Our Teachers and Guest Lecturers
Our excellent faculty come from a variety of professional holistic health and medical backgrounds. Leaders in their fields and communities, our teachers provide individualized attention to our students.
Tatiana Forero Puerta, MA, RYT, HHC
Tatiana Forero Puerta is the Founder and Director of OmWellness. Her love for nutrition and holistic living stems from her ongoing study of yoga, philosophy, and South American Indigenous Traditions. After using food and yoga to cure several serious illnesses in her own body, Tatiana became a certified nutrition counselor and yoga instructor, devoted to helping others heal and attain physical, mental and spiritual balance.
Tatiana has studied Religion and Philosophy at University of the Pacific, Stanford University and New York University and holds various degrees in these fields. She has studied nutrition and the human body, especially in the context of historical religious healing practices. Tatiana holds her certification as a Holistic Health Practitioner from the American Association of Drugless Practitioners and her Yoga Teacher Certification through Atmananda Yoga Studio, where she helps train future yoga teachers, teaching yoga, philosophy and nutrition. Tatiana also works privately with clients, helping them achieve their health goals through nutritional counseling and yoga. In her spare time, Tatiana is a writer whose pieces have appeared in New York Spirit Magazine, Assisi Literary Journal, Religion and Psychology Research, and JOY: The Journal of Yoga. Tatiana is currently working on her first manuscript. You can read more about Tatiana on her website, www.TatianaFPuerta.com
Tatiana has studied Religion and Philosophy at University of the Pacific, Stanford University and New York University and holds various degrees in these fields. She has studied nutrition and the human body, especially in the context of historical religious healing practices. Tatiana holds her certification as a Holistic Health Practitioner from the American Association of Drugless Practitioners and her Yoga Teacher Certification through Atmananda Yoga Studio, where she helps train future yoga teachers, teaching yoga, philosophy and nutrition. Tatiana also works privately with clients, helping them achieve their health goals through nutritional counseling and yoga. In her spare time, Tatiana is a writer whose pieces have appeared in New York Spirit Magazine, Assisi Literary Journal, Religion and Psychology Research, and JOY: The Journal of Yoga. Tatiana is currently working on her first manuscript. You can read more about Tatiana on her website, www.TatianaFPuerta.com
Dr. Michael Greger, MD
A founding member of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine, Michael Greger, MD, is a physician, author, and internationally recognized speaker on nutrition, food safety, and public health issues. He has lectured at the Conference on World Affairs, the International Bird Flu Summit, the National Institutes of Health, testified before Congress, and was invited as an expert witness in the defense of Oprah Winfrey in the infamous "meat defamation" trial. He is a graduate of Cornell University School of Agriculture, where he returned to teach nutrition, and Tufts University School of Medicine. Currently Dr. Greger serves as the Director of Public Health and Animal Agriculture at The Humane Society of the United States. Dr. Greger provides a review of the world's scholarly literature on clinical nutrition, focusing on studies published over the last year in peer-reviewed scientific nutrition journals.
Archana Gogna, M.S., C.N.S., M.B.A
Archana Gogna is a Certified Nutritional Specialist with extensive experience in the fields of nutritional counseling and nutraceutical research and development. Her nutritional career began as a staff nutritionist at a multidisciplinary clinic where she worked with patients suffering from a range of chronic diseases including, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer, chronic fatigue, auto immune conditions, arthritis, and obesity. She subsequently joined InVite Health, a chain of nutritional specialty centers in the New York City area, and currently serves as Director of Nutrition.
Archana has conducted hundreds of individual nutritional consultations and hosted or appeared as a guest on numerous radio broadcasts and webinars. She teaches nutrition classes at the Natural Gourmet Institute for Food and Health, a highly reputed NY culinary institute and lectures on health and nutrition-related topics for corporations, groups and organizations of all types.
Archana can be contacted at 914-231-9248, 914-426-2904 or [email protected].
Archana has conducted hundreds of individual nutritional consultations and hosted or appeared as a guest on numerous radio broadcasts and webinars. She teaches nutrition classes at the Natural Gourmet Institute for Food and Health, a highly reputed NY culinary institute and lectures on health and nutrition-related topics for corporations, groups and organizations of all types.
Archana can be contacted at 914-231-9248, 914-426-2904 or [email protected].
Jessie Shaw, MS, L.Ac
Jessie Shaw is a licensed acupuncturist and graduate of Tri-State College of Acupuncture where she received a Master of Science degree. She supplemented her basic education by studying classical approaches to acupuncture with Jeffrey Yuen and Elisabeth Rochat de la Vallee -- both scholars of classical texts written over 2,000 years ago. She has a Masters Degree in Chinese Herbology and is a Certified Herbalist, and studied traditional Mandarin Chinese for five years.
Gena Hamshaw, C.C.N
Gena Hamshaw is a nutritional counselor with an emphasis on raw foods, digestive health, and detoxification. She works with clients of all ages, backgrounds, and dietary persuasions to find easy, affordable and lasting steps towards a healthy lifestyle.
When Gena isn't coaching, she works as a book editor here in Manhattan. She is also the author of the popular blog, Choosing Raw, where she shares recipes, tips, and musings on the raw lifestyle. To read more about Gena's work, check out www.choosingraw.com
When Gena isn't coaching, she works as a book editor here in Manhattan. She is also the author of the popular blog, Choosing Raw, where she shares recipes, tips, and musings on the raw lifestyle. To read more about Gena's work, check out www.choosingraw.com
Sabina Stahl, E-RYT
Growing up in the Black Forest region of Germany, Sabina Stahl was instilled with an inspirational viewpoint on utilizing food as a means to improve health. This childhood focus in maintaining a healthy and sustainable lifestyle led her to pursue a degree in physical education. After years of practice, Sabina has dedicated herself to teaching others how to strip themselves of years of learned behaviors and responses to bring them back to a cleaner, simpler life, ruled by one’s own intuition.
