LEVEL 1 FACILITATORS • 2024
Raffaello Manacorda
Lead Facilitator
Raffaello Manacorda is an international Tantra teacher and Daka (sacred sexuality practitioner). He has been practicing Tantra for more than 15 years and has undergone intensive training in several styles of Yoga. After completing an MA in Philosophy, Raffaello decided to spend more than twelve years living in alternative communities and experimenting with radically alternative lifestyles.
It was in these wild years that he first encountered Tantra, the "rebel way to Spirit". This encounter developed into a life-long practice, first on a solo journey, then studying Tantra and Yoga in some of the best worldwide schools. Raffaello serves as lead faculty in ISTA, the International School of Temple Arts, and teaches and lectures worldwide. He is currently enrolled in a Ph.D. program in Wisdom Studies with Ubiquity University (California).
Raffaello is the co-creator of the ISTA Practitioner Training (PT), ISTA’s program for coaches and practitioners in the field of conscious sexuality.
Laura Deva
Co Facilitator
Laura is a natural leader that has a unique breadth of wisdom and experience.
Her powerful, authentic and sensuous presence helps those who are in her presence to reconnect to their core, to find their way back to the Temple.
Laura’s background as a clinical and criminal psychologist and her life immersions in traditional tantra, embodiment and trauma are a rare mixture.
This combination makes her uniquely suited to see beyond forms with clarity and compassion enabling breaches for core emergence.
She has been leading groups internationally since 2012 through transformation with dedication to collective change and genuine care about the emergence of a new civilization based on freedom from conditionings and awakening of human’s hearts.
Laura is part of the teaching faculty at Highden Temple and at The International School of Temple Arts (ISTA).
She also offers online courses, online mentorships and local in person events and practice.
She is based in Geneva, Switzerland, in which she's a pillar of the local ISTA community and where she offers in person workshops in addition of a private psychotherapy practice.
Ananda Amit Angelo, from Israel, is a se_x shaman, leader, coach, and a father of three. He is a certified Se_x & Happiness coach and a Facilitator at ISTA.
In his work, he supports people's empowerment and pleasure.
His mission is: "Reclaiming the ecstatic-innocent wisdom of our body by letting go of guilt and shame around se_xuality".
With 20 years of professional dance, leadership, and community building and 7 years of Tantra experience, leading retreats, sacred temples, 1:1 coaching, and body sessions.
“I have devoted myself to un-shame pleasure and se_xuality, connect them to the heart, and serve humanity to a paradigm shift of love. I am inviting my brothers and sisters to play freely and walk this earth shining their pleasure and light."
"WE ARE ALL CONNECTED IN LOVE TO EACH OTHER”
Ananda Amit Angelo
Co Facilitator
ISTA BRAZIL ORGANIZER
Mariana França is a Somatic & Sexual Therapist, born and raised in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and an explorer in the realms of healing, intimacy, sensuality, joy and connection. She is a passionate facilitator of processes of personal empowerment through therapeutic action, especially for women.
A core interest is the development of systemic technologies for communication and sustainability. In the ZEGG Forum - an active research method in self-expression and feedback - she found an effective possibility of social innovation. She became the pioneer host of the Forum practicing groups in Brazil.
Mariana’s personal journey brought her through a deep healing process with her own sexuality. She understands that it is her life mission to inspire and nurture all those who feel the calling to a more free and ecstatic life. Her energetic curiosity of the many paths toward living a joyful life inspires other people to come home to themselves and guides them to true surrender on the field of vulnerability, self power and depth.
She is the ISTA Brazil organizer and faculty apprentice.