“Our body is precious. It is our vehicle for awakening. Treat it with care.”
Wellness Background
At some point, everyone deals with physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual “stuff”. Anxiety and depression, chronic physical pain, addiction, trauma, burnout, and hopelessness are all part of the weather system moving through many people daily. My personal experience of the devastating effects of trauma, and gratitude for the healing practices I have wholeheartedly embraced, upholds my assertion that wellbeing can be simple, ample, and immediately available. Caring for ourselves and others with compassion, is key to living well.
I have worked with thousands of people, to help them find peace of mind, body, and spirit. Alongside my ministry as an Interfaith Chaplain, I am an Urban Zen Integrative Therapist (UZIT), a certified E-RYT yoga teacher, Reiki Master, and meditation teacher lay-ordained in Soto Zen Buddhism. I teach all levels and styles of yoga and have expertise as a YTT. I have an extensive background in dance and choreography. I am Artistic Director of my own company, Keely Garfield Dance, a Guggenheim Fellow, hold an MFA from University of Wisconsin Milwaukee, and I am a dance professor at The New School. My broad experience has provided me with exceptional insight into the ways health and vitality are deeply rooted in the awareness of our mind and body.
Earlier in my career, I was a dance therapist and worked extensively with people with disabilities, and mental health issues. More recently, I was the clinical coordinator/supervisor for the ground-breaking Urban Zen Integrative Therapy Program (UZIT) at Beth Israel Medical Center, PACC, The Farber Center for Radiation Oncology, and CareRite Centers, working in oncology, and with COPD, Alzheimers, and dimentia patients. I twice served in Haiti at Saint Damien’s Pediatric Hospital and Orphanage, where my work encompassed caring for people impacted by the 2010 earthquake, people infected with cholera, paraplegic people, children living with HIV/Aids, and clinical medical, and custodial personnel.
A further snapshot of my work includes: Teaching Sitting with Dying programs for Visiting Nurse Service New York (VNSNY), tending to members of the Maasai Tribe at TED Talks Washington DC, leading Reiki trainings for Yoga Journal NYC, and presenting at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) as part of the Breath Hackathon. I have developed customized, innovative training clinics, workshops and self- care programs for many organizations including Salesforce, DKNY, the United Nations, Balance Integration, Bungalow 5, ESME, AFAC, Square Roots Maternal Wellness, Wright Center on Aging, The Village Zendo, and Gaiam Wellness. Currently, I am Director of Corporate Trainings for Maripossa Wellness working at New York-Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center with staff and clinicians. After my initial CPE training at Vassar Brothers Medical Center, I am currently a Chaplain resident in the spiritual care department at Mount Sinai Hospital. In all my endeavors, I am committed to working with awareness of diversity, inclusivity, and equality.
“From the moment I met Keely, she stood out as a guiding light. Keely’s mind, body and spirit embraces healing, as she compassionately cares for, and supports others, with her whole being. Keely continues to help make dreams come true and works to continually expand her knowledge and skill as a caregiver. Keely is truly one of a kind and the world needs more of her! She is an amazing healer and teacher and I love her!” – Donna Karan, Fashion Designer, Philanthropist
