Dr. Diane Malaspina

M.S.Ed, Ph.D.

Diane has always had a deep fascination with the mind-body connection as it relates to well-being, mental health, and performance. She earned a Ph.D. from the University of Virginia in Educational Psychology with an emphasis in lifespan development and growth, behavioral psychology, and resiliency – the science of human thriving. Her training involved in depth study of mechanisms of learning, memory, emotions, executive functioning, motivation, and behavior, as well as models that are culturally responsive and enhance social connection. It was during this time that she was introduced to the Psychology of Flow and found the practice of yoga.

Diane immediately resonated with the practices of yoga and meditation as psychological tools for transformation. For her, these practices are the very essence of finding Flow states. As she continued her professional growth as an Applied Psychologist, she also pursued serious study and practice in Eastern Philosophy, therapeutic yoga, self-myofascial release, and mindfulness-based techniques for reducing stress. Along the way, she realized how these techniques contribute to Flow states.

Her early coaching career focused on creating interventions for high-risk youth and empowering parents and teachers with action-oriented tools for strengthening positive behaviors. Diane also held an appointment as a tenure-track professor for 10 years, with a dual appointment in the colleges of Education and Psychology, where she taught courses in human development, biological foundations of behavior, abnormal psychology, stress management, human motivation, and learning.

For the past 10 years, Diane has split her work between training yoga teachers and bringing well-being initiatives into the corporate realm. She has traveled the world as a yoga teacher trainer and created advanced certifications in yoga for mental health and growth mindset. She also writes for a variety of health publications including Arianna Huffington’s Thrive Global and Healthline. She has offered coaching and consultation services for organizations such as homes.com, Univision, the University of California at San Francisco, public and private schools, and smaller local businesses.

Diane is strong at integrating theory with easy-to-implement hands-on techniques that drive behavior and performance. She loves combining evidence-based methods in psychology and neuroscience with modern-day mindfulness and cognitive restructuring practices to help people to connect more fully to their mind and body, and ultimately live from a place of purpose and connection. She is based in Virginia Beach, Virginia.

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