Lucía Ananda Rivera

Contemplative Yogini | Interfaith Minister | Somatic Guide

Lucía Ananda Rivera is a meditation teacher, yoga therapist, and interfaith minister whose work weaves Catholic mysticism, yogic philosophy, and embodiment practices into a path of radiant awakening. Born in Oaxaca, Mexico, to a devout Catholic mother and a yogi father trained in Rishikesh, Lucía grew up bridging sacred worlds. Her name, Ananda—meaning bliss—was given to her by her father during a pilgrimage to India when she was just six years old.

Lucía studied Religious Studies and Comparative Theology at the University of British Columbia and later completed a 500-hour yoga teacher training with the Himalayan Institute. She holds certifications in trauma-informed yoga, Kundalini breathwork, and mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR). She also spent time in Plum Village under Thích Nhất Hạnh’s lineage and trained as a spiritual director at the Mercy Center in Burlingame, California.

At Lumen Terra, Lucía leads retreats that center around somatic awareness, sacred breath, and contemplative prayer through movement. Her sessions often begin with a reading from A Course in Miracles or a quote from Teresa of Ávila, followed by a gentle yoga flow and extended meditation. Her approach is deeply feminine, poetic, and grounded in the body. She invites participants to “return to the altar of the spine,” where divine presence resides.

Areas of Specialty:

• Somatic yoga for emotional release and trauma healing

• Breathwork and pranayama in contemplative settings

• Integration of A Course in Miracles with body-based prayer

• Catholic contemplative practices for the modern seeker

• Interfaith approaches to devotion and embodiment

• Guided stillness, Yoga Nidra, and sacred rest practices