About Roots and Wings

Welcome to Roots and Wings!

I’m Alex Koster, and I am an Integrative Nervous System Consultant. Inspired by my own personal and professional life experiences, I am deeply committed to helping others restore an inner sense of safety. I support nervous system regulation through polyvagal-informed methodologies including mindfulness, ecotherapy, somatic/embodied practices, creativity and more specific interventions such as the Rest and Restore Protocol Listening Therapy.

Background:

I myself struggled with a chronically dysregulated nervous system for decades, and everything I do comes from an authentic place of personal experience and thorough research. Living in a constant state of alert or numbness is exhausting and has a huge impact on our ability to connect, to learn, to relax, and on our health, well-being, and quality of life.

With a background in education, mindfulness, ecotherapy, and polyvagal-informed approaches, I’m passionate about helping others to find safety inside themselves in the midst of this precious, yet often chaotic, and overwhelming life. I work with educators, parents, health professionals, and people who know that there must be a different way of living, of health, and of “being” in this world.

My approach:

Early on my personal journey with mental and physical health challenges guided me towards the transformative power of mindful nature connection. Through mindfulness, ecotherapy, and holistic health practices, I have found healing and nervous system regulation, inspiring my passion for sharing these approaches with others. I always knew though, that there was a missing puzzle piece more rudimentary to healing and well-being. When I came across Dr. Stephen Porges’ “Polyvagal Theory” a few years ago, I instantly knew that this was the key I had been looking for. Of course, it’s not a magic potion, but getting to know our nervous system and learning to regulate it is incredibly powerful in enabling us to access all other modalities that may be helpful for us.

Offerings: 

I am proud to provide professional Online Mindfulness and Ecotherapy Courses/Training tailored for Educators, Parents, Health Professionals, and Activists. My programmes are designed to empower individuals with the knowledge and tools to foster well-being, resilience, and positive change in themselves and the people they work with. My fully certified 3-month “Mindfulness Rooted Ecotherapy” training equips health and education professionals to respond skilfully to climate-specific issues and a general disconnect from Nature.

I also offer individual online 1:1 mentoring (integrative nervous system regulation), signature programs on polyvagal-informed practices, as well as 1:1 Rest and Restore Protocol Listening Therapy programs.

Principles:

• Overall Polyvagal-Informed Approach: A regulated Nervous System is the basis for Well-being.
• Nature-Connection: Central to human and planetary well-being.
• Honouring Individuality: We are all different. We have different life experiences, different preferences, needs, bodies, and nervous systems. Respecting each person’s uniqueness is essential to my approach.
• Multi-Sensory, Somatic, and Eclectic Approach: Integrating all senses, somatics, and creative/flexible interventions for wholesome well-being.
• Embodiment as a source for healing and self-discovery.
• Planetary Health: Recognising our interconnectedness with the planet and all living beings.

Roots and Wings is dedicated to informing health and education approaches with nature-focused, mindfulness-based, and polyvagal-informed interventions.

Memberships and Qualifications

Memberships:

Member of the Teaching Council Ireland

Member and Training Provider IMMA (International Mindfulness and Meditation Alliance)

Training Provider IICT (International Institute for Complimentary Therapists)

Member of Children Nature Network

Member of Ecotherapy Network Ireland (ENI)

Member of CPD Certification Service

Member of Climate Ambassador Programme

Member of Climate Psychology Alliance

Founding Member of Self-Compassion Community – Kristin Neff

Member of BMCA (Body Mind Centering Association)

Qualifications:

University Education:

• Primary School Teaching Degree, Master’s Degree English – University of Koblenz, Germany
• Master’s Degree Special Education Autism – University of Birmingham, UK
• SEE Learning Facilitator – Emory University, Atlanta, U.S.
• The Science of Well-Being – Yale University

Mindfulness and Nervous System Regulation:

