Today we’d like to introduce you to Maya Weber Hipskind.
Hi Maya, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
After high school I started taking college classes and feeling aimless as I had no clue what I was going to do the rest of my life. I started figuring out what I did not want, and quickly came to know that I wanted to find a way to help others.
In 2012 I obtained both a Bachelors and Masters degree in social work, graduating top five in my class. Since then I have worked with adults with various mental health diagnoses, families with children exhibiting disruptive behaviors, child survivors of sexual trauma and exploitation, children and adolescents with inappropriate sexualized behaviors and complex trauma. By 2018 I obtained a social work license, becoming a registered LCSW with the state of Florida, granting me the ability to work with clients independently.
My love for yoga began in 2014 when I took my first class. Due to increasing stress as an individual therapist, I turned to yoga in order to find my strength. I became determined to make it to a class when I wasn’t working. I had so much passion for what I did to aid clients and their families on a daily basis, however I began finding myself absorbing their pain. Slowly, it felt as though yoga brought back my light.
I eventually completed my yoga teacher training through the Fluidus Method, developed by well known local Miami yogis, Jason Lawner and Carlos Toa Sanchez. The Fluidus Method is a form of teaching yoga that emphasizes both optimal postural alignment as well as somatic body awareness, all while practicing asana. I slowly began to see the physical impacts of emotional distress and trauma in the body connected with the benefits of restoring simple functional movements along with intricate body awareness.
In 2016 I began teaching adults and children in community classes across Miami, leading students in various types of movement such as Vinyasa, Restorative and Power, taking into consideration the Fluidus Method alignment. However, harmonizing the practice of yoga asana, mindfulness, breath and somatic engagement within the flow of each class has been the gateway to understanding how the mind, emotions and body find connection; therein assisting my clients with how they can associate with their bodies in a world that can be chaotic, rushed and judgmental. Quickly, I noticed that if clients were able to connect and relax their physical body, they would respond to emotional triggers with much more ease, promoting a reduction in symptoms and an increase in overall functioning.
In the spring of 2021 I obtained my Hypnotherapy certification, taking me further into the world of understanding the relationship between the conscious and subconscious mind and how they play a role in the creation of belief patterns and cognitive distortions that ultimately lead us to our habits and why we do what we do.
My goal as a therapist and yoga practitioner is to share this form of healing with others. I take what I have learned through the years of experience and practice, and combine it with a sense of meditation through movement, prana and somatic connection, allowing one to feel grounded in an effort to promote overall welling.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
From the moment I knew I wanted to integrate somatics into my work with clients, I understood I needed to go into private practice so I could ensure the work I did remained holistic and client-centered. Going into business on my own came with so much good, but it also came with challenges, like imposter syndrome. I had so many moments when I questioned whether I was ready, whether I was “enough,” and whether people would truly trust and invest in this kind of work.
Stepping outside of more traditional therapy models felt both aligned and uncertain. There isn’t always a clear blueprint for blending talk therapy with somatic work in a way that still honors clinical integrity, so part of the journey was learning to trust my own approach even before it was widely understood. Financial pressure, building something from the ground up, and holding space for others while navigating my own growth were all very real parts of the process.
At the same time, those challenges shaped the depth of my work. They pushed me to trust my voice, refine my offerings, and stay rooted in why I started—creating a space where people can feel safe in their bodies, not just understood in their minds.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Soma Release Therapies?
Soma Release Therapies is a space devoted to helping people come back into relationship with their bodies in a way that feels safe, grounded, and sustainable. I offer a blend of talk therapy and somatic practices—integrating breathwork, gentle movement, and sound healing to support nervous system regulation and emotional processing. Rather than focusing only on thoughts or behaviors, my work centers the body as an essential part of healing.
My work emphasizes whole-body healing and pacing. There’s no pressure to “push through” or override your system. We move at the speed of safety, allowing clients to build awareness, capacity, and trust within themselves. It’s not just about insight—it’s about felt experience, learning how to be with yourself in a different way.
I do my very best to create a space that feels both grounded and deeply supportive—where clients can soften, explore, and release without feeling overwhelmed. I also integrate sound in a way that’s intentional and therapeutic, not just ambient, which adds another layer to how the body can process and settle.
Brand-wise, I’m most proud that Soma Release Therapies feels like an extension of my values. It’s not performative or overly clinical—it’s human, accessible, and rooted in care. Everything from my offerings to the environment I create is designed to help people feel safe enough to reconnect with themselves.
This work is for anyone who feels disconnected, overwhelmed, or stuck in patterns that talking alone hasn’t shifted. Healing doesn’t have to be forceful—it can be gentle, embodied, and deeply transformative.
Alright so before we go can you talk to us a bit about how people can work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
People can work with me through one-on-one therapy, where I integrate talk therapy with somatic practices, as well as through group experiences like sound baths, breathwork, and workshops. I also offer collaborations for wellness events, corporate offerings, and community spaces that want to bring a more embodied approach to mental health.
If you’re a practitioner or brand aligned with this work, I’m always open to intentional partnerships that center nervous system regulation, accessibility, and whole-body healing.
Supporting my work can be as simple as sharing it with someone who may benefit, attending an offering, or engaging with my content. Referrals and word of mouth have been a meaningful part of growing Soma Release Therapies, and I truly value community in expanding this work.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://somareleasetherapies.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mayahippy_lcsw/
