Gwen Payne

Meet Gwen Payne. She was born in Italy, grew up in Tunisia, and attended boarding schools in Europe throughout high school before moving to the United States to attend Stanford University.

Q:  Can you tell us about the many things that you’re involved with here in Sedona?

A: I call myself a Transformation Guide because I use various modalities, including breathwork.

For example, a person lays on their back, breathing through an open mouth in a conscious connected way. This type of breathing lowers their brain wave state. Each session will be different for them, even though the process is the same. It’s like hypnotherapy. They are present but accessing parts of themselves that they don’t typically pay attention to. Whether it’s their physical body, emotions, memories, insights, intuition, or spiritual connection. I’ve been doing this for about 20 years. I train people to do this type of work as well as facilitate. It’s my passion.

I also look at Family Constellations. Many people carry trauma from past generations without realizing it.

Another modality that I work with is called ‘The Passion Test.’ I learned this 11 years ago, and it was a life-changing experience for me. We uncover a person’s top five passions. Passions are energy and can change over time. It doesn’t have to be something we are excited about doing; we may just desire inner peace.

Q: How long have you lived or worked in Sedona?

A: 12 years.

Q: What is something that you love to do here in Sedona, aside from work?

A: I love to be out in nature with my dogs, by the creek, or hiking.

Q: Is there one thing that you wish you learned earlier in life?

A: I wish my life would have been easier. Every experience I’ve ever had has brought me to this moment and the work that I do. I feel like a kid on a playground doing the work that I do. Who I am today, how I think about myself, and how comfortable I am in my skin are essential experiences that I wouldn’t trade for anything.

Q: Who is the most exciting person you’ve met here in Sedona?

A: Aside from Jonelle Klein, I would say my friend Sandra. I love her! She is so passionate and has lived in many different places throughout the world. When we first met, we instantly connected because we both lived globally. She’s a dynamo and keeps me on my toes.

Q: What would you consider your greatest accomplishment?

A: My kids. I went to boarding school by the time I was 14, lived in a different country, and became independent. I offered that to both my kids, and neither one of them wanted to leave home. When I dropped my son off at college, which is only 2 hours away, I cried all the way home. I felt that I was closing a chapter, and for the first time, as a parent, I felt like I had accomplished something.

Q: How would your closest friend/s describe you?

A: Funny – and a little bit of a live wire.

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