• Mindfulness Teacher MMTCP, Tara Brach and Jack Kornfield, certified through the Greater Good Science Center at the University of California, Berkeley
• MMT (Mindfulness Mentor Training) Tara Brach, Jack Kornfield, Banyan
• Rhythms of Regulation, Polyvagal Informed Practitioner, Deb Dana
• Polyvagal-Informed Certificate, Polyvagal Institute, Dr. Stephen Porges, USA
• MBSR Mindfulness Teacher Training – Shamash Alidina, UK
• Transforming Developmental Trauma into Integration and Resiliency – Dr. Daniel Siegel, Cork, Ireland
• Mindful Educator Essentials – Mindful Schools
• Mindful Communication – Mindful Schools
• Difficult Emotions – Mindful Schools
• Professional Positive Neuroplasticity Training – Rick Hanson, Ph.D.
• A Still and Quiet Place – Amy Saltzman
• Certificate Course in Activity-Based Mindfulness for Kids: Teaching attention, emotional balance & compassion in schools and clinics – Susan Kaiser Greenland, PESI
• Zen and the Art of Healing the Planet, Plum Village
• Attachment and Somatics Practitioner, Will Rezin, Kate Appleton, Trauma and Somatics
• RRP Facilitator (Rest and Restore Protocol), Unyte
• Body as Healer, Peter Levine, Phd

Mindful Parenting:

• Certified Positive Discipline Parenting Educator – Positive Discipline, Dr. Jane Nelsen
• Raising Radical Kids – Ancestral Medicine, Daniel Foor

Integrative Nutrition:

• Integrative Health and Nutrition Coach: Expertise in Integrative Health and Nutrition – Akademie der Naturheilkunde, Switzerland
• Certified Mental Health Integrative Medicine Provider (CMHIMP): Nutritional and Integrative Medicine for Mental Health Professionals – Leslie Korn, PESI
• Kraeuterheilkunde (Herbal Medicine) – Doris Grappendorf/Regine Ebert, Germany
• Accredited Herbal Medicine – Dr. Dillis Clare, Galway Ireland

Nature-based Qualifications:

• Nature Pedagogy as an integral part of Masters Programme and Teacher Training, University of Koblenz, Germany
• Scientific case study/dissertation in Animal Assisted Therapy (Equine Assisted Therapy) in relation to Communication in Children with Autism, University of Birmingham, UK
• Certificate in Ecopsychology – Pacifica Graduate Institute, U.S.
• Advanced Training Certificate: Radical Ecopsychology – Pacifica Graduate Institutes, U.S.
• Certificate in Ecotherapy – The Earth Body Institute, U.S.
• Certificate in Ecotherapy – Pacifica Graduate Institute, U.S.
• Advanced Training Certificate: Advanced Ecotherapy New Thinking, Best Practices and Emerging Modalities – Pacifica Graduate Institute, U.S.
• Nature-based Mindfulness Teacher Training – Dr. Nicole Albrecht, Australia
• Certified National Geographic Educator
• WWF Methods of Nature Experiences, WWF Germany
• Eco Art Therapy – Memona Hossain
• Facilitating Climate Cafes: Climate Psychology Alliance

Other supporting Modalities and Training:

• Buteyko Breathing Instructor, Buteyko Clinic International
• The Elements of Breathology – Stig Severinson
• Transpersonal Crystal Healing Practitioner – Evolve Healing Institute, Australia
• Divine Essence Crystal Healing  (DECH) Practitioner, Eileen Heneghan, Ireland
• Advanced Chakra Healing – Donna Eden
• Reiki Master (1, 2, 3), Deirdre Brady, Ireland
• Acupressure Mastery Certification, Michael Reed Gach, PhD
• The Elements of Shamanism – Shamanism Ireland
• Tarotpy Practitioner, Institute of Dreams and Tarotpy, Lauren Schneider
• Certified MARI Practitioner (Mandala Assessment Research Instrument) MARI Creative Resources, Inc.
• Diploma in Mandala Art
• Tuning Fork Therapy and Healing, Himalayan Academy of Sound Healing
• Integral Sound Healing with Voice, Sound Healing Academy
• Ancestral Lineage Healing – Ancestral Medicine, Daniel Foor