about

about

Bodyrites

Bodyrites (formerly Queen of the Jungle) is a nonprofit organization devoted to uprooting and healing the centuries-old cultural trauma caused by the suppression of the Divine Feminine—the archetypal life force that invites us into deep intimacy with our bodies, the earth, and the natural cycles of birth, transformation, and death. (Note: the Divine Feminine is symbolic and not tied to gender—this energy lives within all of us.)

This widespread repression has led to a profound disconnection: of mind from body, body from earth, and self from spirit. Our founder, Maryanne Comaroto, calls this fractured state “the Trance.”

When we are cut off from our embodied experience and lack the language to honor the feminine, regardless of our gender, we lose our ability to relate with compassion, authenticity, and presence. We struggle to connect with others, with the divine, and with our own deep inner knowing.

Bodyrites exists to help us awaken from the Trance.

Through somatic practices, ritual, and community, we rekindle our innate creativity, restore our sacred connection to self and earth, and remember the wholeness we were never meant to forget.

After two decades of research, practice, and deep listening, Maryanne developed Awaken from the Trance—a scientifically proven treatment method for healing trauma that gently guides participants to uncover how the Trance has shaped their lives. This 6-week program supports people in repairing the divide within, restoring reverence for their whole selves, and reclaiming their power and presence.

To further this healing, Bodyrites offers Stay Awake retreats—a sacred space for continued integration, reflection, and community. Through Maryanne’s new podcast, The Wealth of Worth, we share stories, insights, and conversations to keep the fire of this movement burning, offering ongoing inspiration and nourishment for the journey.

This is not just healing.

It’s remembering.

It’s returning.

It’s the sacred work of becoming whole again.

who we are

Bodyrites is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1993 by Maryanne Comaroto, PhD, a visionary leader, researcher, author, and counselor who has devoted her life to awakening souls from the Trance—thousands of years of conditioning that have suppressed the Divine Feminine within us all.

Maryanne’s lifelong commitment to this work has unfolded through decades of research, writing, public speaking, media, healing programs, and one-on-one transformational counseling. Her clarity of purpose and deep passion serve as the heartbeat of Bodyrites.

Surrounding Maryanne is a dedicated team of practitioners, teachers, and visionaries, as well as an active Board of Directors who bring a diversity of lived experience and professional expertise to this sacred work. Together, we hold and grow the container for Bodyrites’ offerings—each of us walking the path of healing, embodiment, and transformation in our own way.

Our Vision: Creating a world where we honor the Divine Feminine inherent in us all.

Our Mission: Revealing and healing the cultural trauma of the wounded feminine through embodied practices and community.

meet our founder

Maryanne Comaroto, Ph.D.

Maryanne Comaroto, Ph.D., is the founder and visionary behind Bodyrites, a human rights organization dedicated to addressing the cultural and psychological burdens stemming from the abjection of the archetypal feminine.

Initially focused on female-identifying individuals, Maryanne’s ongoing research revealed that this cultural trauma extends far beyond gender, affecting all beings, regardless of race, gender, or background.

As a somatic depth psychologist, Vedanta meditation teacher, and relationship coach with over 35 years of experience, Maryanne combines mind-body healing, ancestral work, and community-building to create transformative spaces for healing and empowerment. A fiercely compassionate truth-seeker, Maryanne blends ancient wisdom with modern therapeutic practices, helping individuals heal from deeply ingrained cultural wounds.

In 2017, Maryanne co-created a boutique retreat center with her long-time partner, providing a sanctuary for this essential work. She is the author of several books and a celebrated podcast host, where she shares insights on relationships, healing, and embodied awareness. Inspired by her son, who is also a therapist, Maryanne is committed to intergenerational healing and empowering all people to rewrite their narratives.

At Bodyrites, Maryanne invites individuals of all genders, races, and backgrounds to join a movement that seeks to transform cultural trauma into a source of authentic power, healing, and connection.

meet

our team

Kim Diorio, Ed.D. - Board Chairperson

(she/her)

Kim Diorio is a psychotherapist (AMFT/APCC), life coach, embodiment guide, and educator based on Ohlone Land in the San Francisco Bay Area. With over 25 years of experience as a counselor, educator, and social justice leader in public education and nonprofit sectors, she brings deep knowledge and compassion to her work.