Alexander Dunlop, PhD
Alexander Dunlop Alexander Dunlop is Co-Director of SanaVita, Center for Holistic Cleansing. SanaVita is New York City's premier center for holistic cleansing. SanaVita specializes in colon cleansing services
Sara Barber, MA
Sara Barber Sara's passion for food and agriculture led her on wonderful journey in both professional and academic worlds. Sarah completed her undergraduate studies in Biology and Environmental Studies from the University of San Diego and holds a master's degree at UC Davis in International Agricultural Development specializing in the conservation of genetic resources of food crops.
Professionally, Sarah has managed the sales and distribution of organic culinary fresh herbs, both in California and New York City, gaining first hand knowledge of the production, shipping and distribution of produce both internationally and nationally. This path has strengthened her enduring gratitude for the farmer and how their production of food eventually makes it to our kitchen tables in an evermore competitive and complicated global agricultural economy.
Professionally, Sarah has managed the sales and distribution of organic culinary fresh herbs, both in California and New York City, gaining first hand knowledge of the production, shipping and distribution of produce both internationally and nationally. This path has strengthened her enduring gratitude for the farmer and how their production of food eventually makes it to our kitchen tables in an evermore competitive and complicated global agricultural economy.
K. Michael Ferranti
K.Michael Ferranti is medically trained, integrating both eastern and western medical traditions for over a decade. He is an Ayurvedic Practitioner specializing in combining therapies such as reflexology, iridology, aromatherapy, diet and nutritional counseling, herbal remedies and Reiki to gain balance in the body, mind, and soul. He studied Ayurveda at Kripalu School of Ayurveda, in Lenox, Massachusetts, as well as at JIVA Ayurvedic Insttitute in India, with world renowned physician, Dr. Partap Chauhan.
Nahavae Frost, Chef, RYT
Nahavae Frost is a Private and Personal Chef based in Brooklyn. From Southern California and practically raised in a kitchen, she has been cooking in restaurants and for individuals for the last 15 years on both coasts. She earned a degree in Psychology from New School University and recently completed the Yoga Teacher Training Program at Atmananda Yoga Sequence. A sincere believer in organic and sustainable farming, she has developed a neighborhood garden at her Crown Heights home, sources her food year-round at the local farmer's markets, cooks with whole rather than processed foods and encourages her clientele to do the same. Her hope is to help develop a better understanding of why these practices are important, and to nurture a healthier approach toward cooking, eating and overall well-being by recognizing food as a simple and necessary medium through which we can profoundly effect change in ourselves and the world around us.
Susan Krieger, L.Ac., MS, MEA
Susan Krieger; L.Ac., MS, Diplomate of NCCAOM in Acupuncture, Oriental Medicine, Shiatsu-Asian Bodywork, MEA-Certified Health and Nutritional Counselor, AOBTA-was a Founding Member/VP for 5 years, and is a Certified Senior Shiatsu Instructor, is an internationally renowned practitioner, teacher and counselor of Integrative Macrobiotics, Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture, The Energetics of Foods, Medicinal Food and Plant Remedies, Ki-Shiatsu-Acupressure The Five Elements, Women’s Health, , Oriental Diagnosis, Asian Healing Arts, Oi-Gong-Yoga and Meridian-Self Shiatsu of over 33 years. Susan writes for professional acupuncture, bodywork, nutrition and health journals. She produced The Ki-Shiatsu Instructional DVD and lectures for the UN, universities, acupuncture and body work schools and organizations, hospitals, women's organizations, private events and health and healing centers. Susan has an active private practice in New York City. www.susankrigerhealth.com
Miranda Hunt, Chef, HHP
Miranda Hunt is a chef and nutritionist from Long Island, New York. She is the product of a macrobiotic pregnancy and grew up in a natural foods household. Miranda received a Bachelor's Degree in Philosophy and Religion from the State University of New York. (S.U.N.Y.) The topic of her Senior thesis was macrobiotics and the yin-yang theory of food. She is a graduate of the Institute for Integrative Nutrition, and is an A.A.D.P. (American Association of Drugless Practitioners) certified natural health practitioner.
Ilene Richman
Ilene Richman has headed the Fertility Awareness Center since 2001. She has taught hundreds of women to practice Fertility Awareness for birth control, pregnancy achievement, and in general to be more empowered around their reproductive health and sexual well-being. Ilene is also the head of an international organization of secular teachers of Fertility Awareness, and coordinates an online discussion group for professionals in this field. She gives lectures to both the general public as well as to health care professionals and is involved in training practitioners of Fertility Awareness to become qualified instructors. Ilene has contributed to the most recent edition of Our Bodies Ourselves and has served as a proofreader and consultant for several books about Fertility Awareness. To learn more, please visit www.fertaware.com.
Elana Smith
Elana Smith is a Holistic Health Counselor and Reiki practitioner. She works one-on-one with women who want to release patterns of emotional/ compulsive eating and wish to achieve healthy weight loss. She also runs workshops and group events that explore how to align one’s self with the power of nature’s cycles through nutrition and ritual. For more information visit:
soulnourish.com.
soulnourish.com.