Meet Riyah Thor | Somatic Coach, founder of Embodied Transformation

We had the good fortune of connecting with Riyah Thor and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Riyah, why did you pursue a creative career?
I remember being 18 and stressing over choosing a college major, because I had so many passions and curiosities. I asked my inner guidance system how to choose, and it told me “follow your aliveness”. I followed what lit me up most deeply, through many subjects, and into creating my own major in what I call “bio-adaptive learning”. (Basically, how do human souls go about growing, changing, and creating in this life?) That random mixture of psychology, education, facilitation training, wilderness guiding, chaos and adaptive change theory, and creative arts set me up with the skills I would need for a job that didn’t even exist yet and could have never predicted (somatic coaching!). I dedicated my life to pursuing a depth of creativity, thoughtfulness, and authenticity. I can’t live another way, and my career is merely an extension of my life expression. I have followed my aliveness into a beautiful and unique career where I get to deeply support amazing people and express myself fully. Looking back, I’m in awe at how those early and mysterious learning years perfectly equipped me for what I do now. It makes me wonder what my current practices are perfectly preparing me for.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I’m an artist of experiences. I help people remember their own aliveness and how to follow it! Once people reconnect with their true expression, they are happier, more aligned, and creating beauty and magic in the world. I’m a somatic coach and the founder of Embodied Transformation. It’s a process I wove together to bring the cutting edge of mindset coaching into contact with the root of the subconscious – the body! Through the numerous breakthroughs I had in my own coaching, dance, and other trainings, I discovered a beautiful pattern of working with the aliveness of a human body to help anyone fully transform their life. I take my own medicine all the time!

When I started coaching in 2014, it wasn’t as known as it is today. If I told someone I’m a coach, they’d ask “what sport?” haha. I feel lucky to have found this wonderful field before the tipping point started, as well as mentors who kept me grounded to the earth and body of the work. I got here by being ruthlessly committed to following my truth, my soul’s calling, no matter how bad it got, no matter how much it hurt, no matter how many generational traumas or ego fears I had to face, and there were A LOT.

I sometimes tell the story of when I was 17, in absolute isolation after a very impactful trauma on my young body, and with no one to turn to. I was raised religious and was ashamed of singing, dancing, and expression in general. I asked my inner guidance system what on earth I should do?! and I heard “dance”. Even though I was terrified, I started moving that night and I never stopped. Trusting myself to know how to heal, listening to that inner voice, and letting it flow through my body, even when I didn’t understand it, saved my life, and I will stop at nothing to share the hope, tools, and reminder to each person who will hear me – that you are also here for a reason, your soul knows the way, and your deepest wounds will become your greatest gifts to the world – so don’t give up. Find your dance.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I like the simple pleasures of Boulder. Walking along the creek path, hanging a hammock at the park, hiking the back side of Mt. Sanitas, or checking out a local community dance. I always make a point to show off Dushanbe tea house and tell the incredible story of how it was hand-painted and gifted to our town.
I love to take visitors on my paddleboard out to Union Reservoir at sunset. The open colorful skies are stunning on the water (and they have rentals too).
If we’re getting dinner I’d take you to Chez Thuy for the best Vietnamese food in Boulder, and for a drink, I love to introduce you to the Root Kava and buy your first kratom (green is my favorite).

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
While there are SO many people/groups who have loved me, taught me, and held me, (thank you all of you!) the first person that comes to mind is our very own Melissa Michaels. She was my dance mentor for 8+ years, and facilitated my initiation from adolescence into adulthood, especially in the realm of the body, in such a profound way. Her trauma-informed and equality-based work with embodiment in youth has been pivotal in thousands of lives, including mine. I’m forever grateful for my chapter of learning from her.

Website: www.riyahthor.com

Instagram: @RiyahRoar or @Embodied-Transformation-Coach

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RiyahThorCoaching

Other: Link to my Embodied Transformation Coach Certification Training Program: https://evolving-connection-llc.mykajabi.com/certification-program