Mayanā Clarissa Lisboa

Founding Trustee

Mayanā, aka Maya, a Brazilian-born U.S. citizen, is a NAMA Certified Ayurvedic Practitioner, Certified Yoga Instructor, and Certified Massage Practitioner who integrates personal practice and whole-person wellness into her leadership approach. She began her journey in Yoga at age 19 under the guidance of Master Yogi Baba Hari Dass—a formative experience that continues to nurture her life and work. She is the founder of Sacred Shakti Wellness for Women and has supported community well-being through Yoga, Ayurveda, Pancha Karma ( tailored detox & rejuvenation programs) for nearly three decades.

With over 15 years of experience in nonprofit leadership, arts education, organizational development, and culturally grounded leadership, Maya brings emotional intelligence, a collaborative spirit, and a growth mindset to her work with Matre Sofia. Her leadership reflects a deep commitment to equity, stewardship, and collaborative transformation, with a focus on initiatives that honor culture, build community resilience, and uphold the dignity of all people.

Maya holds a Master of Business Administration in Sustainable Business and Conflict Resolution, with coursework in business law, mediation and negotiation, financial management, and higher-consciousness leadership—equipping her with a strategic, compassionate approach to governance. She also earned a Bachelor of Arts in Latin American & Latino Studies with College Honors and Department Honors from UC Santa Cruz, focusing on Indigenous Studies, social movements, and cultural preservation across the Americas. Her academic distinctions include the Joel Frankel Memorial Scholarship and the Nancy Pascal Field Study Scholarship.

Professionally, Maya served nearly a decade as Director of Choreography, Dance, and Yoga teacher at Mount Madonna School, a K–12 private school, where she led multidisciplinary performing arts productions, taught creative movement, and mentored students across grade levels. Concurrently, she managed Kayakalpa Wellness Center, overseeing management, therapeutic services, and client wellness programs grounded in Ayurvedic and integrative healing traditions. Over the years, Maya played a key role in the administration of Mount Madonna Center, a nonprofit yoga and retreat center committed to inner transformation, where she was part of the managing team, serving in various departments, ultimately leading the organization’s Green Business Certification efforts. Her leadership across these interconnected roles reflects her longstanding commitment to holistic education, wellness, and ethical stewardship.

As a devoted mother of two grown children—both born at home —and now a grandmother, Maya is deeply committed to Matre Sofia’s mission and vision. Through nurturing equanimity in thinking, feeling, and doing, she strives to align with the free will of all and to honor the sacred responsibility of serving our collective human evolution.