Stephanie Halderman, Dipl. ABT, EMT, CMT

Stephanie is the founder and director of Eastern Holistic Center. She is a diplomat in Asian Bodywork Therapy through the National Commission for Acupuncture & Oriental Medicine. She is certified in acupressure, eastern bodywork, therapeutic massage, hatha yoga, acu-yoga, prenatal & postnatal yoga, pre & perinatal massage therapy, childbirth education, CPR & CPR/first aid instruction, and has been an EMT since 1997. She is a California State Authorized Instructor and teaches certification courses at EHC, the Acupressure Institute in Berkeley, CA, and the Healing Arts Institute in Citrus Heights, CA.
Acupressure, Eastern Therapies & Aromatherapy with Stephanie Halderman

Julianne Lorenzen, CMT

Julianne is a committed bodyworker who brings a unique, youthful energy to each client's experience. She grew up right here in Sebastopol, graduating from Analy High School in 2001. She then spent five years in Tempe, AZ, studying kinesiology at Arizona State University and massage and bodywork at the Arizona School of Massage Therapy, Tempe campus. Julianne was happy to return to Sebastopol in 2006 to join the community of healers in the West Sonoma County area. Her dedication to facilitating healing is greatly influenced by her athletic interests, including marathon training, hiking, yoga and dance.
Therapeutic Massage with Julianne Lorenzen

Ann Tamminen, L.Ac., M.Ac., CMT

Ann has been in private practice as an acupuncturist since 1985. She is licensed by the State of California and certified by the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine. She received her master’s degree in acupuncture from the Traditional Acupuncture Institute in Maryland and completed two years of postgraduate education with Dr. J.R. Worsley at the College of Traditional Acupuncture in England. Prior to studying acupuncture, Ann spent five years living and working at the Esalen Institute, studying massage, deep-tissue bodywork, Zero Balancing, flower essences and other holistic healing modalities. She has also studied and practiced NAET and Bio-Set allergy elimination work. For the past seven years, Ann has been in an ongoing study and training program with Niki Bilton, a Five Element master practitioner, continuing to deepen her understanding of Taoist medical theory and practice. She presently maintains private practices in both Sebastopol and Berkeley.
Classical Five Element Acupuncturewith Ann Tamminen

Jill Goldreyer, CMT

Jill Goldreyer has been in the health profession for the past 24 years, initially working as a massage therapist, doula, and midwifery assistant. Combining these loves, Jill opened a successful pregnancy massage and bodywork center in 1995 in Berkeley, CA, which she ran until moving to Sonoma county to birth and raise her daughter. In recent years, Jill has been honing her skills in intuitive and energetic healing. She is a Plant Spirit Medicine practitioner, and is currently enrolled in The Pulse Technique TM training.
Bodywork and Energy Medicine with Jill Goldreyer

Amanda Bloomberg, CMT

Amanda began her journey of natural healing at the Phoenix Therapeutic Massage College in Flagstaff Arizona. She had many wonderful teachers who inspired and instructed her in many modalities including Swedish Sedona, reflexology, therapeutic massage, Shiatsu, Corporate Chair Massage, geriatric massage, and pregnancy massage. The program also included 128 hands on hours in the student clinic. This training prepared her to take and pass the national certification exam through NCBTMB. One of her teachers also brought yoga into her life. She was amazed at the healing power of touch combined with the body and breath awareness of yoga. She took a doula training and assisted at a home birth. Through this experience as well as the natural births of her own two children she learned that the human body is truly capable of powerful things. She took a prenatal yoga teacher training after realizing the impact prenatal yoga had on her own pregnancy and labors. More than anything Amanda wants to be able to share what she has learned to help other people find their inner power and ability to heal themselves. She is currently increasing her acupressure skills with advanced shiatsu and acupressure training to bring deeper healing flows into her sessions.
Acupressure & Massage Therapy with Amanda Bloomberg
 

Merryl Mendelson, CMT

Merryl Mendelson is a certified hypnotherapeutic massage therapist since 1996, and received her certification from The Alchemy Institute of Healing Arts in Santa Rosa Ca. Merryl also has extensive, training from Nora Fanshell s School of Breema / Shiatsu, Advanced Body Therapies, Thai Massage School of Chaing Mai, Kanti Pikes Signature Hot Stone Training , Santa Rosa Junior College, and The California School of Herbal Studies, She has been a frequent attender of the Northern California's Women's Herbal Symposium and has taught local classes in kitchen cosmetics.
Holistic Spa Treatments with Merryl Mendelson

Devorah Blum

Devorah Blum is the owner and director of Yoga Studio Ganesha in Sebastopol, where she teaches prenatal, postpartum and general yoga classes. She began her study of yoga in 1975, becoming a dedicated student of Iyengar Yoga. She started teaching prenatal yoga in 1988 after discovering the benefits of yoga during the pregnancy and birth of her first of three sons. Her depth of understanding the postures along with her attentiveness, compassion, and sensitive guidance enable Devorah to inspire and nurture each student.

