Hudson Leick (Instructor/Counselor)

Hudson LeickI was, in an unusual way, a precocious child. When I was twelve, my parents would send me to various tutors. The idea was for them to work with me to improve my grades in this subject or that. It didn’t quite work out that way—I thought they were much more interesting than the subject in question. I would begin asking questions, and in a matter of a few minutes, they would be telling me the story of their lives, their concerns, their dreams. In a flash, the two-hour session would be over. Naturally my grades didn’t improve all that much, but I was developing my skills at “reading” people.

This gift also proved useful in my fifteen-year career as an actress (movies, TV, commercials, theater). The acting also helped further evolve my ability to “listen” to others, to “hear” beyond their vocalized words, and to perceive things about them that even they were unable to see.

I learned my first meditation technique over sixteen-years ago, and have learned many since then. My meditation practice has become my refuge in this sometimes difficult world, and it has opened so many parts of me. I’ve found that as my meditative practice deepened, my ability to “read” others has also become more accomplished. It is an amazing gift, and one for which I am most grateful.

Like most people, life has not been all roses and blue skies. The teachings I’ve received, my meditation practice, and the insights developed over the years have carried me through my own depression and pain. These real experiences have taught me that indeed, the only healer who can help one find the way is one who has also walked through the fire themselves. Some call us the “Wounded Healers.”

A few years ago I was going through a rough time and began having weekly tea with a friend, an incredibly talented psychotherapist named Fred. While he helped me through that dark period in my life, he also trusted me to work with my own abilities on him, all the while guiding me on how to best use my abilities to work on others, and most importantly, on myself.

Through Fred's guidance, support, and gentle nudging, he helped convince me to embrace the gifts I have, and use them to serve others. I can think of no other vocation that provides me with such profound usefulness.

Hudson Leick is a member of the California Yoga Teacher's Association. She has been studying yoga for over sixteen years and taught for more than thirteen, and has done her teacher's training with renowned yoga masters such as Ana Forrest, Erich Schiffman and Gurmukh. Hudson specializes in Kundalini, Hatha, and a modified version of Ashtanga yoga, and her classes are a subtle blend of these methods. She has also studied Vipassana meditation in Nepal, and the 5Rhythms® based on the teachings of Gabrielle Roth.

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Anita Ellis (Instructor)

Anita EllisAnita Ellis is the founder of the James W. Ellis Scholarship at Hofstra University. (This is an endowed scholarship to help students who have cancer, are in cancer remission, have a parent that has cancer or who has died from the disease.) She is on the Board of Directors for the Francis G. Logan Foundation. (This foundation helps children who are living with AIDS or HIV to go to camp). She was a Delegate in October 2002 at the United Nations Spiritual Religious Leaders Conference in Geneva. Anita is also the co-founder of the "Get In Step!" program to help donate shoes and socks to homeless shelters. You can also find Anita at Hofstra University where she is the Assistant Dean of Students, Director of Student Activities.

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Wes Hamil (Medicine Wheel Teacher)

Wes HamilWes Hamil is a teacher and Sundancer who has been involved in American Indian Ceremonies and traditions for over ten years. He has been taught in the Navajo, Shoshone, Cherokee and Crow traditions. Wes spent years studying with his teachers, learning in the oral tradition. He has Sundanced with the Shoshone-Bannock, and has gone on numerous "vision quests". Wes has led over 100 vision quest ceremonies for others, has conducted hundreds of sweat lodges, performed marriage and house blessings, and even been asked to guest teach at elementary schools. He conveys the teachings of the medicine wheels and ceremonies as they were taught to him by his teachers, under their specific direction to share these traditions. The basic concepts of one of the medicine wheels may be found at www.beautyway.com, an informational site Wes created some years ago. He has recently completed a manuscript of his experiences learning the Indian spiritual traditions, which he wrote at the specific request of one of his teachers. The manuscript is now being solicited for publication.

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Cindy Tingley (Level III Reiki Master)

Cindy TingleyI first began my path to spiritual enlightenment in 2002 and have found many outlets for developing my faith and discipline over the years, including Shamanic Journeying and Yoga. Through my practice of Shamanic Journeying, I was directed to the path of energy work and Reiki. In 2007 I received Level I and II Reiki attunements and began my energy work in earnest, mostly with friends. The following year I became an Ordained Minister with the Universal Life Church and have continued to grow and enhance my spiritual awareness. Along the way I have seen some amazing and powerful transformations and healing occur, both in myself and in others.

Like Hudson I too am a “Wounded Healer,” but have a deep desire to help others. That is why I was absolutely delighted and honored when she asked me to join the team. I view my participation as a wonderful opportunity to give back and help spread the love of spirit and light to everyone we encounter along the way.

Cindy Tingley joined the staff of Healing Heart Yoga Center in the spring of 2009. She is an Intuitive Level III Reiki Master (non-teaching certification) and is working toward her Master Teacher rating.

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