Our Instructors

Our Instructors

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Gallina Tamburo (Harnek Kaur)

Gallina found Kundalini yoga* as taught by Yogi Bhajan in 2008 and fell in love with the intelligence, grace and truth of this powerful ancient practice.  From her very first class she felt profound transformation and healing at depths she had not experienced in any other modalities of healing, yoga or meditation she had tried before.

She trained at the Kundalini Research Institute in Espanola, NM in August 2010 where she received her 220-hr yoga teacher certification through IKYTA (International Kundalini Yoga Teachers Association) and Yoga Alliance.  She also trained with Gurmukh at Golden Bridge, Los Angeles, in February 2011 where she gained certification as a Khalsa WayTM Prenatal Yoga Teacher and Spirit Baby Postnatal Yoga teacher.  Gallina is also a certified Yoga for Youth Teacher with Krishna Kaur.

As a teacher it is her intention to create a warm and safe environment to empower you towards a path of self-discovery, acceptance, and transformation.  She is passionate about inspiring women to live in their full power and grace, while embodying consciousness to heal and uplift their relationships and families. Her classes often use the sacred healing sounds of the gong and singing bowls.  Gallina is also a certified Primus Activation Healing Technique practitioner, a certified Crystal Resonance Therapist, and a vibrational sound healer.

**  Kundalini yoga uses simple movements and postures that mostly anyone can do regardless of prior experience.  It is a dynamic combination of posture, movement, breath, meditation and sound, which stimulate and balance your nervous and glandular systems to create positive change in your physical, mental, emotional and spiritual bodies which can be felt from your first class.  

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Elizabeth Green

Elizabeth has been practicing yoga for about 15 years. In December 2011 she completed her yoga teacher training through 3rd Street Yoga. She enjoys yoga because it is energizing and relaxing at the same time. Her yoga journey has been one of exploration fueled by the desire to overcome fear and attachment to live a more open and balanced life. She also just had her first baby, Augustus, in February 2012. She feels that prenatal yoga helped her have a great birth.

Elizabeth has been married to Joe for 8 years and enjoys spending time with her family, her dog Oscar, her friends, and, now, little Gus. She loves music, cooking & baking, going out to eat, fashion, hiking, camping, and hanging out with her friends. She is also a huge Pittsburgh Penguins fan. She looks forward to sharing yoga with Pittsburgh’s moms-to-be.

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Gabrielle Smith

Gabrielle is an Art Facilitator, Artist, and Doula.  She has seen painting assist people in processing the myriad of hopes, fears, and dreams that they encounter on a daily basis in order to bring clarity and insights into their lives.  Gabrielle is a member of the International Expressive Arts Therapy Association. Gabrielle offers process painting workshops in the greater Pittsburgh area, including the Artful Mamas painting series at Shining Light Prenatal Education.

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Joni Sturgill RYT, AADP

Joni is a nutrition and wellness counselor, board certified with the American Association of Drugless Practitioners. She attended the Institute for Integrative Nutrition, one of the leading nutrition schools in the country. Joni is also a 200 hour registered yoga and meditation teacher, and the mother of two active little boys.  Learn more about Joni and her work on her website, www.healthybodypeacefulsoul.com.

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Sara Cramer

My name is Sara Cramer and I am a Certified Infant Massage Instructor (CIMI). I am delighted to have the opportunity to give you some insight into the wonderful world of infant/child massage.

I have a B.S. in Psychology from the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg and a M.S. in Applied Developmental Psychology with a specialization in Child Life from the University of Pittsburgh. As I was working on my Master’s degree, I became a CIMI through the International Loving Touch Foundation and have been with this group since 2005. I became a Certified Child Life Specialist (CCLS) in 2008. Over the last 7 years as a CIMI, I have been able to teach numerous parents and families the value of massage and I am excited to share this practice with you as well. I have been married for 4 ½ years to my husband Matt and we have a 7 month old son named Mason.

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Mary Carroll

Mary is a henna artist, birth doula, and Returned Peace Corps Volunteer. As a high school student, she studied abroad in India where she was introduced to the art of Mehendi (henna). After taking courses in India and practicing on her friends, she continued to develop her skills and experiment with different types of designs and making her own all-natural henna paste. She offers henna designs at local festivals, private henna parties, and children’s events. She is amazed with how children as young as 3 will sit still for henna designs and particularly enjoys working with pregnant moms (although their babies don’t usually sit still!). She is available by appointment at Shining Light Prenatal Education.

