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"I have been so impressed with the quality of teaching and the material being taught. I have enjoyed our teachers—they all have brought so much to us, insight of what they know, passion for what they are doing and wisdom. Each one has been so approachable and has been great about sharing their journey so far and careful to explain that the journey of life and learning is ongoing—
we never fully know ever ything."—Dee T.
Namasté Institute's programs are taught by experienced faculty members who combine their philosophies of holistic health, personal growth, and compassionate service. Wise, humble, and dedicated, these remarkable teachers have been specifically selected for their knowledge, authenticity, and experience. In the classes and during training, the students will receive personalized and caring attention, fostering the development of unique styles of bodywork and healing. Surrounded by natural beauty, evoking inspiration and spiritual expansion along with the support of Namasté faculty members students are embraced by a safe, nonjudgmental, and caring environment for healing and learning.
This page introduces you to our Core Faculty.
Throughout your training you will also be introduced to the expertise of a variety of other faculty in order to broaden your knowledge
base of self, others, and life. All of our faculty at Namasté Institute invite you to experience an education that will
help you transform your visions and dreams into a living reality!
To learn more about the Namasté pedagogy you can visit: John Dewey Progressive Education
Five Wisdoms Institute
Mindfulness in Education
Interdisciplinary Learning
Sheena Gillespie, L.M.T, R.Y.T.—Founder and Director
Sheena is the founder of Namasté Institute and is a Mentor, & Healing Facilitator who understands how important it is to honor the connection between the mind and body for ultimate well-being. Her philosophy is that "a true healing
modality is one that unites the physical, mental and sacred in our lives." Sheena is dedicated to making Namasté Institute
a safe, non-judgmental, and caring place where students are supported in the process of healing, personal growth, and transformation. For the past
twelve years, Sheena has been on an amazing journey of transformative healing from years of physical illness and a severe injury to her spine. Through the use of Yoga therapy and bodywork she has nursed her body and spine back to health in addition to transforming her structure and regaining new levels of flexibility within her body. Through this process of healing she has acquired extensive knowledge and wisdom about the body on all levels of physical, psychological and spiritual embodiment. In order to understand her self, others, and life more deeply, Sheena has devoted her life to a path of
compassionate service, conscious living, and intensive study of the integration of Eastern contemplative teachings with Western therapeutic insights. Sheena is
currently finishing her B.A. degree in Psychology and Education through Goddard College. She will then be pursuing graduate study in Education with a focus on Education Policy Reform and Spirituality in Adult and Higher Education.
 
Penelope Ray, M.S.W., L.C.S.W.
Penelope received her Masters in Social Work from Smith College in 1974 and gained valuable experience at Massachusetts General Hospital and Childrens Hospital Medical Center in Boston. For the past 22 years she has maintained a successful private psychotherapy practice in midcoast Maine. She completed her post-graduate work in Family & Systems Therapy at the Center for Awareness of Pattern, and also has training in hypnosis and EMDR. Fascinated by the mind-body connection, she is a trained bodyworker, having studied over the past 15 years with Rosalyn Bruyere, Mia Beale, and John Harvey Gray. Her own spirituality is a key force in her life that has transformed her into a wise, experienced, and compassionate being. Penelope understands that "you cannot be a guide for someone on a path which is new territory for yourself. My greatest teachers have been my own life experiences, and my intention is to pass on my personal mastery in an effort to help and guide others." Penelope teaches in the Somatic Psychology Course with a focus on Trauma within the BodyMind.
