Sarah is a doula and prenatal yoga instructor who has helped thousands of women prepare for childbirth and transition into motherhood. She has always been fascinated by the inspiring, round bellies of expectant mothers, admiring their beauty and wisdom. For more than six years, Sarah has worked with pregnant women at yoga studios, hospitals, and in their homes. Now, she offers Blooma as a destination where women–and their families–can come together to share the trials and triumphs of pregnancy.
A native Minnesotan, Sarah completed her doula training in Portland, Oregon, in 2001. In 2004, she journeyed to Santa Cruz, California, to train with Robin Sale, the founder of Whole Birth Yoga. Other influences in Sarah\'s approach to prenatal yoga and pregnancy include yogini Gurmukh Kaur Khalsa, birth educator Pam England, and the many mamas who have welcomed Sarah to be a part of their birth journeys. Sarah would like to thank Ann Fink (the iyoga queen), and Jennifer Grey (owner of Yoga Center of Minneapolis) for the opportunity they gave her to follow her passion.
When Sarah\'s not at a birth or teaching yoga, you\'ll find her walking around Lake Harriet, eating at one of her favorite Linden Hills spots, or hanging with her awesome nephews Emmett and Oliver.
","Chief Executive Yogini, Doula, and Instructor: Prenatal Yoga and Postnatal Yoga
","sarah01.jpg","1"], ["283","Alisa Blackwood","Alisa Blackwood discovered yoga during her first semester in college and knew instantly that it would always be part of her life. She now works as a YogaBonding (BYOB) teacher, birth doula, and infant massage instructor. Alisa loves working with women from the magical time of pregnancy, through the transition into birthing woman and mother. Beyond that time, Alisa believes that massaging baby and practicing yoga together inspires communication, trust, relaxation, and lots of smiles! She also adores seeing dads, partners, and other caregivers in her infant massage and BYOB classes.
Prior to living in the Twin Cities, Alisa volunteered with HIV-positive pregnant women and new mothers in South Africa. She continues to volunteer her time to mothers whenever she can and is a board member of the Childbirth Collective. When Alisa isn’t working with families and babies, she writes about healthy living, food, and travel for magazines like O, The Oprah Magazine, Cooking Light, Body+Soul, and more.
She lives in St. Paul with the two joys of her life: her husband and son, Graham, born in 2008. Learn more about Alisa\'s work at www.BabyLovesMassage.com or www.ABlackwood.com.
Instructor: BYOB: Bring Your Own Baby Yoga Bonding
ALSO: Alisa is our amazing Blooma Blogger!
","staff_AlisaBlackwood2.jpg","2"], ["281","Allison Cunningham","
Allison Cunningham is a mother, a yogi, and a feminist who believes knowledge is empowering, especially for women in their childbearing and child-rearing years. While pregnant with her daughter, Wynter, in 2008, Allison read Ina May Gaskin’s Guide to Childbirth, and was instantly fascinated. She switched her prenatal care to a midwifery practice, and began learning all she could about childbirth and postpartum care.
A self-professed yoga junkie, Allison discovered the practice at a health club in her hometown of Tucson, Arizona, when she was 16 years old. As an art student at New School University and Parsons School of Design and then as a starving artist in New York City, Allison scrimped and saved to take the best yoga classes she could find—those at the well-known Om Yoga Center, founded by Cyndi Lee.
Shortly after life’s twists and turns brought Allison to Minneapolis in 2006, she met and married the love of her life, Lance. More goodness followed: Wynter was born in 2008, and Allison was certified to teach their favorite class, Yoga Bonding, by Lisa Bergly in 2009.
","
Instructor: BYOB-Bring Your Own Baby Crawlers, BYOB
","large[1].jpg","3"], ["243","Amber Kay","
Amber Kay is a Shiatsu massage therapist and a birth doula, and she has advanced certification in pre- and postnatal massage. She completed the Bodywork for the Childbearing Year training, and then assisted in teaching the class a year later. She has also studied Qi Gong with Master Lin in the Twin Cities. Amber has more than 800 hours of training in Asian Bodywork Therapies. She is certified through the American Organization of Bodywork Therapies of Asia. Amber has been in practice since 2005, but has been giving excellent backrubs since she was quite young. Her massage practice focuses on healing at an energetic level, with an emphasis on helping the body heal itself.
In her free time, Amber loves to travel. She spent a year living in Russia with a host family (and speaks a little Russian). She also spent six months studying and traveling in Kenya and Tanzania (and speaks a little Swahili).
Amber lives in south Minneapolis, where she enjoys riding her bike, baking cupcakes, and working on one home improvement project after another. Learn more about Amber’s massage work at her web site, HappyHeartShiatsu.com.
","
Wellness Manager, Massage: prenatal and postnatal, shiatsu
","amber.jpg","5"], ["84","Amy Johnson-Grass","Amy Johnson-Grass is a naturopath, nutritionist, midwife and mother. She was awarded her Doctorate of Naturopathic Medicine, her Master of Science in Nutrition, and her Certificate of Midwifery from
Amy specializes in pediatrics and women’s health, with a specific interest in preconception health care to support couples with fertility problems and also for couples who simply want their child to have the healthiest start to life.