Nancy Bonner-Benson, MA, CET, CYT

Nancy is a graduate of the Iyengar Institute of San Francisco and does yoga therapy in the Viviyoga tradition. Holding a MA in holistic studies from JFK University, Nancy went on to become a certified art and movement therapist, now working at Kaiser Hospital, Sonoma State University and Memorial Hospitals Cancer Center. She has taught yoga for over 30 years and has had extensive experience helping people improve their health through integration body, mind, and spirit.
 

Jim Berns, ROI, CMT

Jim Berns is a Registered Ortho-Bionomy® Advanced Instructor and Senior Practitioner. He has been trained directly by the founder, English Osteopath, Dr. Arthur Lincoln Pauls D.O. Jim has been a Registered Instructor and Practitioner since 1980, and has taught Ortho-Bionomy internationally and throughout the United States.

Jim is co-author with Kathy Kain of the book Ortho-Bionomy A Practical Manual (North Atlantic Books, Berkeley, Ca.) which has sold over 10,000 copies. He has been a Certified Massage Therapist since 1979. Jim has been an invited speaker for numerous Massage Therapy conventions and conferences, Whole Life Expo, Sonoma State University, a variety of in-service trainings, and other health education forums. He has lectured to and trained over 7,000 health practitioners. Jim’s mentoring and teaching approach is to work with the body in a gentle, focused and direct manner. He has a private practice in Sebastopol, CA. Jim brings together into his trainings the understanding of details, being in touch with our own compassionate heart, and his "unique" humor.
 

Humm Berreyesa

My name is Humm Berreyesa. I am a doula and a birth advocate as well as a Childbirth Education Instructor. I have over 35 years experience and have had six children of my own. I am 61 years old have a life time of experience with problem solving, respecting other¹s ideas and feelings, clear communication skills and I understand how a mother in labor feels. I have good existing relationships with staff in all the Sonoma County hospitals. I believe women should have choice and clear information during pregnancy, labor and birth. My website is birthingsupport.org.

Laurel Brody L.Ac., CMT

Laurel is a warm, experienced, intuitive healer who has been practicing Chinese medicine, midwifery and bodywork for over 25 years. Laurel received her massage certification from the Massage Institute of California in 1975 and graduated from The American College of Traditional Chinese Medicine in 1986. She is extensively trained in acupuncture and Chinese herbology as well as Swedish-Esalen and deep tissue bodywork, Shiatzu and Tui-Na and midwifery. As a bodyelectric graduate, she brings her love of sensuality and vital life force to all that she does. Laurel has a busy clinical practice, specializing in women's health in Sebastopol, Ca. She regularly teaches classes and workshops to acupuncturists, midwives and the public on Chinese medicine, midwifery and women's sexuality. Her dynamic, earthy and attentive nature make class a fun, juicy and safe place to be for all involved!

Laurel will be teaching such classes as:

• Cupping and Moxibustion Technique
• Pulse and Tongue Diagnosis
• Massage including Sensual Massage for Couples
• Womens Fertility Education
• Sexuality and Intimacy during Pregnancy and Post Partum
• Pregnant belly palpation and finding Fetal heart tones
• Post Partum Care
   

Kathleen Davis, B.A., CMT

Kathleen is a graduate of Mills College and the Acupressure Institute’s 850-hour advanced Acupressure Teacher Training Program. She continues to study Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chi Gung and Jin Shin Jyutsu as taught by Mary Burmeister. In addition to teaching acupressure and Tai Chi, she maintains a private practice in Berkeley integrating Chinese Tui Na Massage with Jin Shin Jyutsu. Kathleen is a core faculty member at the Acupressure Institute.
 

Alexandra De Avalon

Alexandra De Avalon drew upon her 23 years of Business Management experience at Pacific Bell/AT&T to create her day spa, Avalon A Place for Body & Spirit, in 2000. Four years later, she developed and implemented a state accredited vocational school, Avalon School of Massage Therapy. As part of her business plan, she integrated a Continuing Education Program, which she also incorporated into the second school she founded, in 2006, The University of Metaphysical Knowledge. Avalon is now a Green Business providing education for a great diversity of people.

Alexandra has established herself as a woman entrepreneur in her community. She regularly supports the local school fundraisers. Her skills with Toastmasters and her training background have allowed her to develop workshops for Adult Education Programs in Contra Costa County. She speaks and writes for the organizations she belongs to, including the Mt. Diablo Business Women and Entrepreneurs Club. As a Past President of The Business and Professionals Women Club of San Francisco she supports important Women’s organizations such as, Wardrobe for Opportunity, Latina Center, Adelante and Seeds of Learning. Her 35 years in Yoga and Meditation have taught her to breathe, remain calm and to know that everything is in divine order.
 

