The Open Mind Center Teachers and Lecturers

All of our teachers and lecturers are professionals in their fields. Many are renowned experts who have practiced for numerous years locally and nationally.

The goal of all The Open Mind Center teachers and lecturers is to impart knowledge and wisdom on the receptive mind, body and spirit.

It is our hope that we can help you achieve self-awareness and enlightenment, enabling you to live to your full potential.

Our teachers and lecturers are listed below:

Charlotte Evers

Charlotte Evers is a Usui and Karuna Reiki Master. She provides one-on-one Reiki services and teaches Usui and Karuna Reiki classes. Charlotte also facilitates “reiki share� groups. Additionally, Charlotte is a Practitioner in the Rising Star Healing System and a Feng Shui consultant who has studied in Berkeley, California, New York, and Boston at the Divinity School on the Harvard Campus.

“Becoming a Reiki Master Teacher has been the most profound journey of my life.�

This quote from Charlotte strongly indicates the passion and dedication she has toward her spiritual growth. Sharing and teaching Reiki is her, “Higher Self, her Spiritual Truth.� Nothing gives her more pleasure than to share this amazing gift with all who seek to know its limitless power.

Amanda Ambrus

Amanda Ambrus is a practicing visual artist, focusing on large painting and installation. Her work is driven by local research and public issues. 

As an emerging artist, Amanda is committed to exploring a diverse range of mediums and art practice. With a number of commissions in both Australia and the United States, she is dedicated to continually developing and exploring new research opportunities. Amanda is an Arts graduate of Curtin University in Western Australia and has been consistently involved in bringing art programs to the public for the past 15 years.

Julie Sutton

Julie is a Hatha Yoga Svaroopa® Style Yoga instructor (Member SATYA - Svaroopa® Association of Teachers Yoga Association) and Embodyment® Yoga therapist and is currently working toward her second certification as a Registered Yoga Teacher. Julie is also a Reiki practitioner.

After spending many years as a long distance runner and experiencing knee injuries, Julie began exploring other options to keep her body in shape. She soon discovered Svaroopa® Yoga and immediately embraced its subtle approach of “undoing� the stress and related tensions which were beginning to take a toll on her life. Julie’s journey into Svaroopa® Yoga has been life-changing and has helped her heal from both fibromyalgia and migraine headaches. She acknowledges that becoming a Svaroopa® Yoga Teacher really taught her about body awareness in a way that running never could. She loves to have the opportunity to share and teach others a practice that has helped her out in so many ways. Namaste

Gay Wolff

Though raised in a conservative family, Gay has been on a lifelong journey for spiritual truths and personal healing. Her quest has exposed her to many great teachers, healing modalities, and growth experiences. Her careful studies have helped her find true jewels of wisdom, and she brings these to her students and clients. Her classes are designed to share the compilation of her lifelong studies, and to empower participants with healing and growing opportunities. Gay also provides Shamanic Energy Therapy. Shamanic Energy Therapy is a deep healing process that removes blockages and heals wounds at their energetic source.

Gay is certified in Shamanic Energy Healing, Integrated Energy Therapy, and Yoga instruction, has studied with many great teachers including Deepak Chopra, Doreen Virtue, and Anthony Robbins, and is in a Mythology w/ Depth Psychology PhD program.

Caryn Colgan

Since 1984 Caryn Colgan has worked with people from all over the world leading workshops in the U.S., Holland, Austria, and England plus coaching clients from every continent except Antarctica. 

Her primary goal is to help clients “remember what you are� and free them from the patterns and belief systems that keep them from living the joy-filled life every person deserves.

She is the author of the award-winning book Ancient Pact, Volume 1: The Element of Air, the related deck of cards and the forthcoming book, Karma Boot CampTM.

She serves on the board  of the Coalition of Visionary Resources (COVR), a member of the Green Press Initiative and a certified Toastmaster (CTM). Caryn is also a graduate of the National Speakers Association’s (NSA) Mentor program.

Additionally, Caryn has been trained in Matrix Energetics, Re-evaluation Co-Counseling, Reiki, aromatherapy, Touch for Health, Self Esteem Training (Jack Canfield), Myers Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI), Herbal Aromatherapy and more.

