Our Teachers
Meet our dedicated team of meditation and mindfulness instructors who are passionate about guiding you on your journey towards inner peace and self-discovery.
Cindy Ricardo, LMHC, CMT
Facilitator of West Broward Insight Meditation Community. Psychotherapist,
Certified Mindfulness Teacher
Cindy Ricardo is a Certified Mindfulness Teacher (through the Engaged Mindfulness Institute) and the organizer of our Sangha. She has practiced Yoga and Vipassana/Mindfulness for 17+ years (see education and training experience below), and believes this practice helps us maintain clarity of mind and a compassionate heart. “This is something that is lacking, in our fast paced world, where technology and constant busyness, keeps us from connecting with ourselves and the world around us. The practice (Mindfulness), invites us to to come home to our body, mind and heart. To be present and open to life, in ways that awaken our capacity for compassion, wisdom and joy. We witness the preciousness of life and when we see life in this way, there can be a pivotal shift. toward meeting all of life; both joy and sorrow, with a spacious mind and a compassionate heart.”
Formal training and experience:
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Licensed Mental Health Counselor since 2000 in the state of Florida.
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Certified IMAGO Relationship Therapist 2004-to current.
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Certified Kripalu Yoga Instructor- 2008 to Current
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Certification in Meditation and Psychotherapy through the Institute for Meditation and Psychotherapy 2013-2014.
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Certified Mindfulness Teacher-P-MT 300hrs (through EMI – 300hrs.) 2017-2018.
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Attended Live Online Mindful Self-Compassion Training – September 7 – November 9, 2020 – taught by Kristy Arbon – 23.0 CEU’s
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Attended 16+ Mindfulness retreats, over past 5 years at IMS, BCBS, Bhavana and other centers 2013-to current.
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Self Study (both books written by teachers such as Bhikkhu Analayo, Thannisaro Bhikkhu, Christina Feldman, Joseph Goldstein, Guy Armstrong, Tara Brach, Chris Germer, Rob Burbia. 2008-current.
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Developed Sangha/Community Mindfulness Group – West Broward Insight Community -established 5 years ago. 2015-to current.
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Lead Teacher and facilitator – weekly Sunday Meditation meetings (includes silent meditation practice 20-30mins, Dharma talk 30-40 mins, Mindful Inquiry 30 mins.). 2015-to current.
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Facilitate Intro to Mindfulness and Compassion – 6 week class series
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January – February 2019
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October – November 2019
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April – May 2020
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Lead, organize and facilitate two – 5 day retreats on a yearly basis – 6 retreats from 2016-to current (Three – 3 days and three – 5 days). (The last 4 retreats were co-facillitated by Qualified MBSR teacher, Piero Falci and Jose Ricardo, co-founder of West Broward Insight Community and Dedicated Dharma Practitioner.)
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Develop and establish relationships with other Dharma Teachers – invite them to lead retreats for our Sangha. 2019-to present.
Piero Falci, MBSR, CMBM
Mindfulness Teacher
Piero is a Certified MBSR Teacher, a Certified Center for Mind-Body Medicine (CMBM) facilitator, and a Certified Mindfulness in Schools Teacher. He received his MBSR teacher training at the Center for Mindfulness in Medicine, Health Care, and Society at the University of Massachusetts Medical School, and at the Mindfulness Center at Brown University School of Public Health.
Piero teaches MBSR at the Jupiter Medical Center in Florida, and also online through Mindful Leader.
He is a board member of the Academy of Heart and Mind—AHAM Education—and the organization’s Representative on Sustainable Development to the United Nations.
Piero has written several books, including the highly praised 3-book series, “Mindfulness for a Better Mind, Life, and World” and has created a variety of courses on how to apply mindfulness for the improvement of well-being and enjoyment of life.
He leads Insight Meditation Silent Retreats, B. Nature Retreats, and organizes Silent Peace Walks.
Piero believes that the inner work that leads to personal awakening and transformation is indispensable to create a better world for all. He is devoted to helping individuals have insights that may expand selflessness and compassion and lead to the growth of kindness and care for all sentient beings and the natural environment.
Piero is an explorer of the mysteries of life who loves to observe, reflect, and write, and who not only aspires to live a life that matters, but also hopes to inspire others to do the same. He is a promoter of peace who believes in advancing the idea that Heaven is here if we allow it to be.
Before teaching mindfulness, Piero designed and taught several human relations improvement programs in corporations, civic groups, and schools. For many years, he occupied upper management positions in the corporate world doing business internationally. Piero studied Business Administration and Urban and Regional Economics in Brazil, Economic Development and Planning in Italy, and Public Administration in Japan.
Melissa D'Errico, CHT
ERYT500 Yoga & Mindfulness Teacher, Integrative Hypnotherapist, Reiki Master Teacher
Melissa serves as the Chief Experience Officer and Founder of HONEYBEE Integrative Hypnosis & Holistics. Her mission (dharma) revolves around guiding individuals on their profound self-love journey through diverse healing modalities. Melissa's approach to each client is deeply personalized, allowing the energies and spirit to guide you toward the unique healing process essential for your well-being. Her voyage as a master energy healer and mentor is in perpetual evolution and expansion and remains steadfast in her dedication to acquiring knowledge and education, ensuring she can serve her community with the utmost vitality.
Formal training and experience:
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Certified Integrative Hypnotherapist
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Certified Practitioner Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) Practitioner
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Certified Practitioner of EFT - Emotional Freedom Technique
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Member of the American Council of Hypnotist Examiners
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Working towards a Gold Certified HypnoBirthing® Childbirth Educator Certification
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Certified Reiki Master Teacher
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Member of the International Association of Reiki Practitioners
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Member of Energy Medicine Professional Association
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Certified Practitioner of Sound Healing
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ERYT500, YACEP, Prenatal & Postnatal Yoga, Yin Yoga, Hatha Yoga
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ADOBE Certified, (InDesign)
Marcela Rivera-Fuentes LMHC, CAP, CHT
Licensed Mental Health Counselor, Certified Addiction Professional, Certified Hypnotherapist and Reiki Master
Marcela who has been in the mental health field for over thirty years. Marcela's extensive experience in the addictions field includes working at inpatient, outpatient and residential treatment centers, and psychiatric hospitals.
For the past twenty years, Marcela has been in private practice. She developed and directed the Intensive Outpatient Program for Dual Disorders at Stony Brook Counseling Center, in addition to providing psychotherapy to individuals and couples as an Associate at the group practice.
For the past eleven plus years, Marcela has developed her own private practice in Fort Lauderdale where she works with individuals and couples dealing with mood and anxiety disorders, grief and trauma, dual disorders and codependency. Her passion stems from combining the psycho-spiritual arts and energy work into her healing practice.