My Journey to 

Holistic Wellness 

Meet Liz Austin, Owner of Reiki & Meditation Pro

My path to helping others began in the classroom. As a corporate trainer for companies including Disney and the International Olympic Committee , I spent many years training and traveling throughout Asia and living in China, where I was first introduced to the profound practices of mindfulness and meditation. This early exposure opened a door I didn't know existed—one that would deeply influence my holistic wellness practice years later.

At Middlebury College, I had the privilege of studying Buddhism with a monk who had lived and practiced in Tibet. His teachings broadened my understanding of meditation, energy healing principles, the philosophy of mindfulness and the interconnectedness of all living things. This academic and spiritual foundation led me naturally to Reiki, sound healing and Traditional Chinese Medicine methods including Tai Chi and Qi Gong.

But my interest in holistic wellness didn't emerge in isolation. It coincided perfectly with something I've loved since childhood - music and nature. Growing up, I attended National Audubon Society presentations in our hometown with my parents which fueled my passion for the natural world. My mom and I would take long woods walks together, observing the changing seasons, listening for bird calls, and identifying wildflowers who called those forests home.

My dad, founder and longtime editor of National Wildlife Magazine, always inspired us to look for deer and different woodland animals, teaching patience and respect for wildlife. This early love for the sights and sounds of nature grew into a lifelong fascination—I took ornithology seminars in college and continue to photograph birds and nature today.

My other passion is music. I began playing the violin when I was five years old and continued playing through college where I majored in Music and was concert master of the Middlebury College orchestra and member of Middlebury's a capella group and college choir. Following graduation, my first job was working in the Chicago Symphony Orchestra's Education department where I coordinated music programs for Chicago inner city public schools. 

Now, I've woven all of these threads of my life together: the holistic practices of Reiki, meditation, and mindfulness with the profound healing we receive from sound and nature therapy. Whether you're seeking energy healing, guidance in meditation practice, or a community of fellow nature lovers who understand the spiritual dimension of wildlife observation, this space is for you.