Irini Rockwell

Founder, Five Wisdoms Institute

About This Expert

Irini Rockwell has been internationally recognized for over 30 years as a teacher, author, coach, and trainer. She founded the Five Wisdoms Institute in 2002. As a Life Coach and in the Wisdoms@Work Online personal and professional development training, she engages deeply with people to bring out their best. Formerly a professional dancer, she then trained in Contemplative Psychotherapy, Authentic Leadership, and tantric Buddhism. Her books are “The Five Wisdom Energies, a Buddhist Way of Understanding Personalities, Emotions and Relationships” (in ten languages) and “Natural Brilliance.”

Irini is the author of two acclaimed books on the Tibetan Buddhist system known as “the five buddha families.” Written for a general audience, these books offer a practical insight into human behavior and personal growth – “Natural Brilliance: A Buddhist System for Uncovering Your Strengths and Letting Them Shine,” and “The Five Wisdom Energies, a Buddhist Way of Understanding Personalities, Emotions and Relationships.”

Irini has created professional training programs for the National Institute for School Development in the Netherlands, Karuna Training in Germany, Ticino Maitri Group in Switzerland and EastWind Institute in Canada.

Irini was head of undergraduate dance and dance therapy at Naropa University in Boulder, Colorado for ten years. There she also earned a Master’s in Contemplative Psychotherapy and a Certificate in Authentic Leadership.

Irini is a senior teacher in the Shambhala Buddhist community and a long-time student of Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche, and Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche.

Irini began her career as a dance performer, choreographer, and teacher. She received a Bachelor of Science in dance from The Juilliard School in New York.