About Marlies

Born and raised in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, I was driven by wanting to know "what is this life about ?"

In my twenties I spent a year in India and studied with Osho who taught me about meditation and the Beingness that we all are. That experience changed my life completely.

When I returned to the Netherlands, I completed my Master's Degree in Psychology at the University of Amsterdam. I trained for a year in a therapeutic community, and then went to France to work with troubled teens and adults who had experienced family abuse. During this period I studied and worked extensively with Barry Long, an Australian western tantra teacher.

Back in the Netherlands I continued my western tantra training with Carla and Viram Verberk, continuing in the US with Charles and Carolyn Muir to become a certified tantric educator, CTE. Alot of my sacred sexuality work is rooted in their teachings. There is immense gratitude for who they are
and what they teach.

In 1994, I moved to Santa Cruz, California, where I met my root teacher, Adyashanti, a teacher from the Zen Buddhist tradition. In 2000 Adyashanti asked me to teach the dharma which I do with all my heart.

In 1999, I started my 2 year Hakomi training, then I assisted in the Hakomi training in San Francisco for 3 years, two years of which I was lead assistant. In 2003 I became certified in Hakomi.

In these last few years I have studied with Daniel Odier, a Chan master and Kashmirian tantric master. These two traditions touch me deeply and profoundly infuse my work, especially Kashmirian Tandava dance, the dance with all life.

I am dedicated to the service of others. I have a private practice in Santa Cruz. I love to be with people in the deep process of Truth.

What permeates through all my work is my love for dance; African, NIA and authentic movement. In dance my purpose is to bring Stillness to life. I give thanks to my dance teachers, Debbie Nargi-Brown, Alasane Kane, and Cynthia Myers.

I bow in deep gratitude for all that is given and taken away.