Lori Rizzuto, B.A., L.M.T
The seen and unseen worlds of nature, prayer, and healing touch have always been an element of Lori's transformations and healings within her body and life. Along with holding a Bachelors of Arts in Liberal Studies in dance and the creative process, Lori has had an established Massage and Shiatsu Therapy Practice for 17 years in which she translates the source of expressive energy from dance—which is "Spirit through Body"—into her healing sessions. Lori has also been certified in Herbal Medicine for over 20 years and has studied a variety of techniques such as Myofascial Release, Zero-Balancing, Strain-Counterstrain, Thai-Massage Therapy, Pregnancy Massage, Doula Massage, Ayurvedic massage, Yoga, Shamanic Healing, and Ecstatic dance, and is currently a student of Chinese Herbal Medicine. Lori is an extremely present being with a gifted, flowing, creative and intuitive touch. Her philosophy is that "healing facilitation and self care go hand in hand and I am dedicated in teaching and educating my clients and students about their particular needs in order to help them understand the body/mind/spirit connection more deeply." Lori teaches in the Shiatsu and Thai-Yoga Therapy Program.
Stacie Whitney, M.S.
Stacie holds a Masters in Environmental Education from Lesley University and is a graduate of the Institute for Integrative Nutrition. Stacie is a Holistic Health Counselor and has traveled around the world working within several organic/biodynamic farms including the intentional community Findhorn in Scotland and Avena Botanicals in Rockport, Maine. She has spent years living and working outdoors, helping people of all ages to gain a better connection with the natural world and how to live in harmony with the cycles of nature. She is a vibrant, whole and pure soul who believes that "a true holistic approach to a life of wholeness incorporates many aspects including love, intimacy, work, physical activity, and time with friends and loved ones," and she is dedicated in teaching her clients how to embody this balance in order to live an energized and passionate life. Stacie teaches in the Integrative Nutrition course. Visit Stacie: Home Journey 
Holly Noonan Holly Noonan is a graduate from The Institute for Integrative Nutrition in New York City. She is a certified Holistic Health Counselor. Holly draws on a background of successfully overcoming various life challenges. In her quest for personal growth, she worked her way around the world for 6 years, living in France, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, China and Nepal. Her health challenges began while she was traveling in Asia with numerous gastrointestinal adventures. This led to years of repressed immune function and therefore a steep learning curve about healing with food. Holly believes that the clarity of mind that comes from eating well heals our relationships as well as our bodies, and helps us move forward in our lives to fulfill our potential. She enjoys exploring with people how they can discover and live according to their constitution and thereby feel more connected to natural cycles and to the people in their lives. Holly lives on the side of a blueberry hill in Hope, with her Aussie husband, her son and her really cool dog. She enjoys gardening, traveling, writing, parenting, hiking, reading and sometimes even cooking. Holly teaches in the Holistic Integrative Nutrition course. Visit Holly: Mind Body Nutrition
 Patrick Ravindra Walsh, B.A., L.M.T.
After receiving a bachelor's degree in Psychology in 1988, Patrick spent several years working in a psychiatric
hospital where he became fascinated by the impact of human systems and relationships on individual mental health
and life productivity. This led him to pursue education in bodywork and bio-energy therapies, which enabled him to
work with clients on multidimensional levels and immerse himself in his ever-expanding understanding that “our life
stories are woven into our bodies”. As a Personal Life Coach, Organizational Consultant, Shamballa Master Teacher,
and Neuromuscular Massage Therapist, Patrick guides individuals and groups into “experiencing their diseases as
opportunities to become free and to create the lives they want for themselves through manifesting their highest intentions”.
Patrick is currently in his twentieth year of studying and practicing Siddha Yoga meditation under the guidance of an enlightened teacher.
“This path has profoundly assisted and guided my journey into the mind/body connection and the art of manifestation”. Patrick teaches in the
Somatic Psychology course with a focus on Life Coaching and Integrative Mind/Body work.
Cameron West
Developer of Aquatic Integration, Cameron West is a Certified Massage Therapist & Adapted Physical
Ed teacher, who has practiced somatic therapies and water based rehabilitation for more than twenty years.
Cameron has been very influenced by her studies of Watsu and the Jahara Technique and is a practitioner
and teacher of such modalities as Watsu, Waterdance, Adaptive Aquatics and Aquatic Rehabilitation Therapy.
She has combined her knowledge, her experience and skills of working with a large variety of dysfunctions
in creating a simple framework of clinical alternative based moves that work well in any kind of Aquatic
Therapy setting. Cameron currently is the Director of the AquaZen Center.
