Alja Hopkins
~ Alya ~
About Alya, in her words:
I am passionate about providing a professional, high quality service and care deeply about achieving the best outcomes for my clients, students, colleagues and wider communities.
Since a very young age I aspired to live my life to full potential. Highly attuned to the need of the time I decided to study in a helping profession. Although my social work professional degree, which I received in my early twenties, included some of what I was after, it didn’t completely fulfil my need of having access to those modalities which I believed worked and ultimately contributing to a happier state of both individuals and the collective.
Fifteen years into my career, following receiving my professional degree and working in the frontline health settings, I have undertaken further studies and up-skilled in the area of energy psychology (by 2018). Energy Psychology modalities have an important place in therapy and is a lot more gentle than traditional methods. Energy Psychology uses mind/brain/body approaches for understanding and improving human functioning and focuses on the relationship between thoughts, emotions, sensations, behaviours and known bioenergy systems.
On a personal level, I aspire to be teachable and continued finding most soothing, helpful techniques and methods to ease human pain and suffering, and support expansion of the human potential hence I followed a journey of undertaking years of prerequisite studies in completion of Vedic Meditation Teacher training under Thom Knoles, Maharishi Vyasanand Saraswati. Just to add, Thom is the only Westerner ever to be induced at the Shankaracharya tradition in India at the highest level.
This decision of wanting to become a Vedic Meditation teacher was on the background of having experienced endless benefits of practicing vedic meditation myself. I have successfully completed three months of intensive studies in Himalayas (called the Initiators Training) in April 2024 and became an Independent Teacher of Vedic Meditation.
I am excited to share this effortless, ancient, mental technique of meditation from here on with those who are interested.
If you have gotten this far on my website - I look forward to meeting you soon in real life.
In deep Gratitude to…
My dream would continue to stay just a dream, if it wasn’t for my teachers & spiritual mentors.
In no particular order, each of these incredible people have a deeply and profoundly impacted my journey:
Thom Knoles, Maharisi Vyasanand Saraswati - For over 40 years, Thom has personally taught meditation, Vedic philosophy, and applied spirituality to over 40,000 students worldwide.
He is a celebrated speaker on cognitive sciences, on the relationship between quantum physics and human consciousness, and on the 5,000 year-old body of wisdom known as the Veda. Thom is the only westerner and a householder to be induced into the vedic tradition at the highest level.
I studied under Thom’s direct tutelage whilst living in Himalayas for 3 months in 2024 to complete my studies as a Vedic Meditation Teacher. Its my honour and responsibility to bring this effortless, ancient technique to the world.
Stephanie Colman - my Vedic Meditation initiator and teacher. I’m beyond grateful to shiny soul Stef for opening the door for me to dive deeper into the Ocean of Self & deeper state of Being and ultimately inspiring to become a teacher myself.
https://www.stephaniecolman.com.au/aboutsteph
Dr Lori Leyden - a world renowned trauma healing expert, humanitarian and transformational leader who I have the privilege to be trained, mentored and guided by since May 2018. Dr Lori Leyden has brought EFT, her heart centred work, peace and hope to Rwandan genocide orphans, communities in the USA affected by school shootings, and to Australia into traumatised communities. Dr Lori has been training and mentoring professionals in Australia who work in those communities with the focus on indigenous people of Australia and refugee population. I have been beyond privileged to have initially assisted these trainings facilitated by Dr Lori by travelling with Mind Heart Connect Foundation in a volunteer, professional Emotional Assistant role prior to becoming a trainer myself. Dr Lori is the author of "The Grace Process Guidebook: A practical guide for transcending your ego and engaging the wisdom of your heart" and "The Stress Management Handbook: Strategies for Health and Inner Peace," and founder of the non-profit Create Global Healing, Project LIGHT, a new form of humanitarian aid.
I’m in constant awe of Dr Lori and her work.
https://www.createglobalhealing.org/
Kate Helder - No words to describe the gratitude I have for Kate - her belief in me, continuous support and “down to earth and up to the sky brilliance“ embodied in Kate is what I am immensely grateful for. Kate is a Co-Founder and Co-Director of Mind Heart Connect & Mind Heart Connect Foundation. Kate is also the author of “Toolboxtime: Practical Solution for Self-Care”, a social entrepreneur who has genuine interest in healing, health and wellness, mind-heart-body connection and is passionate about raising awareness and bringing EFT to wider communities. As mentioned above I’m beyond fortunate and grateful to have been invited to travel with Mind Heart Connect Foundation in a volunteer, professional Emotional Assistant role and have now become Trainer Facilitator for the incredible Mind Heart Connect Foundation.
https://www.mindheartconnect.com/about/
Dr Peta Stapleton - I am beyond fortunate to have been, since 2017 trained, supported, and continue to be inspired by a brilliant and remarkable Dr Peta. Dr Peta is the world leading researcher, Author (incl. Hay House), registered Clinical and Health Professional, Associate Professor at Bond University and Australian Psychologist of Year 2019 (Allied Health Awards) to name just a few of her incredible achievements. Dr Peta is also a Founder and Director of Mind Heart Connect and Mind Heart Connect Foundation and is one of the most generous, giving people I know. Dr Peta is at the front of the world research, shares her knowledge selflessly and is incredibly supportive and encouraging of many of us Evidence Based EFT Practitioners who had the privilege to be taught by her. Dr Peta is also leading professional team in premium accreditation program in EBEFT.
Sheri Baker - my trainer and mentor and a Director of the Gary Craig Official EFT Training Centre for the English language. For over a year Sheri patiently guided me through gaining knowledge, skills and taught me how to pay attention to the fine detail, awaiting for me to notice miracles of healing with EFT. Parallel to that the incredible Sheri helped me further develop to hear my intuition louder and clearer. Sheri is a true miracle worker and one of the kindest souls I have ever met. Sheri offers self-paced online study program, “Tapping Into the Truth - The Healing Power of Integrating A Course in Miracles with EFT” available for EFT practitioners and is an author of “A Few Good Prayers - A Practical Prayer Book for the Miracle-Minded” book.
Gary Craig - the founder of EFT, a Stanford Engineer who believed beyond convention and EFT in 1995. Gary has, in his own words, been intensely interested in personal improvement and psychology since the age of 13. It was since then that Gary recognised that the quality of his own thoughts mirrored in quality of his life. Gary describes EFT as a ‘Doorway to the new Healing High - Rise”. There simply are no words to express the gratitude to Gary for bringing EFT to life. I’m very thankful for the training which was possible for me to undertake to obtain my certification. Gary is a living proof of someone who walks the talk with his ongoing work which is a gift to humanity.
Guy Lawrence - I met Guy at a weeklong meditation retreat some years ago. In his own words Guy described himself as a coach, speaker, wellness advocate and entrepreneur. Guy inspires people via his podcast called ‘The Guy Lawrence Podcast’ which featured some work leading experts, episodes are freely available via Youtube, iTunes, Spotify & Stitche. I was very fortunate to be one of Guy’s guests - (yes, he also interviews people from all walks of life to share what might inspire others). Guy runs, together with Petra Brzovic & Matt Omo “Live in Flow” meditation transformational retreats.
Thank you Guy for your guidance, care, support and friendship over time. You are changing the world!
https://www.guylawrence.com.au/about/
