Facilitators:

About Laurie Ellis Young

Laurie has been practicing and studying breathwork, mind/body therapies, wellbeing techniques and yoga from both ancient and contemporary traditions for over 33 years. Her studies have led her around the globe introducing her to many paths of yoga (Raja, Kundalini, Kriya, Bhakti, Agni etc.) and various styles of Hatha Yoga including Integral, Sivananda, Bikram, Vinyasa, Kripalu and Nicky Knoff. Her yoga teacher’s certifications are from the Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health in Lenox, Massachusetts and Nicky Knoff Yoga, centered in Queensland, Australia. She teaches with an eclectic, meditative approach drawing from these many styles and disciplines.

Between 1985 and 1998 many treks in the Himalayas of Nepal and the Andes of Peru led her to become impassioned with the power of breath. This enthusiasm led her to explore profound work with Yoga Pranayama, Qigong, Taoist, Holotropic, Transformational and Shamanic breathwork. She has earned certifications in various wellness programs, including IIIHS (International Institute of Integral Human Sciences) in Montreal, Canada and a Masters in Therapeutic Counseling with an emphasis on Breathwork from the University of Sri Lanka in Colombo.

For over seventeen years Laurie has facilitated pilgrimages to Sacred Sites on four continents fostering individual, group and planetary healing along with humanitarian awareness. These experiences have convinced her that, without a doubt, a group of people with a unified and focused intention, can have a powerful, positive effect on each other, specific areas on the planet and the Earth as a whole. She has taught internationally in many peacebuilding organizations, including the UN in Kosovo and the Alliance for Conflict Transformation in Bolivia.

A journey across an immensely defoliated area of Paraguay in 1995 profoundly impacted her with the ramifications of deforestation on the planet. This situation propelled her to begin a reforestation project on land she and her husband acquired for this purpose in Guatemala. As breath, trees and photosynthesis are directly related to each other, she is dedicated to continuing reforestation and welcomes opportunities to share her work for this purpose.

Laurie travels frequently and is available to facilitate individual sessions, classes, workshops, seminars and retreats nationally and internationally. She is currently living with her husband, George, in Hope, Idaho and retains residencies in Minneapolis, MN and Lake Atitlan, Guatemala.

Click here to email Laurie

About Kirsten

Kirsten has been studying, practicing, coaching and facilitating body/mind/subconscious healing for more than 25 years.

Her curiosity in these areas, started with studies in Metaphysics which led to studies of the functioning of the mind. She obtained a diploma in Clinical Hypnosis and played an active role throughout Australia in seminars on creative thinking - the "hows" of the way we create our own circumstances.

These experiences led Kirsten to a mentor who taught her expanded awareness and healing. For a year and a half they practiced intensively, in a personal, one-on-one, everyday level and in many workshop situations.

In her unique style of energy work she connects intuitively with the imbalances in a client's energy body and assists them in releasing the emotional charge in the body memories, thus recreating balance and harmony. Her approach is gentle, grounded and powerful. Known as an energy-healer extraordinaire by people around the world, Kirsten divides her time between residences in Lake Atitlan, Guatemala and Australia while traveling extensively in the United States and other areas of the world.

For information on personal sessions, workshops and retreats please contact her at kirmyn@hotmail.com

About Jen Gori

From childhood, Jen Gori has nurtured a love for travel and adventure. It has led her to live abroad, learn other languages and enjoy the escapades of a nine year airline career. She spent three years working with Americans for International Aid and Adoption, escorting children back to the United States from India, Korea and Thailand. As Jen’s husband is from India, she has incorporated the rich color, beauty, food, diversity and spirit of this unique culture into a loving family life with their two daughters and dog, Buddy.

With a life-long interest in creative expression and a degree in Speech and Communications, Jen’s passion is to help people explore their voice and interpret meaning from their experiences. Holding a master's degree in Marriage and Family therapy, she has led groups for women, developed divorce groups for kids and works extensively in premarital counseling.

She is known for her compassion, joie de vivre, love of movement and integration of global family. Jen consciously lives her favorite motto, “You are the architect of your life.” Her current projects are learning Spanish, mastering the Salsa and specifically Laughter Yoga which is helping her raise two teenage daughters