About Us
Management and Staff
- Suzanne Luther - Director
- Stemming from a life-long love of art, and a desire
to use her skills and talents as an artist and teacher to help others,
Suzanne Luther brings a variety of gifts to the center. She holds a
Bachelor's degree in Fine Arts and a Master's degree in Art Education,
both from the University of Missouri-Columbia. Suzanne has taught art
in the public schools in Jefferson City and Eldon, Missouri. She
most recently taught art at Calvary Lutheran High School. She spent
four years as a gifted education teacher for the Jefferson City Public
Schools. In addition, Suzanne has developed curriculum and taught art
to students in community programs, including the adult mentally
handicapped to adolescents and young adults in juvenile detention
centers.
- Ladonna Wells - Assistant Director, Certified Aromatherapist
- A native of mid-Missouri, Ladonna holds a Bachelor's degree
from the University of Missouri-Columbia in Animal Science and a
Master's degree from the University of Missouri-Columbia in
Speech-Language Pathology and has worked for area public schools since
1997. After experiencing the amazing benefits of essential oils and
aromatherapy, she was led to explore the science behind this growing
alternative field and became a certified Aromatherapy Instructor in
2001. This has allowed her to blend her knowledge of science with her
love of teaching. Ladonna has taught intensive aromatherapy seminars
nationally with an emphasis on essential oil chemistry and applied
techniques. She currently offers Randrop Technique
aromatherapy treatments, essential oil consultations, and classes on
aromatherapy.
- Virginia Johnson - Licensed Massage Therapist, Instructor
- Virginia is a Licensed and Nationally Certified massage therapist
with training in traditional swedish massage, Thai massage, carpal
tunnel treatments, prenatal massage, facial rejuvenation massage and
Reiki. In the last few years, she has begun to focus on CORE deep
bodywork, which follows the theory that life leaves marks, pains and
strains imprinted in the body. This work is very different from
traditional massage in that the client participates fully throughout
the session and work starts from the body core and works outward.
Sessions can be intense...and incredibly rewarding! Virginia has
also studied hatha yoga for 11 years and practicies regularly.
Along with offering bodywork services, she will be teaching
meditation and breathing classes - closely following the
"Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction" prinicpals and practices.
- Tonya Ellis - Licensed Massage Therapist, Instructor
- Tonya's educational background includes a degree in
Anthropology and Global Environmental Studies. She earned this degree
from Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, Washington, where she lived
for eight years. Also from Pacific Lutheran University, she earned a
Master's degree in Education with an emphasis in Elementary Education.
Since returning to Missouri in 1995, Tonya has earned a Master's degree
in Library Science from the University of Missouri-Columbia. She has
worked for six years in the Jefferson City Public Schools and recently
earned certification as a licensed massage therapist. Tonya believes
strongly in community and social volunteerism. She has served the state
library organization in various roles including statewide reading
programs for children. Tonya is also active in the community,
volunteering with art and culture groups and grassroots organizations.
Tonya is passionate about reading, music, travel, and photography.
- Megan Sappington - Yoga/Meditation Instructor
- Influenced by both her mother and grandmother who both
practiced yoga, Megan has studied yoga since she was a young child. In
2000 she was officially trained to teach yoga under the instruction of
Kevin Perry RYT, Anusara-Affiliate, and at the Iyenger Center in
Lawrence, Kansas. She continued her studies with internationally known
teachers Erich Schiffman and Laurie Blakeney. Megan has been teaching
yoga for eight years at Show-Me Yoga Center and has worked out of
her private studio in California, Missouri. She has been involved
with yoga-oriented community service such as The Blue Note's "Taste
of Yoga" series in Columbia, Missouri, Jefferson City's YMCA,
Anytown Youth Leadership Camps, Girl Scouts, Figure/Speed Skaters,
and the Simonsen Ninth Grade Center. Megan was awarded the 2006/2007
Chamber of Commerce "Program of Excellence" award for her work with
ninth graders. Megan is one of nine teachers featured world-wide in
Christy Brock's book Teaching Teenagers Yoga, and is
featured regularly on Brock's website. Through Show-Me Yoga, Megan
piloted a teen outreach program. While Megan has worked with over
2000 local teens in yoga, meditation, and relaxation, she has taught
all ages, from two to 82!
- Margo Jakobi - Instructor
- Incorporating Living Fresh Foods into her life for the last 7 years
has changed Margo's life. In today's hectic pace and seemingly
endless array of responsibilities, it's no wonder eating healthy has
been moved to the back burner and food-on-the-go is the norm. She
won't lecture or tell people what they should or should not eat, but
merely shares her passion for whole foods with those who are
interested. These are the foods she and her family LOVE! Margo has
had articles written about her foodstyles in the Jefferson City News
Tribune and was featured in Jefferson City Home Magazine, making Veggie
Sushi Wraps. She also has a very active online life within David
Wolfe's Raw and Living Foods Community and has recently been featured
in a Raw World Tour Promotions video by Markus Rothkranz. Do you think
food preparation should be uncomplicated, quick & easy, delicious,
satisfying, comforting, realistic, and affordable? If so, then join her
for workshops that explore a variety of foods with the Fresh Living
Foods framework.