The Open Mind Center Teachers and Lecturers

Lauren Hudson

Lauren Hudson is an Emmy-award winning Television News Reporter and Author with comprehensive experience in various areas related to developing and improving human potential. As a Speaker and Trainer, Lauren has worked with individuals and corporations nation-wide. She offers a comprehensive news background, having worked with ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, UPN, and E! Entertainment Network. She is a two-time News Director, Producer and Writer, and a broadcast media instructor.  

Donald Jett

Donald Jett has over 40 years experience in Chinese healing and combative arts. Donald studied under Mater Chu Hok Ting (a renowned author of many books and contributions to the US department of Health.) He is a member of the United States of America Wu-Shu Federation, has been an International Chinese Martial Arts Official for over 20 years and in 2009 was inducted into the hall of fame for International Chinese Martial Arts. In addition, Donald was awarded 2nd in the nation by ISKA in Youth Weapon Form and has trained special military combat teams. 

Laura Mahlum

As a student of Los Angeles'  well known IPSB (Institute for Psycho-Structural Balancing) Laura Mahlum was trained in the energetics of the human body including Aromatherapy, Massage and Polarity Therapy and Acupressure. She went on to further her education in the healing and intuitive arts training with Patricia Bankins, owner of the Crystal Matrix Healing and Learning Center in Los Angeles. There she studied and  was certified in various subjects such as Master Crystal Formations, Transcrystal Therapy, Medicine Wheel, stone oracle reading and advanced channeling. Laura is a certified Crystal Therapist and Teacher, Reiki Master, and Multimodality Healing Practitioner.

Attracted at the age of 15 to crystals, Laura started her work with the mineral kingdom. After 20 years of practice, training and teaching about the benefits and uses of crystals, minerals and gems, she has formed a special bond with these healing and spiritual tools. Through her experience as a Reiki Master and an intuitive channel working with her spirit guides, the bond with the mineral and plant kingdom expanded exponentially allowing her healing sessions with clients to include channeled information on stones, flower essences, oils, herbs, foods and much more that help the client to use nature's tools to expand the health of their mind, body and spirit.

Saniel & Linda Bonder

A Harvard graduate and Honorary National Scholar, Saniel Bonder founded the international Waking Down in Mutuality teaching and community. The author of Great Relief, Healing the Spirit/Matter Split, Waking Down, and other books, he's a pioneer democratizer of embodied awakening and accelerated personal and mutual evolution. Since 1992, he, his wife Linda, and their colleagues have helped hundreds achieve stabilized integrative enlightenment. Linda Groves-Bonder is a Senior Teacher and spiritual leader of Waking Down in Mutuality, and Saniel's partner in transmitting embodied Heart-Consciousness. As a teacher, she emphasizes the utter uniqueness of each person's path and growth. She and Saniel are co-authoring The Human Sun: Radiant Gateways to Your Awakening, Wholeness, and Unique Purpose, due out next year. Along with Saniel, she is a Founding Member of Integral Institute, and they were both key presenter/teachers at this year's Integral Spiritual Experience 2: The Future of Love. 

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 traumas 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.

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.

Zureya Quiepo

Zureya Quiepo, after years of study and training in her homeland of Venezuela, founded the Leadership and Conscious Breathing Training Center in 1998, which evolved into the Family Systemic and Constellations Training Center. She also created the International School for Women of Wisdom, a unique program to develop the power of the feminine wisdom. Zureya is fluent in Spanish, English and some Portuguese. She is a sought after television and radio personality in Venezuela with hundreds of talks, seminars and twenty trainings back up her work. 

Jamie Goldberg, MS, LAPC, NCC

Jamie Goldberg holds a master's degree in professional counseling from Georgia State University. Jamie's essence is that of a passionate counselor, avid diarist, aspiring writer, art cinema lover, and appreciator of all things beautiful. In addition to working in the social services arena for the past few years, Jamie's passion has always been for perfecting her writing; carrying a spirit of beauty and introspection to others through the medium of the written word.