As a naturopath, her philosophy is to treat the whole person, finding the root cause of symptoms. She sees her role as an educator, someone who empowers patients to promote their innate healing abilities in conjunction with natural therapies. She identifies her patients’ personal health goals and focuses on individualized treatments such as dietary and lifestyle modifications, botanical medicine (herbs), homeopathy, nutritional supplementation, and craniosacral therapy.
As a midwife, Amy believes that birth is a natural process, and she trusts in the natural ability of women\'s bodies to birth their babies. Amy has training and experience in providing individualized, hands-on support throughout the childbearing year (pregnancy, birth, postpartum). She has expertise in nutrition, natural childbirth, breastfeeding, and early parenting. Amy is honored to be there to welcome new babies into the world, to serve birthing women and their families, and to participate in this miraculous part of the life cycle.
Amy opens a beautiful Birth Center on Grand in St. Paul in February 2010--home of Blooma\'s St. Paul classes! For more info visit www.health-foundations.com
Facilitator: Eco-Conscious Baby Care, Optimal Preconception Health
","AJGrass.jpg","7"], ["190","Ann Fink","Annie Fink is a Minneapolis-based artist with a colorful history in the worlds of theatre, film, design, and yoga. Returning home after many, many, many, years to be near her family, Annie pursued film editing while opening iYoga in south
Creativity forms the foundation of Annie’s yoga classes, providing balance between safety and inspiration. She incorporates dance choreography with vinyasa flow sequences to create a physically demanding and vigorous class. The spirited mix can ignite new possibilities in your practice. Annie has been exploring yoga, dance, and fitness for more than 20 years, and she aspires to both live her life and teach her classes with compassion and encouragement, while having tons of fun!
Annie’s fitness background includes certifications from the American Council of Exercise,
Annie has been described as being irrepressibly creative from birth, and reinvention and laughter have guided her through her life. She lives, joyfully, in
Instructor: Yoga for You!
","staff_AFink_small.jpg","11"], ["235","Anne Gustin","
Anne Gustin began a regular yoga practice in 2004, to stay flexible as she trained for the Twin Cities Marathon. A former competitive gymnast, Anne began to fall in love with yoga as she realized that asana practice challenged her body like gymnastics had, but without the harsh stress she’d experienced in the gym. Yoga became even more personal and meaningful when Anne practiced prenatal yoga with Sarah Longacre at iYoga in preparation for the birth of her daughter, Livia. Since then, Anne has been committed to her practice, and to letting her practice guide her parenting.
Anne has a Master’s degree in business; she worked for Target Corporation as a business statistics consultant before choosing to stay home to raise Livia. Motherhood is now her passion, and she cherishes every moment with her daughter and husband.
Anne completed Blooma\'s Prenatal Teacher Training Dec-Jan. 2010
","VBAC Support Group Facilitator
Blooma Newsletter Editor
Prenatal Yoga Instructor
","staff_AnneGustin-2.jpg","13"], ["93","Bridgett Erickson","Bridgett Erickson was instantly hooked on yoga after taking her first class more than eight years ago. Her commitment to yoga—the connection of breath and body—deepened throughout the pregnancy of her first child, Bennett. His birth offered another opportunity for Bridgett to explore yoga. Yoga was a gift to mindfully reacquaint with her postpartum body. Now, as a mom, Bridgett is aware of yet another aspect along her yoga journey. Being a mom has taught her to completely let go and live in the present moment.
Bridgett\'s most recent inspiration? Prenatal yoga teacher training with
internationally renowned Kundalini yoga teacher Gurmukh Kaur Khalsa.
Kundalini, called the yoga of awareness, is integrated into all of Bridgett\'s classes. Her teaching style reflects the different vinyasa workshops she\'s enjoyed, from Seane Corn to Cameron Shayne. Bridgett completed her basic teacher training at Corepower Yoga in 2005.
Bridgett is a believer in the power of being well—and yoga’s direct influence on mental and physical health. Her commitment to wellness led her to the Health Journalism program at the
Instructor: Prenatal Yoga, Take It Easy yoga, Yoga for You
","Staff_BridgettErickson_small.jpg","17"], ["288","Carrie Voda","","","carrie.jpg","20"], ["66","Channing Marie McKinley","Channing McKinley, DC, FICPA, CD(DONA), is a mother, chiropractor, craniosacral therapist, and doula. She views pregnancy and birth as a transformative time in women\'s lives, and it is her great joy to assist women during this time of immense physical, emotional, and life change. Channing is dedicated to helping women have pain-free and positive pregnancies, and to gently helping infants return to balance after the stresses of birth. Channing is also a certified HypnoBirthing® Instructor at Blooma.