Her articles have been featured in print and online news media such as Examiner.com, Global Goddess, Pathfinder and more. She is dedicated to helping people find solutions that really work.

“Caryn’s style is easy-going and open. I felt safe to explore my issues and take risks to get what I want.� Sandy L., Reno, NV

“You are a wonderful speaker. Your information was very helpful & I did enjoy sharing with everyone." Patty Johnson

"Caryn has a wonderful way of presenting the information in a positive, easy to understand and nonjudgmental way. She makes the learning fun and easy to use." Jan VanNatta

Davida Goldberg

Davida Goldberg, M.S., is a speaker, writer, women’s empowerment consultant and self-discovery guide. She holds a Master’s degree in Counseling from Georgia State University. Davida has lead job search workshops at Jewish Family & Career Services and has also worked as a career counselor and life coach. She has experience leading meditation groups and is currently holding journaling workshops for women to learn to express their creativity and gain greater insight into their ‘inner selves’.

Mrs. Goldberg currently does freelance writing and her articles can be read online on websites such as thejewishwoman.org. She believes that the journey of self-awareness is a priority and is dedicated to helping women achieve that goal with understanding, humor and creativity. 

“And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom.� ~ Anais Nin

Kym Kennedy

Kym Kennedy is a Personal Life and Radical Forgiveness Coach. Using a variety of extremely effective tools, Kym assists people from all walks of life remove the blocks that are keeping them from living lives full of joy and passion.  

Prior to establishing her coaching business, Kym held roles as a Director with The Boys & Girls Clubs of America, management positions with Nationsbank, IBM, and Mellon Bank. She also enjoyed 8 years as president of her own computer training business.  

Kym earned a Master’s degree from Clemson University in Human Resource Development. She attended Inner Visions Institute for Spiritual Development for two years, where she received a certificate in Spiritual Life Maintenance.  Most recently she was certified by the Institute of Radical Forgiveness as a Radical Forgiveness coach and has since completed advanced training to facilitate workshops for the Institute. 

Kym offers individual coaching in person or by telephone.  She also facilitates workshops and talks on topics of Self-Love, Radical Forgiveness and Discovering Your Passions.

Marcelo Vazquez

Marcelo Vazquez is an American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) certified personal trainer and a certified youth soccer trainer/coach.  He also holds a certification in Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR). Marcelo is passionate about fitness, encouraging healthy lifestyles, and helping others to get in shape. He utilizes this passion to create unique and enjoyable routines, such as cardio-salsa and fitness boot camp. He promotes physical activity for children through “kidz fitness boot camp� where he encourages children to adopt healthy fitness and nutritional habits while they engage in fitness activities. As a native of Argentina, he is also passionate about soccer, and he uses soccer to promote physical activity among children through his recreational soccer programs.

Ien van Bekkum

Ien van Bekkum is a Medical Doctor. She trained and specialized in Preventive Health Care for children in the Netherlands, and has 30 years of experience working with parents and children. She is trained in Europe and the U.S. in the field of the body and mind connection and in subtle release techniques.
      
Ordained as a Minister, it is Ien’s joy to work with people of all walks of life, supporting and empowering others while raising awareness and giving counsel.

As a Licensed Massage Therapist, she is trained in Cranio-Sacral therapy techniques. She is also certified in “Nurturing the Mother� (Pregnancy & after birth Massages, Couples classes), and in Infant Massage Instruction, at the Atlanta School of Massage. Convinced of the healing value of touch, she gives and teaches massages. 

Ien is a strong believer in the body’s inherent capacity to heal itself, using the breath to release, and has more then 20 years of meditation experience. She trained in Atlanta with Michael Casteel to become certified in Conscious Integrative Breathwork.
   
Coming from a preventive health background and having to deal with health issues herself she became a life style coach, using BIA (bio-impedance analysis) to assess percentages of water, cell mass and fat in your body, and find indicators that show how healthy your cell membranes are. This is a very personalized effective way of coaching when you want to loose weight and/or become healthier and live a less stressful life.  
     
