MEET THE COLLECTIVE
Anna Pirkl MA, MFT, ATR
“After years working in clinical trauma recovery, Art Therapy and Jiu-Jitsu training, I founded Mental Muscle Collective to integrate a variety of modalities for a holistic whole body and mind approach. We assist in healing mental wounds and building mental resilience safely and compassionately.”
John Kovalsky
Meditation Teacher, Filmmaker, Artist
I began my path in studying meditation in 2014 and very quickly it became an essential part of my life. Discovering the benefits of meditation reshaped my day to day experience, specifically in how I work with my thoughts and challenging emotions. Uncovering the power of meditation lies in our ability to increase our awareness of our habitual patterns and how they impact our daily lives, it is this that I hope my teaching imparts on those I work with. My initial study was with a Tibetan Buddhist community in Southern Connecticut. After years in that community I began facilitating meditation and group discussions for young adults there. Over the following years I studied a variety of mindfulness traditions within Buddhism as well as science based mindfulness practices. In 2025 I received certification through Jack Kornfield and Tara Brach’s Mindfulness Meditation Teacher Certification Program. Throughout this time I worked in the media industry wearing a number of hats including, technical, logistics and creative roles. As a lifelong lover of the outdoors I also explore the ideas of interbeing taught by Thich Nhat Hanh through my programs. These include mindfulness retreats in nature where we explore our deep connection to our earth. Currently I have combined my experience in media and mindfulness as the AV and Media Manager at Upaya Zen Center in Santa Fe, New Mexico. This allows me to utilize my talents to create impactful media for mindfulness practitioners. While also continuing to deepen my knowledge of mindfulness practices and socially engaged buddhism under the amazing teachers there including Roshi Joan Halifax. My intention is to share my experience and knowledge so others may grow their compassion for themselves and others in order to live in a more harmonious way within an ever-challenging world.
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STORIES OF BUILDING STRENGTH AND HEALING
The trauma-informed seminar transformed our dojo's culture completely. Our instructors learned to recognize nervous system triggers and build genuine psychological safety while maintaining rigorous training standards.
- Sensei xxxx
The trauma-informed seminar transformed our dojo's culture completely. Our instructors learned to recognize nervous system triggers and build genuine psychological safety while maintaining rigorous training standards.
- Sensei xxxx
The trauma-informed seminar transformed our dojo's culture completely. Our instructors learned to recognize nervous system triggers and build genuine psychological safety while maintaining rigorous training standards.
- Sensei xxxx
The trauma-informed seminar transformed our dojo's culture completely. Our instructors learned to recognize nervous system triggers and build genuine psychological safety while maintaining rigorous training standards.
- Sensei xxxx