About Us
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Rooted in Nature, Guided by Spirit, Grounded in Science
The Manas Collective is a nonprofit 501(c3) dedicated to holistic healing through play, creativity, and community. Rooted in the belief that every person—young and old—has an inner child capable of healing through imagination and creativity, we integrate ancient wisdom, modern science, and the natural world to foster joy, growth, and well-being. We focus on the child in all of us, to help us access creativity, as well as find love and peace in the healing process.
Our Reach
The Manas Collective’s programs currently reach the following populations:
- Children and adults with disabilities and neurodivergence
- Communities in the Yucatan Peninsula
- Immigrant communities in the Bay Area California
- General populations for environmental behavioral change reached through our nature focused art installations and programs
Why “Manas”?
The word Manas comes from Sanskrit and translates to “mind”—but not just the thinking mind. It speaks to the feeling, sensing, imagining mind: the inner labyrinth of wonder, curiosity, and emotion. To us, Manas represents the playful, intuitive mind of a child—the part of us that explores the world with openness and awe.
The name came to our founder during a meditation on peace, joy, and love. It reminds us that healing begins not just with thought, but with presence, play, and a return to the center of who we are.
Our Programs
Inclusive Retreats
We organize art and transformation retreats for the general public, including individuals with disabilities or health challenges who need extra support.
Art Installations & Consulting
We are creating somatic art experiences that emphasize the elements to help individuals remember self-care and care for the natural world.
Includes leaf rubbings and a musical wind-chime workshop.
Art and Nature Curriculum
We provide inclusive programs for individuals with disabilities, neurodivergence, and typical development, emphasizing learning and growth through nature, art, and holistic healing practices.
Mahala Berry
M.S. SLP-CCC, Bilingual Speech-Language Pathologist, Energy Channel & Founder of The Manas Collective
Mahala Berry is a bilingual speech-language pathologist and channeler whose work bridges science,
spirit, and creativity. Her career has taken her across the globe—from U.S. schools and military
clinics in Germany to public hospitals in Guatemala—serving individuals with diverse physical
and neurological needs.
After a traumatic event led to a personal health crisis, Mahala began a deep healing journey,
learning from medicine elders across Nepal, the Philippines, and New Mexico. Along the way, she
developed the ability to channel higher frequencies and guide others in reconnecting to their
own innate healing through energy work, creativity, and play in nature.
Now based in Xuilub, Yucatán, she is creating a new healing center near her teacher and mentor.
The Manas Collective is the culmination of her path—a space where ancestral wisdom, imagination,
and community come together to support healing across generations.
Our Story
Behind every movement is a moment — and ours began with one woman’s return to creativity, calm, and care.
