Connect Here to inquire about working with Wellness Practitioners and Business/Leadership Consultants
Ali Reneer, CMT
Ali is an experienced healer who uses massage therapy and Reiki in her vibrant private practice. Ali received her training from the McKinnon Institute, an accredited and nationally recognized organization, located in Oakland. She continued her training at the Body Therapy Center in Palo Alto, in addition to numerous workshops to further her scope of massage, healing and the human body. Her modalities include the following: Sports Massage, Clinical Deep Tissue, Reflexology, Expectant Mother, Hot Stone Therapy, Chair Massage, Swedish and Reiki. Ali is also a Certified Reposturist.
Her passion is helping people live pain-free and happy lives.
Ali’s objectives are to help you become more aware of your body, how it holds tension, and how to live a more relaxed and pain-free existence. Ali teaches as she works. She focuses on empowering her client, so that they take an active part in their health. Her clients range from three year olds to seniors in their 90’s. She loves her work and thrives from helping others find health, vitality and balance in their every day life.
Ali joyfully continues to offer her many wellness services at the Moving Into the Light Women's Retreats since its creation in 2011.
Ali is an experienced healer who uses massage therapy and Reiki in her vibrant private practice. Ali received her training from the McKinnon Institute, an accredited and nationally recognized organization, located in Oakland. She continued her training at the Body Therapy Center in Palo Alto, in addition to numerous workshops to further her scope of massage, healing and the human body. Her modalities include the following: Sports Massage, Clinical Deep Tissue, Reflexology, Expectant Mother, Hot Stone Therapy, Chair Massage, Swedish and Reiki. Ali is also a Certified Reposturist.
Her passion is helping people live pain-free and happy lives.
Ali’s objectives are to help you become more aware of your body, how it holds tension, and how to live a more relaxed and pain-free existence. Ali teaches as she works. She focuses on empowering her client, so that they take an active part in their health. Her clients range from three year olds to seniors in their 90’s. She loves her work and thrives from helping others find health, vitality and balance in their every day life.
Ali joyfully continues to offer her many wellness services at the Moving Into the Light Women's Retreats since its creation in 2011.
Yolanda Rhodes
Yolanda Rhodes, soprano, a native of East Palo Alto, began to develop her musical gifts as a young adult. She studied voice with Joseph Frank and Kaye DeVries. She worked with mentors in the worlds of jazz and theatre. An active soloist and recitalist, Ms. Rhodes has been a featured singer with AACI every year since its founding. She has performed newly commissioned works by Joshua McGhee and Valerie Capers and an extensive repertoire of artsongs and spiritual settings by numerous composers including H. Leslie Adams, Margaret Bonds, Jacqueline Hairston, Betty Jackson King, Lena McLin, Zenobia Powell Perry, Florence Price, Hale Smith, and William Grant Still, among many others. Her recital repertoire includes American and European arias and artsongs from a wide range of eras, as well as spiritual arrangements and solo renditions of spirituals. With pianist Josephine Gandolfi she has collaborated in vocal jazz arrangements of classical works.
The Moving Into The Light Women's Retreats are blessed by Yolanda's gifts of creativity.
Yolanda offers private voice coaching as a path of liberation as she guides you in freeing your own voice.
Yolanda Rhodes, soprano, a native of East Palo Alto, began to develop her musical gifts as a young adult. She studied voice with Joseph Frank and Kaye DeVries. She worked with mentors in the worlds of jazz and theatre. An active soloist and recitalist, Ms. Rhodes has been a featured singer with AACI every year since its founding. She has performed newly commissioned works by Joshua McGhee and Valerie Capers and an extensive repertoire of artsongs and spiritual settings by numerous composers including H. Leslie Adams, Margaret Bonds, Jacqueline Hairston, Betty Jackson King, Lena McLin, Zenobia Powell Perry, Florence Price, Hale Smith, and William Grant Still, among many others. Her recital repertoire includes American and European arias and artsongs from a wide range of eras, as well as spiritual arrangements and solo renditions of spirituals. With pianist Josephine Gandolfi she has collaborated in vocal jazz arrangements of classical works.
The Moving Into The Light Women's Retreats are blessed by Yolanda's gifts of creativity.
Yolanda offers private voice coaching as a path of liberation as she guides you in freeing your own voice.