Ien has such an eclectic background and is educated in so many different modalities, that  she has now integrated her Healing Touch training into her work, incorporating all modalities when working with clients on Physical, Emotional, Mental, Spiritual and Energetic levels. Her individualized sessions are called Integrated Body Mind Energy Balancing. In this new and unique holistic approach, your body is asked with Applied Kinisiology (muscle testing), what level is most important to work on first. This work is great for resolving blocks or sabotage mechanisms, preventing you from healing and/or being happy. And to release trauma’s of any kind. 

Ien’s message for you:
Never forget: you have your own healer inside, it is just a matter of accessing this part of you, and/or allowing the divine to work through you.

Leisy Julien

 
Leisy Julien, a YogaFit trained and certified instructor, specialized in Vinyasa Flow and Hot Yoga. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Georgia State University and has been presented with several awards and recognitions for her accomplishments throughout her career. With a background in technical drafting, insurance and sales, Leisy comes to us to help us launch and teach our Hot Yoga program. 

Born and raised in Cuba, Leisy moved to the U.S. with her family in 1998. She is fully bilingual in Spanish and English and is quite versed in Italian. She was introduced to Yoga and Pilates about 5 years ago and became certified through YogaFit, the leading company in Mind-Body Fitness Education. She is about to complete her 200 hr RYT program.

With a background in synchronized swimming and other sports, Leisy is passionate about yoga and fitness and about helping students find a healthy way of life while creating a mind-body-spirit connection. Being a swimmer she recognizes the importance of breathing properly; therefore, she emphasizes on the use of breath with movement while maintaining a proper alignment.  Her classes are challenging, fun and invigorating and leave students relaxed and revitalized. 

Personal Message: 
Know your body fully and completely. Accept its limitations, respect them. Be aware and present at all times and learn to cherish and appreciate all the wonderful things your body does for you. Accepting and loving ourselves is the first step to accenting and loving others. Only when we have conquered the physical aspects of life, can we begin to explore the mind and the heart and begin to make a real mind-body-spirit connection. – Leisy Julien

Sharon Foote

Ms. Sharon P. Foote has over twenty years experience in the communications field as an instructor, actress and lecturer in corporate, collegiate and performing arts environments with an emphasis on public speaking and drama. Her other experience includes curriculum development, casting for film and professional modeling.

Sharon is a professional actor and a member of SAG/AFTRA and AEA, the professional acting unions, and has extensive acting experience in New York, Los Angeles and the Southeast. Her experience includes professional theater, television and film as well as TV commercials, soap operas, narration and convention spokesperson. 

She began her acting career while in high school starting with a national television commercial for a popular soft drink “Wink� from Canada Dry and print ads for Delta Airlines. She pursued her acting while studying drama at the Alliance Theater Company in Atlanta and furthered her education in New York City.

Sharon’s soap opera credits include playing the characters of Susan Aronson on “One Life to Live� and Sally on “Texas� and other roles on “Another World� and “The Catlins.�  She has performed in movies for ABC, MTM Productions and Warner Brothers to name a few.  

She was also an associate casting director for several films including the Academy Award winning movie “Driving Miss Daisy�.
	
Sharon is a faculty member and lead teacher for numerous film and television classes at the Alliance Theatre Acting Program in Atlanta, GA, where she has designed a variety of top selling classes and workshops for the Acting Program and Education and Community Outreach division.  She was also chosen to be a guest speaker for the Alliance Theatre Company’s Speaker Bureau “Talk It Up�.

She was a professor at Bauder College in Atlanta, GA for four years.  She taught Speech Communications, Drama and College Success. In 2003, she received the Award of Excellence for outstanding service to students.

Sharon was also a national lecturer and teacher for the International Meditation Society and a guest speaker and panel member for the Alzheimer’s Association.

She is the founder and principal instructor for Foote Communications, a corporate training company, in the art of presentation skills. 

Sedef Dion

Sedef Dion (SukhPrem Kaur) believes that a solid foundation in the fundamentals of yoga is necessary in order to build a fulfilling, balanced yoga practice regardless of the style. Certified in Hatha Yoga, Kundalini, Radiant Child, YogaKids, Laughter Yoga and Grounded, Sedef is masterful in blending the art and science of yoga. Sedef’s classes reflect her dedication of maintaining the sacred integrity of yoga and her heart felt commitment to enjoying the practice.

