Margarita Chercoles-Reaves
Founder | Unfolding Warrior Wellness

"I specialise in nervous system-informed wellbeing, blending education, neuroscience and holistic practices to support children, educators and families in finding calm, connection and balance."

Unfolding Warrior Wellness was born from more than two decades of professional experience working with children, families and educators, combined with a deep commitment to understanding how nervous system regulation shapes wellbeing, learning and human connection.

I am an early childhood teacher with over 25 years of experience, including more than 18 years teaching at a community kindergarten in Chelmer. My academic background includes a Bachelor of Early Childhood Education with a major in the expressive arts, which laid the foundation for my integrated approach to teaching through movement, creativity and embodied learning. Throughout my career I have also worked as a drama educator, yoga teacher and childcare centre director, gaining broad insight into the evolving needs of children and education systems.

Over time, I observed a significant shift within early childhood environments. Increasing numbers of children were presenting with heightened anxiety, reduced emotional resilience and greater difficulty with regulation. At the same time, educators themselves were experiencing increasing pressure, workload demands and emotional fatigue. These observations led me to explore deeper frameworks for understanding behaviour beyond surface-level strategies.

Alongside my professional work, my personal journey as a mother supporting a child with high needs on the autism spectrum profoundly shaped my direction. Balancing teaching with motherhood and navigating periods of burnout prompted me to seek sustainable, evidence-informed approaches to nervous system regulation that could support both my family and my professional practice.

This pursuit led me into extensive study and exploration across disciplines including holistic nutrition, children’s yoga, embodied movement, sound healing, and essential oils, where I became a doTERRA wellness educator. My lifelong connection to dance and fitness further deepened my understanding of how movement influences emotional states and nervous system balance.

Through collaboration with occupational therapists, speech pathologists, physiotherapists and allied health professionals, I developed a strong interdisciplinary understanding of child development. This experience, combined with ongoing exploration into neuroscience and the autonomic nervous system, shaped my perspective that regulation is the foundation upon which emotional wellbeing, behaviour, learning and relationships are built.

Over the years, my work evolved into what I now describe as a nervous system-informed approach to education and wellbeing. Rather than viewing behaviour in isolation, I began focusing on the physiological and emotional states underlying it, helping children, educators and families develop practical tools that support safety, connection and resilience.

The birth of my second child marked a pivotal moment and the beginning of Unfolding Warrior Wellness. I felt a clear calling to expand beyond the classroom and support others navigating similar challenges, offering a bridge between educational practice, neuroscience and holistic wellbeing.

Now that I have stepped away from my early childhood classroom, my mission is to support educators, parents and communities to integrate nervous system-informed strategies into everyday life. I am passionate about helping educators create calm, connected learning environments while also prioritising their own wellbeing, recognising that regulated adults are central to regulated children.

Unfolding Warrior Wellness represents the integration of lived experience, professional expertise and ongoing study. My work sits at the intersection of education, neuroscience and holistic practice, providing grounded, practical pathways toward balance, resilience and sustainable wellbeing.