Meet the Healing Elements and Wellness Team
Meet the amazing people who bring it all together here at Healing Elements & Wellness, including our Yoga instructors and massage therapists.
Wellness Teachers
Samantha Shvetzoff
Owner / Co-founder
My vision for Healing Elements is to create a vibrant community where individuals are inspired and learning is abundant. I contribute my open heart, critical and creative thinking, and passionate energy as a pursuit of growing a sustainable business. Bridging the gap between wellness professionals and individuals seeking to heal brings me joy!
In addition to all things business, I spend my time studying plants and making herbal medicine, practicing and guiding yoga nidra, being a witchy woman with my sisters, and enjoying my time on earth as a mother and wife.
Samantha Carry
Co-founder / Reiki Practitioner
Having an innate interest in health and wellness, Samantha has spent her career exploring multiple facets of mental, spiritual, physical health. Earning a B.S. in Community Psychology with a minor in Human Relations and Multi-Cultural Diversity in 2006, Samantha has worked with both adolescents and adults with severe and persistent mental illness (SPMI). In 2010, Samantha began exploring Ayurvedic and herbal medicine, as well as going on to earn additional certificates as an RYT-200 hr Yoga Instructor and a Certified Level 2 Reiki Practitioner. Recognizing the potency of integrating modalities and techniques, Samantha began the ownership and operation of a small wellness center in Minneapolis. Desiring the ability to escalate healing through diagnosis and direct care, Samantha sold her business and became a Registered Nurse in 2018. Samantha currently works as a critical care nurse in a level-one trauma center. Currently set to graduate as a Family Nurse Practitioner in 2022, Samantha aims to act as a bridge between eastern and western medicine, and hopes to integrate holistic and functional medicine into her independent practice.
Madeline Harpell
Studio + Retail Manager / Photographer
I am dedicated to a life of healing and authentic connection. There is not much that I love more than quality time spent with myself and the people I am close with. The foundation of my wellness journey was laid through a spiritual upbringing, and developed deeply through classes on meditation and wellness in college. Through this, I now strive to live most alive — tapping into the spirit for my most aware, honest and loving being.
Being outside, whatever the weather, is something that makes me feel most alive. I am passionate about sustainability and protecting the planet. I am drawn to the spiritual sources that we have access to on Earth and feel called to swim in this ocean of knowledge that the spiritual community provides. As an interdisciplinary artist, my art-making practices are focused in photography, collage and movement. I am overjoyed to be part of this strong community, to continually be supported and to support in this connected healing journey we are all on.
When I’m not at Healing Elements, you can find me taking photos, cuddling with my cat Morrie, spending time with loved ones, enjoying the outdoors, or drawing myself a magical bath.
she/they
Maria Tordoff
Massage Therapist
Maria is a healer who practices massage therapy to help decrease pain in soft tissue, build the client’s body awareness, and provide time for a client to relax and find respite from the busy day to day. Maria applies her knowledge of being a dancer and dance teacher to massage, where she views the whole body as a system rather than a collection of parts. She melts through soft tissue layer by layer in order to bring the body back to a healthier state with less tension and more ease of function. Maria practices Relaxation, Trigger Point Therapy, Cupping, Oncology Massage, and Reiki and can integrate the modalities in order to specialize with her client’s needs.
Maria holds her A.A.S in massage therapy from Northwestern Health Sciences and a BFA in modern dance and composition from UW Milwaukee.
When not doing bodywork, Maria enjoys reading all kinds of genres and journaling especially if given the chance to write outside.
Modalities: Swedish/Relaxation, Integrative, Trigger Point Therapy, Cupping, Oncology, Reiki
Availability: Wednesdays 9am-3pm, Fridays 9am-3pm, Saturdays 9am-3pm
Morgan Thomas
Massage Therapist
Morgan is very passionate about helping the beings she works with to reawaken their own natural alchemical ability to transform and to experience balance body, mind, and soul. She integrates her training in Therapeutic Massage, Craniosacral, Breathwork, Reiki and Transformational Coaching to help guide these parts of self back into alignment and to help her clients remember their own inner capacity to experience healing and transformation. She honors compassion and loving kindness as the true healers and is most inspired by the human spirit`s ability to heal through love and the limitless potential that grows through the soil of transformation.
