Who Am I?
About Me
Fontashia is an enthusiastic lifelong learner, mother of four handsome young kings, passionate about education, loves to travel, and cooks with love. Fontashia brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the classroom and a keen sense of the mindset needed to introduce and nurture something as big as community-wide initiatives.
Mindfulness Journey
Fontashia's mindfulness journey began over ten years ago when she was listening to an interview Oprah gave about energy and how to bring awareness to difficult feelings, situations, and even people. Inspired by the conversation, she felt a deep calling to explore the practice further. As she began researching, she also started practicing various mindfulness techniques.
A few years later, while serving as a business education teacher at an alternative high school in Virginia Beach, Fontashia came across a professional development course on mindfulness that piqued her interest even more. She enrolled in and successfully completed the Mindful Educators Essentials course offered by Mindful Schools.
Building on this foundation, Fontashia went on to become a Certified Mindfulness Instructor. She now teaches secular mindfulness techniques to staff and students in schools, community-based programs, and through a variety of retreats—both in-person and virtual. Fontashia also provides wellness coaching for individuals, couples, and people in relationships, offering personalized support to help clients cultivate balance and well-being. Her coaching services are available both virtually and in-person, serving people from all across the U.S. Fontashia continues to deepen her practice and knowledge by attending mindfulness retreats to enhance and expand her skills.
Training
Fontashia is a lifelong learner and often looks for opportunities for growth. Her personal development and training consists of Economics and Personal Finance W!SE Certification, ECON Certification, 2019 AFCPE Fellow, MOS Certification, various mindfulness PD’s through VBCPS, Mindful Educators Essentials, Mindfulness Foundations, Mindfulness in the Classroom, Year-Long Mindfulness Teacher Certification Program, Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) training, and PQ.
Goals
Fontashia considers herself a life-long learner and continues to develop several key skills in her journey as a mindfulness instructor and wellness coach, including:
Mindfulness Practice and Teaching – Deepening her own mindfulness practice while enhancing her ability to teach others how to cultivate present-moment awareness, emotional regulation, and mental clarity.
Mindfulness Instruction – Strengthening her ability to teach secular mindfulness techniques to diverse groups, such as educators, students, and community members, in ways that are accessible and impactful.
Wellness Coaching – Refining her skills in guiding individuals, couples, and people in relationships to identify their wellness goals, overcome challenges, and create actionable plans to improve their overall well-being.
Emotional Intelligence – Building her capacity to understand, manage, and express emotions in healthy ways, which supports both her personal mindfulness practice and her coaching work.
Active Listening and Empathy – Enhancing her ability to listen attentively and empathetically to others, ensuring that she understands their unique needs and can offer tailored guidance and support.
Personalized Program Development – Improving her skills in designing customized mindfulness practices and wellness plans that meet the unique needs of each client, whether individual, couple, or group.
Facilitation of Group Retreats – Strengthening her ability to lead both virtual and in-person mindfulness retreats, fostering a safe, nurturing environment for self-reflection and personal growth.
Communication and Public Speaking – Developing her ability to communicate complex mindfulness concepts in clear, relatable ways, whether in one-on-one sessions or when speaking to larger groups.
Self-Care and Balance – Committing to her own mental, emotional, and physical well-being, which allows her to model healthy self-care practices for her clients.
Continuous Learning – Staying dedicated to her professional growth by attending mindfulness retreats, staying up-to-date on new research, and constantly refining her skills in both mindfulness and wellness coaching.