I am Ana Barreto.

I’m the author of eight books (and counting) and more than a hundred talks and meditations created to support women on their path of self-discovery and healing. As a transformational teacher and founder of the Body, Mind & Wisdom Academy for Women, I am devoted to helping women break free from self-doubt, restore balance, and live with clarity, purpose, and peace.

My journey to guiding others began in the beautiful mess of trying to hold everything together—until life gently (and sometimes not so gently) showed me a different way to live, to listen, and to lead from within.

It All Began With Exhaustion.

I was a divorced mother of two, working nonstop, juggling career, parenting, and perfectionism. I wore my exhaustion like a badge of honor and survived on caffeine, adrenaline, and sheer willpower. I believed that if I just worked harder, if I could do everything right, I’d finally feel fulfilled.

Until I woke up one morning after my 42nd birthday feeling decades older, hollow, and numb. My body was giving up, my mind was drowning in self-criticism, and my spirit was tired of waiting. That morning became my breaking (and awakening) point. I realized I had built a successful life that didn’t feel like mine.

From Rock Bottom to Awakening.

A woman in a black jacket and white dress leans against a large tree, looking up thoughtfully towards the sky, with a tranquil body of water in the background.

That was the day I started listening to the quiet whispers of my soul. I began meditating consistently, studying energy, and learning how to slow down long enough to hear my inner guidance and be strong enough to take action. At first, it felt impossible. But little by little, I found a rhythm creating sacred space, asking for help, trusting my intuition, practicing gratitude, and learning to let go.

“What I discovered was profound: peace wasn’t something I had to earn; it was something I had to allow. Success wasn’t about doing more; it was about being more aligned.“

Meditation became my anchor. Energy became my language. And empowering women became my mission.

A Journey from Brazil to New York.

I was born in Rio de Janeiro on Brazil’s Independence Day—a fitting symbol for a woman destined to seek freedom. My life changed forever when, at 20, I followed a vision and moved to New York with just $1,000 and a dream. I cleaned houses, studied English at night, and worked my way through college until I earned my MBA.

Ana Barreto sitting on a park bench, wearing a black blazer and white dress, holding a book titled 'Women'. She has long hair and a relaxed smile, with a tree and greenery in the background.

But despite my success in business, my heart longed for something deeper. I wanted to understand why women—so capable, so strong—still felt small, unworthy, or burned out. That question became the seed of my life’s work.

“I have been blessed with a challenging life that forced me to look for ways to find clarity, alignment, and a spiritual connection, and then teach others.”

Today,

I’m an author, coach, meditation teacher, and entrepreneur helping women reconnect with themselves and transform their lives from the inside out. Through my books, courses, meditations, and talks, I share the tools that once helped me rebuild my own life. The tools I use are rooted in mindfulness, spirituality, psychology, and practical wisdom.

I’ve published eight books. Each one is a love letter to women ready to rise. I am honored to share my gifts with you through my mission to help women improve the quality of their lives.

I have studied and continue to learn about Psychology, Neuroscience, Metaphysics, Energy Healing, Feng Shui, Women’s History, Women in Business, Women and Leadership, Meditation, and Eastern Philosophies.

Since 2002, I have attended classes with great teachers such as Louise Hay, Wayne Dyer, Joe Dispenza, Jack Canfield, Nancy Santo-Pietro, Mario Martinez, Carolyn Myss, Tony Roberts, Bob Proctor, Hale Dwoskin, and others.

My mission is simple: to help women remember who they are, trust their inner wisdom, and live with purpose and grace.

What I’ve Learned Along the Way

My meditations, courses, and talks on platforms like Insight Timer have reached women around the world—helping them release fear, reclaim confidence, and remember that joy and success are not separate from spirituality; they are born from it. I’m living proof that you can reinvent your life, no matter where you start. From a small apartment in Rio to building a life of purpose in New York, I’ve walked the path from burnout to balance, from self-doubt to self-trust, from overdoing to simply being. If I can do it, so can you—and it would be my honor to walk beside you as you embrace your own success.