All of our Organizational, Production & Presentation team members are Seva Yogis (volunteers).
Gaia Richards, Organizer, Board Member
Gaia began teaching Kundalini Yoga in 1993 in Santa Fe. She has lived at the Sikh Ashram in Phoenix where she assisted Hari and Sat Rattan Kaur Khalsa produce Yoga events. She owned the School of Kundalini Yoga in San Diego, California and studied Ashtanga Yoga and adanced Kundalini Yoga healing techniques. She is a certified Kundalini Yoga Teacher and divides her time between Minneapolis and the island of Jamaica where her team is planning the 2012 Irie International Yoga Festival. Gaia produced the Midtown Yoga Festival in 2007. With the help of relatives and friends in the yoga community, it has morphed into The Twin Cities Yoga Festival and was incorporated in May 2010. Gaia is also a member of the Veterans for Peace organization.
Gerard McTernan, Advisor, Board Member
Pictured here overseeing his production, “CivicFest MSP2008,” Gerard provides professional guidance and support in the creation and production of the Twin Cities Yoga Festival. Among his many important projects, McTernan was instrumental in the creation of the Santa Fe Community Yoga Center with Michael Hopp in the 1990s.
Jennifer Cross, Assistant Organizer, Board Member
An artist, interior designer & yogi, Jennifer currently teaches yoga at LifeTime Fitness and is an integral part of their new Yoga & Spa vision for the Uptown area. Jennifer and Gaia are working on all aspects of the Festival together, rallying the troops, inviting sponsors & merchants and pulling the local yoga community together for this endeavor. Her natural finesse and beauty add grace and credibility to the world of yoga and make the whole project fun and seemingly effortless!
Genevieve Skye Fiedler, Board Member, Administrative Advisor
A childhood school friend of Gaia’s from the Convent of the Visitation in Mendota Heights, Skye and Gaia kept in touch and reunited a few years ago. Watching Gaia build the Festival over the past three years, Skye wondered what she could do to help. When it came time this year to formalize and incorporate the Festival, Skye knew she could use her savvy business skills and donate time and love to the Festival. Skye is the Business Administrator at St. Stephen’s in South Minneapolis and a Novice in the Franciscan order as well as organizer for the Interfaith event at the Mall of America.
Susan Shehata, Board Member, Organizational Team
Susan Shehata, also known as “The Space Guru,” assists clients in transforming space through Feng Shui, music, holistic healing and spiritual coaching. She is the co-owner of Sacred Rearrangements shop and healing center in Uptown Minneapolis, which is devoted to spreading truth, simplicity, love and service through bhakti and karma yoga. Her radio show, Raising the Consciousness, inspires global change through individual action by providing simple solutions for conscious living. Susan recently co-produced the First Annual Twin Cities Kirtan Festival and the 2010 Kirtan Concert with Dave Stringer. She is a vocalist, writer, speaker and healer whose mission is to help bridge the gap between belief systems, healing systems and life philosophies. Susan is also an educator in the field of The Creation and Support of Conscious Small Businesses.
Jennifer Nelson, Organizational Team Leader
Jenn Nelsen is a certified Yoga Instructor. She holds a B.S. in Special Education providing services as an advocate and specialized instructor using Yogic philosophy as an integral part of academic and behavioral success. Her yoga career began as an instructor of Viniyoga at StayFit Athletic Club in Minneapolis, offering classes to individuals as well as various organizations; creating peace of mind and well-being in the corporate arena delivering wellness seminars. Jenn has spent the past two years as a Yoga Therapist in a hospital setting where she works in Behavioral Health. She has a passion for bringing people together; evoking happiness and a sense of well-being. She is continually amazed at the connections yoga has brought to her life supporting her roles as a mother, educator and friend.
Michele Bergh, Organizational Team
Michele is a Graphic Artist, Life Coach, Owner of Lodestone Dynamics, LLC. Michele designed our new logo, with the seven pedals of the rising sun representing the seven chakras of life, dynamic in the tones of red, yellow and orange to represent the strong life current in the Twin Cities yoga community.
Pascale LaPoint, Production Team
Pascale hit the kirtan music scene about two years ago, began leading kirtans and hasn’t stopped. She has a fire inside her for yoga, for devotion, for community and for fun. “I am very excited about the yoga festival. What a wonderful opportunity to delve into yogic practices and learn first-hand what yoga, in all its aspects, is all about. Great opportunity to meet like-minded people and spend a fun day experiencing some great offerings. Hope to see you there!”
Carrie Mahoney, Web “Guru”
Carrie is a Web Marketing Manager with a small, local web design and development firm. You can find her practicing yoga, attending kirtans and supporting the community. Her savvy web and marketing skills help keep the Festival web site up-to-date. She’s delighted to donate time and ideas and be of service to such a wonderful event.