Who We Are
Read Our Bios
Sajal Patel
Founder
Well hello! She is Sajal Patel (aka Sage, aka Kuki)...a proud single mama bear of 2 incredibly kind and smart young men, currently residing in the suburbs of ATL - although she truly considers herself a citizen of the planet. She grew up in London with one of another SisterZ, Solat Zaidi, and she wouldn’t trade her childhood for anything. A lot of those fond memories are due to quick trips and vacations - fundamental to what shaped her into the person that she is today and the career path she chose.
She is in global innovation for a company whose mission is centered around sustainability and reversing global warming (pretty dope), requiring a skill set of adaptability and precision. But it’s getting to work with people from all walks of life, from all around the world, that’s enhanced her immersive experience into other worlds; which is why she will be focusing her ‘real talk’ on her journeys around the globe and the numerous ways it positively impacts your mind, body, and soul.
ZAIBA HASAN
Founder
Zaiba runs Emerge Parenting, which specializes in helping parents practice self-care and connects with their own spirituality so that they become more introspective in their parenting awareness. Her specialty is “Listening from the Heart,” a communication style that is at the center of Sufi introspection and healing. She is also the founder and co-host of the popular parenting podcast Mommying While Muslim. Married for 22 years, she is a self-described “basketball mom” who spends her weekends following her four children on courts across the DC/Maryland/Virginia area. Zaiba’s goal is to help fellow parents to become more centered and mindful—and better parents in the process. She is certified as a Parent Coach by the Parent Coaching Institute, in Spiritual Peacemaking by the University of Sufism, and in Sleep Training by the Family Sleep Institute. She enjoys practicing yoga and dhikr-style meditation.
SOLAT ZAIDI
Founder
Maybe it’s because I’m a Londoner
That I love London so...
Well, maybe it’s because I’m a Londoner
That I think of her wherever I go
The song above is her song. Her name is Solat Zaidi and she grew up in London and moved to the US of A as a young adult. She has always been a dreamer, who sees the world through rose-colored glasses, a girl who has big curly hair and an even bigger appetite for learning and life. She is a proud nerd who has a background in IT, Psychology, and Biotechnology. She describes herself as a ‘lifelong learner’ who loves acquiring new skills and experiences; from baking to cooking, to crafting or traveling to new places.
2020 was a tough year for all of us including Solat, especially being so far away from her family in London...but the upside for 2020 was the ability for her to slow down and start her journey of self-care and love. Solat started meditation and taking care of her physical/mental health.
Solat is super excited to be part of Mind Body and Soul SisterZ, where like-minded women can share their experiences, and above all be part of a team where women want to support and empower each other. She is looking forward to sharing her mum's Pakistani/British fusion recipes, her crafting successes, and failures, self-love techniques, travel advice and technology favorites!
Alvena JeffEry
Contributor
Alvena Jeffery is an ABA therapist serving children with autism and is also a full-time mama to a two-year-old boy. She is a mental health advocate and received her bachelor's degree in Psychology from UMUC. She was born and raised in Chicago and now resides in Northern Virginia with her family. In her spare time, you will find Alvena busy cooking/baking in the kitchen or spending time with her loved ones. She diligently raises her toddler to be independent and emotionally intelligent, hoping to set him up for success in his future.
Ambereen Husain
Contributor
Raised in the windy city of Chicago, Ambereen has made Maryland her home for the past 10 years. Her multi-cultural background (Polish-Pakistani) has given her a world of experiences she hopes to share with you, from her family traditions, travels, fashion sense, culinary adventures, and more! She is a mom of three, works full time as an Executive Assistant, is homeschooling this year, and when she can volunteers at community events! She has a passion for baking and dancing, entertaining, and is always on the quest to find the perfect cup of chai. She hopes to share her passion for life through her articles on food, fashion, family & fun places to check out!
Ambreen RiZVI
Contributor
Ambreen Rizvi has over 20 years of experience in risk management and regulatory relations in financial services including Fannie Mae and Capital One. She obtained her Bachelor of Arts in Economics and International Relations from Mount Holyoke College (MA), and her Nonprofit Management Executive Certificate from Georgetown University (D.C.). Ambreen grew up in Paris, France while her father was posted in Interpol as the head of Narcotics for the Middle East and Asia, as the first representative from Pakistan, which is her country of birth. Ambreen is fluent in English, French and Urdu. She is the Founder and President of The Brigade of Mercy (BOM), a local volunteer-run nonprofit whose mission is to provide charitable humanitarian relief to the destitute, homeless, orphans, refugees and victims of wars or other calamities. Ambreen is also the current President of the Rotary Club of Tysons Corner (VA) and Board Member/Committee Chair for Strategic Planning for New Hope Housing, a local nonprofit fighting homelessness in VA. Ambreen lives with her husband and three children in VA. She is an avid world traveler and a true humanitarian at heart.
Dr. Anne Hussain
Contributor
Dr. Anne Hussain is a naturopathic doctor and period literacy advocate based out of Ontario, Canada. She helps menstruators optimise their periods, hormones, and fertility. Her personal experience with polycystic ovarian syndrome and a thyroid disorder drives her passion to empower and educate women to practice self-awareness, self-compassion, and self-advocacy. She believes that without health, we cannot show up for ourselves, our dreams and goals, and the people who matter most.