Asha Goldweber, Ph.D., RYT500
Asha is a yoga and meditation teacher, writer, and research scientist—and is dedicated to making these fields accessible and meaningful. Translating contemplative science and harnessing the power of the heart-mind-body connection, Asha’s offerings empower and elevate. Her work spans corporate, private, and community based settings (e.g., tech companies, studios, juvenile justice systems, and after school programs). From a young age Asha was exposed to Eastern philosophy. Her late mother, a Sri Lankan immigrant, would frequently host Buddhist monks at their home for dana and encourage service at the Washington Buddhist Vihara. A lifelong student, Asha began studying and practicing yoga over 14 years ago. She is devoted to sharing yoga with each student—to help them embody their true nature, and for the benefit of all beings. She teaches from the heartbeat of her practice: Bhakti (the yoga of love and devotion) and compassionate service.
Asha challenges students to show up for themselves—to elevate themselves and everyone, everyday; to see possibilities; and to do so with joy and equanimity. Her intention is to offer radical self-acceptance, laughter liberation, gratitude and the urgency to rise, particularly to women and girls of color and system involved youth.
Asha’s writing appears in Feminist Wire and Chapbooks. She recently submitted pieces entitled, “A Confirmatory Factor Analysis of Being Other” and “Seeing and Being Seen.”
Asha leads yoga classes and writing workshops at the Moving Into The Light Women's Retreats.
Asha challenges students to show up for themselves—to elevate themselves and everyone, everyday; to see possibilities; and to do so with joy and equanimity. Her intention is to offer radical self-acceptance, laughter liberation, gratitude and the urgency to rise, particularly to women and girls of color and system involved youth.
Asha’s writing appears in Feminist Wire and Chapbooks. She recently submitted pieces entitled, “A Confirmatory Factor Analysis of Being Other” and “Seeing and Being Seen.”
Asha leads yoga classes and writing workshops at the Moving Into The Light Women's Retreats.
Kim Reece, L.Ac., CMT
Kim is a licensed acupuncturist, herbalist, massage therapist, and esthetician. She earned her master's degree from the American College of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Kim has spent several years of study and work in mainland China where she gained her initial appreciation of the medicine. Kim has studied extensively with many leaders in Traditional Chinese Medicine.
Kim has worked at San Francisco Community Acupuncture, Community Acupuncture Works, the SAGE Project, Dr. Lifang Liang's Fertility Practice, and the American College of Traditional Chinese Medicine's Community Clinic. Kim treats an extensive scope of health issues with the aim of bringing the mind and body back into balance. Kim is grateful to have a sliding-scale community clinic in the beautiful town of Pacifica where she happily resides.
Kim offers community acupuncture at the Moving Into the Light Women's Retreats.
Kim has worked at San Francisco Community Acupuncture, Community Acupuncture Works, the SAGE Project, Dr. Lifang Liang's Fertility Practice, and the American College of Traditional Chinese Medicine's Community Clinic. Kim treats an extensive scope of health issues with the aim of bringing the mind and body back into balance. Kim is grateful to have a sliding-scale community clinic in the beautiful town of Pacifica where she happily resides.
Kim offers community acupuncture at the Moving Into the Light Women's Retreats.
Yasmina Porter, RYT
Yasmina Porter is a Dance historian and Fulbright Scholar raised in Ghana West Africa. She is a Prayer Practitioner, Professor, Storyteller, Mindful Dating Coach, and Certified Teacher of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction. She received a traditional Yoga education. She worked one on one and in small classes with her guru, Montanette Bennet at an Ashram in Ghana over a four year period. Porter went on to study within a secular Ashram in Bangalore,India and become Certified in Pre-natal and Post Partum Yoga through whole Birth Yoga. She received her qualification to teach through her guru in 1996, and went on to be the primary Yoga teacher at her own studio, Funk Works, in Emeryville, California.
Yasmina Porter is currently on the faculty at Cabrillo College in the Dance Department and the Academy for College Excellence where she is a Professor of Movement, Stress Reduction and Yoga. She is also a fluent Spanish speaker.
Yasmina has completed the Advanced Retreat Teacher Training Certification through Dragonfly Healing Center and has led workshops and taught yoga at several of the Moving Into The Light Women's Retreats.
Yasmina Porter is currently on the faculty at Cabrillo College in the Dance Department and the Academy for College Excellence where she is a Professor of Movement, Stress Reduction and Yoga. She is also a fluent Spanish speaker.
Yasmina has completed the Advanced Retreat Teacher Training Certification through Dragonfly Healing Center and has led workshops and taught yoga at several of the Moving Into The Light Women's Retreats.
