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I'm Laura Svolos, member of the International Coach Federation and a Spiritual Life Coach of Feroce. I'm also a Swami of The Temple of Kriya Yoga, which is based in Chicago, Illinois. I am a life coach who uses principles of Eastern spiritual wisdom, metaphysics, and quantum physics as a foundation for helping individuals to find more freedom and balance in their lives. I integrate my seminary training with Feroce's best practices in coaching. And I draw upon my intuition, my communications background (two degrees from Northwestern University), and 20 years of work experience in high pressure environments that include nonprofit, politics, and the film business.
My passion is to help people break free from what's holding them back. I look around today and see that many people feel trapped - trapped by a job they don't like; trapped by financial constraints, trapped by an unhealthy relationship; or trapped by a hectic, demanding lifestyle. I believe the path to freedom is the path of wisdom. However, most people lack the time to study the wisdom of the East (or the science of the West) which is a shame because it is eminently practical and empowering. That's where I come in.
The focus of my practice is to translate the essential nuggets of Eastern wisdom in such a way that is accessible for all individuals who seek to make a change (not just those who are on the so-called "spiritual path"). Along with Eastern wisdom, I draw upon principles of metaphysics and quantum physics because modern physics is now proving what Eastern mystics have known for thousands of years.
Laura is fantastic. She cuts to the root of what is holding you back but in a very gentle, spiritual, and yet scientifically rational way.
- David Angel Rodriguez, photographer, screenwriter.
MY APPROACH TO SPIRITUAL LIFE COACHING
I work with individuals by teaching them:
∞ how the universe is wired;
∞ how they are wired; and
∞ how to attune to the universe by working with the laws of the universe instead of against them.
All of us are creating the circumstances of our lives; most of us are doing it unconsciously. I show you how to do it with intention. I also shed light on where you are holding a limiting belief or habitual thought pattern that may be preventing you from achieving what you want.
I am a holistic coach in the sense that I help individuals in all areas of their life, personal and professional. When applicable, I teach meditation techniques and internal rituals to help clients achieve their goals.
Some of the areas that I can help you include:
Professional:
∞ Changing jobs or careers;
∞ Finding more satisfaction and balance in your current job;
∞ Dealing with a problematic situation or relationship at work;
∞ Creating more balance between work and personal life; and
∞ Managing stress.
Personal:
∞ Creating more freedom in your life to do what you want:
∞ Creating a balanced and healthy lifestyle;
∞ Overcoming problems or issues in personal relationships;
∞ Freeing yourself from an unhealthy relationship or from a past relationship;
∞ Attaining more inner peace, contentment, health and well-being;
∞ Cultivating a meditation practice;
∞ Finding your life purpose; and
∞ Regaining your vitality and joy.
Testimonials
Education
Skills and Work History
Articles and Specialties
The Long Version -- From Monty Python to the Bhagavad Gita
SPIRITED TESTIMONIALS
"I work in a high-pressure political environment and constantly felt overwhelmed and dissatisfied, but at the same time there was no other career I wanted more. That was a constant struggle that left me depressed and angry. What Laura helped me do was change my attitude instead of my job. With her assistance, I was finally able to revise my expectations of what my job was supposed to be in my life. As a result of this dramatic shift, I am happier and more successful at work than I have been in my 20-year career. I honestly never thought I could be this content at work - I will be forever grateful to Laura for her skillful guidance and insights."
- Ashley, Public Affairs Vice President
"Laura has a unique combination of intellect and intuition. Combined with her natural empathy and extensive spiritual training, she has discerned things happening in my life that I was unable to recognize myself, and offer practical solutions that were immediately helpful."
- Kurt Feuer, Attorney.
"Laura helped me through an amazingly sad period in my life. I had just ended a very significant relationship, and I was struggling to deal with the anger, pain, and rejection. I labored to get back to a happy and calm place in my life, but I found that I could not get there even with the support of a therapist. Moreover, I kept revisiting the same issues and unanswered questions for many weeks. Laura provided me with support on many levels. She is foremost an amazing listener, and she applies the wisdom of her training to her thoughtful responses.
"In addition, she offered a number of proactive steps to help me get back to a centered place. One of the most helpful actions we took together was a ritual to cleanse my anger and negative thoughts and to wish my former partner peace and happiness. A very amazing thing happened the next day which really did lead to my peace and well-being. I attribute much of my peace today to Laura's wonderful guidance."
-- Stephen G., Microsoft executive.
"Laura's insights and coaching have been extraordinarily helpful to me. Specifically, she gave me exercises and meditations that made it easier to hear my inner voice and trust my intuition. Laura's guidance, particularly as it relates to complicated business relationships, has been instrumental in helping me recognize which relationships are worth developing and which need to be terminated. If you want help staying on - or getting on course - Laura Svolos is the person to help you do it."
