Introducing Jen, she has been practicing yoga for 20 plus years and teaching for over 15 years. She received her 200-hour training in Iyengar-inspired yoga from Karuna in Northampton, MA. She jumped right into teaching yoga to clients with both mental health and substance abuse histories as part of their progressive recovery program she was employed at. Feeling passionate about working with those
who have suffered trauma, Jen further educated herself by becoming certified as a rape crisis counselor and an educator/advocate through the Department of Public Health. Feeling the need to understand the effects of substance abuse further, she completed a program for addiction counseling. She worked supporting folks dually diagnosed in residential programs, a teen transition to independence program, and as an outreach worker. There she ran empowering and inspiring groups for women struggling with a mental health diagnosis, served as a human rights officer, and engaged in many professional trainings such as DBT (Dialectical Behavioral Therapy) and WRAP (wellness recovery action planning). She also enjoyed working as a Harm Reduction Counselor for a needle exchange program where she provided therapeutic educational groups, HIV and Hep C testing and counseling, Narcan Training, and connected folks with treatment options and access to social services. Jennifer also takes pride in her own recovery, recently celebrating 13 years of sobriety. She also enjoys supporting others through their journey of recovery using yoga and other healing modalities and relaxation techniques. Jen helped co-create a yoga program called Finding Safety in Your Body and taught this 6-week course through the former Everywoman’s Center in Amherst. She also taught yoga, as part of a program for self–discovery called “Flip your script”, a course co-created with two college professors to help young mothers continuing their education from The Care Center in Holyoke re-write their stories about themselves. Jen has engaged in many other yoga trainings such as Y12SR, Yoga for Recovery with Nikki Myers as well as Prison Yoga with founder James Fox. She has completed a Vajra Yoga: Social Action Teacher Training for at-risk youth with the Lineage Project and Jill Satterfield. Jen has been a member of the Yoga Service Council; service work is at the heart of her practice. To take things to a new level, Jen completed an Aerial Yoga Teacher Training and enjoys the fun and support the yoga hammock can add to a class. Jen is a lifetime learner, always looking for ways to enhance and expand upon her already extensive knowledge of trauma, addiction/recovery, and PTSD and how yoga, bodywork, and energetic healing can improve quality of life. Most recently she has found the convergence of shamanic healing, martial arts, and yoga as she soon finishes a training incorporating all these techniques together, this work speaks to her soul in a way no other previous training has. Continuing her journey through education Jennifer is completing her Bachelor's degree in Integrative Holistic Healing in Mental Health and Recovery and is looking to continue on to graduate school for social work. Jen has a thriving bodywork practice, she completed a 500 hour, 5-Element Shiatsu and Chinese Medicine Program as well as various levels and types of Thai Bodywork and Thai Yoga Massage Trainings. A treatment with Jen will leave you feeling relaxed, deeply nourished, rejuvenated, grounded, and balanced. Drawing from her substantial knowledge of body and mind healing, she accesses her skills to help improve your health and vitality with suggestions of herbs to incorporate into your life as well as breathwork (pranayama), yoga, and self-care practices, all to support you in your journey to wellness. Jen enjoys making massage accessible to everyone and has joined her partner Steve, a licensed massage therapist, to offer a weekly restorative yoga with massage class as a way to make both yoga and massage affordable to all. Introducing Michelle, she has been practicing yoga for over 15 years. She is a 200-hour certified yoga teacher. Her specialty is gentle yoga & aerial yoga. She is a 500-hour certified 5-elements shiatsu practitioner, as it relates to the Chinese medicine theory of Fire, Earth, Metal, Water, and Wood. She is an avid hiker who loves being in nature. She also loves writing, learning, & being creative. As an educator and healer, she is eager to facilitate an amazing journey into yoga as it relates to the 5-elements. Her intention is to create and hold a safe space for each student/client to dive deeper into themselves, feel better in their body, and love their imperfect self unconditionally. Come share the journey to a better you. Introducing Steve:
Steve has been practicing massage since 2005. His focus on deep tissue massage benefits all clients who work in a demanding profession. His ability to tune into the body and understand the underlying issues that reside in the body as well as his intuitive senses make his massage unique. He also gives each client ample time to discuss what is happening in their body and then tailors his massage accordingly. His gentle nature helps puts clients at ease immediately.