Modalities: Womxn’s Swedish/Relaxation, Womxn’s Deep Tissue/Trigger Point, Womxn’s Integrative, Womxn’s Craniosacral, Prenatal, Womxn’s Usui Reiki
Availability: Tuesdays 2:30-8pm
LeAnn Sarazin
Modalities: Integrated, Deep Tissue/Trigger Point, Swedish/Relaxation, Prenatal, Couple’s Massage, Aromatherapy
Availability: Mondays 2-8pm, Tuesdays 2:30-8pm, Wednesdays 2:30-8pm, Saturdays 11am-5pm
Meagan Jarvi
Massage Therapist
Meagan (she/they) graduated from the massage therapy program of Minnesota State Community and Technical College in 2012. She lived and worked in Madison WI for 6 years but recently moved back to MN. Meagan likes to customize each massage to her clients’ needs with an integrative approach of Swedish massage mixed with deep tissue and trigger point modalities. Other modalities she specializes in include prenatal massage and hot stone massage.
Outside of her massage career, Meagan’s hobbies include playing the piano, painting, writing, and photography.
Modalities: Deep Tissue/Trigger Point, Swedish/Relaxation, Integrated, Prenatal, Hot Stones, Aromatherapy
Availability: Tuesdays 9am-2pm, Thursdays 9am-2pm
Thia Scully
Massage Therapist / Yoga Instructor
Alythia (she/they) has always felt a guiding hand influencing her towards the path of healing for herself and those around her. As a youth, her grandmother; a painter, photographer, and reiki master, taught her by way of osmosis the value of inner quiet, and finding beauty everywhere. Thia grew up taking care of those around her and started massaging at the age of 8. At 17, first steps were taken on the yoga journey after being impacted by her favorite painter speaking on it in an interview (Alex Grey, Chapel of Sacred Mirrors). She has completed courses in Yoga Instruction, Massage Therapy (Diploma of Applied Science through MSB), Reflexology, Reiki, and Craniosacral Therapy. Alythia is also very interested in healthy food choices and herbal remedies although, at this point, these studies are more of a hobby than a scope of practice. Interconnectedness is a key theme for her as a practitioner and person and she prefers to view discomforts from multiple angles and keep an open mind to holistic remedies. Guests on Thia’s table can expect to be listened to in many levels; as words, posture, gait cycle, and other nonverbal indicators all influence the caring approach. Her massage style tends to blend many modalities depending on the person she’s working with and she is trained to work with people of varying ages and presentations of health. In the classroom, you can expect Thia to assess the needs of the class as a whole and provide alternative postures to accommodate to the diversity of bodies in the room. She believes all bodies can do yoga and wants to share the benefits of feeling, breathing, moving, and paying attention with everyone.
Modalities: Swedish/Relaxation, Deep Tissue/Trigger Point, Myofascial Release, Foot Reflexology, Sports, Thai Infused, Prenatal, Craniosacral, and Hot Stones
Availability: Fridays 2-7pm & Sundays 2-6pm
Classes: Wednesday 4pm Yin, 5:30pm Vinyasa, Friday 12pm Gentle Flow
Mary Sage Sennewald
Yoga Instructor / Massage Therapist
Mary Sage Sennewald is an advocate for empowerment, self-awareness, and collaboration. Through her co-creative livelihood as a life coach, yoga teacher, bodyworker, essential oils distributor, and birth doula, she strives to inspire friends to fill their lives with wellness. She holds a BA in Liberal Arts from the U of MN and has extensive education in healing modalities. Her classes, treatments and sessions are customized to support the individual needs and incorporate breath, alignment, guided relaxation and essential oils.