Natalie Botero

As a ten year Usui Reiki Master and Reiki Tummo Kundalini practitioner, Natalie is an innate spiritual healer and angel intuitive with a B.A. in Spirituality and Literature from New College of Florida and an M.A. in Professional Counseling from Argosy University. She has worked as a psychotherapist for children and adults in Miami, San Francisco, Berkeley and Atlanta, and is a student of Gnostic spirituality.  

Since birth, Natalie has been intuitive and called to help others with her unique healing abilities and passion for self-evolution. She has a profound and close relationship with the Angels and spirit guides who have aided her in helping countless others come in contact with their soul’s purpose and missions in life. Her work is designed to help people experience a stronger connection to their Higher Self, angelic helpers, and the Love of Source to empower people with the tools to gain self-awareness and break through limiting patterns to experience purpose, passion and joy in their lives.

Natalie is also a poet and author and teaches people to self-heal and burgeon their creative potential through the spontaneous channeled knowing gifted in the written word. She teaches awareness of the gifts of being Indigo, Crystal, and Rainbow children, Reiki and intuitive development, and healing with the angels.

Tashawn Webb

Instructor:
Tashawn Webb completed her training at Atlanta School of Massage in Atlanta, GA. ASM is an accredited 750 hour course which consisted of an in-depth study of anatomy, physiology, kinesiology, pathology for massage therapy, PNF stretching, Swedish, deep tissue, spa therapies, reflexology and seated massage. Tashawn graduated at the top of her class.

Tashawn is a certified and Georgia State licensed massage therapist, she is CPR and AED certified by the American Heart Association and is student member of the American Massage Therapy Association.

Her goal:  The wellness and enlightenment of others through the touch of therapeutic massage.

Why You Need A Massage:
Massage or “Touch Therapy� in all forms helps to soothe injured muscles, reduce pain, reduce stress, stimulate blood and lymphatic circulation and promote deep relaxation.

Sassha Jones

Sassha Jones is an amazing and gifted intuitive. At the tender age of seven her gifts began to develop and her grandmother knew she had the gift. At the age of 16 she began actively using her gifts. This allowed her to motivate and guide others on their spiritual path. Sassha knows that her life serves a purpose, and that her spiritual intuition should naturally be used to inspire and enhance the world. Sassha’s gifts are derived and prompted by natural tendencies, obtained through intuition rather than reasoning or observation. This enables her to speak words of wisdom and knowledge channeled through the spirit of love and light. Receiving a message from Sassha will be nurturing to your spirit, allowing you to have more clarity, comfort and peace of mind.

Jennifer McKenna Weinbaum

Passionate about inspiring the human spirit to emerge and soar, Jennifer shows others how to live a life of prosperity and purpose by empowering them to create their own personal connection with the Universe.

She's a pattern recognition specialist. Jennifer identifies unconscious mental patterns, which she consistently proves to be at the root of every struggle. Therefore, she doesn't motivate people. She moves them into action. And it isn't just action. It's total transformation.

For the past five years, Jennifer's clients have been as diverse as the human race. They range in race, gender, religion, sexual orientation and age (from 21 to 61), and all of them- no matter what their challenge, struggle or addiction- have taken their lives to new levels as a result of the program. From chronic physical conditions to chronic financial conditions; from sexual dysfunction to family dysfunction; from jail time to suicidal tendency to an EEO lawsuit within a well-known government agency; she has been witness to a diverse array of issues and has moved individuals, couples, and whole teams through steel mental walls.

Melba Black

Melba has over 25 years experience in health and wellness which include traditional fitness components and holistic modalities such as Reiki, meditation, yoga, and Qigong. She holds a BBA in Business Administration, a Bachelor's degree in Nutrition Counseling and two Master's degrees:  Psychology and Metaphysics. She is one dissertation away from a Doctorate in Healtheology. 
 
She holds certifications in several styles of Yoga, she studied Qigong and Tai Chi for two years in the Taoist Temple, Phoenix Virtue Temple in Louisiana. She is also a certified Grief Recovery Specialist through The Grief Recovery Institute and an experienced Reiki Master in all degrees of the Usui Method of Natural Healing including Karuna and Sacred Flame. Add to all of this her certification as a Breathwork Facilitator and Authentic Movement Therapist (these are her passions!)

