Our Practitioners

We have a talented, dedicated group of instructors and specialists, committed to improving the health of our students and clients. We are honored to share our diverse depth of knowledge and infuse our teaching and healing arts from the heart. It would be our pleasure to put our extensive experience to work for you!

Our practitioners adhere to the highest level of professional standards and are fully certified and insured. Each instructor offers their own practice/treatment schedule and fees. Please contact each instructor directly if you have any questions about the practices or treatments they offer.

Cheryl Paulson

Cheryl was lucky to find yoga years ago in the midst of health struggles, such as asthma and thyroid disease. She trained extensively under Paula (Padmasri) Tepedino and received her certification in Hatha Yoga. She has gone on to bring her training to the Advanced Professional Level, furthering her studies in meditation, posture adjustments, restorative yoga, senior yoga, Sanskrit, sound and hands-on healing. Her style is eclectic, with influences in the Vinyasa and Iyengar traditions — Cheryl has taught both privately and professionally in studios, universities, corporate centers, senior homes, churches, schools and gyms and is thrilled to finally have Breathing Room! She enjoys watching the many remarkable ways in which her students grow from the practice and is honored to guide them along the way….

Paula Tepedino

Paula M. Tepedino, CRYT, brings her 35 years of living yoga and her gentle wisdom to the unique and inspiring teacher training courses offered at Breathing Room. She has a way to tailor each student’s level of understanding while maintaining integrity of course material. Her lineage is from the Kripalu and Iyengar traditions and she holds Certifications from Kripalu, Integrative Yoga Therapy, Yoga Research Society, Wise Earth School of Ayurveda, Greens Ayur School of Yoga (India), as well as Reiki 2 Practitioner and Massage Therapy. She served on the Executive BOD as VP of Marketing at Yoga Alliance, the national registry of Yoga schools and teachers, and helped to create policy on the Ethics and Grievance Committee. She continues to be the ‘perennial student’ and is working towards completion of the Yoga for Sound courses in Sanskrit Mantra, Music and Meditation with teacher, Russill Paul. Send Paula an email at yoga2light@gmail.com.

 

Jessica Towle

Jessica has been actively involved in the Hoop Community since 2005, with her roots in the hooping town of Carborro, NC. She has worked, studied, and played with several Hoop performers and teachers including Julia Hartsell, Vivian Spiral, Baxter, Anah Reichenbach and many others. Her greatest influences, however, have been the Great hoop of life and the sustained spinning of the whirling dervishes. She feels dance and celebration are basic foundations of flourishing communities and that working with the hoop not only cultivates this, but also brings joy, strength and healing. Jessica has taught several hoop classes and workshops in North Carolina and New Jersey. She received her degree in Sustainable Community Development from Prescott College. Contact Jessica at OneWhirled@gmail.com or 973-919-8173.

 

Jennifer O’Hagan

Jennifer is a certified herbalist, Maya Abdominal Massage practitioner, massage therapist, certified Loomis Digestive Health Specialist, certified hypnotist, and belly dancing instructor. She offers the following forms of massage therapy – Deep Tissue, Swedish, Reflexology, Aromatherapy, Pre and Post Natal Massage, Shiatsu, Visceral Manipulation and CranioSacral. She provides classes and lectures on a variety of topics, both locally and internationally. Jennifer has had the privilege of studying with some of most highly regarded herbalists in the world and offers her expertise to help clients find their way back to harmony, balance and wellness. To learn more about Jennifer, visit www.woodlandnaturals.com or send her an e-mail at woodlandnaturals@embarqmail.com.

 

Diane Hynes

Diane Hynes, B.A. CBT, AOBTA, Nationally Board certified and NJ licensed practitioner, has been in privatae practice for 19 years and teaching since 1992 . She currently has a private practice in Blairstown and Denville NJ, instructs at ISS, Warren County Community College, and holds classes throughout the area. Treatments using Shiatsu/Shin Tai, Cranio Sacral therapy, myofascial and chakra energy work are suited to the current needs of the client accessing their own healing abilities. Suitable for all ages, infant to adult. Contact Diane at 973-202-9075 or shiatsudiane@gmail.com.