Anne is the creator of the online period program called Periodicity, is a supervising clinician for the non-profit Naturopaths Without Borders in Thailand, and sits on the board of directors for the Aurora Community Band. She personally is plant-based, loves eating chocolate, drinking tea, forest-bathing, reading, playing her saxophone, and talking about menstrual health.
ARIANA ZAHEDI
Contributor
Born and raised in Arizona, she graduated from Arizona State University with a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, while volunteering at Chandler Regional Medical Center and pursuing a passion in hybrid photography. Her practice of mindfulness and soul involves intertwining the powers of nature with love and celebration to fabricate a beautiful form of paradise that she aspires to capture and show the world. Check out her tips and tricks with photography on our page!
BATUL SADIQ
Contributor
Batul Sadiq is the founder and owner of BHS Image Consulting where she works with women to identify their personal style and guides them in curating a fun and functional wardrobe to enhance their lives, empower their spirits, and achieve their goals.
Her time spent at the Fashion Institute of Technology and San Francisco State University, combined with her Asian American, Muslim upbringing, has shaped her perspective on the way we dress and its global impact on business, environments, and people.
When she’s not pouring through trend publications, working on wardrobe revivals, and personal shopping, Batul loves to immerse herself in historical fiction novels, kickboxing, crossword puzzles, and discovering new museum exhibits.
She resides in Maryland with her husband and three children.
Irene B.
Contributor
Hello, her name is Irene. Trapped-wannabe writer, a woman of mystery and powers - namely, the power of delusion. Throw in all the usual’s; works in corporate America; salivates for the semi-dramatic; secret writer turned international spy; able to walk into Target, unrecognizable; has a beautiful family who pushes all her buttons and pets all her peeves. That's her!
What’s her niche, what’s her passion? Well, nobody puts Baby in a corner, and nobody puts her in a box - meaning, she has no clue. She shoots from the hip - don't fight her on this.
She is a Londoner born and bred, and Ah-ha, now the weirdness makes sense, you say. Transported to the USA, living on the East Coast. As a lover of travel, crime dramas, action movies, and over-priced perfumes, she has no idea where the Mind Body Soul SisterZ plans to take her. Maybe Richard Branson’s Necker Island - she is just putting that out there in the atmosphere.
Johanna FOng
Contributor
Johanna came to America as an exchange student in Western Maryland and ended up staying and setting roots in the Country which shares her same birthday!
Naturally curious, Johanna loves to make friends from diverse background, try new food, travel to places and pick up various hobbies. In fact, she met her husband at a swing dance class. They have two beautiful girls who are now grown and flown to College.
Johanna held a series of business operations and strategic roles in international trade, technology and non-profit industry. As a newly empty-nester, she seizes the opportunity to re-focus on self-discovery and self-care.
Leah Silverman
Contributor
Leah is above all a lifetime learner. She grew up in Northern Virginia dancing, running, writing, and playing piano. She graduated from the University of Virginia with degrees in Economics and Sustainability in 2020. During her time there, she took an eclectic mix of classes and studied abroad in India, Australia, Denmark, and Sweden - fascinated by how other cultures operate and appreciative of novel and immersive experiences.
Upon graduating from UVA, she moved to upcountry Maui to live and work on a permaculture farm called Pono Grown Farm Center. The community she lived with, and the relationships to food and spirituality she developed there have propelled her to devote her life to making this world a sweeter place. While she was originally led down the path of wellness via a search for mental health, exploring wellness quickly became her greatest passion. She is now a holistic health coach and yoga instructor, and loves experiencing and sharing all things that bring lightness and vitality. She also aims to bridge the gap between Eastern and Western medicine, as together they have helped her become the person she is today.
Aside from wellness and sustainability, some of her favorite things include spending time with her younger sister, dry humor, hip hop dance, loud music, math tutoring, and driving along coastlines.
TONYA STEWART
Contributor
It’s difficult to explain a thing that exists beyond explanation like the idea of who I am. The wonderment of a person cannot be described using physical descriptors. Who I am is what I know when the noises fade into the background, the lights are out and no one else is nearby. I am the resonant tones I sense outside of others’ definitions of me.
I’m cool with that, but I’m also cool with wearing titles. For simplicity’s sake, I am including all that jazz too.
Hi! My name is Tonya Stewart. I currently reside in Northern VA, a suburb of our nation’s capital. I am a wife and mother of two adult children and one teen. I am a writer/poet, yogi, student of life and humanity, and creator of artistic expressions to both feed the soul and reflect the inner contents of one’s spirit.
I graduated from K-State with a master’s in adult education and from UNCCH with a baccalaureate in anthropology. I have lived in the North, South, East, and West coasts plus the midwest of the United States. I also lived abroad in Korea and love to travel to experience multiple cultures.
I have thrived with (undiagnosed) ADHD the majority of my life and find that it is the best way to get many things experienced and accomplished while mastering none. Again, I’m cool with that!