Instructor Bios

Instructor Bios

Greg Burns

Greg Burns is a practitioner in the Healing Art of Sound and owner of Metta Vibrations. He provides various Sound and Meditation events and classes, all focused on helping the individual. Greg has been leading these types of classes for over 8 years now after working for 15 years in a therapy hospital, helping him to develop a broad understanding of how we heal and feel better. Over the last 8 years he has led hundreds of public events and private sessions in a wide range of settings, such as yoga studios, schools, retirement centers, festivals, and more. Greg offers public events and classes throughout the mid-Atlantic region and beyond. He can also be booked for private classes or for your public events. Greg can be reached directly at metta.vibrations@gmail.com, and you can learn more at his website www.mettavibrations.com.

Jeremiah Raines

Instructor for Sketching & Music Classes
I started drawing cartoons as a kid and tied with 2 students to win the D.A.R.E. poster competition back in my hometown. In high school, I took advanced art class and designed a lot of the homecoming parade float my senior year. I performed musical theater, both in church and at school, where I was blessed to play lead acting roles with many singing solos. One summer, I also went to regional governor’s school for musical theater. After a while, I left theater during high school to focus more on music and took classical guitar and jazz band classes.

Leticia “Padmasri” Marques

Padmasri is an Ayurvedic Lifestyle Consultant, a certified Advanced Integral Yoga® Hatha teacher, and a certified Raja Yoga teacher. Her passion is helping people live Yoga and Ayurveda in everyday life, and she does this through her online library and advanced trainings. She also offers specialty workshops and seminars in both the US and Brazil (English and Portuguese). You can learn more about her on her website: padmasri.yoga

Ra Burke-Cunningham

Ra Burke-Cunningham has enjoyed practicing yoga since she was a teenager and her love for yoga continues today. In 2007, she received her first advanced certifications in Hatha Yoga and Pranayama Yoga. Since then she has become further certified in Chair Yoga, Thai Massage Yoga, Restorative Yoga and has trained at Duke University in Elder Yoga with the Integrative Medicine department. Her specialty is Multi Level yoga for all ages and all body types. Ra currently teaches in the Charlottesville Virginia area at several locations and she is also available for retreats.

Sigrid Eilertson

I became an art therapist over 20 years ago - and for the first 10 years of my practice I worked on a locked inpatient psychiatric unit helping folks of all ages with chronic and acute mental health struggles. The patients would often comment that coming to art therapy was the highlight of their day because the art studio was their “safe place.” This is what Art Therapy is all about- a safe non verbal way to express one’s emotions. In my opinion- there is no wrong or right way to make art! It’s all about self expression. Clients seem to really enjoy exploring the art materials and getting messy. Life is messy! Embrace it! 

As an art therapist, I provide a safe comfortable space for healing to happen. Making art is all about letting go of protocol and taking emotional chances which is crucial to a path of healing new and old wounds. One specific activity that I like to do with clients is journal making. This is where one can make from scratch their very own private journal to help them at home once they leave the studio. Another special activity I like to do with clients is mask making. This art directive can be very effective in self reflection.

Susan Tate

Susan discovered Nia in 1997 while she was the Director of Health Promotion and assistant professor in the School of Medicine at the University of Virginia. A licensed black belt Nia teacher, Susan has been teaching across the U.S. and internationally since 1999. She currently teaches Nia Moving to Heal classes for the University of Virginia’s Cancer Center. Susan is the author of several health-related books including: Wellness Wisdom: 31 Ways to Nourish Your Mind, Body, & Spirit. A well-respected health educator for over 50 years, she is passionate about creating and inspiring individual, community, and global wellness. Learn more: www.susantate.org