We recently connected with Casey Mauro and have shared our conversation below.

Casey, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today What did your parents do right and how has that impacted you in your life and career?

“Casey will do it whether we say yes or no anyway”

My parents have always been great parents to the best of their abilities to me my sister and brother. They took us everywhere with them, never complained about us being “inconvenient” or a burden to their lives. I felt part of the collective, because I am. I hear so many parents these days trying to get sitters and nanny’s 24/7 to raise their kids and always complaining about their kids. I always felt welcome and safe in my home. I had a bed and a fridge full of food to come back to. Even after moving out of the house to NYC at 18, I could always come back to NJ and know I was welcome.

When you are trying to figure out your life, it is incredibly helpful to have some stability and comfort of safety. You have more willpower to take risks in other areas of your life to make your dreams a reality. It is a basic human need to feel safe in order to think outside the box and go for your deepest ambitions without the fear of your basic life needs not being met. I am so fortunate to have this support.

Another aspect of my parents that I am grateful for is they have always let me explore and do what I want. I can only think of one time my dad told me “no” and it was when I was 15 and wanted my belly button pierced. I am glad he said no and we agreed on a cartilage piercing that I love to this very day. I was allowed to try any sport, activity, that I wanted and figure out for myself what I liked and disliked. This taught me how to be discerning for myself and not rely on others to make decisions for me. As an adult, I can troubleshoot and listen to my inner voice without always needing approval from someone else. I make choices that aren’t the best and I have no one to blame. I learn from my mistakes, sometimes it takes a few times, but then I move on.

I know some of my life choices are not my parents’ favorite ideas, but they understand it is my life and I have to learn for myself. They trust me enough to know I will make smart choices. They were not thrilled when I told them I was going to Bali *cue my mom googling where Bali is on the map and my dad was silent for 24 minutes on the other end of the phone*. I can only imagine as a parent having your child tell you that they are going to the other side of the world for 4 weeks in the middle of a global shutdown then getting there and saying you aren’t coming back to the states. Not once did they say, I had to come home or get mad ( to my face anyway). Living in Bali has been one of the most life changing events in my life and I would have felt guilty being there if my parents’ shared their worry, lack of approval and fears with me.

I hope parents can read this and reflect on the impact they have on their kids that money cannot buy or fix. I hope kids can read this and reflect on what they are grateful for that their parents contributed to their lives. We are here on this planet because of them and each day is a gift to be alive on this beautiful Earth.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I have always been a curious human being and excited about what each new day holds in this adventure of life. I grew up at the beach, had the horse of a little girl’s dream, and had a strong belief that I could do anything and be successful. Bright eyed and optimistic!

I have had a career as a professional dancer, model and actor while deepening my intellect through academia, which allowed me to live in NYC, LA, Bali and travel around the world in a non-stop picture perfect glamorous life. Years of living on a high and ignoring the need to slow down I was running on burnout and lack of self care yet wouldn’t admit it.

Concussions, life threatening auto-immune disease, mental health issues and a plethora of physical injuries led me down a path of self healing and adventure. Finding great continual success in turing my own health around when doctors told me it couldn’t be done without surgeries or life long medications, I am optimistic others can do the same. I dedicate my time to a holistic practice to help others feel more radiant and alive. Casey Mauro Holistic Therapy and Wellness.

I am a holistic therapist and work with physiological, psychological and emotional health to bring balance to your nervous system. By balancing your nervous system we reduce pain, anxiety/depression, chronic fatigue, optimize performance and are able to think more clearly and have more energy through our days. Your whole perspective changes and you feel like a whole new person.

I combine yoga therapy, a therapeutic principles of yoga and the healing properties of natural medicine to restore physical, psychological and spiritual health utilizing but not limited to postures/exercises, breathwork, meditation and lifestyle, with my degree and research in neuroscience and biochemistry to restore optimal health and vitality.

I have created a holistic therapy called Cacao Therapy. I have traveled the world learning from indigenous cultures about the plant medicine cacao and done deep dives for my own personal growth with the guidance of medicine men and women and nature for support. Cacao, the purest, form of chocolate. is a gentle and potent plant medicine that calms, clarifies and nourishes your body mind and soul and encourages permanent changes in your neurochemistry. Cacao is served in a therapeutic and ceremonial setting allowing for you to understand and feel the deeper parts of who you are. Through profoundly restorative sessions you are able to bring your unconscious patterns, beliefs and addictions to light for personal growth and transformation. Cacao is truly life changing and I am grateful for this natural medicine and the ability to bring you the best cacao from around the world to suit others’ individual needs.

This is a true healing arts profession because it is an art to craft and shape each session to the individual and their needs while celebrating the journey no matter how big or small the win for the day, session or year. I am honored to help so many people from all walks of life with this unique holistic approach that has truly been life changing for me and those who choose to come to me to support them in being self sufficient and resilient in creating their desired lives.

Other than training/knowledge, what do you think is most helpful for succeeding in your field?

As a type A personality, training and knowledge were always on the forefront of my mind when chasing success as a young adult. I thought the better my grades were, the more skills I had, the more successful I would be. I am glad to have strived for excellence in this area and have a degree in Biology and Neuroscience, a certified personal trainer, yoga therapist, Author of a International Best selling Book, published in PubMed for my cognitive neuroscience research and postpartum depression amongst many other accolades. I have learned that just because you have that fancy piece of paper doesn’t mean you are automatically going to be rich, liked, happy, successful and healthy.

Growing up I thought this was THE WAY. Boy was I in for an awakening when not everything went to plan even though I was doing “all the right things”. The unexpected curveballs of devastation such as illness, not getting a job, heartbreak, and traveling the world to foreign countries where I don’t even speak the language, have been greater teachers than any academic course can offer. All of these experiences led me down paths of exploration and allow me to have tools and insights that are weaved into my clients’ sessions to help them understand and heal themselves that is relatable for them in that moment. Nature is my biggest teacher and I continue to tap in and listen daily to indulge in the wisdom of the elements.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

The biggest lesson I had ( and still going) to unlearn was what I thought I should do in order to be perfect and liked is in fact the barrier that is keeping me from living my freest, fullest life. I grew up being perfect and pleasing everyone around. I was naturally good at most things.

Being a dancer in the entertainment industry, you are taught to move your body exactly as the choreographer says and look a certain way in order to get the job and make a living. As a female in NYC and LA, it is easy to be a chameleon and mold to the standards of the industry. You get praised and paid for it! I love dancing and performing so I would do anything to keep it up. As much as I was cognitively aware of this, this mentality seeped into other areas of my life and I slowly got further and further away from my truth. I would do what I thought others would want me to do or do whatever it took to make someone else happy- even at the expense of my gut intuition telling me no.

I now take more quiet time to check in with myself and see what I actually want to do, feel before making a decision, or choosing a dance opportunity. At the end of the day, it is you who puts your head on the pillow and takes that nice exhale knowing you did all you could to have the best day and love yourself and the life you create.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.caseymauro.com
• Instagram: @casey_mauro
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/caseymauroholistictherapyandwellness/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/casey-mauro-a1629631/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdaCsXnVq4KhpiR6BgZ9H5w