Episode Summary

Embark on a journey with us and the remarkable Malissa F, Wellness Director at Valiant Living who returns to the Valiant Living podcast to share her profound insights into outdoor therapy’s role in addiction and mental health recovery. Imagine replacing the confines of a therapist’s office with the boundless expanse of nature as we explore how the sensory symphony of the outdoors can dramatically shift emotions and perspectives. From the adrenaline rush of a cold plunge to the reflective tranquility of a silent hike, our conversation traverses personal stories and the innovative “pumpkin haul” exercise, showcasing the ingenious ways these activities are woven into the fabric of recovery at Valiant Living. 

 

Guest Bio: Malissa Fantanarosa

Malissa Fantanarosa is the Wellness Director at Valiant Living. She has worked in the areas of wellness, fitness, and mindfulness for more than 20 years focusing on physical movement, meditation, spirituality, balanced lifestyle, and intentional connection to self. 

Malissa is both a practitioner and a teacher of various forms of yoga including Hatha, Vinyasa, Yin, Restorative, and Yoga Nidra. She believes that embodying the practice is a way to live a more meaningful, productive life, so she employs these lifelong skills to create programs that lead clients on their path to freedom, self discovery, purpose, passion, and potential. 

And, because no two individuals are created the same, Malissa firmly believes in customizing a mindfulness practice that is sustainable well after formal treatment ends. Breathing exercises, guided visualization, emotional freedom technique, yoga at the wall, aromatherapy, walking meditation, forest bathing, sensory meditation, journaling, integrative somatic therapy, mantra development, chanting, sound bathing, and yoga Nidra are just a handful of the modalities taught to Valiant’s clients. 

When she’s not leading weekly groups or working with clients to cultivate their spiritual practices, Malissa is moving in the great outdoors.  She thrives on developing wellness, yoga, and experiential programs utilizing the beauty of Colorado and nature as a way to help clients reconnect more intentionally to their authentic nature.

Malissa is passionate about nature and the future of our planet. Her love language is quality time with others which generally means playing outside, hiking, biking, paddleboarding, trail running, camping, skiing or traveling.