A mother, dancer, humble yoga teacher, singer, gardener, and proud dog mom to her Maltipoo, Bodhi, Kim’s approach is guided by “love, play, and rest.” She is passionate about creating a global community that celebrates the strength, wisdom, and creativity of the feminine spirit, cultivating balance in our lives and the world.

Jon Fisher – Member of the Board

(he/him)

As a Board Member for Bodyrites, Jon is a passionate believer in the power found in the healing of the feminine. In his early 50s, he had a profound realization of a self-created chasm in his soul, which was produced by a split with the feminine as a young man. Working through Bodyrites Awakening from the Trance program, he learned by taking accountability for his own contribution to the wound with the feminine, and by accepting the responsibility for how to proceed, he was able to reconnect with his feminine and discovered a long-vacant balance within his heart. Due to this peace he found in this journey he is dedicated to serving Bodyrites and assisting in making the program known and available for all who wish to participate.

Meribeth McIntyre Greynald – Member of the Board

(she/her)

Bodyrites is delighted to introduce Meribeth to the nonprofit sector! Meribeth was a member of Bodyrite’s science-based pilot program, and her meaningful insights helped shape what our program now looks like.

Prior to her work with Bodyrites, Meribeth was the Outreach Manager for all food, beverage, and retail outlets at the San Francisco International Airport. During her time there, the airport made the transition from fast food to good food, for which any of us who’ve ever traveled out of SFO can thank her. Meribeth was also a matchmaker at Kelleher International, a high-end matchmaking service. In short, she’s profoundly impacted both our food lives and our love lives. She has a deep love of dinner and of putting the right people together—sparks fly on both occasions.

Meribeth also loves hot yoga (she’s been practicing it consistently for over twenty years), hiking in unconventional shoes, her partner of 21 years (Michael), and her son, Riley, a musician. She’s the eldest of five and currently cares for her parents, who have been together for 68 years.

Meribeth “aligns wholeheartedly with Bodyrite’s healing vision” and is pleased to serve our board.

Shawn V Giammattei, Ph.D. – Member of the Board

(he/him)

Shawn is a clinical family psychologist, international speaker, researcher, seminar leader, professor teaching graduate and post-graduate courses in LGBT psychology and family systems, and the author of several articles and book chapters on gender, sexuality, and family work.

Shawn is the founder & CEO of the Gender Health Training Institute, the TransFamily Alliance, and Quest Family Therapy and has served on the board of both local and national family therapy organizations.

As a gender specialist with a trauma-informed, social justice lens and both expertise and lived experience in the intersections of gender, sexuality, family, culture, spirituality, and the many aspects of human identity, Shawn is a bridge across differences, building loving connections that empower others to live their most authentic lives.

Miranda Stumph – Member of the Board

(she/her)

Miranda joined Bodyrites in 2022. After building a 15-year career in Commercial Lending, she is thrilled to move into the non-profit arena. She loves her work supporting and getting to know the Bodyrites Community! She is passionate about the vision and mission of Bodyrites and embraces this work wholeheartedly.

When not attending Bodyrites business, she is a dedicated mother (1 child and two dogs) and enjoys singing, writing, theater, and exploring new modes of creative expression (ok… crafting). Her favorite way to spend her free time is connecting with nature and exploring new places and cultures with people she loves.

Tammy White – Member of the Board

As a board member of Bodyrites, Tammy is passionate about awakening to the Divine Feminine and inspiring others to do the same. For years, she shrank despite her bigness, trapped in society’s trance, cut off from her true nature. Through Bodyrites’ transformative blend of deep self-inquiry, somatic movement, journaling, and rich discussions—held in a sacred circle of feminine spirit—she has learned to reconnect with her body’s wisdom.

This work has illuminated her inner light and shadow, unveiling both her separation from and bond with HER, alive in vibrant sunsets, soulful songs, and timeless feminine voices. A therapist, soulful mover, dog mama, and apprentice astrologer, Tammy is devoted to guiding others toward healing and embracing their highest potential, infused with some laughter along the way

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