Cynthia Birney
Cynthia Birney is a Guild Certified Feldenkrais Teacher® with an extensive background in movement improvement. Her first love, riding horses, led her to England in 1972 where she studied with Robert Hall, one of Britain’s Olympic equestrian coaches. Her years of teaching riding were outstanding preparation for the 4 year Feldenkrais teacher training she entered in 1998. Since graduating in 2002, she has worked extensively with people in pain and with trauma survivors, as well as with people suffering from a variety of neurological impairments and with students simply wanting more fluidity in their movement and in their life. Cynthia’s style is easy, gentle and practical. She offers her students novel, pleasurable ways to understand how functional movement can be profoundly life-enhancing. 
Dee Webster, RS Hom
Dee Webster, CHC has been a homeopathic practitioner for 16 years and was trained in Classical Homeopathy. Homeopathy brings about a deep healing by stimulating the vital force.and our own innate healing. Dee is also a trained Jin Shin Jyutsu practitioner and has found this modality to be very complimentary with homeopathy. Jin Shin Jyutsu is an ancient form of healing that harmonizes the body to open blocked flows. When these distinct pathways or flows of energy become blocked, the results can affect our mind, body and spirit. Jin Shin Jyutsu restores balance and releases the causes of both acute and chronic conditions. " We are so fortunate to have all of these healing modalities available to us these days. This provides us all with the opportunity to heal ourselves and in doing so, touch into our deeper essence. To watch this unfolding in someone is always a profound experience ". Dee lives with her husband and has her practice in Camden, Maine along the peaceful Megunticook River. 
Deb Soul - Herbalism - Visit Deb: Avena Botanicals.
Linda Shepard
Linda Shepard has been teaching yoga in the community since 1992 and has a Body-Centered Therapy private practice at her home in Union. Her interest in bodymind awareness and energy medicine led her to certification as a Phoenix Rising Yoga Therapist in 1993. She continued her training with Arnold Mindell and Processwork, Transformational Breathwork, and is a certified Jin Shin Jyutsu practitioner. Her work is a blending of techniques which support structural alignment, vitality of breath, somato-emotional and energetic balance. Linda is interested in the potential for healing which is possible when respectful attention is brought to the whole person. Linda teaches the introductory course to Aquatic Integration. Visit Linda: Lily Pond Aquatic Center.
Cindi Yawdik, L.M.T.
Cindi Yawdik has been doing massage since she graduated from Downeast School of Massage in 1999. Her focus was on the
mind/body connection while training in Swedish Massage but since her graduation, she has taken many hours of continuing
education in various forms of deep tissue, sports massage and energy work. Since people choose to recieve massage therapy
for a variety of different reasons, Cindi feels that it's important to have many approaches to help her clients achieve their goal of wellness.
Patti Buchanan, L.M.T., R.P.P., R.C.S.T., N.C.T.M.B.
Patti Buchanan is a Registered Craniosacral Therapist, Registered Polarity Practitioner, Nationally Certified Massage Therapist and Reiki Master. She has over 1700 hours of training with 15 years experience as a whole body practitioner. Extensive travel to Mexico and Guatemala has greatly influenced her work bringing Mayan shamanistic disciplines into each session. Patti is an active educator, has led and assisted training programs, seminars and public presentations.
Her skills are combined to provide a unique and varied program for each person. This comprehensive approach also draws on principles of meditation, metaphysics and uses the elements of sound and color to balance the body. Optimal health and personal empowerment for each individual is the ultimate goal of the work. She believes health is an ever evolving state of being that everyone can actively participate in. As a facilitator, her role is to assist in connecting an individual to their own health. Patti teaches the introductory course to Craniosacral Therapy. Visit Patti: www.pattibuchanan.com
Bridgette Buck, CNM Certified Nurse Midwife - Pregnancy, Infanct & Midwifery
Ramona Hardy - Reflexology
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