Manager & Director
Shantell Herndon: Director of Love the Belly, Educator, Doula
Shantell has an eclectic and versatile background as an Director, Non Profit Teacher/ Facilitator, Coordinator and Actress. She has a B.F.A. from the renowned, SUNY Purchase Acting Conservatory. While living in NY, she worked for the New York Board of Education as a Theatre Arts and writing teacher and then to be hired as an after school coordinator. She was an artist in residence at the Harlem Shakespeare festival and the New York Shakespeare Festival at the Joseph Papp Public Theater and served in their “mentor” in the In-School programs.
Since relocating to Los Angeles in 2004, she has taught at Marlborough School (Larchmont) and at the Ivanhoe Elementary School (Silverlake). As well as written programs for Enrichment works LA. Simultaneously, Shantell was hired in conjunction with Street Poets (youth outreach organization) to teach at La Vida North School, a school for pregnant teens and underprivileged minorities. At La Vida, Shantell began pursuing her passion for educating families. She then became a doula, assisting births throughout Los Angeles. She quickly became accepted in the LA birthing community for her birth experience, and her knowledge of assisting and developing companies. After observing a serious lack within the community, she helped open Love the Belly (Silverlake, CA) a unique center for the families of LA specializing in wholistic education and services. Love the Belly is expanding to new heights, thanks to Shantell’s expertise, her vision, and her dedication.
Teachers
Misty Molina, CD, PPD, CBE, LC: Birthing From Within Teacher and Lactation Consultant
Misty has been a doula for six years. She began working as a labor assistant with Mayan midwives while living in a remote village. It was there that she decided to begin the process of becoming a certified nurse-practitioner midwife. She has over eight years of family planning and reproductive experience. She began a nurse-practitioner program and will graduate in two years. She currently works as a midwife assistant, birth & postpartum doula, childbirth educator (English/Spanish), Birthing From Within Mentor, lactation consultant, and Prenatal Parenting Instructor.
Alisha Tamburri, CHt, MH: Weeknight Certified HypnoBirthing® Practitioner (The Mongan Method)
Alisha is a Certified Clinical Hypnotherapist registered by the American Board of Hypnotherapy and National Guild of Hypnotists. She is a Certified Pain Management and Pain Management Trainer from the National Guild of Hypnotists. She is also a member of the American Counseling Association and is a Master Hypnotist certified by the Hypnosis Transformational Center. Alisha is also a Certified HypnoBirthing® Practitioner. In addition, Alisha is a Reiki Practitioner. Reiki, a technique for deep relaxation, increased energy and reduction in pain, is now being accepted in hospitals as a means of enhancing surgical recovery and speeding the healing process.
-Alisha is referred by Marie F. Mongan's HypnoBirthing® Institute, the leading educator for the #1 technique in natural childbirth.
-Recently, she was interviewed on Good Day LA, and Fox 11 News.
Natalie Weiss, AAHCC, MSW: Weeknight Bradley Method® of Natural Childbirth Teacher
I have four children ages 11, 9, 6 and 4. My first child was born at Mt. Sinai Hospital in New York. Unfamiliar with the Bradley Method, I used epidural anesthesia and experienced an uncomplicated birth. Using the Bradley Method of Natural Childbirth, my second, third, and fourth children were born with midwives attending at Kaiser Permanente Hospitals (West L.A and Sunset) without drugs, IV, episiotomy, and with minimal external fetal monitoring.
Birthing without drugs gave me an overwhelming feeling of empowerment and satisfaction. I became in awe of my body and what it could do naturally when left alone without any intervention. My experiences allowed me to understand the tremendous mental power women can harness as they experience childbirth. I truly believe in what the Bradley Method of Natural Childbirth teaches, including physical, emotional and mental relaxation, a trained coach, good communication with one's birth team, and a thorough understanding of the stages of labor. I teach this and much more to prepare my couples for whatever birth outcome they experience, be it unmedicated, medicated or c-section. My husband, Aaron, enjoys speaking to my students to lend a father's perspective on coaching. I became certified by the American Academy of Husband-Coached Childbirth in 1996 and have been teaching ever since.” - Natalie Weiss
Renee Cardenas, CHt: Certified HypnoBirthing® Practitioner (The Mongan Method)
Renee has always been interested in human behavior and in how to break through our own limitations to manifest our full potential as human beings. Her professional journey has taken her from the classrooms of the University of Buenos Aires and volunteer work at psychiatric hospitals in Argentina, in a full circle of life experiences, to the Hypnosis Motivation Institute In Tarzana, California.
She personally knows the challenges of the inner healing process and what it means to heal "Thy Self."
Now, through the practice of Hypnosis and Neuro-Linguistic Programming, she helps people in transforming the quality of their lives by guiding them towards the enhancement of wellness of body, mind and spirit. In addition, her HypnoBirthing classes as well as the private sessions, contributes to the happy arrival of the newborn, as she assists parents in having a loving, comfortable pregnancy and childbirth.
This helps establish Renee in her joyful path of bringing peace to the world, one family at a time.
