Stephanie Shepard, 500 CYT, Level III Reiki Master

Stephanie began practicing yoga as a teenager nearly 30 years ago, in Southern California. Yoga has transformed her life many times and in many ways, and the purpose of her practice has evolved over the years. When she began practicing in her teens, it was for the sole purpose of physical fitness. 

A serious, life-threatening injury in her early twenties brought her back to yoga as a means of physical therapy, pain management and rehabilitation. In her late twenties, when her adult life took on new responsibilities, and with them new pressures, Stephanie found yoga to be a boundless source of renewal and stress relief. 

Most recently, when her family faced great tragedy and difficulty, yoga became her saving grace. The strength and serenity she found on the mat carried her throughout her day and the arduous journey she faced; and her practice finally reached a spiritual level. Stephanie has found this to be the greatest gift of her practice.

Realizing the tangible benefits of yoga, Stephanie understood that she was ready to give back and help others to realize the benefits of this age-old method of self discovery and transformation. Her background in hatha yoga includes Vinyasa, Anusara, and Hot Yoga. 

She also has a great passion for Yoga Nidra and has studied it intensely since her first teacher training with Sandra Carden in 2009. In summer of 2015, Stephanie released her first Yoga Nidra CD, Bathing in the Sunrise: New Beginnings. She has been to India twice to deepen her studies and to offer her students to a deeper and more comprehensive level. In January of 2016, Stephanie joined Raghunath Cappo, Gopi Kinnicutt, Gaura Vani, Radhanath Swami and other very gifted teachers to study in India and obtain the 500 level of certification.

Having gained so much from yoga throughout her life, Stephanie is a firm believer that there is no “wrong” reason for coming to the mat. She sees yoga as a method for personal transformation in body, mind, and spirit; and she is excited to share it with her students in a positive, open, and energetic atmosphere.

Stephanie will be guiding us through the Opening and Closing of our weekend together.  She will grace us with her beautiful Kirtan music; she will sing and play the harmonium.  Stephanie will take us through a slow and calming Yin practice and into our Closing on Sunday.  We are truly blessed and grateful to have her with us!

Dr. Matthew Jackson, DO

Dr. Jackson will be our wellness presenter on Saturday of the retreat.  His presentation is, "Exercise is Medicine."

Dr. Jackson recently took a position with Central Michigan University as the Medical Director and Head Team Physician.  He will coordinate the overall care of CMU student-athletes.

He earned his Doctorate of Osteopathic Medicine from Tuoro University College of Osteopathic Medicine in California in 2009. He holds bachelor’s degrees from Michigan State in both physiology and psychology.

Dr. Jackson is board certified in family medicine, neuromusculoskeletal medicine, and sports medicine.

While attending Michigan State University, Dr. Jackson competed as a varsity cross country and track and field student-athlete.

He is a member of the American Osteopathic Association, the American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians (ACOFP), and the American Osteopathic Academy of Sports Medicine (AOASM).

Dr. Jackson has extensive experience serving as an athletic-event physician at NCAA Division I games, high schools athletic contests and professional sporting events.

His post-graduate training includes a primary care sports medicine fellowship at Promedica/The Toledo Hospital, resident integrated family medicine and neuromuscular medicine at the MSU College of Osteopathic Medicine, and Integrated Family Medicine and Neuromusculoskeletal Medicine at MSU College of Osteopathic Medicine at Botsford Hospital in Farmington Hills.

Mary Ann Thibodeau, RYT

Golden Lotus Yoga Teacher Certification

Center for Spiritual Awareness (CSA) minister

YogaEd certified (kids and teens)

Meets requirements for RYT

Teacher trainer for GLYTA (Golden Lotus Yoga Teachers Association)

Mary Ann Thibodeau has been a practitioner and teacher of Yoga since 1975, when she received her Golden Lotus Yoga Teacher Certification at Song of the Morning, an 800 acre yoga retreat in Vanderbilt, MI.  She met her spiritual teacher there, J. Oliver Black, a direct disciple of Parmahansa Yogananda and founder of Song of the Morning, receiving her initiation into the SRF (Self Realization Fellowship) Kriya Yoga Technique from him in 1975.  In 2011 she received her ordination from Roy Eugene Davis allowing her to initiate others into Kriya Yoga. This tradition has inspired her meditative style of yoga that is suited to all ages and abilities.  Mary Ann teaches gentle, slow flow, yin, and chair yoga. In addition she and her husband, Roy, hold weekly meditations and a Sunday Service at their home in Grosse Pointe Woods.

                 

A Peaceful Practice Gentle Yoga and Meditation
This gentle class will incorporate breath, meditation, and gentle asana practice interspersed with short excerpts on peace from the teachings of Parmahansa Yogananda.  The class is suitable for all ability levels to participate and find a deeper sense of peace residing within. 

Dr. Kathleen Dunckel, MD

Kathleen J Dunckel, MD, is a family physician and aspiring locavore. Since completing her family medicine residency in Midland, MI, in 1993, she has worked at Alcona Health Centers in Lincoln, MI (now with clinics open in Harbor Springs, Indian River and Cheboygan).  Dr Dunckel is currently head of Alcona Health Centers' Care Management Department; her clinical focus is wellness, prevention, and chronic disease management.  She lives on 76 acres in Harrisville, MI, with her husband, Eric, and her daughters' two dogs.


"Peace of Mind:  The Truth about Health Myths" Dr. Dunckel will be presenting on Sunday of our retreat about common health myths.  You will learn the truth about some of these common health myths involving vitamins, stress, juiced vegetables, beans and legumes verses whole grain breads and cereals, coffee vs. tea, food labeling, and much more!

Jennifer Haase RYT 500

I have been practicing yoga for over a decade, and in 2013, in search of discovering more about the practice and lineage of yoga, I traveled to Thailand to study Ashtanga and receive my 200 hour teaching certificate. Teaching is the best part of my day!  I currently teach at Yen Yoga and Fitness in Traverse City, but I always feel like I can never have enough to share and am always looking for more!   

My curiosity recently took me off to Bali to continue studying more in-depth Ashtanga, focusing on inversions and arm balances. The physical asana aspects of yoga is what really drew me in at first, but after battling many physical strains and injuries I discovered Bhakti yoga, which leads one through a physical practice by focusing mainly on love and divine spirit.  Bhakti includes Kirtan and mantra to define prana and asana. 

In the last two years I have been to India twice and Iceland once to study the magic of Bhakti yoga and to complete my 500 hour teacher training. Combining schools of yoga I feel has given me an all around awareness of the self, mind, and body. I still am always defining my own awareness and practice, and I love to share my adventures of yoga with others.