Amy Haysman

Amy’s yoga practice began in 1995 and soon revealed itself as the answer in her quest to feel better, experience life more fully and participate in making the world a happier place. Amy is the co-founder of Grounded:yoga.laughter.elevation. Her life’s work and passion is grounding kids and teens. Noticing that the parents in their lives often need to be grounded too, she began teaching adult yoga classes in 2009. She holds a Masters Degree in Middle Grades Education, A 200 hour RYT certification, certifications in a variety of children’s yoga programs, an affinity toward spending long weekends in yoga workshops and a commitment to earning Anusara Inspired teaching status in 2010. Amy has trained hundreds of yoga teachers from around the globe to teach yoga to kids and co-created the highly acclaimed Tools for Schools yoga program. Her two teenage boys help fill her heart with so much love and delight that she joyfully shares in Grounded classes and trainings all over Atlanta. 

Barbara Kumara

Barbara Kumara has been developing and teaching spirituality, meditation and well-being workshops for nearly ten years. She is a certified Chopra Center Instructor- in Deepak Chopra's Primordial Sound Meditation and Seven Spiritual Laws of Yoga programs. Barbara became enchanted with the benefits of meditation and the spiritual path after an incredibly stressful career and lifestyle resulted in major health challenges and a forced slow-down. The change has been significant. Barbara's approach is light-hearted and pragmatic. She enjoys helping others with concepts, tools and practices- sharing what she knows to be true from personal experience. Barbara's newest creation is Soul-driven Business Planning- a unique integration of business principles and spiritual practices- to encourage creativity, intuition and from-the-heart thinking for those contemplating a new direction.  

Christophe Le Metayer

Prior to owning FieldGood, Christophe was overseeing menus and seasonal offerings at The Ritz Carlton’s Café in Buckhead; one of the city’s busiest restaurants and Buckhead’s gathering place for power breakfast and business and social lunches.

Christophe was appointed chef of The Café in 2003, transferring from the Dinning Room (5 Stars, 5 Diamonds), where he had been sous-chef for a year. He operated his own restaurant, Saint Martin, a short distance from Paris from 1993 to 2001. The restaurant earned listings in several respected French guidebooks including: Michelin Guide (Bib Gourmand), Pudlowski Guide, and Bottin Gourmand.

Prior to opening Saint Martin, Christophe worked at two restaurants in Copenhagen: Hotel d’Angleterre and Sollerod Kro (1 Michelin Star). He moved to Denmark from France, where he had held positions at a three stars Michelin restaurant operated by Alain Ducasse in Hotel de Paris, Monte Carlo, and at a one star Michelin restaurant: Hotel Sofitel in Paris. Christophe was born in Meulan, 25 miles North West of Paris. 

FieldGood (via Christophe) was previously conducting its cooking classes in Alpharetta, GA and has gained quite a following. We are thrilled these classes will now be held at The Open Mind Center. These classes include full course meals and cooking demonstrations.

Fena Gonzalez

Originally from Venezuela, Fena Gonzalez’s love for art and healing embarked her on an amazing journey years ago that led her to first study a dual degree in visual arts and anthropology from Tufts University and the SMFA in Boston. And years later, a Masters in Reiki, Spiritual Counseling and Esoteric Healing from the New York Open Center. After many synchronistic events, a book that fell on her lap, and a dream one night, she was guided to study with Doreen Virtue who reminded her of the infinite love of the angels, and with Alberto Villoldo who guided her on a shamanic journey that would change her life. 

Fena is a certified angel therapy practitioner under Doreen Virtue, as well as an ordained minister in the order of Melchizedek. She has worked for many years as an art teacher empowering children of all ages through the creative process, and through her love of dance, and play. Her paintings have been widely exhibited in various countries, and have received numerous awards. Fena is happy to be able to work at the Open Mind Center, and is infinitely grateful for all of the teachers along her path who who have reminded her to continue living a life that is congruent with spirit, and who have shown her that life is full of magic and miracles and that the best way to serve others is through love and through staying true to oneself.

