Marina Kolaric was born in present day Serbia, during a time when it was still Yugoslavia. She experienced the breakout of war in the early 1990s, impacting her time as an adolescent. She eventually studied psychology in Serbia and specialized in conflict resolution in war torn regions. She joined a non-governmental organization while studying. On a trip to Hawaii, she decided to study for her Master's in communication at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, focusing again on conflict resolution. After a short stint in DC, she settled in Southern CA and worked in both wellness and in brand management for leaders in the fitness and health space. She made a dramatic shift in her life focus, borne of personal experience, to become a counselor and mindfulness coach focusing on rehab. She has spent time in Thailand and has now settled in Bali.