Currently Not Taking Appointment
Currently No Classes
Jesse Garrett
Acupuncturist / Integrated Eastern Bodywork
I started studying pre-med at college. While I was at college, I had the opportunity to go to Japan with a class to study ceramics. During my stay in Japan, I was invited by one of the hosts to apprentice in ceramics. I agreed to the apprenticeship, and the next fall was living in Japan. After my apprenticeship, I still wanted to be involved with healthcare, but I had been influenced by Asian culture and found myself drawn to acupuncture. One day, I was talking with a chiropractic intern and mentioned my interest. He recommended I look at the acupuncture program at his school, Northwestern Health Sciences University. I attended an open house, and the lecture on the principles of acupuncture was inspiring. I have been following that path ever since.
I am board certified by the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM) in Acupuncture, and am licensed by the Minnesota Board of Medical Practice. I graduated Magna Cum Laude from Northwestern Health Sciences University with a masters degree in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine. I interned at the Edith Davis Acupuncture Clinic and completed clinical rotations at Pillsbury House and the Salvation Army. During the spring of 2011, I completed a two-week intensive certification program at Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Tianjin, China. I am certified in Wakefield Facial Acupuncture. I am proficient in several modalities within Chinese medicine including needling, cupping, Tui-Na massage, and Chinese herbal medicine, to provide effective personalized care for patients.
Jesse has lived in Saint Paul most of his life. He currently resides there with his wife, two children, and extended family. In his free time, he enjoys hanging out with his family, writing, and ceramics.
Availability: Mondays 2:30-8pm, Tuesdays 9am-2pm, Wednesdays 3:30-8pm
Rebecca Curland
Yoga Instructor
Influenced by Classical yoga and Bhakti traditions, Rebecca guides heart-centered vinyasa classes with specific attention to alignment and subtle body awareness. Her classes infuse skillful sequencing and intelligent cueing with themes that illuminate and honor the core of the yoga teachings.
Rebecca began studying yoga in 2008 and completed her initial 200-hour teacher training in 2011. Rebecca has continued her studies locally through the Himalayan Yoga Tradition and has traveled to study with a variety of master teachers including Seane Corn, Shiva Rea and Saul David Raye. She has made multiple pilgrimages to India to honor and experience the root culture and holy sites from which the practice of yoga has evolved. Rebecca draws on her experiences to channel authentic teachings while cultivating sacred space in which students are encouraged to access Self through the architecture of the postures and technology of the breath.
Classes: Monday 5:30pm Vinyasa
Andrew Gillespe
Yoga Instructor
Andrew is a Minneapolis born and bred yoga practitioner who plays drums and percussion as his vocation, works in the trades in the hardwood flooring industry, and has a wide range of life experiences that he brings to his yoga instruction. For the last decade plus, yoga has been a foundational aspect of his life and he enjoys sharing his enthusiasm for the practice. It is paramount for yoga to be accessible to any and everyone in Andrew’s teachings and he is adept at reading the room and making people feel welcome and honored in class just exactly where they are at.
While he is an enthusiast for fitness–rock climbing/bouldering, tennis, swimming, etc., he also believes yoga is very much a practice that transcends exercise, and that the physical activity element is a wonderful byproduct of practicing yoga. When not involved in any of the aforementioned pursuits, Andrew can be found studying Portuguese, Spanish, French or Italian (usually in that order), continuing his seemingly steep learning curve studies of piano and flute, riding his bike around town, and hanging with his partner Betsy and their dog Danney Mars. He is also a baseball fanatic and has a lifetime goal of seeing every major league team play on their home field — 23 of 30 in the books! So while a little out of the box, this is where he feels most comfortable in the world of yoga, bringing his own style to the practice while maintaining reverence for the deep and never-ending nuance of the tradition.
