Maria Paula’s passion for health and movement started when she was 19 and living in Colombia studying Arts at the Xaveriana University in Bogota. Her life was thrown out of balance by the sudden loss of her brother. She began an exploration journey looking for ways to cope with grief, anxiety, depression and stress. First, she discovered Theater and joined a program to become an actress in The National Theater School of Bogota. While there she began attending Yoga and Pilates classes which also helped her to manage her anxiety and stress. She worked for few years as an actress in both TV and theater before moving to Europe to continue her studies in Performing Arts. While living abroad she continued her yoga and pilates classes, learning as well from other movement methods such as Laban, Feldenkrais and Alexander Technique.

In 2007 her journey took her to India where she spent six months studying Yoga, meditation and completing the first of many Yoga Teacher Trainings that came after. Since then, she has completed different Pilates, Meditation, Yoga and Movement trainings and workshops all around the world. After moving to Miami in 2012, she continued her studies and got certified as a Barre teacher and a certified Holistic Health Coach from the Institute of Integrated Nutrition in NYC. She also became Polestar Pilates Comprehensive Certified Instructor in the Polestar Education center in Miami. She divides her time between teaching and practicing Yoga, Pilates, Barre, and baking. Maria Paula lives in Miami Beach with her husband and their dog Figo.