Today we’d like to introduce you to Shantaya Bonilla.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I was born and raised in Germany, and I’m deeply grateful for the richness of growing up in Europe — with its culture, language, and the beauty of traveling to places like Austria, Italy, and France. That part of the world shaped my foundation and gave me a strong sense of artistry, depth, and appreciation for life’s simple beauty.
From a young age, I also felt a special connection to America — a pull that I didn’t fully understand until much later. As life unfolded, I came to see that this connection wasn’t just curiosity, but something deeply rooted in my soul’s path. Eventually, I followed that calling, even though the road wasn’t always easy.
There were challenges, doubts, and moments of uncertainty, but I believe we grow the most through experience — not just the joyful ones, but especially through the ones that stretch us. Each chapter of my journey — both in Europe and the U.S. — has helped shape me into who I am today: someone who continues to listen, to create, and to trust the deeper intelligence that guides us when we dare to follow it.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It’s never been a smooth road — and honestly, I don’t believe life is meant to be. That’s not a bad thing; it’s just the nature of being alive. There are moments so painful and disorienting that you feel like you can’t breathe, your mouth goes dry, and your mind is spinning so fast you can’t think clearly anymore. Those times can feel endless.
But then, there are also moments of stillness — so peaceful, so present — where nothing extraordinary happens, and yet everything feels right. You just are. Until, of course, the mind finds something to resist or complain about again. That’s the dance — between chaos and calm, shadow and light.
Some of the biggest struggles on my path have been around finding home — both geographically and within myself. Leaving the familiar behind, starting over in a new country, rebuilding community and identity from scratch — that’s never easy. But those challenges also stripped away what wasn’t truly me and made space for what is. And in the end, I think that’s the real journey: remembering who we are underneath it all.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
Honestly, I find it hard to answer what sets me apart from others, because I truly believe that every person is unique and has something special to offer. I don’t see life — or my work — as a competition. We each carry a piece of the puzzle, and together, we create the whole. If we could remember that more often, we might stop comparing ourselves and instead start lifting each other up — even guiding one another, hand in hand, out of jealousy and fear, and into light and connection.
I work as a singing and piano teacher, and I also have a holistic life coaching practice. I work with clients both in person and online, mostly across Europe and the U.S. In both areas of my work, I see how alike we all are at the core — no matter our background, age, or circumstance. We all carry pain, dreams, memories, and the longing to feel seen and empowered.
In my coaching, I support people in reconnecting with their inner voice — helping them to shift limiting beliefs, soften their inner critic, and rediscover joy. And when I teach music — whether it’s to children or adults — I see how creativity brings us back to play, to presence, to wonder. There’s laughter, exploration, curiosity… and that’s what makes it so fulfilling.
At the end of a long day, when I feel that quiet smile on my face and think, “Wow, I really got to bring joy to someone today” — that’s what I’m most proud of. It’s not about accolades. It’s about connection. It’s about helping others remember who they are.
What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
What I love most about this city is the incredible variety of people. It feels like the whole world meets here — so many cultures, stories, and perspectives all woven into one place. There’s something really beautiful about that kind of diversity. It makes life feel full of possibility.
What I find most difficult, though, is the visible suffering — the homelessness, the poverty, and how hard it is for people to simply live with dignity. Especially when it comes to having personal space — something as basic as being able to live alone, which I believe is essential for rest, healing, and recharging. It’s often not financially feasible here, and that leads to people constantly living with roommates, which can be really draining unless it’s a true soul connection. And those are rare.
So while there’s so much vibrancy and potential here, I also feel a deep wish that the city could find more sustainable ways to support its people — not just to survive, but to thrive.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.shantayabholistic.solutions
- Instagram: @onlinevocalkeysshantayabonilla
- Other: https://learn-how-to-sing-in-your-living-room.teachable.com/p/learn-how-to-sing-in-your-living-room
