Tasha Ina Church, Iyémote (Strives for Empowerment)

Founder & Lead Guide | ElleLiveAction

Tasha Ina Church, Iyémote (Strives for Empowerment), is an Indigenous entrepreneur, empowerment educator, and the Founder of ElleLiveAction—a global empowerment company rooted in personal safety, self-healing, and embodied leadership.

With 26 years of experience in empowerment-based self-defense, violence prevention, and trauma-aware education, Tasha has guided over 14,000 students since 2022 across 133 countries and 34 languages. Her work weaves together Empowerment Self-Defense, somatics, self-care, and nervous-system–aware practices—supporting people in removing internal and external barriers so they can stand firmly in their voice, their body, and their choices.

Tasha teaches that empowerment is not an idea—it’s a daily practice. Through her programs, students learn how to protect their peace, set clear boundaries, interrupt harm before it escalates, and move through the world with grounded confidence and self-trust.

Rooted in Lineage. Trained for Real Life.

Born and raised in Washington State by two educators, Tasha was deeply influenced by her mother, who was adopted by an Elder Medicine Woman of the Stó:lō Nation. Her mother traveled throughout the U.S. and Canada participating in Indigenous healing work—experiences that shaped Tasha’s lifelong relationship with embodied wisdom, community care, and self-healing traditions passed down through lineage.

Tasha’s first formal self-defense training began with Warrior Spirit Training under Jeff Alexander. She went on to study seven styles of Japanese martial arts, Tai Chi, boxing, protester safety, and trauma-aware self-defense. She currently studies Aikido through Berkshire Hills Aikido, training under Ron Ragusa and Mary C. Eastland.

Her education also includes advanced training through IMPACT Global, ESD Global, the National Women’s Martial Arts Federation, and Active Shooter Preparedness informed by FBI-level protocols. Across all disciplines, her work emphasizes prevention first—using awareness, de-escalation, voice, and choice—while ensuring students are prepared to act if needed.

At the heart of ElleLiveAction is a simple truth: You are worth protecting. You are worth listening to. And you already carry the wisdom you need.