Hi—
I’m Jewels (she/them), the human, business consultant, and transformational coach behind Unstruck Sanctuary.
My journey into coaching and somatics began in 2006, as a first-time executive director. I’d continue to work with coaches, trainers, therapists, and healers through myriad transitions, pivots, and reinventions. I’d work as an owner, executive, board member, employee, independent contractor; and as a leader of teams, products, and projects while being hands-on as a technical contributor and strategist.
While I’ve carved a nontraditional career path, one consistent thread has been the desire and ability to create and lead others through change. In 2021, I took a break from the technical aspects of change management to focus on the personal because I realized that no amount of technical savvy could compensate for interpersonal blockers. True, lasting change—transformation—requires more than will and skill. It requires space to radically accept what is, tapping our brilliance and growing our resilience.
Such space requires vulnerability and trust—space to feel safe, seen, heard, and respected. As such, here’s a glimpse into some of the identities and privileges I hold.
I was born and raised as a cis white tomboy in the United States, splitting my time between my working class, young parents—between the rural, midwestern school year with my father and urban, Pacific coast summers with my mother. I am pansexual and commonly present as heterosexual. I received a full-ride scholarship to attend university and dropped out to pursue a career in tech that catapulted me into rapid upward financial class mobility, buying my first home in my mid 20s. I've identified as an entrepreneur, executive, artist, musician, athlete, party-thrower, adventurer, survivor, and traveler—and my friends consistently remind me that I'm brave, especially when I don't feel it.
Jewel Mlnarik, aka Jewels. When I’m not coaching, I love making music, photography, foraging, fermenting, experimenting, exploring, and most recently—raising the cutest puppy 😉
Related Coach Training and Certifications
__School for Somatic Intuitive Healing* (1yr, 350 training hrs, 50 client hrs)
__Strozzi Institute Somatic Coaching* (9mo, 150 training hrs, 50 client hrs)
__International Coaching Federation PCC* (200 client hrs)
__The Forge, transformational leadership (9mo)
Where certifications are available, * marks in progress, ^ marks complete.
Having navigated myriad adverse and abusive challenges and healed layers of traumas, I bring a deep understanding of resilience and transformation to my work. My journey has shaped who I am today, and I honor the strength and growth that have emerged from my experiences.
The Sanctuary
Unstruck Sanctuary was born in 2023. The name comes from a concept found across myriad cultures and spiritual traditions, roughly translated from Sanskrit as “Unstruck Sound.” It refers to the primordial sound that exists within all aspects of creation and life—an underlying vibration/frequency that gives rise to (a) everything in existence and (b) a belief that you can live a more fulfilling life when you have the space and support to connect with (and feel your connection to) this lifeforce and inner wisdom.
I look forward to partnering with you on the change and transformation you’re looking to lead in your professional life at the sanctuary.
If you’re still wanting to know more, you can read a blog post about my history here.
Are you ready for a more effortless life—and maybe a little skeptical?
It’s OK to be skeptical. That means you possess the ability and willingness to live in the quest(ion) and allows for the possibility that how we’ve been trained to understand the world (and even ourselves) is limiting. It allows for the possibility that your frustration, pain, anger, ambition, eagerness to please, eagerness to be free, notion that your one and precious life could be lived much more fully—cueing you into the greatest wisdom of all, your own.
“I received clarity in my desires because of our session.”
—M.B. in career and life transition