About
ARtist, ENTREPRENEUR, & mindfulness teacher
As Co Owner of Vallefuoco Contractors since 1999, Gianna has spent over two decades helping thousands of clients manifest their creative tile and marble projects in the Washington, DC area. Trained as an artist in figurative oil painting in Florence, Italy, she uses her art background and principles from her undergraduate degree in psychology to help clients make mindful construction design decisions, and to create Intentional Spaces in their homes. Construction is not her only gig! Gianna’s true passion is teaching mindfulness, and empowering fellow humans to thrive!
Her student base spans populations across the globe, including psychologists, law enforcement & first responders, non-profits, public and private schools and universities, trade associations, private companies, and retreat centers. Gianna‘s mindfulness workshops are known to bring her students to all kinds of tears; most often cathartic ones, and sometimes those from belly-aching laughter. Her unique method for skillfully navigating common human experiences is based on areas of study she holds dear. She gently weaves art, eastern wisdom, neurobiology, and psychology principles into her programs as a means for making mindfulness accessible to all who want to “think and feel” better.
Gianna’s inspiration to teach started on a yoga mat, as a 200 RYT Yoga Teacher. However, teaching asana postures was just a stepping stone to the contemplative side of yoga, leading her to become a neuroscience-based Mindfulness Meditation Teacher. She carries years of experience in compassionate leadership in the construction industry, and through mindfulness-based coursework with SIYLI, Beyond Om, and Thrive Yoga. She completed a 2 year practicum as an MMTCP certified instructor through the Awareness Training Institute and Greater Good Science Center at UC Berkeley with Tara Brach and Jack Kornfield. She is currently training in Interpersonal Neurobiology with Dr Dan Siegel. She sees herself as both teacher and student. Gianna is also an inclusion advocate and a creative at heart. Her own passion projects include Disability Inclusion Guild®; a 501(c)3 dedicated to breaking social barriers for people with disabilities, and Beyond Gifted®; a mindful gift portal she is revamping to specialize in gifts of compassion for late 2023. Gianna believes a conscious intention and a sense of belonging are the key to self empowerment.
“To create anything, we must be intentional. Intention steers us from the heart & saves us from the ego.”
Gianna Vallefuoco
Services & Events
MINDFULNESS WORKSHOPS
Companies, Schools, and Communities – Whether you’re looking for tools to regulate emotions, improve relationships, find motivation, or break unwanted patterns and habits, mindfulness can empower you to make long term shifts to navigate life skillfully. Expect to create deeper connection with yourself and others, and learn to thrive in each aspect of life. We each have the capacity to overcome challenges, fulfill our deep desires, and find purpose and joy in our lives.
INTUITIVE ART SESSIONS
Small Groups in the Art Studio Join me in my own home in my N Bethesda, MD art studio to harness your creative spirit. No art experience required. I believe we are all artists. In this small group session, we practice meditation, unleash your innate creativity, and help you discover your intuitive calling or purpose. You will create your own artwork to keep forever. All art supplies and media will be provided. Bring only an open mind and heart.
RETREATS OF A LIFETIME
Life Changing Retreats April 20-26, 2022, join me for the RETREAT OF A LIFETIME in Tuscany, Italy. Spend 6+ life-changing days learning to manifest your ideal life in Montepulciano, Italy at the renowned Relais Ortaglia with Sandy Ferretti, Sandy Abrams, Elia Nichols and me. Join us to learn concrete ways to optimize your life through breath, voice, posture, intuition, and creativity.
In addition to improving our lives, our extraordinary agenda includes a variety of unforgettable, interactive experiences. View the Tuscan countryside from a hot air balloon (or from the ground,) go truffle hunting for rare culinary treasures, sample Montepulciano’s divine wines, and learn to eat intuitively as we taste and cook some of Italy’s most cherished cuisine together. Enjoy movement and yoga (all levels) while looking out at the breathtaking Italian landscape. More info to follow soon…
As humans, we tend to conform to social norms to be accepted. Often this means suppressing our innate calling in order to do what’s expected of us. This includes how we choose our friends, life partners, studies, professions, and our belief systems as a whole. We attach to the identity we create so we can feel like we fit in. Unfortunately, this can mean abandoning our intuitive calling, “our truth.” After years of feeling unfulfilled, despite a seemingly successful life, I was able to quiet the influences around me, to find my own truth, and reconnect with my calling. I found a way to weave my existing life into my new life as an artist and a teacher empowering others to create their own ideal lives. Join me to create your own truth, your purpose-driven life.
