SASHA PORTILLO

The ORIGIN STORY

Growing up I was ‘straight-A’ studious – face always in a book, homework done, all the projects conquered. Total perfectionist nerd. Home life wasn’t great, so I focused all my energy on excelling in academics. That focus carried me for quite some time. I earned a few degrees and got all the fun letters behind my name.

Still, something was not quite right.

While externally successful, I’d been struggling privately with food, confidence, body image challenges. And boy, was I angry. I’d been trying to find balance for years, and finding appropriate support felt impossible. Most resources weren’t available to me, and those that were weren’t affordable. So, I pieced together my own recovery.

I leaned heavily on strength training and creative expression.

The more consistent I became with my training, I noticed a shift. I set boundaries and ate for performance, not aesthetic. My discipline was growing. I wasn’t as sad or angry. I was able to sit still and concentrate after I’d had a gym session. The relationship with my body became one of connection and appreciation instead of punishment.

This revealed a critical gap: The benefits of movement and mindful nutrition are vast, yet we underutilize both in our healthcare. We have so much available to us already - why aren’t we leveraging it to help our mental health?

It’s why I founded Sapo Wellness.

In my work, I discovered embodiment is foundational. If you don’t know what you’re feeling in your body, behavior change and mindset hacks won’t stick.

As such, teaching how to reconnect with physical sensations and emotional awareness became crucial to my work with clients.

I also believe that you can enjoy the process. Play and art is not solely reserved for children.

So, I created Emotive Action strategies to help process uncomfortable things. When you build physical strength, grow your mental fortitude, and allow yourself to express yourself creatively - the possibilities for expansion are endless.

Let’s get moving!