Certified Bilingual (English/Spanish) Hypnotherapist
Certified NLP Practitioner
Time Line Therapy Practitioner
Certified Past-Life Regression Therapist
Certified Facilitator of Hypno-childbirth with the Leclaire Method
Certified Hypno-Doula - through The Tao of BirthingTM
Katie McCall, AAHCC, ALACE: Weekend Bradley Method® of Natural Childbirth Teacher
Katie is a certified childbirth instructor, lactation educator, birth doula and soon to be graduate of the National Midwifery Institute, where she hopes to gain her midwifery license. She has assisted over 300 couples through childbirth education and has attended over 200 births to date. She has a wide range of experience, serving natural, medicated, cesarean, home, hospital and birth center birthers. She has also assisted many women from a diversity of cultural, financial, age and religious backgrounds. She is also the founder of The Birth Connection in Fullerton, CA and one of the founders of The Birth Connection Milk Bank. She believes her job is one of preparing and assisting the birthing woman on her own unique journey into motherhood. If she has learned anything through her experience with birth, it is that every birth is as different as the women who are laboring. Katie is the mother of two and currently lives in Silverlake. She enjoys oil painting and drawing in her spare time."
Wendy Silvers, RScP: Parenting Path Teacher
Wendy Silvers is a licensed Spiritual Practitioner whose focus is authentic heart-centered living. She counsels individuals and couples on embracing themselves and their children with greater love, respect and reverence. Her intention is to lovingly facilitate a paradigm shift regarding the parenting and education of children. Wendy brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to her workshop, having homebirthed her beloved 5-year-old daughter, whom she considers to be one of her greatest spiritual teachers, and continuously exploring expansive parenting methods. She is a certified Hypnotherapist since 1992 and a lead teacher with the Agape International Spiritual Center's Children's area since 2003. She facilitates workshops throughout Los Angeles.
Jane Tucker, M.A.: Parent Coach 101 Teacher
Jane has worked as a Behavioral Consultant with young children and their families and has had a private practice as a Life Strategist working with groups and individuals. Adding to her expertise, Jane is the mother of a delightful and very rambunctious 4-year-old son. Jane combines her education background as a Behavioral Consultant, Counselor, and Parent to establish clear and productive goals while taking a supportive and compassionate approach to her Parent Coaching.
Juanita Rivas-Raymer: Lactation Specialist, Breastfeeding n’ Baby Care Teacher
Hello, my name is Juanita and my journey started with W.I.C. as a Breastfeeding Peer Councilor nine years ago. A few years later I became a Birth Doula and now am in the process of becoming a childbirth Educator. I love working with families and babies because this is such an amazing and special time in their lives. I feel lucky to have the opportunity to be part of their journey. I am married and have two children, two cats, and two rabbits.
Kelly Rain Collin, Ed.M.: Baby Sign Workshop Teacher
Kelly Rain Collin is an educational consultant and advocate in Los Angeles. She has worked with high-risk and special needs youth since 1990, and has been using sign language to communicate with friends and colleagues since 1989. Kelly has a BA in Child Development/Child Mental Health, and a BA in Psychology from California State University Northridge. She obtained her Masters in Education from Harvard University. Kelly believes strongly in ensuring children’s mental health is supported and nurtured both at home and school. The Baby Signs® Program fits perfectly into her educational philosophy, as it supports and encourages children’s communication, language, intellectual, and socio-emotional development simultaneously.
Kelly had the opportunity to use the Baby Signs® Program with her identical twin nephews. With their parents, extended family, and childcare center all using Baby Signs®, the twins were able to effectively communicate with everyone they knew before they were able to talk. They are now happy and playful 4 year-olds with amazing vocabularies!
Practitioners
Dr. Margaret Scenck, N.D.: Naturopathic Doctor and Pediatrician
Dr. Margaret Schenck is a licensed, board-certified Naturopathic Doctor. She graduated from Tufts University with a Bachelors of Art in Child Development and Early Childhood Education. She taught elementary school and preschool in the Bay Area of California for 4 years prior to her medical training. In 2003, Dr. Schenck earned her doctoral degree in Naturopathic Medicine from the leading center for natural health education and clinical training at Bastyr University in Seattle, Washington. She began her private practice in the Los Angeles area in 2004. Dr. Schenck practices in both West Los Angeles and Silverlake, addressing chronic and acute health conditions for both adult and pediatric populations, utilizing science-based Naturopathic therapeutics to support the healing of the whole person. Dr. Margaret Schenck is a member of the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians, and the California Naturopathic Doctors Association.
Dr. Randy Martin, Ph.D. O.M.D. L.Ac.: Love the Belly Homeopathist
Dr. Martin is the author of "Optimal Health", which discusses how to heal yourself using herbs, homeopathy, acupressure and nutrition. He specializes in treating women and children, with an emphasis on headaches, PMS, menopause, ADD, ADHD, fertility, childbirth, cysts, fibroids and endometriosis. Dr. Martin considers his "highest calling" to help others become their own healer.