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Dr. Kelly McNelis

I’m a social-personality psychologist, certified health and wellness coach, and mom of two little girls, Cameran (3) and Isla (1).  After Isla was born, I started my own business, New Leaf Wellness, to help other moms get healthy and happy after adding a ‘new leaf’ to their family tree.

New Leaf Wellness is all about balancing motherhood and healthy lifestyle.  I offer classes, private and group wellness coaching, and tons of information on my website’s blog to help moms as much as I can.  Last year, I published  a cookbook, ’15-Minute Freezer Recipes,’ to share my favorite quick and healthy recipes.

I love meeting new people, and I’m looking forward to connecting with a new group of moms at Shining Light Prenatal Education!

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My name is Alexis Tuckfelt.  I have taught for Pittsburgh Public Schools for over 13 years and am certified in Early Childhood and Elementary Education.  I’ve used signing in my teaching with children in preschool through second grade.  Last year I took a professional development sabbatical to receive my ASL certification so I could become more fluent with signing.

In the process, I have been signing with my daughter who is now 19 months old.  Signing enabled her to communicate when she was preverbal and also helped us form an even stronger bond.  Watching her now as she signs along with speaking is a true testament to the power of signing with your baby.  I live in Lawrenceville with my husband who is also learning to sign.
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Ngozi D. Tibbs holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Maternal Child Health and is a candidate for a Master of  Public Health- 2014. She is married to her college sweetheart and they are the proud parents of five children. Ngozi  is a Certified Birth Doula through DONA International,  Certified Childbirth Educator through Lamaze International,  an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) and La Leche League Leader through La Leche League International.

Ngozi attended her first birth in 1999 and knew from that day, she had found her calling.  She has  served as both a private and community based doula in addition to currently serving as  a  childbirth educator and lactation consultant at a local hospital. She describes her teaching style as interactive and engaging. Often known to share her wonderful personal birth stories (including her fifth child’s birth in the car), she believes the best way to approach birth and breastfeeding is through informed eyes with lots of support and yes, even  humor. She looks forward to sharing in  your journey as you navigate through the sacred experience of new parenthood.

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Laura McCarthy, MSW, LSW is a licensed social worker in the state of PA and an avid babywearer with nearly 7 years experience. Laura’s two children (along with many of other kids her her care) spent a lot of time during their first years in a variety of baby carriers, especially her favorite Maya Wrap ring sling. She is a co-leader of Pittsburgh Babywearers, and facilitates monthly meetings of a lively group of babywearing families. In addition, Laura gives presentations in the Pittsburgh area to groups of all sizes about babywearing techniques and safety. She is pursuing certification through the Babywearing Institute and is excited to achieve that milestone in July of 2013. She continues to be impressed by the peaceful, positive, and productive benefits babywearing has for the baby and the wearer.

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Ellen Huffmyer, AAHCC, CD(DONA), CPD(CAPPA) (ICEA) became a certified doula 16 years ago after the birth of her first son, and has been a part of the birth community ever since. She is also a postpartum doula, and a childbirth educator. Ellen has been a featured speaker at local Family Centered Maternity conferences, topics including postpartum depression and doula attended births. She most recently presented on Back Labor: Assisting Moms with Malpostioned Babies. Ellen loves dance and movement, and sees facilitating Dancing For Birth(TM) classes as a great opportunity to help moms with labor, and being more comfortable in labor. Ellen lives in Pittsburgh, with her husband, four kids and new puppy, Rocky.

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Jaime Horst, MA, CD(DONA), LCCE loves to help families journey the unfamiliar paths of birth and parenthood with joy and confidence.  She began her journey as a birth professional after the unexpected Cesarean birth of her daughter in 2008.  Seeking to make use of her experience to help others navigate the twists and turns of pregnancy and childbirth, she trained as a birth doula with DONA International in 2009. She is mother to three lively children, and she draws on her varied birth experiences – from unmedicated and all-natural, to C-section, to VBAC – to serve mothers and families with varying goals, circumstances, and outcomes.  Prior to becoming a doula, Jaime taught English as a Second Language for nine years in Pittsburgh and in Cambodia.  She is thrilled to have found a way to combine her passions for birth and for teaching, as a Lamaze Certified Childbirth Educator.

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“We had a natural birth, which was even better than we could have hoped for.My husband was more helpful than any doula could have been and caught the baby at the end. I know now how helpful the yoga and Lamaze class were for labor.Thanks for the great preparation!”~ S, October 2010