Hannah & Luis founded Soft Space as a reflection of balance
Hannah and Luis grew up differently in many ways. Luis learned to be active at a young age, and Hannah came into movement later in life. Hannah's wellness beginnings were in yoga, and Luis's were in strength & conditioning, as well as cross-country running. As they grew closer, their approaches to fitness and wellness began to develop, intertwine, and balance one another.
They each came to realize how their perspectives enhanced each other — strength leads to flexibility and flexibility to strength. Just like Aesop's Fable of The Oak and the Reed, there is strength in softness. They’ve dreamed for years of creating a space where they could facilitate people finding deep connections to their own bodies and communities, and they’re thrilled, now, to share that with you.
Meet
Founders
the
Hannah Yzusqui
Co-founder,
Strength Coach
Finding my way out of chronic pain and depression gave me a new life. Now I dedicate myself to sharing what I learned with you. A combination of Hypermobility Spectrum Disorder and severe scoliosis brought me to a point of debilitating chronic pain by my mid-teens. Following a spinal fusion surgery, I still suffered. By my twenties, years into the depression that is almost inevitable when a body struggles, I slowly began to explore the practice of yoga because it felt like the most accessible form of movement, something my sedentary body craved. It fundamentally altered the path of my life.
Finding the courage to try strength training is when I was truly transformed. Using the awareness that I’d cultivated in my yoga practice, I moved with caution as I unlearned how my body had tried to protect itself. Replacing the stiffness (that had developed in place of necessary stability) with strength, and learning how to relieve tension in muscles that at first refused to let go. This initiated a chain reaction by leading me to food choices that nourished me, finding ways to manage my sleep to allow for necessary recovery, and sorting through the feelings that arose as I chased my new direction. Before long, this led me to divert away from my career in Civil Engineering to pursue one in wellness full time. However, the attention to detail and interest in problem-solving and pattern-finding stayed with me.
My work is an aggregate of a wide array of studies and disciplines. I will always continue to learn, from leaders in the field and from those who I work with day-to-day. I empathize with the innumerable facets of the human condition and hold space without judgment. I was certified as a yoga instructor in 2015 and have been working with people as a personal trainer since 2016.
My practice has expanded to include forms of self-myofascial release/soft tissue work, incorporation of somatic awareness, pain psychology, and nervous system connection. I thrive working with folks who have started with fitness/movement and stopped due to injuries, strange symptoms, or life circumstances, and people who want to find a steady way to keep going and integrate new routines into their lives. From the person who has never set foot into a gym to the former athlete who wants to cultivate a new relationship with their body, I believe all of our stories and needs overlap in shared humanity - body, mind, and heart.
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Luis Yzusqui
Co-founder,
Massage Therapist,
Strength Coach
Born in Lima Peru, raised in Miami, building in Boston. I come from a hardworking immigrant family who fled to the states in 1996 looking for a better life.
My father was deported later on, and my mother took care of both my sister and me. During this time is when I fell in love with making music, and with physical fitness. As my mother worked two jobs to bring bread to the table, I was able to hone the disciplines of working out and athletics as a way to clear my head and make my body stronger. Music allowed me to make better connections with my emotions.
During this time is when my wellness journey began. These experiences taught me two valuable pillars that define my training: discipline and self-care.
Fast forward a couple of years later, and I made the move to Boston at the age of 20. During my time here I’ve worked with an array of people ranging from athletes to the general population, to anyone who’s looking to gain an edge both mentally and physically.
Within the past decade and a half, I’ve worked and managed at Mike’s Fitness JP where I developed my brand Loustrong. I’ve also worked at XPA Sports Performance training young high school/collegiate athletes, and as a strength coach at RX Strength Training. I became a Licensed Massage Therapist because I find it important to help people keep their bodies healthy and injury-free.
As married partners, we work daily on our practices & understandings of the mind, body, and the world, perpetually striving to bring you the best coaching and new ideas.
We’re delighted to introduce you to our growing team of practitioners, expanding the spectrum of offerings you can receive here at Soft Space.
Meet
Team
the
Acupuncturist
Joanna Rosene-Mirvis, L.Ac
Hi there! I’m Joanna, a licensed five element acupuncturist and East Asian herbalist, and founder of Milkweed Acupuncture & Herbal Medicine. Through one-on-one inquiry and gentle needling, my individualized treatments seek to address the root causes of illness and discomfort, uncover new ease within our bodies, and connect us more deeply with ourselves. I practice with compassion, non-judgmental presence, and a commitment to constant learning. I am thrilled to bring my offerings to the Soft Space community.
I first received acupuncture 20 years ago – and was immediately captivated by its precision, simplicity, and effectiveness. Around that time, I also began practicing yoga, meditation, and breath work, and reading about nutrition, health, inner development, wisdom traditions, and their areas of intersection. I’ve always been fascinated by the ways we care for ourselves, others, and the earth, and the ways we make meaning.
I initially pursued a career in environmental policy and community development, but soon realized – or rather, gathered the courage to admit to myself – that I most wanted to help individuals transform their lives from the inside out, one-on-one. In my early 20s I also began experiencing chronic pain from Hypermobility Spectrum Disorder, along with its host of related physical and emotional impacts. This experience continues to inspire and inform my work with a deeper appreciation of illness, healing, and finding wholeness and liberation within no matter the circumstances.
As a five element acupuncturist, my approach is thorough and grounded in compassion, connection, love, and the classical roots of East Asian medicine. In the treatment room, each unique lived experience is honored. Similar to Soft Space, my mission is to empower each person to meet life from a place of radical wellness, cultivate vitality and resilience, embody their authentic self, and manifest their potential.
Born and raised in Watertown, MA, I am delighted and grateful to serve my home community of Greater Boston. I hold a Bachelor of Science with Distinction in Earth Systems from Stanford University, and a Masters of Acupuncture and a Diploma in Chinese Herbal Medicine from the Academy for Five Element Acupuncture in Gainesville, FL. Outside the treatment room, I love to cook, talk and laugh with family and friends, spend as much time outdoors as I can, open-water swim in Walden Pond seasonally, and make nature-inspired art.
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Heather Rose Burdett
Creator of
Rich & Rooted Juice Co,
Front Desk/Sauna Staff
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