Channing has advanced training in the care of pregnant women and children. She earned her doctorate of chiropractic from Northwestern Health Sciences University. She is certified by the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association and DONA International. And she brings to Blooma a love for helping people enter the world in the most balanced and peaceful way possible. For more info, visit www.ChanningMcKinley.com
","Chiropractic care and craniosacral therapy
HypnoBirthing® Instructor
","staff_cmckinley.jpg","21"], ["60","Cheryl Hauser","Cheryl Hauser, mother of three, has 34 years\' experience as a parent and 28 years\' experience as a teacher. Recently retired from teaching, Cheryl has been a Waldorf teacher, director of an infant and toddler Montessori program, a preschool director in New York City for 5 years, and an admissions professional at Breck for 6 years. Most recently, Cheryl worked as a reading specialist with learning disabled children.
Young children, their well being, and their need for security fuels Cheryl\'s passion for teaching and child care. In addition to a welcoming presence at Blooma, she brings a true joy for and a deep understanding of children and what their hearts need.
","Childcare. Sarah\'s mom.
","staff_chauser.jpg","23"], ["92","Cori Levin","Cori Levin welcomed yoga into her life in 2005 when she needed guidance beyond the advice of family and friends. The following year, she deepened her practice while turning inward in preparation for pregnancy, birth, and motherhood. Yoga allowed her to stay present with all the beautiful changes going on inside her body.
Cori completed the Corepower Vinyasa teacher training program in 2007. She continues to learn from her yoga mentors and her students, and she recognizes that her yoga journey is continuously evolving and growing. Her mentors and her students see Cori as a caring and nurturing teacher who has a true presence about herself. She teaches her students to follow their heart, both on and off the mat!
Cori lives with her husband, Gennady, in
Instructor: Yoga for You!, Prenatal Yoga
","staff_CoriLevin_small.jpg","25"], ["299","Cynthia Levine","Cynthia is a doula and a prenatal yoga teacher. Her training for both began before she knew all of her letters. Some of her earliest memories are of watching her mother practice yoga. She also remembers being fascinated by the birth paraphernalia that was around the house since her mother was a childbirth educator. Before her prenatal yoga teacher training at Kripalu in the fall of 2009, Cynthia practiced with Sri K. Pattabhi Jois on his last visit to the U.S., and has received instruction and guidance from some of Ashtanga’s senior teachers including Manju Jois, Michael Gannon, Govinda Kai, David Swenson, Kino MacGregor, Tim Feldmann, and the great teachers of Yoga House.
Cynthia is pleased to share her love of yoga with expectant moms as they discover the beautiful union between breath, body, and baby. Through her own daily practice, Cynthia has experienced how yoga can cultivate a heightened sense of self-awareness that is available to support each woman through the transformations of pregnancy, childbirth, motherhood, and beyond.
When Cynthia is not working with pregnant women, she is getting her hands dirty in her garden or in her ceramics studio. You can see images of her work at www.cynthiaraelevine.com
Deborah Savran is a Maya Abdominal Massage practitioner, naturopath, herbalist, and mother. She specializes in natural fertility enhancement and women\'s pelvic, hormonal, and spiritual health. Her intense personal experiences with fertility challenges, pregnancy, and parenting have led her naturally and passionately to this work. She delights in communing with herbs and making medicines with them; living an organic, whole-foods lifestyle; open-hearted communication; music; and Middle Eastern dance. Deborah is a professional member of the Maya Abdominal Massage Association and American Herbalist\'s Guild. She is dedicated to being a resourceful guide for her clients and to empowering them with the self-care skills needed to return to balance, harmony, and resilience. Deborah\'s services include Maya abdominal massage, herbal medicine, nutritional counseling, environmental medicine, energy work, fertility awareness charting, and Middle Eastern movement.
","Naturopath and Maya Abdominal Massage practitioner
","staff_dsavran.jpg","27"], ["131","Emily MacLaury","Emily MacLaury was introduced to yoga at age 10 by a dear family friend. (They stayed up late on Friday nights with a yoga video.) Throughout college, Emily practiced with a Kripalu teacher, and she found yoga as a way of life while studying in
When Emily moved to
Emily is completing her teacher training at the Yoga Center of Minneapolis and working with families as a doula. She lives in
Instructor: Prenatal Yoga, Take it Easy Yoga
","staff_EMacLaury.jpg","29"], ["302","Helena Raghubir"," Helena Raghubir has been practicing yoga and studying holistic healing since 1993. She is a certified Kundalini Yoga Professional Teacher Trainer, Level III Sat Nam Rasayan Practitioner, Neurolinguistic Psychology Practitioner, Reiki Master Usui and Karuna, CMT, and Reflexologist. Trained at Golden Bridge in Los Angeles, Helena has taught yoga, meditation, and spiritual practice throughout the Twin Cities, in California, and internationally, and brings a compassionate strength and clarity to her classes. A great innovator in teaching and healing, she is the author of The Prayer Solution: Be Who You Came Here to Be and a prenatal yoga manual with Gurmukh. She holds an Art History BA, magna cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa, from Carleton College. Helena joins Blooma from the Center for Happiness.
Jaime Pellegrene learned to turn her attention inward and to find peace within herself while living in San Diego, where she tapped into the connection between health and well-being. She\'d been practicing yoga for several years, and it naturally fit right in with this newfound awareness of the profound link between mind, body, and spirit. Soon after, she trained to become a yoga teacher so she could share the insights she\'d experienced.