Ana Maria Sanchez, MA
Ana Maria holds a Master’s Degree in Counseling Psychology and is a Holistic Counselor and founder of Free the Light Within. Her desire to help others was greatly stemmed by the trauma she suffered as a victim of childhood sexual abuse. However, her education and career couldn’t overcome the lasting effects and feelings of unworthiness from that abuse, and the risky behaviors she engaged in as a teen exacerbated, leaving her deeply depressed and in pain.
For 10 years, Ana Maria worked with San Mateo County in Special Education and The Mental Health Department, specifically with the probationary population. Within that period, her duties ranged from substitute teacher to case manager, social worker, then bilingual therapist.
Ana Maria is a Licensed Louise Hay Heal Your Life Teacher and Workshop Facilitator. She received her Reiki Training and Attunements from Reiki Master Teacher, Geneveive Vulser, M.A.
In addition, Ana Maria has studied with internationally-renowned healer Master Stephen Co, and she received Certification in Pranic Energy Healing and has also extensively studied the esoteric teachings of The Kabbalah (The Tree of Life) with Jim and Megan Larkin, Ph.D.
Ana Maria is a compassionate healer, providing a depth of understanding that comes from personal experience and knowledge of pain, self-sabotaging behaviors, healing, and the sometimes inevitable setbacks that challenge us as we peel away the layers of pain to reveal the beauty of the inner spirit that is individually our own.
She has been a wellness practitioner at the Moving Into The Light Women's Retreats.
Ana Maria Sanchez is also the bestselling author of Girl From the Hood Gone Good: One Woman’s Mission to Help Others Overcome a Pain Filled Past.
For 10 years, Ana Maria worked with San Mateo County in Special Education and The Mental Health Department, specifically with the probationary population. Within that period, her duties ranged from substitute teacher to case manager, social worker, then bilingual therapist.
Ana Maria is a Licensed Louise Hay Heal Your Life Teacher and Workshop Facilitator. She received her Reiki Training and Attunements from Reiki Master Teacher, Geneveive Vulser, M.A.
In addition, Ana Maria has studied with internationally-renowned healer Master Stephen Co, and she received Certification in Pranic Energy Healing and has also extensively studied the esoteric teachings of The Kabbalah (The Tree of Life) with Jim and Megan Larkin, Ph.D.
Ana Maria is a compassionate healer, providing a depth of understanding that comes from personal experience and knowledge of pain, self-sabotaging behaviors, healing, and the sometimes inevitable setbacks that challenge us as we peel away the layers of pain to reveal the beauty of the inner spirit that is individually our own.
She has been a wellness practitioner at the Moving Into The Light Women's Retreats.
Ana Maria Sanchez is also the bestselling author of Girl From the Hood Gone Good: One Woman’s Mission to Help Others Overcome a Pain Filled Past.
Nishi Bhonsle
Nishi is an AFPA (American Fitness Professional Associates) certified Personal Trainer, and Nutrition and Wellness Consultant. She is a South Asian by birth with a trained western influence in the food, fashion and fitness industry.
Nishi supports people to get on their nutrition goals, engage in their fitness regime and dress up their personality, right out of their house with 100% online services through her company Food, Fitness & Fashion.
Her services revolve around personalization with 80% nutrition, 20% fitness, and 100% mindset that is customized and tailored to the clients needs with daily checkins and motivation without drastic lifestyle changes. Her offerings include training based on HIIT, Weight training, Cardio, Strength Training, Pilates and Yoga. She helps her clients improve their lives with only a 10-15 min investment on a daily basis. She provides wholesome easy to make, tasty recipes for all including gluten-free, vegan, and paleo options.
Nishi is a mom, an Engineering Leader by profession and an aspiring AMERICAN SMOOTH Ballroom Dancer competing in the US. She lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her husband and 11 year old daughter. Her husband is a cross fit junkie and her daughter pours her heart into Tap dancing.
Nishi is a Retreat Leader with Dragonfly Healing Center, facilitating workshops and sharing inspiration at numerous retreats.
Nishi is an AFPA (American Fitness Professional Associates) certified Personal Trainer, and Nutrition and Wellness Consultant. She is a South Asian by birth with a trained western influence in the food, fashion and fitness industry.
Nishi supports people to get on their nutrition goals, engage in their fitness regime and dress up their personality, right out of their house with 100% online services through her company Food, Fitness & Fashion.
Her services revolve around personalization with 80% nutrition, 20% fitness, and 100% mindset that is customized and tailored to the clients needs with daily checkins and motivation without drastic lifestyle changes. Her offerings include training based on HIIT, Weight training, Cardio, Strength Training, Pilates and Yoga. She helps her clients improve their lives with only a 10-15 min investment on a daily basis. She provides wholesome easy to make, tasty recipes for all including gluten-free, vegan, and paleo options.