Gabrielle Gujjari

Gabrielle Brooke Gujjari is a certified professional life coach who helps intelligent people create great relationships. Trained by Oprah's Martha Beck and an active member of the International Coaching Federation, Gabrielle uses a myriad of coaching tools and cognitive-behavioral strategies to help each client reach their goals. She believes that relationships are the most important aspect of our lives and encourages clients to first improve the relationship they have with themselves in order to foster healthy and fulfilling relationships with others. She maintains a supportive, empathic and honest environment so that clients can deeply change their lives at a pace that is comfortable for them. Because people thrive when coaching sessions are interactive and modified for one's individual preferences, Gabrielle individually-tailors all sessions and packages based on clients' needs.

Fredrika Mele Stillwater

Fredrika Mele Stillwater is excited to be able to share her passion with you. Lomi is the heading she calls her massage, but it is truly a combination of a 30 year career in the healing arts. She is devoted to helping people and animals by bringing ease through touch. She will hold sacred space with you to help you through the rough bumps in the road releasing tension or blocks and calling in what is needed. Fredrika is dedicated to keeping her mind, body, emotions and soul evolving toward being happy and healthy and would like to help you do the same.

Virginia Coker

Virginia Coker is a two time Freddy award winner and was ranked one of the top certified female instructors in one of the most established organizations in the Dance Industry. She received her teacher's certification in 2005 and is well coached in all four styles- American Smooth, American Rhythm, International Standard, and International Latin. Virginia was personally coached by the 2nd National Ten Dance Champion, Vladislav Shakhov, for 2 years. She also trained with champions and judges such as- Yulia Zagoruychenko (World Latin Champion), Tomas Mielnicki and JT Thomas (United States Smooth Champions), Felipe and Carolina Telona (2nd in the nation), Judi Hatton (Blackpool finalist, accomplished adjudicator, and respected judge), and Tony Dovolani (Former U.S. Rhythm and Latin Champion and 'Dancing with the Stars' celebrity).

Tina Jackson

Tina completed her studies and received certification at The Heal Center Of Atlanta, an institute for the Natural Healing Art. Tina specializes in the use of Body System Method of Reflexology taught by Roz Zollinger. She uses this holistic method to promote and enhance your bodies healing ability. Tina has been providing feet and hand  reflexology in private practice and is now available at the The Open Mind Center.  
 
Tina's mission is to use the art of Reflexology to assist in the physical, mental, and emotional healing of an individual. And to help people to have balance and well being in their lives. Tina's ultimate goal is to provide a service of the highest quality with passion and commitment.

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.

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.

Brian Mahlum

Brian lived in Los Angeles for 16 years where he produced, directed and wrote independent feature films. He was fortunate to study with a teacher who sparked his journey of expansive consciousness. Certified in Sub Personalities, Esoteric Hypnotherapy, Life Force Healing, Depossession, Quantum Healing, and Toltec Healing. He is also a Reiki Master and a teacher of Kundalini Yoga.

Grace Larrimore

Certified Yoga Instructor, Reiki Master and Instructor, Events/Fitness Director- Grace is truly the jack of all trades. She accesses her intuitive healing abilities, her abundant knowledge in several modalities, and her heart for humans, to help others re-align with their true selves. After two heart surgeries, she woke up off the table remembering her Dharma path of healing and teaching others. She completed a 200 hour Hatha Yoga Certification in Mexico where she truly learned the benefits of meditation and a daily workout practice, how eating healthy truly is a form of self-love, and most of alI, she rediscovered her own inner strength on and off the mat. Classes vary, as she enjoys teaching many styles. Styles she often favors are restorative as well as flow-inspired yoga. She has also been a certified Reiki Master, teaches corporate, private and group yoga and meditation classes, and utilizies the Law Of Attraction while life coaching clients. Her teaching is based on heart-felt energy towards life and others, connecting the breath with movement, and helping others discover their own strength and inner peace. In her free time, she enjoys being a single mom to her son Phoenix, being outdoors hiking, and watching the magic of law of attraction work in her own life!

