Alison M. Rawlins, MS, is a patient and playful facilitator, and an individual instructor with a passion for empowering others.
She has made a significant impact as a volunteer in prison programs as well as K-12 assignments. Alison’s commitment to personal growth, teaching, and healing, fosters resilience and positive change in her students of all ages. Through her guidance, participants discover their potential and embark on transformative journeys.
Learn more about Alison via her blog and video projects, and by watching Teaching Ithaca Wellness video series on YouTube!
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Alison is an alumna of Tompkins Cortland Community College, Empire State College, and Ithaca College holding an MS in Strategic Communication, RYT 200 hour yoga instructor, reiki practitioner, therapeutic art coaching, and Cuddlist certifications. She is a skilled communicator who incorporates Reiki blessing in the healing touch of Cuddlist as well as holding a nurturing and inclusive space for Cuddle Party events and Paint Yoga classes in her cozy Ithaca NY home.
Rawlins began her spiritual teacher’s journey in 2017 with the first initiation and practicum in Heart Path Reiki completed May, 2017. During a retreat later that year, she was inspired to collect wellness experts for her Teaching Ithaca Wellness video series. She has continued working with many of those teachers, and continues to attend and present workshops of all kinds.
Rawlins discovered her passion for the listening, sharing space, and ways of being tender with one another which are the fundamental practice of professional cuddling during the spring of 2018 while enrolled in the Radiance Course at Yoga Farm where she also earned her RYT200 certification. Alison is passionate about the particular style of assertive and respectful affirmative consent practice modeled in the Cuddle Party program, and hopes to bring this benefit to attendees so they can be more successful in achieving both personal and career goals.
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Qualifications:
Alison completed the online video training in February of 2019. The work of expressing one's inner passions and goals through vision boarding and journal work, or looking deep within - imaging the shadow elements, can both be difficult. She can be a helping hand to guide and affirm your work.
Rawlins is a Certified Cuddle Party facilitator. She completed the Foundations of Facilitation live training in July of 2018, and even briefly served on the board advisory committee.
Rawlins completed training and certification in Cuddlist brand professional therapeutic cuddling service in the spring of 2018. Often we bury our traumas, and shames in what Swiss psychiatrist, Carl Jung, coined the "shadow." Alison offers a safe space for you to ask for platonic touch. You may want to talk about past and future fears with a safe shoulder to cry on.
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Alison earned her 200 hour certification in yoga instruction in the Mindful Warrior vinyasa flow style taught at Yoga Farm in Lansing New York April 2018
She completed reiki initiations with HeartPath Institute in March of 2017 and June of 2018
Rawlins holds a Master of Science degree in Strategic Communication for Ithaca College where she assisted with undergraduate instruction in crisis management and professional development and earned a research fellowship for her thesis on organizational social media policies