Jim Donak

Jim Donak's fascination with the human body began at an early age. Since then, he has committed himself to in-depth studies of the healing arts, ranging from Tai Chi, kinesiology, and The Alexander Technique, to Neuro-Linguistic Programming, manual orthopedic and osteopathic techniques, and musculoskeletal therapy.

In addition to teaching at the Acupressure Institute in Berkeley and the National Circus Center in San Francisco, Jim also maintains a private practice focusing on musculoskeletal healing, using Asian manual therapies, orthopedic bodywork, and rehabilitation exercises.

Dr. Katherine Ha

Dr. Katherine Ha, a Buddhist Nun, is a student of Sifu Fong Ha and has been teaching Tai Chi and Chi Gung since 1975. She presently resides in Sonoma County and is a faculty member in kinesiology at Sonoma State University. She is also Clinical Hypnotherapist and has been studying Eastern Holistic Healing techniques since the 1960’s. Her graduate studies of East-West Psychology and Philosophy were at the California Institute of Integral Studies and at the American Institute of Hypnotherapy, where she received her doctoral degree in Clinical Hypnotherapy in 1990. Each year, she puts together and leads week long transformative retreats to the Big Island of Hawaii and other mystical locations within the United States and other countries.

Dr. Ha is also a gold medalist for the United States and a silver medalist for the world in Masters Synchronized Swimming and she presently offers a popular YMCA Swimming Program for babies, as well as for “kids with disabilities.” Authored books by Dr. Kate Ha include: “In Search of The Sacred”, “Chi Gung for Health” (a children’s coloring book), “Death as my Advisor”, “Water Babies (a swimming manual) and a “Tai Chi Meditations” CD. Her Buddhist Nun vows were taken in 1975 at the Ming Fat Miu Monastery in China.
 

Alice Hiatt

Alice is one of the Acupressure Institute’s major core faculty, teaching over 20 different classes. She places an emphasis on the emotional aspects of health and disease. Alice is certified in Touch for Health and Esalen Massage and has taught acupressure around the world. She has studied Jungian dream analysis and trained with Helen Palmer. Alice has been a psychiatric nurse for over 25 years. She maintains a private practice in Berkeley and lives part time in Tanzania East Africa. She is the medicine woman in her village and during her climbs on Kilimanjaro Mountain.
 

Jennifer Kerr

Jennifer Kerr is the owner of Wise Woman Reader, a holistic business that awakens women’s wisdom through e-books, workshops, and intuitive readings. She is presently channelling her first series of e-books, Revelation Is An Everyday Experience, focusing on the process of spiritual healing. Jennifer also teaches workshops on psychic development which encourage women to tap into their intutive powers and enact their own spiritual empowerment. In addition, she gives intuitive readings with the clear-eyed intention of being a healing force in the world.

Sylvia Nachilingers

Sylvia Nachlinger is a nationally certified Acupressure therapist, with a background in intuitive healing, Shamanism, and personal transformation. She has been leading workshops and doing private healings for 27 years. She combines hands on healing, Shamanic journeying, energy healing with crystals, colors, and spirit helpers to help people heal, transform, and create the lives they want to live. Classes are experiential and give students a chance to practice what they learn.

Tamara Samsa

Tamara is an Acupressure Practitioner with over 600 hours of training at both Healing Arts Institute and the Acupressure Institute in Berkeley and has trained privately with Tashina Yoshii. She maintains a private practice in Carmichael, specializing in Shiatsu, Thai Massage, Abdominal Massage, and Reflexology. In addition to her bodywork modalities she has studied Tai Chi and Qigong for 10 years, incorporating the practice of breathwork into all of her sessions. She is also the Associate Director for Healing Arts Institute and promotes Holistic Animal Wellness through various events and classes
 

Lea Wildflower

Lea has been practicing massage for 20 years in spas and private practice. She is trained in Hot Stone Massage, Thai Massage, Swedish, Deep Tissue, Medical Massage, Hands on Healing, and Chair Massage. She now specializes in Hot Stone Massage and Thai Massage. Her love of Hot Stone Massage is inspired by her connection to the Earth and healing with elemental energies. She currently teaches Hot Stone Massage and has a private practice in Sebastopol, Ca.

Tom Wilson

Tom is a certified Jin Shin Jyutsu® Practitioner and Self-Help Instructor, who maintains a private practice for humans and animals in the Energy Healing Arts of Acupressure, Jin Shin Jyutsu, CranioSacral, Polarity, Tui Na, Zen Shiatsu, Thai Massage, Reiki, & Somatic Emotional Experiencing in Nevada City, CA. He is a CranioSacral practitioner and teacher certified by the Heartwood Institute in Garberville, CA. He is a Reiki Master, certified by the Sai Reiki Center of Pune, India, and the co-creator of the Reiki Distance Healing Circle. Tom is the director of the Animal Acupressure Training Academy, Nevada City, California.