Recent Stories
Happy International Women’s Day! To all you ladies across the globe who’ve kept me afloat every time I started sinking, thank you! You are my fortresses! May we always uplift each other! In honor of all the gals out there who nurture everyone else, please join me in my favorite city on the planet to practice some self care and empowerment! I will be teaching “Mindfulness, Neuroscience, & How We Present Ourselves To Others” with the amazing @elianichols (brilliant TV and theatre actress/ TedX Speaker coach) On May 24 and/or 27, join us at the beautiful Palazzo San Niccolo in the heart of Florence 🇮🇹 for 2 unique morning retreats, as we weave together our passions for mindfulness, neuroscience, public speaking, and self expression. Link in bio to register. Step into your power, ladies! #mindfulness #meditation #selfcare #selfcompassion #publicspeaking #findyourvoice #selfexpression #tuscany #womeninflorence #florenceretreats #neuroscience #neurobiology #interpersonalneurobiology #womensupportingwomen #italywomen #internationalwomensday #florenceitaly #italyretreats #womenstripsitaly
Calling all my inspiring tile friends and colleagues! In honor of our industry’s commitment to wellbeing, this year’s Coverings Show will be offering a Wellness Lounge, promoting mindfulness. Join me in person April 18-21 in Orlando, FL for classes throughout the week, focusing on skill sets to make your work life better AND your life work better! I’ll be teaching 30-40 minute workshops covering how to be good at being human (with less suffering) We’ll cover resilience after setbacks, neuroscience of stress, meditation for fidgety over-thinkers, simple breathwork, growth mindset, grit, failure as fuel, and more! No mindfulness experience or yoga pants required! Join me in your finest suits or dirtiest work boots! All are welcome! Link in my bio for free registration for @coveringsshow - our big and bold tile conference of the year! #coverings #tileinstallation #tilelove #selfcompassion #mindfulness #meditation #resilience #selfcare #growthmindset #grit #perseverance #curiosity #presence #ntca #constructionlife #wellness #tiledesign #tileart #tiledistributors #artisans #artisanontap #tileinstallers #interiordesign #wellness #workplacewellness
This is the week of big ❤️! A very special HappyWomenDinners.com Galentine’s day celebrating @paulinaporizkov and her beautiful, riveting memoir “No Filter: The Good,The Bad, and The Beautiful”. It was a day full of human connection, honesty, vulnerability and no filters! Paulina lit up our home with her profound wisdom and undeniable compassion (including for me as the frazzled and flustered hostess). It was also a reunion of very special women brought together by Paulina’s candor in sharing her story of grief, pain, resilience, gratitude and her path to finding her authentic voice. This book is truly healing! There were a few tears, many hugs, and an abundance of #happywomen uplifting each other. I’m drowning in gratitude for Paulina and all the wonderful people I get to learn from! Big thank you to @avoilaskincare for the generous gift of their incomparable beauty oil and @jillconnection for creating moments to connect happy and inspiring women! Thank you to @laurabiederman_re and Jacqueline Havens and @pattpooh for behind the scenes help. The L❤️VE continued with one of my favorite humans popping in to bring our leftovers to the local firehouse! Big shout out to holidays that honor the expression of all kinds of L❤️VE! Reminder to show people how loved they are! Posting some extra pics of a few who may need to be reminded! #youareloved #love #compassion #nofilter #resilience #galentinesday #valentinesday #booktour #womenauthors #wisdomontap #womensupportingwomen #gratitude #selfcompassion #happywomendinners
Calling all NEW PARENTS! Not sure if you can tell how joyful and overwhelmed I was (almost 24 years ago) the moment I became a mom. It was an incredible moment, but I do wish I had the resources then that I have today. To those new moms and dads who are ecstatic, struggling, exhausted, overjoyed, overworked, overwhelmed, underslept, or just wishing for some human connection with other new parents, this post is for you! I will be teaching MINDFULNESS FOR NEW PARENTS on Sunday 01/29/23 as part of a new in person #newparent series at @bender_jcc I will cover #selfdoubt #sleepdeprivation #acceptance #selfcompassion #breathwork #overwhelm #relationships using #neuroscience #psychology and #mindfulness concepts. The series starts this Sunday! Link in bio to register or https://www.benderjccgw.org/event/the-village/ #newparents #parenting #newparentsupport #mindfulparenting #community #selfcompassion #sleepdeprived #momlife #dadlife
Una bellissima giornata festeggiando 24 anni di matrimonio! So grateful to celebrate on a warm October day in Georgetown, where we spent our honeymoon weekend 24 years ago while 6 months pregnant with @isivallefuoco . The anniversary highlight was bumping smack into my 3rd grade bestie @stpzky (who is still beautiful to the core) and toasting with her at @peacockcafe with fabulous drinks and all kinds of chocolate! Spent much of the day surrounded by fascinating modern art for opening weekend @rubellmuseumdc #grateful #anniversary #georgetown #artmuseums #childhoodbesties
Dance urges are hard to suppress in NYC in autumn! So grateful for unseasonably fabulous weather and wonderful new friendships @nyuniversity with #halloweenvibes 🙏💕🎃#familyweekend #nyc #nychalloween #familyreunion #gratitude #dancemoves #spontaneousdancing
Happy 19th birthday @biancavallefuoco_ You finally get to spend it in your dream city #nyc #nycbirthday
Join me for Intro To Mindfulness at 10 am this Thursday Sept 15 at @bender_jcc at the Health & Harvest Fair. Free Covid boosters from @giantfood Link in bio #health #wellness #mindfulness #changeofseasons #selfcare
33 years later, and the conversations have changed to our adult kids and aging parents, but the connection doesn’t waver. Always so grateful for our #reunions #dormsisters #girlfriends #aephi #arizonawildcats
Just left a piece of my 💜 in NY. Hope this big city will start to feel like home @biancavallefuoco_ and that you find your new village @nyuniversity
Such a special birthday week! Reconnecting with my lifelong friend @slwises and meeting each other’s kids. Having a final lunch with @kanekatcher as we send off @rosskatcher_ and @biancavallefuoco_ and we become empty nesters. Making wishes with my family before all the kids disperse across the globe. Truly #grateful!
It’s been exactly 30 years since I last set foot in Spain and Portugal as a student in Madrid. So grateful to return to this magical peninsula, and relive my indulgences here… #eating #drinking #laughing #savoring #exploring #walking #sweating (gracias Sevilla) and lots of #climbing which included anything we could get our feet on… castle walls, a fig tree, a couple cathedral towers, a fortress, a palace hill, and a few thousand stairs! We truly indulged in the art, architecture, history, food, shopping, culture, nature, and the magnificent Iberian people. Gracias and obrigada to #malaga #albufeira #sevilla #lisboa #españasiempre #portugal #museodepicassomálaga
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