Meet the staff
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    Sheraden_Liz_2013 Department Secretary
    Liz Sheraden

    More than likely, Liz Sheraden is the first person you will meet at the Center. Either by telephone or in person, you will find Liz personable and helpful and eager to accommodate your request. Liz also manages the class schedules, registrations and plays a major role in helping produce our annual MindBody publication. Liz enjoys her job and finds meaning in connecting people to services that make a difference in their health, wellness and quality of life.
     


    Toby Donaker Acupuncturist
    Tobias (Toby) Donaker

    Tobias (Toby) Donaker, MS Ac, of Central Illinois Acupuncture has a master's of science degree in acupuncture from the National University of Health Sciences. As a licensed acupuncturist, he is also a Diplomate with the National Commission for Certification of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine. While he provides acupuncture for a variety of stress-related illnesses, his special interests include musculoskeletal disorders, sports injuries, anxiety and depression and pain management. Toby believes that integrative medicine is the bridge to the future of health care and acupuncture can support individuals as they journey towards a higher level of health wellbeing.


    Bridget Rolens Mind-Body Instructor
    Bridget Rolens

    Bridget Rolens MA, BSOT, has trained in mindfulness-based stress reduction through the University of Massachusetts Center for Mindfulness in Medicine, Health-Care and Society. She holds a Master of Arts degree in Theology and a Bachelor of Science in Occupational Therapy. In addition to providing classes and individual coaching for the Mind-Body Medicine program at St. John’s Hospital’s Center for Living in Springfield, IL, Bridget facilitates the Mind-Body Stress Reduction Program (MBSR) for Masterpeace Studios in Crestwood, MO and co-leads the St. Louis Insight Meditation Group, offering classes, retreats, and individual mentoring.

    Bridget's thirty years of experience in traditional health care, mind-body medicine and a variety of meditation practices has given her a strong understanding of the connection between the body, mind and spirit. Her passion is to help people attain freedom from the forces that bind the mind and heart in suffering.


    Neala Ausmus Wired for Joy and Emotional Brain Training Facilitator
    Neala Ausmus

    Neala Ausmus, LCPC, RD has a master's degree in human development and counseling and is a licensed clinical professional counselor. She is also a registered dietitian and a certified Emotional Brain Training facilitator. Neala's diverse background includes counseling in weight management, eating disorders, diabetes education, and continuing to serve as a nationally recognized certified Emotional Brain Training facilitator. Neala's passion is in helping her clients make the mind-body connection. Believing that knowledge of health is not always enough, Neala also helps her clients discover their inner wisdom, strength and nurturance that is vital in making long-term changes for their health and happiness.


    Shane Streder Massage Therapist
    Shane Streder

    Shane Streder, LMT, is a graduate of Classic Touch School of Therapeutic Massage in Springfield, Illinois. In addition to providing swedish massage for relaxation, Shane uses a variety of skills including sports massage, reflexology, myofascial release and deep tissue massage. Shane says that his goal is to make every experience with his clients friendly, personable and therapeutic, adding that "the energy from my hands comes not from my strength, but from my heart."


    Virginia Ferguson Massage Therapist
    Virginia Ferguson

    Virginia Ferguson, LMT, has been trained in a wide spectrum of massage modalities. She enjoys being able to provide relaxing therapeutic massage, which offers relief from the various stressors of life, as well as more specialized treatment for various musculoskeletal concerns. Virginia has a special interest in the clinical applications of massage for unique populations. She believes that the value of massage lies in its inherent trust in our bodies own healing properties.


    Yi Karpen Tai Chi Instructor
    Yi Karpen

    Yi Karpen, MS has a bachelor's degree in physical education from Shanghai Institute of Physical Education and a master's degree in exercise physiology from the University of Wisconsin. Growing up in China, she experienced tai chi as a natural healing practice for people of all ages. Today, she works at the Prairie Heart Institute as an exercise physiologist and teaches tai chi through community classes. Yi's expertise, commitment and desire to help her students experience the health-promoting benefits of tai chi create a unique learning experience for those who study with her.