 

Maria Haydon Buttner

Maria is a licensed and Nationally Board Certified Family Nurse Practitioner and Therapeutic Massage Therapist in practice for 14 years.  She incorporates the techniques of Neuromuscular Therapy, Deep Tissue, Swedish, Reiki, and Myofascial Release. Maria holds her yoga certification in Hatha Yoga with teachers Paula Tepedino and Cheryl Paulson. She is also a certified Pilates Mat I instructor, holding her Pilates certification through Power Pilates of NYC.  If you would like to schedule bodywork or have questions regarding any of the classes she is teaching you can email Maria at mariahb911@msn.com.

 

Monica Villegas

Monica is a native of Uruguay, South America and grew up in New Jersey.  She has been teaching Zumba® since 2008 and is licensed to teach Zumba®, Zumba Toning® (done with small weights), Aqua Zumba® (done in a pool setting using the resistance of the water) and ZumbAtomic® (a program designed specifically for kids). Monica just completed her yoga certification from Breathing Room! For further information and to register for classes, contact Monica at balancenorder@yahoo.com.

 

Heather Bivona

Heather began practicing yoga in 2004.  She studied with Shakta Kaur Khalsa for her certifications in the Radiant Child Yoga Program Levels 1 & 2 and Women’s Kundalini Yoga. Heather began teaching children’s yoga in 2007 and currently teaches all ages. Heather has just completed the 200hr Yoga Teacher Training at Breathing Room with Paula & Cheryl. She is the mother of three beautiful children and resides in Sparta. Contact Heather through email or phone: hbivona@gmail.com or 973-951-4554.

 

Maxine Swentzel

I have been teaching Pilates for 10 years. I teach different levels, including 1 & 2 Mat, Reformer, Advanced and Powerhouse. I will also be offering Chair Pilates at Breathing Room. I carry a current fitness certification and maintain a current CPR and first aid training. I have just graduated from Breathing Room Center’s Yoga Teacher Training Program and am now certified to teach yoga! Contact me at maxineswentzel@gmail.com.

 

 

Mary Beth Holzhauer

Mary Beth has been involved in some form of yoga practice for many years. She discovered meditation and her love for art and nature at an early age. After graduating from college, she was introduced to yoga at a church workshop and practiced there for over a year. This lead to yoga classes at a local gym, and then private Pilates classes for a year to prepare for a NYC breast cancer walk. In 2009, her daughter was diagnosed with Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis and a friend recommended a class at the Breathing Room. The class helped her daughter feel better and she personally found a new yoga practice with a wonderful teacher (Cheryl).  Ultimately graduating from the Breathing Room’s YTT program in January, Mary Beth is now a certified yoga teacher.  The experience has been life changing. Mary Beth decided to become a teacher because she wanted to help make yoga more accessible to others and share its benefits. She works with a range of ages and abilities, teaching chair yoga, YogArt, and Yoga Connections. Mary Beth has so much gratitude for her teachers, Paula Tepedino and Cheryl Paulson, who have guided her along the way. Email her at marybeth@ptd.net.

 

Kim Nickisher-Iacono (Siri Kirin Kaur)

Kim has been a teacher and spiritual seeker her whole life. After years of practicing various yoga techniques and meditations, in 2000 Kim discovered Kundalini Yoga. Teacher Training at Kundalini Yoga East in New York City soon followed. Upon her certification, Kim was renamed in the tradition as Siri Kirin Kaur. She retains the integrity of the original Kundalini Yoga teachings of Yogi Bhajan, with the goal of opening her students and promoting their betterment – tenfold that of her own practice. Believing that closeness to the earth aids in opening the energies within ourselves and binds us to possibilities of the universe, Siri Kirin seeks these tranquil places for her practices and for her students. Contact her at kimnickisher@mac.com.