- Rob Sullivan, Author, Getting Your Foot in the Door When You Don't Have a Leg to Stand On (McGraw-Hill).
"Laura has been an inspiration to me. After only a few conversations, I felt completely comfortable sharing with her some of the personal challenges that I've been facing in juggling a business and a family. With her insight and sensitivity, she gently encouraged me to start down a path of study that is already bringing me more balance and contentment. Laura is a gem."
- Nancy Essex, Principal, Essex 2, Cultural Branding Consultancy.
"Laura was a trusted and indispensable guide during a period of intense transformation in my life. She is that rare treasure of gifted healer and grounded advisor."
- Margaret J., Freelance Journalist.
MY EDUCATION
In 1987, I graduated from Northwestern University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Communication Studies from the School of Speech. Three years later, in 1990, I returned to Northwestern and received a master's degree from the Medill School of Journalism.
In the spring of 2005, I completed a two-and-a-half year seminary program with The Temple of Kriya Yoga. I have studied and continue to attend retreats with Goswami Kriyananda, who is the founder and spiritual teacher of the Temple. Sri Goswami Kriyananda's teacher was a direct disciple of Paramahansa Yogananda who brought the theological philosophy of kriya yoga to the United States in the 1920s.
For the past year, I have been studying how to restore balance in the physical and subtle energy bodies through vibrational modalities such as sound and color. I am in the process of getting certified as a practitioner with the Tama Do Academy of Sound, Color, and Movement. (Tama-Do means "Way of the Soul.") I am studying directly with Tama-Do's founder, Fabien Maman, who is regarded as the founding father of sound therapy for his groundbreaking research.
Maman conducted biology experiments in the 80s at the University of Jussieu in Paris which showed that you could explode cancer cells as well as energize or empower healthy ones through a series of acoustic sounds. For his research, Maman is regarded as the founding father of sound therapy, which as a modality, has made it into Webster's New Encyclopedic Dictionary: "Sound therapy is treatment based on the finding that human blood cells respond to sound frequencies by changing color and shape, and the hypothesis that therefore sick or rogue cells can be healed or harmonized by sound. The theory was developed and researched by French musician and acupuncturist Fabien Maman."
MY SKILLS AND WORK HISTORY
My skill set includes critical thinking and analytical skills, intuition, and an ability to communicate and inspire people to take the step they thought they couldn't take.
I also have good instincts, strong entrepreneurial skills, and an enterprising nature, which have helped me break into two notoriously nepotistic industries (politics and the film industry) without any contacts.
However, I am most proud of my work over the past six years because I succeeded in creating a healthy, balanced, and prosperous lifestyle by starting my own business as a nonprofit consultant. In my last year of business, I was working 3 hours a day and making six figures. It was during these years as a consultant that I started to apply the principles of Eastern spiritual wisdom (and the laws of quantum physics) to my life. And I credit those principles for my success. Now I would like to share them with others to help them achieve their goals.
What follows is an overview of my work history. However, I don't think it tells the whole story of what has led me to where I am today and why I might be able to help you. So for those of you who are considering working with me, I have written a longer version called, "What Really Happened - From Monty Python to the Bhagavad Gita."
Here's the short version:
1995 - 2005
For ten years, I worked for nonprofit organizations in both fundraising and communication/marketing capacities. I began my career at Prevent Child Abuse America. I started in an entry-level position as a grant writer. By year four, I was managing the Communications and Marketing department and a staff of five. I also worked for Children's Memorial Hospital Foundation where I managed the communications department which was responsible for producing all of the documents that supported a $135 million capital campaign. Documents included grant proposals, direct mail pieces, newsletters, and speeches. I managed five employees and three contractual staff.
In August of 1999, I launched a nonprofit consulting business that specialized in securing grants from local and national foundations and corporations. I helped to secure grants as large as $3 million on behalf of local and national organizations that included Civitas Initiative, Center for Labor and Community Research, Prevent Child Abuse America, Strategic Learning Initiatives, Jane Addams Juvenile Court Foundation, and The Better Boys Foundation.
1993 - 1995
I initially worked for a major Hollywood producer at Warner Bros. studios and then for a smaller independent film distribution and production company. I screened films seeking distribution and critiqued screenplays by writing two-page analyses.
1992
I worked for The Princeton Review, a preparatory course for students taking the SAT, LSAT, and GMAT. I taught students how to improve their math and verbal SAT scores. Later, I taught college graduates how to improve their LSAT scores.
1990-1991
I attended the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University. During this time, I received a scholarship (along with two other students) to study the effects of glasnost on press freedom in Moscow. We presented three symposiums on our findings to various groups including the Board of Trustees at Northwestern University.
1988-1990
I worked for Senator Tom Daschle of South Dakota as an assistant to the press secretary. I wrote several press releases each week along with a weekly newsletter to constituents and a weekly analysis of media coverage. I also was solely responsible for weekly radio and television feeds to South Dakota stations.
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