Meet Guanina G. Palermo-pinckney

We were lucky to catch up with Guanina G. Palermo-pinckney recently and have shared our conversation below.

Guanina G., we’re thrilled to have you on our platform and we think there is so much folks can learn from you and your story. Something that matters deeply to us is living a life and leading a career filled with purpose and so let’s start by chatting about how you found your purpose.

Knowing what I know now about having, knowing and finding your purpose is to me…like that of the journey of a warrior. That journey is different for everyone, but for me it was unique, but it was also very HARD, it was EMPOWERING, it was the absolute BIGGEST LESSON I have ever learned. I knew my entire life I had a purpose and many times even asked myself what it was. I am currently 46 years old, but it was when I turned 40…I began to ask myself more and more; “What is my Purpose?”. Through my trainings, I found healing on levels I never knew I needed, my awareness began to expand and doors were unlocking. I learned through my trainings and experiences that lead me to the trainings I chose, that the common denominator was AWARENESS itself. I became aware, I shared that awareness and even guided others through their awareness. I believe my journey was to teach me all I needed to know about awareness…inwardly and outwardly, onwardly and upwardly. My purpose is to guide others onto their path of awareness…through awareness the connection lies.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?

I have many stories, but my most prominent one is that I am a Disabled Air Force veteran; I have issues from my cervical spine on down through my compressed thoracic area, osteoarthritis in the lower lumbar, a protruding disc in my sacrum and degenerative disease in both my hips (right hip is severe and left hip is mild). For over a decade, I had an intense limp; I was unable to put my right heel to the ground as I walked and/or stood. Through support of the VA, my personal team of masterminds (you know who you are) and LOTS of SELF WORK; I was able to heal and discover myself in its TRUEST form! By self work, I mean mentally, physically, emotionally and even, spiritually.

What I focused on personally was simultaneously became a professional focus. TeamPP became an LLC in 2018 and at the time I was just training clients as a personal trainer, but shortly after became certified in Sports Nutrition. Then, I noticed that my clientele were sharing more deeply with me. Their feelings, emotions, thoughts, troubles, etc., but I was not always sure how to best manage such conversations. In 2020, I became a Holistic Career and Executive Life Coach. By this point we were deep into the COVID 19 pandemic and many online/remote opportunities were opening up. I was coaching people all over the world…whether it was training, nutrition and/or even life coaching calls.

In 2021…the year of BIG change for Me/TeamPP LLC because it catapulted what I never knew was for me. I started 200 hr Yoga Teacher Training (YTT) and became a Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT) upon completion. Immediately after, I received trauma informed training through Warriors at Ease for yoga, then onto 300hr YTT and Integrative Restorative (iRest) Meditation/Yoga Nidra level 1 trained. I also received mindfulness training through Veterans Yoga Project and by January 2023 I certified in Reiki level 1. It was the collective of these specific trainings that brought me hOMe…back to myself and TRUELY inward. I learned how versatile yoga really was/is on and off the mat (one’s everyday life)…for the mind, body and soul. By this time I was working with an array of communities from the military (to include Active Duty, Veterans, spouses), local Parks and Recs, Seniors, Therapeutic Retreats and more. This is when TeamPP LLC introduced Whole Body Wellness in February 2023.

I did feel at this point in my training and career…my sense of awareness were heightened on many levels and I knew I either needed to do something else or figure out what more to do with what I had. This feeling arose about summertime of 2023 and by February 2024 I completed Reiki level 2 certification. I must admit, I really did not know what I was getting myself into, but I felt this natural gravitational pull towards Reiki. Soon after receiving level 2, I knew this WAS IT! It was like nothing felt more REAL and TRUE for me. By June 2024, I was a certified Reiki Master. As a Reiki Master I have experienced a sense of deep healing, deeper understanding and maybe even the deepest level of self one could ever know. I am a vessel for others, which is a true honor. I am a vibrant life force and I reflect what I attract…I attract what I reflect.

