About
About Renata Malinauskas
Renata is a somatic therapist, movement and nutrition coach, and Insight Meditation teacher. Her interest lies in the intersection between psychological healing, embodied awakening, and health.
Having endured childhood trauma and being born and raised in an unsafe environment, from a young age she has been interested in how the body can be a vehicle not only for health and resilience, but also for trauma healing and spiritual awakening.
She is passionate about supporting people to become whole and find a sense of fulfilment through integrating body, mind, and spirit. She deeply believes that one of the biggest causes of suffering is disconnection from the truth of who we really are, which includes not only our spiritual being, but also our individual backgrounds and unique unfolding.
Background & Influences
Renata has been deeply influenced by many teachers, coaches, and mentors over the years, as well as through her own deep path of self-inquiry.
Some of the lineages and teachings that have had a profound influence on her include Vajrayana Buddhism; Western Insight Meditation and teachers such as Rob Burbea; embodied non-dual teachings, including the work of John Prendergast and Judith Blackstone; and approaches to spiritual and experiential inquiry such as the Diamond Approach and Eugene Gendlin's Focusing.
Her professional background includes Nutrition and Dietetics, Fitness, Psychosomatic Therapy, Mindfulness Training, TRE®, Hakomi, Focusing, and Insight Meditation.
Renata offers one-to-one sessions, courses, and retreats, and holds each area of her work within a separate container, making it easier for people to identify what best suits them at a particular time in their lives. She believes it is important to embody change gradually, rather than trying to work on or master everything at the same time.
You are welcome to explore ways of working with Renata, or to get in touch if you would like to find out which option might best suit you.
Teaching & Facilitation Experience
Meditation Teacher & Facilitator – Workshops, courses, and retreats (2019–current). Teaching embodied inquiry, somatic awareness, nervous system regulation, and contemplative practice to groups and individuals.
Embodiment Module Facilitator – Australian Association of Buddhist Counsellors & Psychotherapists (AABCAP) (2026). Designing and delivering an embodiment module integrating somatic inquiry, trauma-informed practice, and Buddhist contemplative frameworks for counsellors and psychotherapists.
Founder and Teacher – Still Water Insight (2019–2026). Teaching Insight Meditation through courses, retreats, Dharma talks, and ongoing practice groups, with an emphasis on embodied presence, inquiry, and lived integration.
Professional Qualifications & Certifications
Focusing-Oriented Therapy (FOT) – Focusing-Oriented Therapy Academy
Insight Dharma Teacher Training & Mentoring Program - Insight Meditation Institute
ISITTA – Innate Somatic Intelligence Trauma Therapy Approach (Levels I & II) - Embodywise
Hakomi Mindful Somatic Psychotherapy Training
TRE® (Tension & Trauma Release Exercises) Certification
Mindfulness & Compassion Teacher Training - Insight Meditation Institute
Alongside my therapeutic and contemplative training, I hold a Bachelor of Nutrition & Dietetics and qualifications in Psychosomatic Therapy and Fitness, reflecting my long-standing integration of body-based health, movement, and healing.
Ongoing Practice & Professional Development
The Philosophy of the Implicit – Eugene Gendlin (2019–current). Ongoing study of felt sense, implicit knowing, and experiential philosophy.
Diamond Approach – Ridhwan Foundation (2018–2023) - Long-term engagement in inquiry-based spiritual and psychological work.
Vipassana / Insight Meditation Silent Retreats - Over 500 days of residential retreat practice (2013–current)
Internal Family Systems (IFS)
Focusing – Levels I & II
Nonviolent Communication (NVC)
TRE® Workshops
Community & Service
Insight Meditation Institute (2021–current) - Ongoing service and support within the Insight Meditation community. - https://www.insightmeditationinstitute.net
Sydney Insight Meditators (2016–2023) - Community involvement and teaching support within an established Insight Meditation sangha. - https://www.sydneyinsightmeditators.org
