A message from our founder, Mara Benner

Mara Benner, our founder

I want to personally welcome you to Four Directions Wellness!

After 30 years in healthcare, I along with so many others now realize that health and wellness are more than simply an annual health check-up or a doctor’s appointment to address a singular physical symptom. It is about the whole of you – your emotions, your mental environment, your inspirations and passions and your physical health. Hence the name Four Directions Wellness, helping to make the connections between body, mind, emotions and spirit!

Whether your current inner signals for wholeness and balance come as a result of stress, depression, lack of sleep, a chronic illness, or simply a longing for something different, Four Directions Wellness is about partnering with you to support your health and wholeness.

As a mind, body and spirit executive coach I am personally committed to your wellness journey. That commitment recognizes the importance of a true and confidential partnership with you. One where quality of our dedicated time together is of utmost importance. Please let me know how I can help you.

Along with a commitment for individual wellness journeys, Four Directions Wellness also supports the adoption of “whole person” healing modalities to our current healthcare system, combining the best of western and eastern philosophies. If you are a business or healthcare practitioner or provider and would like to incorporate new healing modalities into your healthcare offerings, my commitment to you is one of leadership and organization for excellence in its adoption. Your offerings would receive customization to best suit your needs and interests.

Thank you for visiting Four Directions Wellness today. I would be honored and privileged to partner with you.

Mara Benner - Signature

About Mara

Mara has always been intrigued by our body-mind-emotions-spirit connections and holistic care. Her passion is in how we can adopt “whole person” care in partnership with the current healthcare system and more importantly with each person.

Prior to forming Four Directions Wellness, Mara has enjoyed over 20 years in healthcare, working at various times in hospitals, nursing homes, home health, Hospice and elder protective services. She received a degree in Gerontology, and has led a national nonprofit healthcare organization, worked for the CEO of a $2 billion healthcare company, enjoyed the success as a small business entrepreneur and worked at the federal and state level on healthcare and aging policy. She now combines her executive leadership expertise with partnering with clients for successful transformations. For more details on Mara’s career, please visit her LinkedIn.

Mara Benner in front of wooden flower artwork
Mara Benner meeting with client

Mara has also undergone extensive training throughout her lifetime in mindfulness, healing modalities, spiritual exploration, and executive coaching. Among Mara’s expertise, she is recognized with the following:

  • Reiki Master
  • Healing Touch Student
  • Certified Integrative Reflexology Practitioner
  • Certified Energy Medicine Practitioner
  • Certified Shamanic Healing Apprenticeship
  • Certified Qigong Training
  • Certified Crystal Healer
  • Interfaith/Interspiritual Ordination
  • Certification for Intuitive Counseling

About Catherine

Catherine Miller, Integrative Healing Practitioner

Catherine Miller is a wellness professional in the DMV area who strives to make wellness accessible and empowering to all communities. Catherine currently serves as the Program Manager for a corporate wellness company, serving as the Wellness Coordinator for a local government. In this role, she manages wellness programming efforts and solutions for the local government’s largest health vendor, its members, and agencies.

Catherine first experienced Reiki after having a craniotomy to remove a brain tumor. It had such a profound effect on her and led her to study this healing modality. She completed her Reiki Master Teacher training under Mara Benner and volunteered at a local DC hospital providing Reiki services to patients, their family members, and staff, which has provided her experience for a broad range of health conditions. Catherine has her 200-hour Yoga Teacher Certification from the Kripalu Center, and has certifications in Yin Yoga, Divine Sleep Yoga Nidra, and Mindful Resilience for Trauma Recovery. She also supports individuals in achieving their health goals as a Certified Health & Wellness Coach, and has her M.S. in Nutrition and is working to become a Licensed Nutritionist.

    After receiving her B.A. in History from Dartmouth College and a minor in Anthropology, Catherine received a business certificate through the Bridge Program at the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth. Prior to her current role, she worked at a DC-based nonprofit and an international communications company, building out wellness programs for staff that increased engagement as well as helped employees make small but lasting changes to improve their health and wellbeing.

    Catherine is honored to provide Reiki, nutrition and integrative healing sessions as well as teach classes on behalf of Four Directions Wellness. She looks forward to sharing her healing approaches with others and guiding students on their journey.

    Catherine Miller, Integrative Healing Practitioner