Who We Are

About the Founder

Verma Soria Zapanta (she/her) is an educator, holistic wellness practitioner, and mental health program consultant based in Yelamu—unceded Ramaytush Ohlone territory (San Francisco, CA) of Visayan descent from Leyte and Cebu. A proud San Franciscan and daughter of Filipino immigrants, she is grateful to continue to serve the communities that raised her.

Verma began her teaching experience in 2007 with Pin@y Educational Partnerships (PEP), a service learning teacher training program out of San Francisco State University’s College of Ethnic Studies, and continued her journey as a credentialed teacher in SFUSD and LAUSD. She has extensive experience in curriculum design, instructional coaching, and implementing school-wide educational frameworks that combine college-focused academics, rigorous technical education, work/project-based learning, and personalized student support.

After transitioning out of the classroom in 2017, Verma began her work in community mental health and holistic wellness. She co-founded Buong Loob, a mental wellness internship for Filipinx identified high schoolers/transitional aged youth, became a certified Mental Health First Aid Instructor, and developed culturally responsive wellness programs through her role at the Filipino Mental Health Initiative of San Francisco. In 2022, Verma returned to PEP as the Assistant Director, focusing on teacher wellness and instructional coaching.

Verma’s healing journey led her to (re)connect with various holistic healing modalities, most notably the healing arts of Hilot. She continues to study and learn folk medicine and ceremonial practices from Indigenous elders and medicine keepers throughout the Philippine archipelago. Verma is humbled that her passion for Ethnic Studies, community mental health, and preserving traditional healing practices are intertwined and found its home at Dambana Wellness.

Currently, Verma leads wellness workshops for colleges, non-profits and hosts annual community events like Ginhawa Marketplace, a Filipinx healers market pop-up in San Francisco. Her work is rooted in the values of kapwa (interconnectedness) and ginhawa (wellness), fostering collective healing within communities. Outside of work, she enjoys taking photos, traveling with her asawa, and spending time with her senior dog Maia.

Let’s connect! For inquiries, email Verma@dambanawellness.org.