Dee de Lara (she/they/SIYA)
Hello, Welcome! It’s really nice to meet you.
I’m Dee (she/they/siya), a Filipinx-American-Canadian facilitator, multi-passionate artist and community-invested organizer. I focus on connecting the dots with and for historically marginalized identities through somatics-based movement and Pilates to spark curiosity; values coaching exploring your what, why and how to ignite action; and brand strategy decoding culture and human behaviour to fuel untold narratives.
I walk with the lived experience of existing in the “in-between”: they are a member of the Filipinx diaspora, a settler immigrant to the US and Canada, a cross-border nomad, and transitioned careers in their mid-30s. This can be lonely, and with the understanding of the importance of connection, The Liminal Movement was founded to create spaces for wondering and wandering in the "in-between" in community. It seeks to weave webs between humans who explore and exist in transitional, fluid and hazy spaces by offering moments of collaborative disruption, serendipitous connection and playful curiosity. Rooted firmly in decolonization, embodiment and trauma awareness, I seek to create community that exists boldly and lovingly in the “ In-Between” proving you do not need to be “THERE” in order to be held in community.
I was born in Manila, grew up on Lenape Territory (Staten Island, NY) have lived in Coast Salish Territory (Victoria, BC) and Manhattan, with stints in Brooklyn and Siena, Italy. I currently facilitate from Tkaronto (Toronto), the traditional lands of the Haudenosaunee, the Anishinaabe and the Wendat, and the treaty territory of the Mississaugas of the Credit.
Thank you for being here.
Photo by Jessica Blaine Smith, Floral installation by STRANGE PHOOL
Teaching + Training
MOVEMENT TEACHER
INDEPENDENT | 2020-present
MUSE MOVEMENT (Reformer + Mat Pilates) | 2023-2025
SUBSTITUTE @ THE VILLIJ, DOWNWARD DOG (Mat Pilates) | 2022-present
GOODBODYFEEL (Mat Pilates) | 2020-2021
MISFITSTUDIO (Mat Pilates) | 2019-2020
PILATES W/ CROSS SEA ACADEMY OF MOVEMENT EDUCATION | 2025-present
MENTORSHIP W/ FINE TUNE PILATES | 2024-2025
REFORMER TEACHER TRAINING W/ MUSE MOVEMENT | 2023
MAT PILATES 200-HR TEACHER TRAINING W/ GOODBODYFEEL | 2021
TRAUMATIC STRESS + BREATH W/ JENNIFER SNOWDON + JANE CLAPP | 2021
EMBODIED DIGNITY + BOUNDARIES W/ JANE CLAPP | 2020
MOVEMENT FOR TRAUMA L1 W/ JANE CLAPP | 2020
MAT PILATES 200-HR TEACHER TRAINING W/ MISFITMETHOD | 2019
FACILITATION + space-holding
RISE TRIBE | Co-Executive Director | 2023-present
INSIGHTS IN COLOR | Initiatives Partner + Board Member | 2020-2023
BETWEEN US | Facilitator + Writer | 2018-2021
REIKI FOR THE TIMES™ L2 W/ CLARE KENTY | 2021 (in progress)
COACHING MENTORSHIP W/ KIM SAIRA | 2022-2023
SOMATIC ATTACHMENT THERAPY CERTIFICATE W/ THE EMBODY LAB | 2022
COACHING MENTORSHIP W/ ALEX ARNOPOL | 2022
INNERVATOR MEDITATION MENTORSHIP W/ NATALIE MATIAS | 2021-2022
WHAT_TIME | C0-Creator | 2020-2022
REIKI FOR THE TIMES™ L1 W/ CLARE KENTY | 2021
MY GRANDMOTHER’S HANDS STUDY GROUP W/ KARINE BELL + RESMAA MENAKEM | Somatic Abolitionism Student + Triad Co-Facilitator | 2020-2021
MOVEMENT FOR TRAUMA L1 | Breakout Room Facilitator | 2021
RESEARCH + INSIGHTS
CATEGORIES + CLIENTS
Media (Paramount, NBCUniversal), Tech (Google, Twitter), Fashion (Vans, adidas, Hanesbrands, Chanel), Beauty (L’Oreal), Social Issues (Girl Scouts, Elections Canada), Healthcare (diabetes, kidney disease, MS)
DESIGN + CONTENT STRATEGY
Dee de Lara Jewelry Creative Direction + Design (2014-present), WHAT_TIME Design, Web + Social Media (2020-2022), FLARE Magazine Contributing Social Media Consultant (2014)
21 YEARS GLOBAL RESEARCH + STRATEGY
Freelance (Inner Chapter LA, Hidden London, Galileo NY, Tapestry London, CrowdDNA NY, Kantar NY, , Zulu Alpha Kilo Toronto), Full-time (Flamingo NY, Human Branding Toronto, Youthography Toronto, McCann Toronto)