Sheila Anwari
Founder & President
Therapeutic Arts Science and Growth Mindset (TASGM)
Sheila founded Therapeutic Arts Science and Growth Mindset aka (TASGM) an acronym her children chose, with the intention of spreading education, and showing that wellness can be found within the realms of arts & science. She also wanted to share that meditation can be done in different ways and not needing to following only one discipline of meditation, which may not work for everyone. ‘The arts are already therapeutic, but if we can show individuals how to use the already existing tools we have within reach to help practice releasing anxiety and stress, wouldn’t you want to learn how to do this in a fun way?
Growing up Sheila spent a considerable amount of time babysitting and a lot of her teen years were spent volunteering at children’s camps and Reston Hospital. Being the oldest child and oldest cousin in a large family, she needed to find creative ways to entertain them. She took on many leadership roles in High School and College and while growing her post collegiate career, she ended up in Technology Project Management. She has taught pres-school, teens, and adults in many subjects, but her journey led to the idea of TASGM.
With a variety of experiences and skills including being a Reiki Master Teacher and Integrated Energy Therapy Practitioner, Sheila has focused on growing TASGM as a Therapeutic Art Life Coach. In 4 years, and what began as a small experiment, TASGM has grown and evolved. Sheila also designs, executes, pilots, shares and accepts feedback for all the workshops and curriculum. Her background education includes a Bachelors of Science Degree in Electrical Engineering from George Mason University and an MBA in Technology Management where she has used her science background and experience to modify workshop curriculum to include more science related curriculum and loves to demonstrate that the idea that art and science go hand in hand. She is passionate about teaching meditation, mindful-ness and the value of using art & science as tools to help free minds from stress, anxiety and negative thoughts. Most of all she enjoys the workshops because they are also designed to help invoke creativity and imagination, encourage confidence and motivation and to inspire ideas and curiosity and to have fun while learning.
Therapeutic Music Programs
Ivan Silva is a multi-talented individual with a diverse background in the military, business, art, and music. He is a decorated Navy veteran who served his country with honor and distinction. After completing a few tours, Ivan pursued higher education and earned an MBA and worked withing the Hardware, Software and Education Industry.
Ivan's talents extend beyond the corporate world. He is also an artist, having studied at The Corcoran and honed his skills in a variety of mediums, he worked as a graphic designer and later helped brands and retailers like Tori Birch, Vans, Converse and Timberland.
In addition to his visual art, Ivan is also a gifted musician with a passion for world music. He began playing at the early age of four, it was customary to play music at every family gathering growing up in California, batucada’s, samba and Bossa Nova were the highlight of the evenings. He later played in the high school marching band and continued his informal training through international music studies that covered a range of styles from African and South American to Native American and European music. He has played with a variety of ensembles, including contemporary jazz groups, and has used his music as a means of communicating with and helping others. His performances have been known to promote stress reduction, emotional regulation, and overall well-being.
Ivan L. Silva
Sara Sharifi
Developmental Psychologist & Lead Instructor
Sara is passionate about making a difference in the community, especially children and teens lives. She is doing so by helping them explore their creativity and teaching self confidence and emotional self regulation. She has a master’s degree in Applied Developmental Psychology and years of experience teaching all ages, K-12 and college students. She also has extensive experience working with survivors of brain injury. Sara has worked with students with a variety of social and emotional needs both in the classroom and in the foster care system. Her mission is to provide a safe space (or therapeutic environment) for healing and emotional growth.
Zayna finds joy in the arts and science. She has participated in TASGM activities since its inception 3 years ago. She continued as a volunteer in the program, helping other participants. And now she is a lead instructor. One of her favorite curriculums to lead is the Poetry & Storytelling workshops. Her dream is to pursue a degree in Psychology and to help others learn tools to help with stress management. Zayna enjoys music and creative writing and hopes to include her own creative curriculum for TASGM!
Lead Instructor
Zayna Osmani
Therapeutic Music & Movement Instructor
Yoga/Thai Chi/YORIQI/SoundBath/Drumming
Beyond Bonnie’s Hands and YORIQI
Bonnie is one of our Therapeutic Music and Movement instructors at TASGM. Bonnie has been in the healing world since 1990 and as a very young child she was always healing her family when it was needed. She didn’t know why until she started taking yoga and her message was clear this was her calling. Bonnie has over a 1000 hours of training and continue’s to learn and grow. She has many years of training as a Reiki Energy Worker/Master and yoga instructor 200RYTT. Today she is founder of YORIQI with Beyond Bonnie’s hands, YORIQI means (Yoga, Reiki, and Chi or Qi energy.) Which consist of, light yen yoga Stretching, deep meditation, with healing crystal bowls, gongs and yes drumming for a deeper experience, and other tools that will take you into a relaxing state of mind, body, and soul to connect you to a higher vibrational frequency to connect with your souls intentions for your higher purpose.