Schedule: Tuesday 10:30am Gentle Flow, 12pm Vinyasa, Thursday 4pm Vinyasa, Sunday 12pm Vinyasa
Paula Lindemann
Yoga Instructor
My travels to India and Thailand inspire and influence my teaching style. I love sharing new techniques combined with the old. My focus is on alignment and breath to build strength and balance in our bodies and minds. I invite you to step outside of your comfort zone, have fun, and surprise yourself.
I received my 230 RYT through the Yoga Center of Minneapolis and I am registered with Yoga Alliance, CPR/AED certified, BA in Theatre. Off the mat I enjoy acting, traveling, trekking and cycling.
Classes: Tuesday 9am Vinyasa, Thursday 9am Vinyasa, 10:30am Restorative
Kaitlen Brennan
Yoga Instructor / Acupunctuist
Kaitlen began practicing yoga over 20 years ago when pregnant with her daughter. Yoga and meditation had such a profound impact on her (and her labor!) it has “ held her hand” ever since. She has studied many styles of yoga and meditation over the years and remains curious to explore the depth and teachings and share this with her students.
Classes: Thursday 12pm Gentle Flow, Friday 4pm Gentle Flow, 5:30pm Vinyasa
Rebecca Tanner
Yoga Instructor
Rebecca Tanner loves any type of movement that connects mind and body, and believes that moving our bodies is an integral part of being healthy, both internally and externally. Rebecca focuses on inspiring people to move, to challenge themselves in safe and supported ways, and to be comfortable in their own body. She helps people experience physical fitness as something they can enjoy doing as much as she does by infusing all types of movement with a little – or a lot! – of fun! It’s deeply important to Rebecca to create an accessible, inclusive, and welcoming space so that people can come together and show up however they need to. It’s essential to have space for kindness towards ourselves and others as we continue to do the work and tackle inner and outer challenges both in and out of class.
Currently, Rebecca is based in Minneapolis, MN where she is so lucky to be part of a vibrant community of dancers and movers. As a dancer and choreographer, Rebecca has explored creativity and self expression and those values have become a part of all of her movement practices. They create a unique space for self-exploration that invites us to engage with our bodies in a way that allows for discovery and acceptance of our physical experiences.
Classes: Wednesday 9am Barre, 10:30am Strength + Stretch, 12pm Low Impact Vinyasa, Friday 9am Vinyasa, 10:30 Strength + Stretch, Saturday 9am Barre, 10:30am Yin, 12pm Vinyasa
Marne Skusa
Yoga Instructor
Marne has practiced holistic medicines since childhood, believing in the body’s ability to heal itself. This may be through herbs, nutrition, yoga, meditation, manual muscle manipulation or other somatic practices. Complete wellness is a lifestyle that is multi-faceted and a continual development. Becoming aware of the mind-body connection has personally helped Marne heal her own body physically, emotionally and mentally, motivating her to assist others on their personal healing paths. This desire to help others and learn more about the body led Marne to complete her Massage Therapy Certification at the Aveda Institute, Minneapolis in 2003. She then furthered her massage education becoming certified in Thai Massage at the Chiang Mai School of Massage in Chiang Mai, Thailand in 2007. In 2018 she became certified in Ashiatsu Bar Therapy in Denver, CO.
Marne completed her yoga teacher training from 612 Jungle in 2021, bringing the studio’s energy and love of music into each morning yoga flow at Healing Elements. Following the rhythm of your breath and your body, Marne provides time and a safe space for a guided flow of your own intuition, creating trust in yourself and in your own body. Each morning flow will ease you into some warm yang heat. Every body is different and does not look or move in the same way. Learning to listen to your body and give it what it needs in each moment is the center of Marne’s practice.
Classes: Wednesday 6am Morning Flow, Friday 6am Morning Flow
Sharon Bruhjell-Coleman
Yoga Instructor
Sharon comes to each class with a passion for empowerment and connection. She strives to restore a natural rhythm and alignment, encouraging students to deepen their sense of connection, honor, and worthiness. She creates a welcoming space with a genuine care for balancing the mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual aspects of every person. Her classes are accessible and adaptable for special populations including prenatal, hospice, addiction recovery, mental health, those with varying levels of mobility and others.