Loni D. Mashke, CMT: Love the Belly Massage Therapist and Belly Casting
Loni is an amateur ceramicist and potter with a studio in Hollywood. A practicing Massage Therapist of over 12 years, she has over 500 hours of training in modalities ranging from pregnancy massage to reflexology and have trained to specialize in lymphatic and pelvic floor treatments, as well as, clinical and medical massage at Hollywood Physical Therapy. She has only recently found her calling in health and nutrition and is going to school online to pursue her certificate as a nutritionist (at www.kevala.co.uk). Her years of practice as a Polarity Specialist has lead her to believe in a multi-modalities approach to healing. Whether personal balance is achieved through "energy-work", visualization, lifestyle modification, or physical output (massage/aerobics, etc.)....commit the action and the mind will follow. For more information on what I can do for you, please go to my website at www.momentofserenity.com
Shivon Vanessa, CIMI, LMT: Bodyworker & Infant Massage Instructor
A never-ending fascination with the body and all of the information it holds has led Shivon on a wonderful journey that includes martial arts, yoga, Qi Gong and Bodywork. It has also led to a diverse exploration within Bodywork that will never end. A licensed massage therapist for over five years, she has been certified in various modalities, including Swedish, Deep Tissue, Pregnancy, Thai, Acupressure and Craniosacral. She approaches her work with compassion, joy and a deep reverence for the client, their process and the work being done. Her focus is on Pregnancy Massage, Bodymind Acupressure, Craniosacral Therapy and Infant Massage.
In addition, Shivon has received specialized training to work with critically ill adults and children, as well as children and infants with special needs. Her training included becoming a Certified Infant Massage Instructor, which allows her to share the wonderful benefits of massage with families.
Whether you want to relax and unwind during your session or delve deeper into your bodymind, she strives to make her table a safe, comfortable place for you to do just that. Please visit www.shivonvanessa.com for more information.
Larisa Boyd, L.Ac., Dipl. OM, MTCM: Love the Belly Acupuncturist & Herbalist
Licensed at both state and national levels, Larisa specializes in Women’s Health & Reproductive Medicine. Her goal is to provide her patients with the tools to become their most vibrant, vital selves through a combination of acupuncture, herbal medicine, nutrition and lifestyle counseling. Her extensive background in Alternative Medicine began with the study of Western herbal medicine and Ayurveda. She then completed a volunteer internship at Quan Yin Healing Arts Center in San Francisco, a clinic specializing in the treatment of HIV and Hepatitis C through an integration of Western and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). She was struck by the way these two medicines, one relatively new and the other more than 5000 years old, complemented each other. She found that Western medicine’s strength lay in the treatment of life-threatening injuries and diseases, while TCM had the ability to bring about optimal health and well-being – and in fact could treat many conditions that Western medicine could not. She went on to earn a Master’s degree in TCM from Five Branches Institute in Santa Cruz followed by a clinical internship in Hangzhou, China. Building on a firm foundation in Western medicine, she continues to integrate elements of these different traditions into her practice. A lifelong student, Larisa is presently pursuing advanced training in Obstetrics, Gynecology and Fertility, and plans to return to China regularly to study TCM at its source.
Anne Albrecht, L.Ac.: Love the Belly Acupuncturist/ Herbalist
Anne is licensed by the California Acupuncture Board. Included in her scope of practice are acupuncture, herbal medicine and nutritional and lifestyle counseling. Her education included extensive coursework in both traditional and modern medicine. She believes in the cooperation of the two medicines as essential to the health of her patients. Chinese Medicine was largely designed to be preventative of illness, its focus lying in identifying a pattern within any given person for developing certain weaknesses in some parts of the body and excesses or stagnations in others and then correcting this shift from harmony. Not all illnesses are visible physically, in lab work or on a screen. Much illness begins in the spirit and later affects the body. Chinese Medicine can be very helpful in easing emotional pain and guiding a person back towards spiritual harmony.
Mischa Geracoulis: Love the Belly Hair Stylist
Mischa Geracoulis is a Licensed Cosmetologist, a Certified Massage Therapist, and Certified Holistic Nutritional Consultant. She received her Cosmetology training and licensure first in Virginia and then in California. She has trained in various modalities of bodywork at the Institute for Psycho-Structural Balancing in Culver City, CA, Polarity Healing Arts in Topanga, CA, Hands on Healing Institute in Tujunga, CA, and Esalen Institute in Big Sur, CA. Mischa received her Holistic Nutritional Consulting Certification from the Global Institute for Alternative Medicine in Santa Cruz, CA. She obtained her bachelor’s degree in International Development at George Mason University. She is certified in non-violent communication facilitation by the National Coalition Building Institute in Washington, DC, and has further studied in the field at Esalen Institute in Big Sur, CA. Understanding that learning is a lifelong journey, she continues to educate herself via workshops, seminars, and personal retreats.
Barky Boodakian: Fitness Instructor - Great for Postpartum
Barky is a Tennis Professional and Cerified Fitness Trainer. He has been one of the pros at the Griffith Park Riverside Tennis Facility for the past 37 years and a fitness training professional for 20 years.
He graduated from William Penn University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Physical Education with a minor in Psychology.
Although Barky has reached national and regional levels in competition in several sports fields, tennis remains his passion. He feels that his work in fitness training has the potential to be life changing and a positive impact on his clients’ lives.