Jaime, a graduate of Arizona State University, is a certified personal trainer, a mat and reformer Pilates teacher, and a holistic nutrition and lifestyle coach. She and her husband welcomed their first baby in September 2007. Practicing yoga while pregnant gave Jaime a deep sense of connection to her little one.
Instructor: Yoga for You!
","staff_jpellegrene.jpg","31"], ["68","Jalashree Pradhan","Jalashree Pradhan, a graduate of the prestigious American College of Traditional Chinese Medicine in San Francisco, received her Masters in Traditional Chinese Medicine in 1998. She is a licensed and nationally certified acupuncturist/herbalist with advanced training in gynecological/reproductive issues and Chinese massage. She is also now training in the Advanced and Masters Levels of Reiki.
After having practiced for a number of years in a busy San Francisco holistic health center, Jalashree moved with her husband and twin daughters to Minneapolis in 2001. Since her arrival in this area, she has practiced out of a patient-centered Holistic Health and Wellness Center.
Jalashree\'s upbringing and family traditions gave her a lifelong interest in medicine and the healing arts, and she explored several traditions before finding inspiration in the practice of holistic care. She brings to her practice a mix of clinical skills, techniques, and knowledge which she blends with a creative and gentle approach which promotes the body\'s own ability to find health and harmony of mind, body, and spirit.
Jamee Yung discovered and fell in love with yoga in 2001. Her practice was the only thing that helped relieve stress and painful migraines. Fast-forward to 2007, when pregnancy brought Jamee to Blooma. She credits prenatal classes with helping her to have a natural childbirth, and she firmly believes that baby yoga classes created a sweet sense of calm in her daughter.
Jamee recently studied with Yoga Bonding founder Lisa Bergly, earning her certification to lead BYOB and BYOB*Crawlers classes. She loves sharing her excitement for the profound benefits yoga brings to pregnancy, birth, and overall well-being.
An artist, art museum educator, and mother, Jamee lives in Minneapolis with her husband, Jeff; her daughter, Chloe; and their pets Karma the dog and Norman the cat.
","
Instructor: BYOB*Crawlers, BYOB
","staff_JameeYung-2.jpg","35"], ["72","Jennifer Colletti","Jennifer Colletti started her personal yoga journey more than 10 years ago, embracing the practice at times and drifting from it at others, as she made her way through a career as a fashion designer. Through years of extensive travel and intensive work, she found her way back to yoga time and again. Having been a competitive gymnast and diver, Jennifer also had an appreciation for graceful movement–and the kind of repetitive stress injuries common in her chosen sports. Yoga offered a solution for it all: respite from the stress of work, relief from her injuries, and a physical practice that soothed her body and her mind.
When Jennifer left the corporate world, she pursued two passions: yoga and design. Finally feeling in control of her destiny, she opened a boutique with a long-time friend, started the interior styling business Filigree Design, and went after her dream of many years to become a yoga teacher. She found a sense of belonging and solace in the yoga community. She completed the Corepower Vinyasa teacher training program in 2005; she\'s also studied with Rolf Gates, Cameron Shane, Seane Corn, Dave Farmar, and Brenda Strong in Strong Yoga 4 Fertility. She is trained in vinyasa, hot, fertility, prenatal, postnatal, baby, and kids yoga.
In 2007, she gave birth to a beautiful baby boy. Mommyhood, she says, couldn\'t be more amazing!
For information about Jennifer\'s classes and workshops, visit her web site, jenyoga.net, where you can also check out her yoga photos and t-shirt line.
","Instructor: BYOB* Yoga, Prenatal Yoga, and workshops in BYOB Partner Workshop and Yoga for Fertility.
","staff_jcolletti.jpg","39"], ["295","Jennifer Torres","Jennifer Torres is a Clinical Social Worker (Masters in Social Work) with more than 12 years of experience. She currently provides early childhood consultation services at Washburn Center for Children. She has provided a broad range of counseling services to mothers, including individual, family, couples and group therapy. In addition, she has participated in an intensive clinical externship program in Family Therapy at the Ackerman Institute for the Family, in New York City. Jennifer’s special interests include: infant attachment; early childhood development; anxiety; depression; family transitions; adjustment to illness; and bereavement. She has worked with children and families coping with disabilities, trauma, and chronic/life threatening illnesses.
Support Group Facilitator
","jtorres02.jpg","40"], ["73","Jennifer Wetherall","Jennifer Wetherall found yoga during a difficult time in her life, and it ultimately transformed her lifestyle and her relationships. During her pregnancy, yoga kept her free from aches and pains, and it kept her focused and centered during a long home birth. Jennifer believes that her daughter, Audrey, is so calm and relaxed as a result of yoga–both the prenatal classes they took together, and the mom-and-baby classes they enjoy now.
Jennifer has been a yoga teacher for three years. She trained at the Yoga Center of Minneapolis, completing both the basic study program and the J.A.I. prenatal program. Most recently, she has studied with Yoga Bonding founder Lisa Bergly and is certified to teach Baby Bonding classes. She is eager to share her excitement for the profound benefits yoga brings to pregnancy, birth, and new families–and to the changes those experiences bring to relationships.