This has allowed me to put a STOP to history repeating itself. We all have cycles of behaviors that limit us from becoming our best self. Maybe the cycles are mentally, more emotionally or maybe even more physical. We might pick these cycles up through our personal life’s experiences, maybe they are generational, maybe they are a trauma response, etc. I have worked tirelessly on my cycles and continue to do so today, but because of this…it has poured over into my family. Because it has poured into my family…we know how to communicate with each other, we know how to give as well as receive love and most of all we know to listen to each other.

What TeamPP LLC encompasses is a WHOLE BODY EXPERIENCE because as you tap into your mind, body and/or spirit you are unlocking the one of doorways to a broader awareness. TeamPP LLC was established off of my pain and hardship; yet, is my greatest story by far. I have taken everything I have learned personally, along with all everything I have trained for professionally to guide others on their journey of self discovery. Over time it evolved into Whole Body Wellness and now that it is here; I am able to offer such modalities that support how I guide each client through their journey. I encourage everyone to get curious about themselves. What is most exciting for me about what I do is the awareness I leave onto others. It is the expansion of awareness itself that is the game changer. Being aware that your “lots of water” is actually not quite allot or thinking your lifting heavy till you become aware of your form. You think cause you are breathing, you’re alive, but are you breathing correctly…awareness.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

Three qualities I would have to say is the most impactful for me is my:
-Sense of determination
I do not know where or who I really get it from, but my sense of determination stems from me always feeling like I had to prove myself to myself. I was told my entire life I could not do things whether it be because of my weight or built; Or my brains or “lack there of” (I spent several elementary years in Special Ed. classes). I joined the United States Air Force because I believed, I did not have what it took for higher education. I had a few leaders who felt otherwise and convinced me to take a class. I have made a vow since to always be open to learning. Because of my determination I now have a Bachelor’s in Psychology, a Master’s in Counseling Studies and have completed “All But Dissertation” when pursuing my PhD in Community Counseling. Now, when I feel my sense of determination arise…I allow it to guide me.
-Sense of deep listening
I have been listening deeply for years…since childhood actually, but put it away cause I did not understand it at the time. When I say deep listening, I mean that as listening deeply within. TeamPP LLC was established off of deep listening. It is a special guide for me both personally and professionally. The thing is we are raise to live and be in this “ hurry up”, “rush rush”, “fight or flight” life style, which does not allow us to listen at all.
-Sense of observation
Since I was a child I was always told to stop staring, but I was not intending to stare… I was just observing, admiring, or even adoring the uniqueness of all things around me. Now, I understand how to “sit in the observers seat” because when you do…you can discover, recognize, study and even witness. It is such an experience…to detach yourself and simply observe. Noticing what you notice…maybe about yourself…inwardly or outwardly. Maybe you notice where you are or those around you.

I believe we all have an “inner voice” or something within us that speaks from within. Unfortunately, most of society are disconnected to it, but the advice I have to offer is that if you know this or familiar with it, or maybe even remember as a child…lean into it. My inner voice showed me I was determined, drew me in to listen deeper and to observe so I could see what is REAL and TRUE. I encourage the majority of the world’s population to tap into their inner voice…it will guide you through your passion(s) to your purpose.

What’s been one of your main areas of growth this year?

In the past 12 months, the biggest area of growth AND improvement have been how I have learned to work in my purposeful self. Discovering my purpose is still pretty new to me, but implementing it into my daily life has made it easier for me to welcome it professionally. I know my purpose is to guide those who are on a path of change that honors their TRUE SELF. Maybe it starts with nutrition, maybe it starts with training, or maybe even a life coaching session; it’s about bringing a sense of awareness to the part of them that connects to their Self. It is a POWERFUL thing to know your purpose, to lean into it so, it can be fully understood. Then to be able to work with it, through it, as it even; it’s an honor. Honoring who you truly are. To BE in your purpose, creates a force of humbling confidence that is protected by your KNOWING.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://TeamPPLLC.com
• Instagram: @TeamPPLLC
• Facebook: Team_PP
• Linkedin: G. Palermo-Pinckney
• Youtube: TeamPP LLC