Sage Cress

I’m a Harmony Consultant. I attune with people, animals, and environments experiencing conflict or dissonance, to clarify and elevate what’s missing and unheard, then explore with you to discover solutions for balance restoration in order to support greater understanding and lived harmony within diverse co-existence. When invited, I love to bridge gaps, through offering my deeply caring yet “neutral third” perspective. I reflect with you on what feels off or out of alignment, in order for us to discover what elements support beneficial transformation, and bring sustainability and relief to improve quality of life and relationship.

I offer informational resources and interactive methods as guides for leaning into greater empowerment and peace. My toolkit includes

  • Guided body scan meditations

  • Breathing practices

  • Using chakra assessment as a framework for returning balance to key areas of life and correlated areas of our bodies

  • Reiki energy work for relaxation

  • Self-bodywork for touch and sensation

  • Movement training

  • Non-violent communication

  • Emotion wheels for sorting out the expanse of feelings

  • Referrals to specialists

  • Video and audio content for state of being tune-ups

  • Various somatic practices

Wilding

Wilding is a dream project co-created by Zoë Kosovic and myself. Wilding is an inspired toolkit, experiential journey, and practice guide of tried and true means and methods powered by the personal experience of thriving and freedom with self, brought about from exploration and application of key aspects of bodywork and touch, healing arts, movement flow and strength building, voice and sounding, breathwork, emotional processes acceptance, guided relaxation, embodied intuition, affirmations, and more. What means most to me about Wilding is how it is an invitation to presence and interaction with the ecosystem of the human being and an opportunity for exploration and discovery within our lived experiences. The approach is listening intimately to what is here and happening in our forms and functions and honoring emotions as innately transformative processes that lead us to our key needs and values, by carrying us through our healing shifts. I live for the flow states, aliveness, and calm trust in one's embodiment that can naturally awaken through exploring, caring for, and engaging in connective relationships with our extraordinary mind, body, and spirit.

accolades & experience

I’ve gathered my years of experience in bodywork, personalized fitness training, energy relaxation work, listening and non-violent communication through work in integrative wellness centers, spas, gyms, private practice, and life.

In 2023, I received the go ahead as a Reiki level II Practitioner, having studied and earned Shoden Level I Reiki Certification and Okuden Level II Reiki Certification in Usui Reiki Ryoho through Santa Cruz Reiki Works. I also stay current with my CPR/ AED Basic Life Support Certification.

In 2022, I went through a Conflict Resolution Skills Management course, and De-Escalation Training through the Conflict Resolution Center of Santa Cruz County.

In 2019, I became a Certified Massage Therapist through the 600-hour training program at San Francisco School of Massage and Bodywork.

Prior to massage school, I became a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist through the National Strength and Conditioning Association, and went through a 300-hour Yoga Teacher Training and Internship through Nourish, Santa Cruz.

Back in 2017, with support of friends and loved ones, I graduated summa cum laude with a B.S. of Kinesiology and Wellness Studies from California State University of Monterey Bay. I frequented the gym to do Olympic style weightlifting and recharged in yoga classes and took a Question, Persuade, Refer Suicide Prevention Training course in support of being an ally for mental health on campus.

In 2014, I got to live in Hawai’i for 6 months, where I worked in a horticulture-based farm-garden, getting to know the native plants and cultivating produce for a CSA Program. I've been a local gardener, dog walker, and pet sitter in Santa Cruz County for over a decade.

As a prerequisite to time at university, I earned an A.A. in Psychology from Cabrillo College, and way back in 2011, I graduated as a Massage Practitioner from the 250 hour program at Twin Lakes College of the Healing Arts in 2011.

Growing up, I earned my brown belt in Zen Bei Butokukai Traditional Karate, volunteered on a ranch to care for and ride Icelandic horses, practiced archery in my backyard, dabbled in dance classes, and rode my bike all over town.

Thank you for reading my story!