With 18 years of experience, Sharon is a licensed esthetician through the State of Minnesota and an esthiology honors graduate of the Aveda Institute. She has 300 Hour Advanced Studies Yoga Teacher Training Certification and is dedicated to developing her yoga practice to support teaching all populations, specific training and coursework includes: Recovery and Addiction Yoga Teacher Training, Advanced Anatomy 2.0 Course, Trauma Sensitive Informed Yoga Teacher Training, and Yoga for All/Inclusive Yoga Teacher Training.
Sharon applies these in a variety of methods informed by these teacher trainings: Face Yoga, Yin Yoga Level II, Restorative Yoga, Meditation, Chair Yoga, Thai Yoga Bodywork, and Advanced Practice and Buddhist Teaching. Beyond yoga, her additional training includes Reiki Energy Medicine levels 1 and 2, Shamballa Multidimensional Healing with a focus on stones, crystals, pendulum, and smoke, Healing Arts course, Healing Touch 1 Special Training, Dien Chan Zone Operator (also known as Mirror Medicine), and Facial Reflexology Certification.
Classes: Wednesday 7pm Restorative
Madison Brandt
Yoga Instructor
Madison received her RYT-200 through the University of Minnesota’s Hatha Yoga Program. Prior to Healing Elements, Madison taught at YogaSix. In 2016, Madison took her first yoga class in Costa Rica and was intrigued by the peace she discovered within both mind and body. She continued to explore the practice of yoga and began her teacher training in 2018, discovering a newfound love for yoga due to the unique community and philosophy surrounding it. After receiving her teacher training, Madison continued to dive into the world of wellness by teaching yoga and becoming a certified health coach and reiki practitioner. Her classes are influenced by her knowledge of the mind-body connection and belief that yoga is not just a physical practice. She focuses on making her classes a safe, accessible space for students to connect with themselves with the hope for them to leave feeling better than when they arrived.
Schedule: Monday 7pm Candlelight Flow
Madeline Summers
Yoga Instructor
Madeline Summers began her yoga journey as a teenager. Practicing Iyengar at that age laid the groundwork for a love of the discipline yoga offers and an obsession with shoulder stand. She finds, within the yogic traditions, a pathway to never-ending learning and blossoming in community with others. She is fascinated by how the work we do on our yoga mats can influence our lives outside the studio. Her journey has led her to pursue certifications in Vinyasa, Trauma-Informed Yoga, Yin, and Restorative. Outside of her yoga practice she hikes in the state parks and manages volunteers in a community kitchen.
Classes: Thursday 5:30pm Vinyasa
Sydney Ward
Yoga Instructor
Classes: Monday 9am Barre, 10:30am Yin, 12pm Low Impact Vinyasa, Tuesday 4pm Yin, 5:30pm Vinyasa, Sunday 9am Morning Flow, 10:30am Yin
Ashley Nissen
Ashley’s path to yoga started in 2010 as a way to support her own health and wellbeing. With limited flexibility and mobility, she found her way to her mat, to a practice which has transformed her life.
Fast forward to today and Ashley’s personal journey into the physical and spiritual and a deep desire to know more took her to Guatemala where she completed her 200-hour teacher training. Nestled between active volcanoes on Lake Atitlan she studied with School Yoga Institute taking a deep dive into the body, mind, and soul of yoga.
Ashley believes that yoga is for everyone. She teaches a mindful flow that is accessible yet challenging, and likes to include elements of somatics and strength building that allows students to find their power and strength and connect to their inner selves. Her students leave class feeling more grounded, connected and rejuvenated.
Currently Occasional Substitute
Healing Elements Studio
2290 Como Ave, St. Paul MN 55108