About me

Hiya! My name is Maria del Pilar Rivera, but I’ve been called Pili since I was a little girl. I’m a Wellness Coach.

I’m originally from Peru. Yes, deepest darkest Peru like Paddington Bear. I currently live in a small town in the north of England.

I work with people who are feeling stressed out and show them how they can create well-being habits so they can live healthy and happy lives instead.

Through a kind and loving approach, I teach them how to consciously respond more and react less when discomfort arises.

Pili wearing a red sweater and smiley face. She is also wearing brown-framed glasses.

I believe that we never stop learning.

Pile of books with a mug on top with a little heart coming from the string that goes with the tea bag

Let me share with you a bit of my varied academic background:

Fourth -and final- year of the Masters in Teaching Mindfulness-Based Courses at Bangor University in Wales, UK.
Level 1 Sleep, Stress management, and Recovery Coaching Certification by Precision Nutrition (PN).
Health Coaching programme and the Emotional Eating course from the Institute for Integrative Nutrition (IIN).
Radical Forgiveness Coaching Programme.
Licensed Spiritual Practitioner of Centers of Spiritual Living (CSL).
Bachelor in Economics and Masters in Finance in Peru.

Let me tell you a little bit about my personal story.

Wall street street sign with background of buildings

I studied a Bachelors degree in Economics and a Masters in Finance in Peru. I worked in the banking industry for 15 years.

I used to live submerged in Excel spreadsheets, conference calls and many meetings. Don’t get me wrong. I loved my job, but I was a perfectionist which meant: staying after hours at the office.

I didn’t realise at the time that keeping up this pace of work was taking a toll in both my health and personal life. Bad food choices, not enough hours of sleep and terrible headaches caused by stress. Oh! And I was also experiencing a really bad mood.

Until I said: “Enough is enough”.

I was still working while I was studying, so what I was feeling was burnout. When I graduated from the Masters in Finance, I was both physically and mentally exhausted. That’s when I realised that I needed a change and my search began.

First, I started attending some Buddhist meditation sessions. Then I enrolled in a Mindfulness programme and after that in a Radical Forgiveness course. I noticed that gradually my life was changing. I started reading many spirituality and self-help books.

I attended many courses and workshops, which helped me look deep inside myself and became more familiar with my inner patterns. I participated in Mindfulness and Yoga retreats in Cusco and the Peruvian jungle.

Then I realised that I wanted to teach others what I had learnt. That’s when I started my training in Health Coaching and Emotional Eating at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition. I also studied Mujer Holistica’s Meditation Teacher course. I later completed the Science of Mind courses to become a Licensed Spiritual Practitioner of Centers of Spiritual Living (CSL).

How does my life look like today?

I’m a full-time mum and a part-time Masters student. I've currently studying the fourth year of the Masters in Teaching Mindfulness-Based Courses at Bangor University in Wales. I live with my family in the north of England and I have a Mindfulness practice that supports me on how to live a more conscious life, especially with the challenges of motherhood and life in general.

I never imagined that quitting my job in investment banking would make me feel so happy and accomplished. I found my life’s purpose: To help people that feel exhausted and stressed out, who have forgot that we have come to this world to be happy.

Pili smiling in Bangor University. She is wearing a dark jacket, a colourful scarf and brown-framed glasses

Katherine, UK

"I’ve listened to Mindfulness classes before, and struggled to follow the cues. Pili’s class was simple but so effective! She has such a soothing and trusting voice, I naturally followed, and did completely relax."

I would love to help you reach your goals while connecting with a sense of inner calm. It could be through coaching sessions, Mindfulness programmes, Radical Forgiveness courses or other tools. If you would like more information, send me a message here.