","Instructor: Prenatal Yoga, BYOB* Yoga, Yoga for You!
","staff_jwetherall.jpg","41"], ["233","Jesse Bennett","Jesse Bennett began practicing yoga and Pilates in 1998, and both disciplines transformed how she felt in her skin, in her body, and in her mind. Falling in love with the two and seeing how they truly complement each other inspired her to study, teach, and share yoga and Pilates.
After graduating from The University of Southern California in 2001, Jesse completed her first Pilates mat certification with Power Pilates. She went on to recertify with Integrated Balance Pilates in mat, reformer, spine corrector, and Cadillac. Jesse’s yoga training is through Shiva Rea’s
Jesse’s goal for her students is to have their practice be their sanctuary—to let the mat be a place to go for comfort, growth, fun, laughter, and strength. Jesse lives in
Instructor: Fusion for You!, Yoga for You, Prenatal Yoga
","Staff_JBennett.jpg","43"], ["74","Jessica Rosenberg","Jessica has been practicing yoga since the early-1990s and teaching for more than 9 years. She studies yogic texts and sequencing philosophies from many yoga disciplines. The result is a wonderfully blended teaching style and a unique, challenging kick-asana class for any level of student. Balancing body, mind, and heart to Enlighten Up.
A former Industrial Designer for Revlon and Aveda in NYC, a craftsperson who loves to make things and figure out how they work, Jessica is a true free spirit. She is a 500hr. Yoga Alliance registered yoga teacher. Certified in Ashtanga, Bikram, Power Vinyasa, Soft Touch Hatha Yoga, Reiki Master and Y.O.G.A. for Youth™.
Breath, Awareness, Compassion and Love - the Infinite Possibilities and the positive effects of the practice of yoga - has profoundly touched Jessica. With enthusiasm and passion she is able to share her knowledge to engage and instruct people to follow the path of the great tree of yoga.
In 2001, she created Adventures of Super Stretch™ an interactive fitness program developed to give kids a physical outlet to express and empower themselves in a healthy way, revealing their beauty from the inside out. Visit Adventures of Super Stretch on the web, and become a fan on facebook!
Jessica is especially thankful to all of her amazing mentors for their light and support. Her advice to her students, young and old, comes from the wisdom of Mahatma Gandhi: "Be the change you wish to see in the world."
Contact Jessica at: jessica@adventuresofsuperstretch.com
Current Music mix:
gayatri luscious chill mix wah
homeward angel moby
hey world don’t give up michael franti and spearhead
paper planes m.i.a.
fields of gold -acoustic sting
ambient blend thievery corporation
satyam shivam sundaram thievery corporation
good feeling ramadanman
govinda jaya jaya donna de lory
gunghata dave stringer and donna de lory
song 2 dj crush
rare earth/the forest for thieves bombay dub orchestra
shiva’s flute shaman’s dream
namaste lea longo
love is my religion -acoustic ziggy marley
let my love open the door pete townshend
","
Instructor: Family Yoga, Yoga for You, Partner Yoga
","staff_jrosenberg.jpg","45"], ["300","Jessie Seehof","Jessie began her journey with yoga in 1999 and began teaching in 2001. As a teacher she strives for a practice of "Metta" (loving kindness) and humor with just a dash of sweat! When teaching she uses the Ashtanga Primary Series as her launching pad as she dives into many different vinyasa or flow yoga styles.
As a prenatal teacher she calls on her own experiance as a new mama and her journey through pregnancy and labor with the help of blooma and all of its magical offerings. Her goal in class is to allow quiet and reflection while also finding an inner birthing warrior!
Jessie\'s background is based in Ashtanga yoga with a deep connection for the alignment of the Iyengar practice. She completed teacher training in the Primary Series of the Ashtanga with David Swenson, and she also completed teacher training with Monique Maxwell. Jessie has trained with Seane Corn, Rod Stryker, Max Stromm, Larry Schultz and David Williams.
Prenatal Yoga Instructor, Yoga for You!
","","46"], ["85","Julie Kesti","Julie Kesti keeps Blooma on an even keel as the office manager. In addition to being a workshop-scheduling whiz, she is a Shiatsu and Thai Yoga Bodywork practitioner and a former birth doula, which gives her a deep appreciation for the needs of the women and families who visit Blooma.
Julie started down the wellness path at Centerpoint’s Shiatsu program. Her journey continued with Qi Gong studies with Master Lin in the Twin Cities, Thai Yoga Massage training through the Lotus Palm school of Montreal, and the study of Sivananda Yoga and Tibetan massage in India. She has completed more than 800 hours of training in Asian Bodywork Therapies, and has been in practice since 2005. She is a certified practitioner through the American Organization of Bodywork Therpies of Asia.
Before Julie studied mind-body expressions of wellness, she explored art—and how it helps people connect to their lives spiritually and physically—at the University of Minnesota. Her interest in how people relate to their bodies eventually branched out to learning about how women can be empowered by bringing new life into the world, the thing their bodies are uniquely intended to do.
