The Zen Mountain Retreats Team
Maria Russo
Founder of Zen Mountain Retreats & Inner Peace,
Spiritual Guide & Counselor
My passion and purpose has always resided with assisting others in connecting with their highest selves and with one another. This process involves meeting each soul where they are at with acceptance, kindness, compassion and love. “This process is like one of unwrapping gifts and discovering the magic and beauty within.”
I am passionate about community and bringing “light beings”, like minded, and like hearted souls together. Eradicating loneliness and delusions of “not being enough” or “not being lovable” and creating a family, a community where people genuinely care and support one another.
My other greatest passion involves animal rescue. It’s been a life long practice of mine and I am a true believer that all souls matter and deserve respect and appreciation. I’m happy to share that this year I started a non-profit, Wandering Paws Sanctuary, dedicated to animal rescue for lost, abandoned, homeless and abused animals. For more information, click here.
Come join us for one or more of our retreats and experience the magic and transformation that only happens on Zen Mountain.
I’m already looking forward to meeting you :)
Paria Vaziri
Resident Naturopathic Doctor
Dr. Paria graduated from Bastyr University with a passion for changing the healthcare system. Discouraged by the mismanagement of her own health in conventional medicine, she set out on a mission to pursue a path that was holistic & targeted the root cause, not just symptoms.
Dr. Paria is passionate about educating & empowering individuals to take their health in their own hands by providing them with the tools and resources they need to create the most sustainable version of what health means to them. Each body is unique & deserves an individualized approach, not a one size fits all. For more information about Dr. Paria, click here.
Jessie Ferguson
Resident Nutritionist, Fitness Coach, & Creative Alchemist
My greatest joy comes from helping others reconnect with themselves through food, fitness, and creativity. Whether it’s nourishing the body with wholesome meals, strengthening the body through movement, or sparking joy through artistic expression. I believe these practices are powerful tools for healing and transformation.
My own path has been shaped by an intensive healing journey after experiencing trauma that required me to rebuild my life. I found healing, resilience, and a renewed sense of self through the very practices I now share. This experience fuels my passion for helping others discover their own strength and joy.
Alongside my work, I am the proud mother of three amazing children who inspire me daily to keep growing, creating, and living fully. It is my honor to bring together my love for food, movement, and creativity in service of others who are ready to step into a brighter, healthier, and more joyful version of themselves.