Our Story: Meet Alexandria

My Zen Den Founder

My Zen Den was inspired by a quiet room in the corner of a sweet Hudson Valley home, where founder + celebrity makeup artist Alexandria Gilleo retreats daily for her meditation practice and other wellness rituals.

For many years she’s called this space her zen den, and for just as long, her clients and community have requested a “zen den” of their own. The seed was planted, and in 2021, a quiet, positive space devoted to helping others feel their best came to life.

Alexandria’s passionate exploration of health and wellness was catalyzed by the early loss of her father, as well as her own struggles with chronic fatigue and Psoriasis. Researching and adopting new habits over time, she found that commitments to mindfulness practices and to supporting her physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing through healthy eating and herbs, quality rest, and prioritizing time in nature, all led to profound change and healing in her life. She also noticed that two wellness treatments in particular had an outsized impact on how she felt day-to-day, on her skin, and her client’s skin: Red Light Therapy and Infrared Sauna sessions.

My Zen Den was created to serve as a modern sanctuary and community resource: a safe, sunlight and plant-filled space to relax, rejuvenate, and recover. We celebrate mindful, sustainable living and lifelong learning, and we’re here to help you explore wellness rituals that leave you feeling like your most radiant self.

Connect with Alexandria directly, and check out her personal Insta account here.

Practitioner Community

  • Vienna Costanzo-D’Aprile is a licensed mental health counselor, spiritual coach, and Akashic Reiki Master. Her mission is to help others align with their authentic selves so they can joyfully carry out their life’s passions and desires.

  • Craniosacral Balancing + The Alexander Technique

    Elizabeth Castagna is certified to teach The Alexander Technique by Alexander Technique International. She dedicates her teaching to seeing and hearing her students clearly, supporting the unfolding of change in their body while respecting the natural pace of this movement which is unique to each individual. With an understanding that how we learn is essential to what we learn, Elizabeth integrates a variety of teaching tools into her sessions. Among them are Body Mapping, movement experiments, energy awareness and free drawing.

    Elizabeth provides a safe, creative space for her students where they are invited to be themselves, cultivate self-awareness and embody their thoughts, gestures and sense of wonder.

    Elizabeth is also a Craniosacral Balancing practitioner. She works with Somatic Experiencing and Body Mind Centering as methods to restore ease and integration for her students body, mind, spirit.


  • MSOT, Holistic Pelvic Care Practitioner

    Erica Rodas is the founder of Rubia, a business devoted to helping women unhook from past stories and patterns and return to the power and knowing in their female bodies. She blends her years as an occupational therapist, studies in Holistic Pelvic Care™, embodied movement, Emotional Release Breathwork as well as facilitation within the womb to guide women into deep knowing and relationship. Erica fosters connection and creativity through 1:1 virtual sessions, workshops and group coursework. Learn more about her offerings at ericarodas.com or on IG at @ericarodas_.

  • Somatic Release Breathwork

    Julia Zern grew up in Sweden and her winding path led her to finally land in the Hudson Valley. She's been teaching Yoga since 2011 leading classes, teacher trainings and working with private clients. She is a certified Somatic Release Breathwork™ Practitioner passionate about sharing this incredible self-healing modality. Julia is honored to share this medicine in a safe container with the Zen Den community.


  • Sound Healing

    Vinny Colandrea is a sound practitioner and yogi from the Hudson Valley, New York. Vinny has studied under gong master Don Conreaux and has been producing music for over 20 years. He is a practicing meditator, trained by yogi and mystic, Sadhguru. As a student of all religions, spirituality and awareness are the foundation for his guided meditations and conscious gatherings in sound.