Communication, intuition, and creativity are essential to all of Julie\'s practices, and she looks forward to sharing them with you when you visit Blooma! You can learn more about Julie at juliekesti.com
","Studio Manager
","JKesti.jpg","47"], ["284","Kim Bosanko","Kim Bosanko was maxed out. The high stress and constant travel of a corporate job left little time for healthy eating or exercise. Pledging a commitment to a healthier body and mind, Kim changed her eating habits and exercised consistently at a local gym. As her body began to change, becoming stronger and leaner, so did her attitude and her life goals. After significant weight loss, Kim sought a beginner yoga class at the gym to improve flexibility. She quickly fell in love with yoga and how it made her body feel ... the calm centeredness in her mind and spirit, a grounding and safety she had never known.
Wanting to share this great feeling with others, Kim realized what she was meant to do in life. So she completed Yogafit training in February 2006, then graduated Corepower Teacher training in July 2006, and with a happy heart left her position in the corporate world to teach yoga full time. She\'s enjoyed teaching each and every day since. She\'s continued her yoga studies, seeking out the inspiration of yoga masters like Ana Forrest, Rusty Wells, Cameron Shayne, and Manju Pattabi Jois.
Kim brings a kind, gentle spirit and a smile wherever she goes. She\'s willing to help anyone, and she has a genuine love for all.
Instructor: Yoga for You!
","blooma_KBosanko_hires.jpg","48"], ["304","Laura Leventhal","A self-described type-A personality, Laura accidentally discovered restorative yoga and fell in love with the deeply relaxed state of blissful balance it brought to her busy life.
Laura credits restorative yoga for allowing her to find a place of peace and acceptance while struggling with infertility and believes that a regular restorative practice is essential to living well.
Wife and mother of two sweet boys -- Noah and Sky -- Laura acknowledges the challenges of motherhood and encourages women to be gentle with themselves, not only in yoga but through their thoughts and actions as well.
After practicing yoga for nearly a decade, Laura is completing her 200-hour yoga teacher training at the Yoga Center of Minneapolis, with a focus on gentle and restorative yoga.
Take It Easy Yoga
","LLeventhal001.jpg","53"], ["289","Lauren Becker","Lauren Becker, a native of northeastern Wisconsin, moved to the Twin Cities in 2006 to attend the University of Saint Thomas. Here she had many opportunities to discover the beauty of women and prgenancy. Nannying for a fabulous midwife’s children throughout college, she observed the rewarding lifestyle of working with pregnant mothers and babies. Lauren is currently in the certification process to become a doula (DONA).
Graduating in May 2010 in Business Management and Communications, Lauren also has an interest in small business. She has been inspired by Sarah Longacre’s doula work for years, and more recently by her success running as a small business. As Childcare Manager, Lauren is excited to combine her passion for birth with her business skills and become a part of Blooma.
As the time comes to discern the road her life is going to take, Lauren feels Blooma and the birthing community is her next journey.
","Childcare Manager
","lauren.jpg","54"], ["89","Lisa Bergly","Lisa Bergly is living her passion—sharing the gift of yoga with women everywhere. She created the Yoga Bonding® Sequence, produced a related DVD for moms and babies, and trains teachers in the baby-integrated yoga curriculum. Through the years, Lisa has refined the Yoga Bonding techniques she first created with her own children. The sequence meets the physical, mental, and spiritual needs of both mama and baby. Lisa teaches parents about their baby’s energy body, and how understanding the dynamics of this very special relationship can ease the parenting process and fully integrate the infant into the mother’s or caregiver’s yoga practice.
Lisa completed her training in Integrative Yoga Therapy at The Temple of Kriya Yoga in
A mother of two, Lisa knows that mamas need reassuring guidance in raising their little ones, and babies need help teaching their mothers and caregivers about the natural order of things. Through her teachings of Yoga Bonding and spiritual parenting, she hopes to help new parents and baby accept and understand each other more easily. Her ultimate goal is to help people know their bodies, understand their emotions, improve their concentration skills, and awaken their spirit, allowing them to feel closer to their own divine nature—whether closer to their God or to the realization of self through living their own destinies.
","Instructor: Swami Mommies, Yoga Bonding for Newborns, and Yoga Bonding Teacher Training
","LisaBergly.JPG","55"], ["242","Lindsay Wakefield","
Lindsay Wakefield received her massage therapy training at Centerpoint School of Massage and Shiatsu. Long fascinated by pregnancy, she specializes in prenatal and postnatal massage. Lindsay also provides therapeutic massage for clients with musculoskeletal injuries or conditions.
Lindsay also works as a nanny for several families. She has always had a passion for children, and she is grateful to play such an important part in the lives of her friends\' children. Lindsay’s future goals include becoming a doula.
Lindsay loves camping, canoeing, and being in nature. She lives in Eagan; her home-away-from-home is Ely, Minnesota.
Lindsay also plays a very important role at Blooma as our Childcare Manager! She will be leaving us (sad for us, happy for her!) for awhile this winter to work as a massage therapist in the mountains of Montana!