    Melissa Schutz RD Eat Well Be Well Instructor
    Melissa Schutz

    Melissa Schutz, MS, RD, LDN graduated Eastern Illinois University with a bachelor and master’s degree in dietetics. She has worked as a dietitian at St. John's Hospital for 10 years. Melissa enjoys being able to develop a rapport with her patients/clients and watch them progress toward achieving their goals. She understands there are many factors that may lead individuals to gain weight or to lose sight of healthy habits.

    For this reason, she works with every individual to find out what their goals are and what they can do to achieve a healthier lifestyle through nutrition counseling. Melissa always strives to provide practical suggestions to patients/clients so they do not feel overwhelmed or deprived when they begin their weight loss process. She has met many patients who have admitted they were nervous to meet with a dietitian because they thought they were going to be told everything they were doing wrong. However, by the end of their time with Melissa, they came to understand she was one of their biggest supporters and that she was excited to share in their progress. Melissa looks forward to sharing in the excitement with many more clients through the Eat Well be Well program.


    Carol Dunaway Yoga Instructor
    Carol Dunaway

    Carol Dunaway is a former nurse who has been a student of yoga since the 1970’s.  In 2003 she began studying to teach yoga, in 2007 she received her 500 hour yoga teacher certification through the American Viniyoga Institute with founder Gary Kraftsow.  She has also studied extensively with Parayoga founder Rod Stryker.  Other teachers Carol has certifications from include, Judith Hanson Laseter, restorative yoga, Paul Grilley, yoga anatomy, and Saul David Raye, Thai Yoga.  In 2009 Carol completed a 2 year yoga therapy certification from the American Viniyoga Institute, and in 2011 she completed a month long study of yoga philosophy in Chennai India at the Krishnamacharya Yoga Mandrim (KYM).  The KYM is devoted to the teachings of Krishnamacharya who was an influential teacher of Gary Kraftsow.  Carol is a member of The International Association of Yoga Therapists.

    In addition to yoga, Carol is fully certified in Pilates mat and equipment work through Stott Pilates.  She specializes in working with individuals who have injuries or special needs.


    Libby-Pyle Yoga Instructor
    Libby Pyle

    Libby, a life-long fitness advocate began as an aerobics instructor, for those of you who are old enough to remember the term. While her children were young she coached tumbling and competitive fast pitch softball. She now has over 23 years of experience including dance and step aerobics, kick boxing, circuit/cross training, cycling, Pilates and yoga. Of course her love is yoga because it creates the balance that so many are searching for these days.

    As a registered yoga teacher, Libby believes continuing education in her field is essential to keep the enthusiasm flowing. She makes every effort to attend the Midwest Yoga Conference in Chicago annually. She loves cycling outdoors and dreams of traveling to India someday.



    Kristin Ettinger Yoga Instructor
    Kristin Ettinger

    Kristin took her first yoga class here in Springfield in the year 2000. After living in Denver and studying yoga there for eight years, she’s back home and excited to help others cultivate deeper awareness of body, mind and spirit through the multi-dimensional practice of yoga. Kristin’s experience of yoga is steeped in the Iyengar tradition, which is known for its emphasis on correct alignment and use of props to explore and fine-tune postures.

    The Iyengar method’s careful attention to detail provides the foundation for a safe and mindful practice, which Kristin believes helped keep her muscles and joints (as well as attitude!) healthy on the field as a competitive ultimate frisbee player. In 2007, Kristin started phasing out the intense physical practice of team sports to shift her focus inward and deepen her yoga practice through a Hatha yoga teacher training at the Denver Institute of Yoga with beloved teachers Kevin Durkin, Derik Eselius and Brenna Hatami. She began teaching yoga for stress reduction at a medical center in 2008 and moved on to teach at a recreation center in Lakewood, Colorado as she continued teacher training in the Iyengar tradition with Craig Kurtz, Leslie Bradley and Jayne Satter.

    Kristin recently broke free from her desk job as a play editor in Denver and set off on a solo journey to India, where she studied yoga with renowned Iyengar teachers Rajiv and Swati Chanchani at the Yog-Ganga Center in the Himalayan foothills. In the summer of 2010, Kristin attended the Midwest Yoga Conference in Chicago, where she enjoyed workshops with Saul David Raye, Darren Friesen and Bo Forbes. She also recently completed Level One training in Phoenix Rising Yoga Therapy.