Sonali Sadequee CHHC

I met Sonali in early 2019 after receiving an invite to her yoga practice through a mutual friend. After having just ended a particularly abusive and traumatic relationship in my life, I found myself in search holistic practices to reconnect to my body and foster healthier communication in all of my relationships, including with myself. I had little context for Sonali’s Tuesday evening gatherings, but a close friend spoke highly of the community that had developed and the ways in which she was experiencing a transformation in how she was able to make space and listen to others. I went, and have continued to develop my health and communication practices with Sonali ever since. She has challenged me physically in her yoga practice, as well as emotionally and intellectually within the Imago trainings. Sonali has an instructive and interactive approach to teaching, allowing students to retain the experiences of her lessons rather than just trying to memorize a particular formula. Human interactions are already complex, but they become even more layered while navigating through emotional responses. Sonali's integrative teaching accounts for this complexity by having us utilize and strictly adhere to underlying Imago principles while applying them to the immediate experiences of people with whom we are building community. This consistent, mutual engagement has allowed for people who have little basis for relationship to feel held, heard, and seen by each other. During sessions, we put a lot of effort into mirroring a persons experience by matching language and tone, and complementary non-verbal expressions. We do this to ensure that we are hearing as precisely as possible the message that is being conveyed, while engendering a sense of comfort and empathy. We mirror without contributing our own thoughts or judgments, and are able to create space to allow for further elaboration and clarification of what a person is saying so that we truly get it. Although this is only one part of Imago communication, I have been able to utilize this technique in several relationships outside of our community, in both personal and professional interactions ranging from topics like how someones day went to how someone is experiencing racialized otherness within a U.S. context. I have been able to cultivate safe, consensual moments of intentional sharing that has deepened and strengthened multiple relationships in my life. Imago communication coaching by Sonali has given me tools to regulate my physiological and emotional response while interacting with people different from me in ideology, identity, and background. Sonalis particular skill set includes implementing yoga and meditation to create calmness and self-connectedness before learning these strategies. She is a warm, thoughtful, confident, and commensurately assertive and firm instructor that gives feedback without condescension or blame. She successfully fosters an environment that encourages vulnerability and reflection week after week, and shares much of herself in the process. It has been a truly life-altering experience to be under her guidance and expertise; I would highly recommend working with Sonali if you are looking to find ways to become more present and compassionate in relationship to yourself and others.

Sonali's conscious communication coaching focused on the Imago dialogue has given me a nuanced understanding and practical skills with this life changing method. With her support, Ive been able to make Imago dialogue a regular part of my communication practice both personally and professionally. More broadly, with Sonali’s coaching, Ive been able to deepen connection in my relationships, show support to others more deeply and frequently, and ask for what I need, in ways that are viscerally evident. I’ve also benefited from Sonali’s wisdom and communication coaching focused on healthy boundaries, recovering from trauma and supporting others to do so, spirituality, and supporting others across differences amidst a world warped by systemic misogyny, racism, and heterosexism. Sonali is a gentle, patient, intuitive, loving, bold, and direct coach, all at once! I highly recommend her as a communication coach!

As I write this I am aware of the newfound energy coursing through my body. It is hard for me to fathom that just 3 months ago, I was constantly in pain, sluggish and well aware of my body telling me that it was dying. My mental acuity had been sharply declining, my moods were erratic and I no longer enjoyed living. I didn't trust that I was able to take good care of my body. Every time I ate I felt sick. I am only 29! I finally admitted to myself that I didn't have the knowledge to care for myself and needed the best help I could afford. I was fortunate enough to find Sonali. She has single-handedly given me my life back. It is so unusual to me that by knowing her and listening to her sage advice through our half hour meetings, I am enjoying and engaging in life again. My body is free from pain. It has begun healing itself more effectively. I have more energy than I have had since my insulin resistance diagnosis (5 years ago). I enjoy food again (She has expanded my horizons on what food actually is). I feel nourished and satisfied in a way that food has never satisfied me before. I feel like I am in control of my appetite instead of it controlling me. I am so much more in tune with what my body needs. I am also at peace. My journey with Sonali has put me on a path of healing that expands well beyond food. The energy I have now with my new way of living has allowed me to pursue endeavors that feed my physical, spiritual, and financial wellbeing. She has treated me with kindness that I have never known when it comes to this part of my life. She was gentle, yet strong in her approach and her compassion abounds. She was just my steadfast teacher. Free of judgement and an excellent listener. Her work brings tears to my eyes when I think about what life looked like for me a year ago. She has given me back my life. From the depths of my soul, Thank you Sonali.

Sonali has had an amazingly positive impact on my life over the 3 years that I have been her client. She has coached me in relational skills that are based on mutual respect and a deep desire to clearly understand and empathize with people. Sonali's communication coaching has helped me recognize some of my own biases and tendency to rush to offer advice often when none has been sought. My ability to not judge others and to empathize with them has been improved under her careful and skillful guidance. These relational skills benefit my life because I am better able to approach others with problems in ways that help them help me. Perhaps more important, I am better able to understand people who are having problems with me and to work with them so that I can help them. I am deeply grateful for all that she has taught me and for the support she has given me. I intend to continue as her client as long as possible. She also teaches yoga and the heart centered meditation that is at the core of true yogic practice, and it was in that role that I first met her. All of her students were struck by her infectious good nature and her ability to encourage us to do things we did not think we could do. She models the warmth and kindness and acceptance that we all hope to gain from meditation practice. She is, I believe, someone genuinely interested in making the world a better place through her teaching and by her actions. I strongly recommend that anyone interested in inner growth and improved relationships with others find a way to study with her.