My name is Marlene Gomes de Souza and I’ve been drawn to stillness since childhood. At around eight years old, I found myself sitting quietly, tuning in to something deeper — long before I knew there was a name for it.
That quiet space became a compass.
It still is.
In my twenties, I studied at a university where meditation was part of the curriculum — in a small Midwestern town in the U.S., I spent nearly a decade in Fairfield, immersed in a community focused on self-development and collective harmony.
After graduating, I entered an intensive meditation program — eight months, eight hours a day, fully funded. A structured daily rhythm centered on restoring balance and expanding awareness.
That experience reshaped how I understood stress, balance, and the intelligence of the nervous system.
The following year, I became a certified teacher of a simple, effective mental technique known for reducing stress and improving clarity. My training took place in Brazil, my home country.
I then began sharing this technique throughout Brazil — in private settings, schools, and universities as an instructor and coordinator for a Consciousness-Based Education initiative, in partnership with the David Lynch Foundation.
In this work I witnessed how a consistent inner practice brings awareness, enhances presence, and fosters clarity and joy — especially in environments marked by systemic challenges or high pressure.
Years later, I became a mother and we moved to the south of France where I stepped into the yachting industry. There I experiencing firsthand the intense pressure of life at sea.
While exploring different approaches to balance and performance in high-end, high-demand environments, I realized even more deeply, that teaching was my true calling.
Mar.Med – Meditation on Board is a wellbeing initiative designed to bring scientifically grounded inner practice to yacht crew, forward-thinking owners, and leadership teams.
Whether anchored or underway, life at sea is intense — with shifting schedules, high emotions, and little rest, yet demanding flawless performance at all times.
In these moments, it helps to have a steady inner reference: something practical and lasting.
My goal is to equip individuals onboard with a reliable technique they can use independently — anywhere, anytime.
Not guided by an app or reliant on external conditions, but built into their own nervous system —
a way to restore energy, sharpen focus, and remain grounded in even the most dynamic conditions at sea.