Nishi is a mom, an Engineering Leader by profession and an aspiring AMERICAN SMOOTH Ballroom Dancer competing in the US. She lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her husband and 11 year old daughter. Her husband is a cross fit junkie and her daughter pours her heart into Tap dancing.
Nishi is a Retreat Leader with Dragonfly Healing Center, facilitating workshops and sharing inspiration at numerous retreats.
Business and Leadership Consultants
Melissa Sutor, MS, MA
Melissa supports corporations in managing stress and enhancing performance to work balanced, healthy, and happy. She was an engineer and IT project manager in Silicon Valley, becoming intimate with stress then burnout. Melissa felt betrayed by the "american dream" after being in unhealthy work environments and driven by over achievement. She helps others avoid this painful experience and partners with companies to transform their workplace. There is always room for improvement and Melissa propels you to the next levels in ways that are fun and enjoyable. Engage your courage and bravery to challenge the current paradigm and work with deep meaning and purpose in an environment of trust and authenticity.
Melissa has led mindfulness workshops at many organizations including Google and Kaiser Permanente as well as retreat centers including Esalen Institute.
Melissa offers customized mindfulness programs for individuals and teams in the technology, science, and health and human services sectors. See her corporate website.
Melissa supports corporations in managing stress and enhancing performance to work balanced, healthy, and happy. She was an engineer and IT project manager in Silicon Valley, becoming intimate with stress then burnout. Melissa felt betrayed by the "american dream" after being in unhealthy work environments and driven by over achievement. She helps others avoid this painful experience and partners with companies to transform their workplace. There is always room for improvement and Melissa propels you to the next levels in ways that are fun and enjoyable. Engage your courage and bravery to challenge the current paradigm and work with deep meaning and purpose in an environment of trust and authenticity.
Melissa has led mindfulness workshops at many organizations including Google and Kaiser Permanente as well as retreat centers including Esalen Institute.
Melissa offers customized mindfulness programs for individuals and teams in the technology, science, and health and human services sectors. See her corporate website.
SherRhonda Gibbs, MBA, PhD
Dr. SherRhonda Gibbs is the Senior Management Consultant for Dragonfly Healing Center. SherRhonda is the Dean at Monfort College of Business at the University of Northern Colorado, UNC, and the President/CEO of GCNF Ventures, Inc. Her background is in software engineering and business. Dr. Gibbs has more than twelve years experience in IT and an unwavering passion for all things "entrepreneurship". She assists start-ups and small business owners with business development and strategy, new product development, and innovation. Dr. Gibbs has started three, going on four, business ventures and has a keen eye for great new business ideas. She is extremely proficient in business and technical writing, identifying new business opportunities, and performing industry, market and competitive research. She consults with businesses large and small, and Dragonfly Healing Center is honored to have her expertise on our team.
Dr. Gibbs is the current Director at Large for the United States Association for Small Business and Entrepreneurship, whose mission is to provide the network to advance knowledge and foster business development through entrepreneurship education and research. She is also involved in other meaningful initiatives in service to our nation, including community service organizations and aligned professional affiliations.
To know more about Dr. SherRhonda Gibbs, you can read her full VITAE here.
Dr. SherRhonda Gibbs is the Senior Management Consultant for Dragonfly Healing Center. SherRhonda is the Dean at Monfort College of Business at the University of Northern Colorado, UNC, and the President/CEO of GCNF Ventures, Inc. Her background is in software engineering and business. Dr. Gibbs has more than twelve years experience in IT and an unwavering passion for all things "entrepreneurship". She assists start-ups and small business owners with business development and strategy, new product development, and innovation. Dr. Gibbs has started three, going on four, business ventures and has a keen eye for great new business ideas. She is extremely proficient in business and technical writing, identifying new business opportunities, and performing industry, market and competitive research. She consults with businesses large and small, and Dragonfly Healing Center is honored to have her expertise on our team.
Dr. Gibbs is the current Director at Large for the United States Association for Small Business and Entrepreneurship, whose mission is to provide the network to advance knowledge and foster business development through entrepreneurship education and research. She is also involved in other meaningful initiatives in service to our nation, including community service organizations and aligned professional affiliations.
To know more about Dr. SherRhonda Gibbs, you can read her full VITAE here.
Gina Waota, CPA
Gina Waota is the CEO of WMB Financial Solutions the parent company of WMB General Contractors. As the majority shareholder of the company, she sets the strategic direction and works closely with the team on all accounting and financial issues. Gina's background in cost accounting and audit is particularly helpful to ensure that projects are always on budget.