","
Massage: Prenatal and Postnatal, Therapeutic and Restorative
Childcare Manager
","LWakefield003_websize.jpg","57"], ["81","Liz Abbene","Liz is a Lamaze Certified Childbirth Educator and birth doula certified through DONA, and the creator of Enlightened Mama. Her passion for pregnancy, childbirth, and parenting began at a young age. She made countless visits to the labor and delivery unit where her mother worked as a nurse and visited many of the childbirth classes that her mother taught. Liz has spent years working with children, and with her own experiences as a mother, and now as a doula and childbirth educator, she just can’t get enough of mamas and their new babies! Liz absolutely loves sharing in the experiences with those embarking on this incredible journey into parenthood, and she believes that knowledge is the key to a positive experience during pregnancy, birth, and parenting. For more on Liz’s work and her philosophy, visit www.EnlightenedMama.com.
She and her husband, Chris, are the proud parents of three vivacious children.
Instructor: Enlightened Mama Lamaze, Enlightened Mama Baby Care Workshop, Enlightened Mama Breastfeeding
","LAbbene.jpg","150"], ["287","Liz Wacker","Dr. Liz Wacker is a licensed Naturopathic doctor and proud momma-to-be. She loves her work and uses the principles of Naturopathic medicine as her guides: prevent disease, identify and remove the cause of disease, treat the whole person, trust in the healing powers of nature, and educate patients about wellness. She follows an integrated approach to medicine, combining natural medicines with western diagnostics and laboratory interpretation. Appreciating the fact that we are all unique, Dr. Wacker spends time listening to her patients to assure that her recommendations are as diverse as each person who comes to see her. A skillful blend of nutritious food, vitamins, herbs, homeopathy, meditation, Reiki, and counseling are all part of the support she offers. While she sees people of all ages with any range of health concerns, she specializes in holistic health for women, from fertility to menopause. She helps mothers with post-partum concerns such as fatigue, stress, weight management, or depression, and can help prevent these issues before they occur by starting during pregnancy.
For more information, please visit her website at www.visheninstitute.com.
","Naturopathic Doctor
","lizw.jpg","154"], ["303","Meredyth Johnson","Meredyth Johnson is a nationally certified massage therapist (NCTMB),
certified birth doula CD(DONA), dance and yoga instructor. She has
advanced certification in pre- and postnatal therapeutic massage after
studying with Carole Osbourne-Sheets which includes working with high risk pregnancies. Meredyth was a graduate of CenterPoint School of Massage and Shiatsu. Ever since Meredyth can remember she has been fascinated with the human body. She continues to explore this beautiful medium and enjoys helping others discover how to move, connect, and heal themselves through dance, yoga, and the healing arts.
Meredyth lives in St. Paul and in her free time she loves to cook, paint, spend time with family and friends, and to be outdoors: camping, kayaking, biking, and hiking. She loves to explore the world, especially through its food.
To learn more about Meredyth\'s work, visit her website at www.meredythjohnson.com
Massage: Prenatal and Postnatal, Therapeutic and Resortative
Front Desk, Childcare
","MJohnson001.jpg","154"], ["279","Nan Gane","
Nan Gane, born smack dab in the middle of summer, comes by her love of sun and heat naturally. So 10 years ago, when she stumbled into a yoga class smack dab in the middle of a cold Minnesota winter, she was delighted to realize she could find the heat of the sun by saluting it. Though initially feeling quite inflexible and not sure what foot/arm/hip/head went where, she was charmed enough by the mini-nap at the end of every practice to stick with it. And then sure enough, breath by breath, pose by pose, sutra by sutra, the technology of yoga worked its magic on her. What began as a small crush turned into a full-blown love affair as Nan opened herself to learning about and sharing her enthusiasm for yoga.
Having studied with master instructors Jeffrey Bores, Manju Patthabi Jois, and Jessica Rosenberg, and completed teacher training with Annie Carpenter of YogaWorks in Sydney, Australia, Nan teaches yoga in corporate settings, studios, and private sessions around town. Her vinyasa classes combine a deep awareness of anatomy, sequencing, alignment, and yogic philosophy while inspiring a playful spirit. One of her students calls her “the Warrior of the Open Heart.”
When Nan isn’t sporting yoga clothes, you can find her elbow deep in dirt designing someone’s garden, clad in an apron catering someone’s party, walking one of the lakes, or at the airport off to satiate her endless hunger for travel and experiencing the world.
","Instructor: Yoga for You!, Yoga 101 Workshop for Beginners
","staff_NanSeebartArundel.jpg","155"], ["77","Sarina LaMarche","Sarina LaMarche is a Life and Wellness Coach with a master\'s degree in psychology. She brings more than 10 years\' experience as a mental health professional to Blooma. Sarina is dedicated to helping mothers find energy, balance, and peace in their lives. As a mother, she knows the importance of nurturing the mind, body, and spirit. She finds balance in her own life by spending time outdoors and in creative pursuits. She is a Personal Renewal Group (PRG) Facilitator.
","Group Facilitator: Personal Renewal Groups for Moms
","staff_slamarche.jpg","165"], ["188","Shayla Boger","Shayla Boger believes that yoga is freeing and opens the heart to a world of possibility, stemming from one love. One of her favorite quotes comes from Bob Marley’s Redemption Song: “Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery/None but ourselves can free our minds.” She believes that if we teach our children about the freedom of creativity and thought, movement, breath, and energy it will help them grow individually, so they are able to honor themselves and to find beauty in all things.