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.

Bren Allison

Bren Allison is an accomplished screenwriter, actress, director, editor, and producer. She has written, directed and produced several film pieces. 

Currently, she is the creative producer for a horror film and screenwriter for a horror/romance film, which is being produced in Tampa, FL.  In addition, she is filming a feature length paranormal documentary which examines the lives of paranormal investigators throughout the United States.

Bren began as an actress over fifteen years ago; since then, her drive to enhance the art within the media took her behind the camera, when she produced her own feature script in 2001.  Since then, Bren has worked as either a producer, director, or writer on dozens of independent feature films, co-founded the production company Movie Tao Productions, and co-created the Southeast Film Association.  

While exploring the craft of film acting, Bren branched out into improv and trained under Tommy Futch with Atlanta's longest running comedy improv troupe, Laughing Matters. She performed with Second Base Comedy Improv, instructed improv and played with Blank Stage Studios ; instructed children in improv with Kid Komedy, a non-profit organization, and is one of the founding players of The Basement Theatre.  She recently won the Best Actress award, selected by industry professionals, at The Pro Actor's Studio professional showcase in 2010.

Diane Hoefener

Diane is a registered nurse with over 20 years of nursing experience caring for people, from new mothers and babies to hospice care.  Diane's interest in holistic healthcare began in the early 1980's when she sought non traditional providers and therapies for the care of her self and her growing family.  As an avid learner, her passion for knowledge led her to Healing Touch in the mid 90's. 

"Healing Touch helps my clients to experience less pain and to relax with greater ease and comfort, and envelops me and my clients with a calming sense of peace and love, and an enhanced feeling of health and well-being."  

Diane is a Healing Touch Certified Practitioner and graduate of the Whitewinds Institute of Energetic Healing. She is an active member of the American Holistic Nurses Association, Healing Touch Professional Association, and Healing Touch International.  Diane is committed to spreading the word and work of energy-based therapies in our community and in empowering others through knowledge and awareness to embrace their own self healing potential.

Anita Paul

Anita Paul is a journaling expert, an author's coach, a freelance writer and the author of three books. She coaches professionals in Corporate America and successful entrepre-neurs to become published authors. Through her Write Your Life program, she shares the pleasure, power and process of journaling to help people create their ideal life and the book they've been wanting to write. For aspiring authors, Anita provides strategies for writing and publishing a book and utilizing it to establish their expertise. Her in-sight into the process of writing and storytelling invigorates audiences and inspires them to find the hidden writer within and to make their dream of becoming an author a reality. 

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.

Tashawn Webb

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.

Amanda Thompson

Amanda Thompson is a Reiki Master and Therapeutic Touch Practitioner, Yoga Instructor (Registered Yoga Instructor/Yoga Alliance), Ayurvedic Consultant, Nutritional Consultant, and an Anti-Aging/Longevity Consultant. Amanda has been a lifelong student of Mysticism, worked as a Reiki Master at SpaMoksha (Dr. Deepak Chopra's licensed center) and a Nutritional Consultant for 10 years. Amanda has dedicated her life to helping others find radiant health and abundant joy in their lives.

Donna Bonter

Donna Bonter is a clairaudient, clairvoyant, clairsentient with mediumship capabilities. For the past 20 years, Donna has been helping clients and student through all the obstacles of their lives through her intuitive readings and spirituality classes.  She has been affiliated with the local metaphysical community since coming to Atlanta in 1996 from Florida. She has extensively studied metaphysics and has received her reverendship. She is also co-founder of PROOF paranormal investigative team. Donna has an eclectic outlook on life and her vision is to help others attain their divine connection and truly live the blessed life meant for them.

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.  

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.

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.

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!)

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