Desiree Collazo, LMT
Desiree Collazo initiated as Swami Shantiananda of the Shiva Kriya Yoga School of Divine Values, licensed massage therapist, esthetician, Reiki Master, Yoga Instructor, Ayurvedic consultant and practitioner, and teacher of various ancient and modern modalities of healing. Desiree currently teaches at Sampoorna College of Ayurveda and is a faculty member of Centro Latinoamericano de Estudios Vedicos. Desiree is also a CE Institute LLC Approved CE Provider with NCBTMB. Through NCBTMB and CE Institute LLC, Desiree has the ability to issue CE hours for all states that honor NCBTMB Approved Providers including Florida and Georgia.
Desiree started her teaching career in her alma mater, Florida College of Natural Health in January 2000 as Clinical Massage and Basic Skincare instructor, and later in the Paramedical Skincare program, which included Ayurveda training. During her teaching career she received the following awards and recognition:
- Florida College of Natural Health “Most Cooperative Employee of the Year” 2000
- Florida Association of Post-Secondary Schools & Colleges “Faculty Member of the Year” 2001
- Miami-Dade County Office of Mayor “Commendation”, October 2001
- Florida College of Natural Health “Outstanding Instructor”, 2002
- Featured in Dermascope – “Educator Portraits”, August 2005
- Florida College of Natural Health, “Outstanding Instructor”, 2006
In 2008 she was promoted to Director of Education for the FCNH, Miami Campus. In 2018 she became Campus Director of Cortiva Institute, formerly known as Florida College of Natural Health. Desiree graduated from the Florida College of Natural Health Skincare Program where she received the “Student Award of Excellence” in 1996. She continued her studies and received her Associate of Science Degree in Natural Health with a concentration in Advanced Massage Therapies, where she was granted the “Student Golden touch Award” in 1999.
Desiree’s interest in Ayurveda began during her education as a massage student in 1998, where she started her self-studies and attended local workshops. She accomplished her Panchakarma apprentice training with Dr. Aparna Bapat in September 2008. In 2009 she travelled to India to further her proficiency in Panchakarma Therapies under the guidance of Drs. Sapna, Rajesh Deven and team.
On August 2009 she received a Bachelor of Vedic Studies (Ayurveda) from the Sai Ayurvedic College of Miami. Desiree taught the Panchakarma Program at The Sai Ayurvedic College from 2009 until 2011.
Desiree has lectured at National Beauty Conferences and has written various courses as an approved CEU provider for the Florida Board of Massage and Board of Cosmetology. She continues to provide CEU seminars for the Spa industry and lectures on the sciences of Yoga and Ayurveda.
Lineage for her Reiki Classes: Desiree was attuned into Reiki Mastery by Jose Marquez, who was attuned by Serge L. Delinois, who in turn as attuned by Laurie Grant, who in turn was attuned by James Davies, who in turn was attuned by Dr. Arthur Robertson. Dr. Robertson was initiated into Reiki by Master-teacher Virginia Samdahl. Ms Samdahl was the first occidental Reiki Master attuned by Mrs. Hawayo Takata. After becoming a Reiki Master, Dr. Robertson studied for about ten years with Reiki Master-teacher, Iris Ishikuro, who also was initiated by Mrs. Takata. In 1938, Mrs. Takata received her Master attunement from Chujiro Hayashi. Mr. Hayashi in turn received his Reiki Mastership from Dr. Mikao Usui in 1925.
