About
Hello! I'm Ollie (that's Olga, but Ollie feels a little closer to home), a California-based meditation teacher and mindfulness facilitator with a globally-inspired practice. I founded Meditate Mate as a resource for practical, high-quality information on mindfulness and well-being, with the goal of making these practices more accessible to everyone.
My meditation journey began two decades ago while studying Eastern philosophy, culture, and the rich traditions of yoga and meditation in China. That experience helped me build essential tools for mental and emotional well-being and sparked my curiosity about the transformative power of these practices.
However, my path to mindfulness wasn't smooth, far from it. After building a successful career in tech and lifestyle brands, I found myself facing burnout and battling clinical depression on the verge of disability. It was a powerful reminder that external success doesn't guarantee happiness or inner peace.
It was a wake-up call.
I explored the wisdom traditions collected by humankind over the ages, from Japanese Zen Buddhism and Chinese Daoism to Indian Hatha Yoga and Burmese Insight Meditation. I weave these together with the latest neuroscience research on mindfulness to create simple, effective practices that fit beautifully into daily life.
Through this exploration, meditation became my anchor. It was the practice that helped me reconnect with myself, feel inner peace, and reignite my passion for life. Plus, it finally curbed my seemingly life-long anxiety.
Replacing Sunday Scaries and morning dread with excitement for the day ahead... was a dream just a few years ago. Just how good it feels to no longer wake up in fear of the new day, to be at peace.
I became a certified meditation teacher and Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction practitioner. Recently, I co-founded Inward VR, a mindfulness technology startup aimed at enhancing and personalizing meditation experiences.
With my background in digital product, analytics, and ecommerce, I enjoy translating complex philosophical concepts into clear, actionable steps. No fluff or "woo-woo" - just practical knowledge backed by research and personal practice. Think of me as your guide for creating Wellness Roadmaps and Go-To Mindfulness Strategies that actually work in real life.
Whether you're a seasoned meditator or just starting out, I'm here to walk alongside you on the journey to well-being. Through this blog, visuals, guided meditations, or personal mindfulness coaching for individuals and groups, I hope to support you in your self-discovery and falling in love with yourself and your life, one mindful moment at a time.
Take your time to browse around and find what you need. Didn't find what you need? Curious to learn more about mindfulness? Have a project or collaboration in mind? I'm always happy to connect. Message me through the contact page.