 

Karen Klein

Karen received her B.A. in Art education from LIU in 1971. She has taught children for over 39 years and is certified to teach grades kindergarten through high school in New Jersey. She taught in the Byram Township Schools, was vice-president of Challenges, a non-profit gifted program in Rockaway and a mentor. Along with Art Magic, Karen teaches at St. Joseph’s in Mendham each winter for their after school enrichment program. In Karen’s art classes, children are taught to utilize a wide variety of media and encouraged to work very independently. Concepts are given but the student chooses the path towards his/her goals and discoveries. Classes are taught in a comfortable, non-rigid environment and very often, magic happens! Drawing, painting, clay sculpture, mixed media, textiles, printmaking, cartooning, …you name it…we do it!  Look for Karne’s dioramas and “clayaramas” can be seen at Gallery 23 in Blairstown, NJ. Contact Karen at artmagic@embarqmail.com.

 

Dale Orlando, Psychic Medium

Dale Orlando is a Mystic, Intuitive Healer and Psychic Medium. She reads the Human Energy Field of the body. This allows her to see past, present and future situations affecting the individual on their soul’s journey. She is guided by Divine Spirit to clear, align and balance the energy necessary to promote healing on all levels of mind, body and spirit. As teacher and Mystic she gives the client a clearer picture of who they are and what their soul’s intention is (a clearer understanding of that which cannot be seen but absolutely exists). This enables the person to walk forward in life with clarity, ease and a more joyful understanding of who they are and why they came forth. Dale is here to assist humanity through the ascension process happening NOW on planet earth.   She     “sees through the eyes of LOVE which enable her to see beyond what the world sees”. Contact Dale at goldenfeather1177@yahoo.com and let her help guide your journey to peace, happiness and understanding the love that you where created to be!

 

Mark Wood

A life-long musician whose musical talent was evident early on, Mark started playing trap drums 25 years ago. He has played everything from Southern Rock to Punk to Do-Wop. In the ‘90s, Mark also began studying djembe, the African drum he now plays. He has studied with some of the best African drumming teachers in the area – Michael Markus and M’Bemba Bangoura, and he continues to study with Amadou Diallo, an African teacher from Guinea. Mark facilitates numerous drum circles and teaching workshops in local communities as well as privately. He has also provided health/wellness drumming experiences to associations such as the Hunterdon County ARC and the Wellness Community of Central New Jersey’s cancer support group in Somerset, NJ. Mark’s personal mission is to “spread the word” about the djembe and educate more people about its benefits, including relaxation, “living in the moment” and inspiring unity. Contact Mark at woodndrums@yahoo.com.

 

Meg Grace Lyding, Thai Yoga Bodywork Practitioner

Meg first encountered Thai Yoga Bodywork in New York City in 2007.  Having studied yoga for many years, she developed an interest in the modality, which has its roots in the art of yoga and ayurveda.  Pursuing further study in 2010, she traveled to Thailand where she was able to experience the rich culture and history from which Thai Yoga Bodywork has grown.  With over a decade of study in holistic practices, Meg integrates the knowledge from numerous complementary modalities to offer an informed approach to therapeutic bodywork.  She is a certified bodywork practitioner, yoga instructor, and holds a Masters Degree in Fine Art.  For further information visit WithGrace.org or email info@withgrace.org.

 

Tulasi Jordan ~ Guest Instructor

Tulasi Jordan, LCSW, RYT-500, has been a student of Yoga and Eastern contemplative traditions for 20 years. She is a certified Anusara Yoga Teacher, certified Kripalu Yoga teacher and has been teaching yoga and meditation since 1993. It is with gratitude that she is teaching Anusara Yoga as it has been such a healing and transformative practice in her own life. She is also a mom, personal coach, and a psychotherapist in private practice in Sparta, NJ. She recently released the yoga CD “Beauty from the Inside Out: Basic Home Yoga Practice.” To learn more, visit www.positivebodysolutions.com.

 

Karen Gross ~ Guest Instructor

I have been practicing and teaching Kundalini Yoga since 2007. Each summer I come to New Jersey from Arizona to share this incredible technology. Kundalini Yoga meets you where you are so all can participate. By just showing up, you’ve done 85% of the work. Kundalini Yoga is 1,000’s of years old and amazing. We will work our whole self: mind, body, and spirit. I will lead you through postures, breath techniques, relaxation and meditations which are done sequentially in a specific order designed to positively affect your systems.  As your car needs to be maintained, so does your body! Please contact me at karen@bringyoga2u.com or (623) 734-7424.