October 2020, Dr. Prince helped launch the Central Texas Collective for Racial Equity as the Interim Executive Director, a nonprofit association to support, in part, the ongoing efforts continued through the Mayor’s Task Force on Institutional Racism and Systemic Inequities focused on education, health and wellness, finance and banking, real estate and housing, and criminal and civil justice. He’s also writes and produces Equity Turned Up, a blog and podcast reflecting on a variety of equity and inclusion topics. He collaborates with clients working on managing cultural differences by trailblazing through opposition, spearheading forward-thinking, cutting-edge initiatives and programs while successfully uniting team members behind common goals.

Interested in studying at Mindlight Institute? 

Dr. Prince formerly served as the senior policy advisor and education coordinator for City of Austin Mayor Steve Adler with education, equitable economic development, and public safety as well as strategies to dismantle institutional racism and systemic inequities are under his portfolio.

What Dr. Prince does