Laina Orlando

Often referred to as the Guru of Practical Spirituality, Laina Orlando is committed to making spirituality super simple. Life is meant to be a delicious experience we are to enjoy NOW! Too many spiritual teachings share what is possible when you "get" enlightened, or they make spirituality something that only a few select folks can attain. I believe we are ALL already enlightened and when we aren't experiencing that it's simply because our "mind" has gotten in the way. 

As an avid student of a wide range of teachers and philosophies, such as Eckhart Tolle, Debbie Ford, Adyashanti, The Bhagavad Gita, Don Miguel Ruiz, The Buddha, Jesus, Christianity, Rumi, Gandhi, Anthony De Mello, Plato, Socrates, etc, like them, Laina has come to realize that achieving enlightenment is easier when one fully understands how the mind is designed to operate.

A modern day philosopher, Laina Orlando, takes a fresh and fun approach to redefining spirituality for today’s seekers of Truth. Laina’s own spiritual awakening propelled her to trade a successful career for the privilege of inspiring folks to remember the Truth of who they are: Magnificent!  As an author, speaker and coach, Laina is a tireless crusader, committed to helping others trade in their self-limiting thinking for thoughts that empower them to create a joy-filled life. Laina’s simple techniques and practical tools help transform weighty spiritual concepts into bite-size morsels that can be applied into everyday life.

Pamela Bellamy

Pamela Bellamy, L. Ac., graduated with honors, achieving a Masters of Science degree in Traditional Chinese Medicine, including Chinese herbology, from Yo San University, founded by Master Hua Ching Ni and his sons, Mao and Dao Ni, who carry forth a lineage of thirty-eight generations in this healing art. Pamela has studied alternative healing modalities for the past thirty years and offers a unique blend of the best of Western alternative healing with the incredible power of Chinese medicine. She has trained in Tai Chi and Chi Gong with several Chinese masters as well as practicing meditation for twenty plus years and teaches her patients how to enhance thier energy and health with these gentle yet very effective exercises and practices. Pamela also obtained her Masters in Usui Reiki and Karuna Ki energetic healing, which empower and further complement her Taoist energetic practices. She offers training and certification in both Reiki and Karuna Ki. Pamela has a singular passion for working with patients and endeavors to teach them the skills necessary to create wellness and balance in thier own lives so they may enjoy optimal health and well-being.

Tiffany Bruce-Nixon

Tiffany Bruce Nixon began exploring the Ashtanga Vinyasa style of Hatha Yoga in 1999 while living in Colorado. She always felt drawn to practice, especially because of the spiritual and physical benefits. She has studied at a variety of yoga studios across the country, allowing her teachings to portray a variety of styles. Tiffany completed her 200-hour Teacher Training in June of 2009 with David and Ruthann Aukamp and Mitchel Bleier. Tiffany feels each student should honor and give gratitude to their body, mind and spirit and reach individually to find their divine light. 

Tiffany enjoys being with her family and is quite an outdoor enthusiast. She is often found running or biking with friends at the river or escaping off to the beautiful beaches of Florida or the mountains of North Carolina. Along with her compassion of yoga, Tiffany is the owner of Petals and Paws, a pet-sitting service, as well as recently began designing her own line of jewelry.

Ricia L. Maxie

Ricia Maxie is an internationally renowned Intuitive Consultant/Mystic, a gifted Healer and Reiki practitioner, and a sought-after Speaker.  Having studied with master teachers and practicing numerous approaches to meditation from several traditions, Ricia has been providing intuitive consultations/readings, leading spiritual retreats, and teaching classes and meditation for more than 20 years.

Additionally, Ms. Maxie has professionally recorded two meditation CDs that have received enthusiastic reviews from those who have listened to or purchased them.  Each CD holds four meditations.  Calm the Body includes: Calm the Body-Quiet the Mind, Wastebasket, Breathe, and Sleep Deeply.  I Am That includes: Acceptance, Fear or Excitement, Co-Creation, and I Am That.

Proud of her dual career in both the business and spiritual disciplines, Ricia is also a professional business woman, Organization Development Consultant, and Trainer.  She provides interpersonal communication and leadership development, management coaching, conflict mediation and resolution, team building, mediation, strategic planning, stress reduction techniques, and numerous training classes.

Ricia earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Dominican University and a Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology from the University of San Francisco.

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