Gina Waota started her career as an associate at one of the Big 4 Accounting Firms, KPMG which specializes in Audit and Financial Management. She went on to be the project accountant for a midsize telecommunications firm, preparing and reviewing large telecommunication bids for the firm.
In 2005 along with her husband, Franck, Gina started WMB Financial Solutions Inc., a professional service firm. The progression to construction management came naturally as Gina increased her knowledge of cost management by working with many general contractors in the Sacramento and San Francisco areas.
Gina is a Certified Public Accountant and a graduate from Denver University with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting.
Gina loves spending time with her husband and two teenage girls. She enjoys traveling, yoga and dedicating her time to nonprofit causes in developing countries.
Gina has completed the Advanced Retreat Leader Training Certification through Dragonfly Center and was the Retreat Director for the Moving Into the Light Women's Retreat 2016. Gina consults and leads workshops on "Wealth and Financial Freedom".
Gina Waota is the CEO of WMB Financial Solutions the parent company of WMB General Contractors. As the majority shareholder of the company, she sets the strategic direction and works closely with the team on all accounting and financial issues. Gina's background in cost accounting and audit is particularly helpful to ensure that projects are always on budget.
Gina Waota started her career as an associate at one of the Big 4 Accounting Firms, KPMG which specializes in Audit and Financial Management. She went on to be the project accountant for a midsize telecommunications firm, preparing and reviewing large telecommunication bids for the firm.
In 2005 along with her husband, Franck, Gina started WMB Financial Solutions Inc., a professional service firm. The progression to construction management came naturally as Gina increased her knowledge of cost management by working with many general contractors in the Sacramento and San Francisco areas.
Gina is a Certified Public Accountant and a graduate from Denver University with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting.
Gina loves spending time with her husband and two teenage girls. She enjoys traveling, yoga and dedicating her time to nonprofit causes in developing countries.
Gina has completed the Advanced Retreat Leader Training Certification through Dragonfly Center and was the Retreat Director for the Moving Into the Light Women's Retreat 2016. Gina consults and leads workshops on "Wealth and Financial Freedom".
Pooja Sathyanarayanan, MA, MSc
Pooja holds a Master’s in Positive Developmental Psychology from Claremont Graduate University and a Master’s in Applied Psychology, Clinical Specialisation from Pondicherry University, India. She has worked and volunteered in non-profit, behavioral science research and tech start-up settings.
As a participant of the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction 4-week course and the Mindful Self-Compassion 5-day intensive, she has learned to tend to the stresses and anxieties in her life from a space of self-compassion and by turning toward rather than resisting unpleasant emotions and feelings. She is constantly seeking opportunities to understand and create content related to the human capacity to flourish and thrive.
In her spare time, she enjoys reading, hiking and window shopping at gift stores.
Pooja holds a Master’s in Positive Developmental Psychology from Claremont Graduate University and a Master’s in Applied Psychology, Clinical Specialisation from Pondicherry University, India. She has worked and volunteered in non-profit, behavioral science research and tech start-up settings.
As a participant of the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction 4-week course and the Mindful Self-Compassion 5-day intensive, she has learned to tend to the stresses and anxieties in her life from a space of self-compassion and by turning toward rather than resisting unpleasant emotions and feelings. She is constantly seeking opportunities to understand and create content related to the human capacity to flourish and thrive.
In her spare time, she enjoys reading, hiking and window shopping at gift stores.
Gina Garcia
Gina is a Supply Chain Manager at a medical device company by day and a spiritual ninja by night. She uses her extensive skills to support the health and well-being of others.
Gina was inspired to pursue her passion to become a Mindfulness Meditation Teacher after attending a Dragonfly wellness retreat 2 years ago led by Melissa Sutor. She is grateful to be a lifelong learner committed to personal development and being of service to the community.
She enjoys hanging out with her Daughters, Grandkids, and furbabies. Gina also likes spending time listening to music, going on nature walks, attending workshops and shopping.
Gina is a Supply Chain Manager at a medical device company by day and a spiritual ninja by night. She uses her extensive skills to support the health and well-being of others.
Gina was inspired to pursue her passion to become a Mindfulness Meditation Teacher after attending a Dragonfly wellness retreat 2 years ago led by Melissa Sutor. She is grateful to be a lifelong learner committed to personal development and being of service to the community.
She enjoys hanging out with her Daughters, Grandkids, and furbabies. Gina also likes spending time listening to music, going on nature walks, attending workshops and shopping.