Shayla started her yoga journey seven years ago and instantly fell in love. She is a graduate of the Core Power Yoga, Yoga Game, and Yoga Calm teacher training programs. Yoga Game and Yoga Calm are disciplines focused on yoga for children, which is her passion. She is registered and certified with the Yoga Alliance, and is CPR certified.
Shayla feels blessed to be the wife of a wonderful, supportive husband, and the mama of a sweet, beautiful daughter and a cherished, newborn son.
","Instructor: Yoga for Tots
","Staff_SBoger.jpg","170"], ["272","Stacy Seebart","Stacy Seebart approaches bodywork holistically, drawing from many modalities, always with the intention of helping to connect the body, mind, and spirit. She is a graduate of New England Academy of Therapeutic Sciences in Dublin, New Hampshire, and has worked as a massage therapist since 2001. She is nationally certified in therapeutic massage and bodywork (NCTMB) and certified in Reiki I by the Usui System of Natural Healing. She has focused her continuing massage therapy study in Craniosacral Therapy and Somatic Emotional Release through the Upledger Institute in Florida.
Stacy is also a Pranassage Practitioner and Interdisciplinary Yoga Teacher. She is a graduate of the Nosara Yoga Institute in Nosara, Costa Rica. She is on faculty at NYI as a teaching assistant for the annual 100-hour Pranassage Practitioner Training. As Stacy has continued her yoga studies, she has focused on Yoga Therapy. She earned her 500-RYT designation from the Yoga Alliance in 2009. Stacy looks to Amba and Don Stapleton, Ann Hunt, and Jessie Seehof as her mentors and is very honored and grateful for their guidance.
Stacy’s clients have included spinal injury patients, prenatal and postnatal mamas, and all ages from 7 to 87! Stacy lives in Minneapolis, and she aspires to travel the world while teaching and learning the yogic path of life.
Check out Stacy\'s website: pranassagemn.com
","","stacy.jpg","180"], ["282","Summer Michael","
Summer Michael first practiced yoga while in college, but it wasn\'t until she read Gurmukh\'s book Bountiful, Beautiful, Blissful during her pregnancy that she found her calling. A little research revealed that a pregnancy teacher training was scheduled to start soon, so Summer quickly searched out a good deal on a flight and accommodations. At 8 months pregnant, she made her way to LA to study with Gurmukh and the teachers at Golden Bridge. That week changed her life.
A certified childbirth educator, Summer is a strong supporter of midwifery, homebirth, doulas, babywearing, and birth education. She is certified in Yoga Bonding by Lisa Bergly, and she has studied Anna Getty, Darren Main, and Jason Crandell. When Summer’s not teaching yoga, she works as a print model in the Minneapolis area through Wehmann Agency.
Both of Summer\'s pregnancies reflected her passion for all things connected to birth: Her first daughter, Melania, was immersed in the loveliness of prenatal yoga training, and her second daughter, Kiera, was born at home, in the water before the midwives arrived.
Summer lives with her girls and her husband, Bobby, in the Longfellow neighborhood.
","
Outreach Coordinator
Instructor: Prenatal Yoga, BYOB, Yoga for You!
","staff_SummerMichael.jpg","185"], ["80","Susan Colvin","Susan Colvin started practicing yoga in Colorado in 2001 with her husband (then fiancé) so they\'d have a shared hobby. They fell in love with yoga, and their relationship with each other deepened, too. The couple returned to Minnesota in 2004 and soon realized Susan was pregnant. Yoga, of course, was a natural part of pregnancy for Susan, and she began taking prenatal classes. It wasn\'t long before she realized she\'d crossed paths with her teacher–Sarah Longacre–before. Sarah became Susan\'s doula and her inspiration to continue learning about birth, babies, and yoga. Susan is a certified Yoga Bonding teacher and an infant massage practitioner.
","Instructor, Rub-A-Dub Baby Infant Massage and BYOB*Crawlers
","staff_scolvin.jpg","190"], ["277","Susan Prince","
Susan Prince is a nationally certified massage therapist and a 2001 graduate of Sr. Rosalind\'s School of Professional Massage in St. Paul. She specializes in Myofascial Release Therapy. Susan completed her clinical training at the John F. Barnes Myofascial Release Treatment Center in Paoli, Pennsylvania, and has worked with clients in a patient-centered holistic health and wellness clinic since 2001. Through myofascial release Susan helps her clients reconnect with their bodies by restoring their freedom of movement and assisting their return to a pain-free lifestyle. Susan is also a certified FirstLine Therapy Lifestyle Educator, helping people improve their lives and heal chronic health issues through diet, stress relief, and exercise.
Susan has been interested in health and wellness for more than 20 years. She strongly believes in the connection between the mind and the body, and she has personally experienced the positive effects of that connection. Her goal is to help her clients feel that same connection through bodywork, stress reduction, diet, and exercise.
","
Massage: therapeutic and restorative
","staff_SusanPrince.JPG","195"], ["","","","","",""] );