(This is the second in a three-part series introducing some of the area’s finest integrative health professionals)
Jim Coughlin and Kate Coughlin, E-RYT
Jim and his wife Kate opened Downtown Yoga in March of 2002 with the goal of providing expert yoga instruction in a welcoming environment to anyone interested in peace of mind in the Tri-Valley Community. Since that time, they have conducted over 15,000 classes to nearly 50,000 students. Downtown Yoga currently offers over 50 classes a week in two studios in Pleasanton. All 16 of the current teachers are registered with Yoga Alliance. Kate, the studio's founder and director, created the yoga program at Stanford University in 1989 and led the program until 2000. Jim, also an experienced yoga teacher, has presented meditation instruction workshops in series and, with Kate, leads yoga retreats and trips to Mexico and India.
Chef Lisa Books Williams
Lisa Books-Williams is an award-winning raw food chef - Best of Raw NYC 2010 - and a certified Green Chef Instructor and caterer. Lisa enjoys promoting the concept of "joyful eating" which has helped her regain her health and lose over 100 lbs. Lisa developed her own line of raw vegan dehydrated snack foods and plans to release her cook and un-cook books in 2013.
Lisa founded the Tri-Valley Vegetarian Society and hosts regular potlucks and events. Lisa has presented at numerous local events and venues, the Raw Health Expo and World Veg Day Festivals and she catered the raw vegan dinner at the festival in 2010 and 2011. She teaches 1:1 and small groups privately, caters and does food deliveries. Lisa will be a featured presenter at the Raw Living Expo in Sedona, AZ and Berkeley Vegan Earth Day in 2013.
Lisa Currently teaches plant-based cooking and Food Preparation classes, is a nationally Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist she consults at Care Facilities throughout the Bay Area. She can be reached here.
Patricia Workman, Owner and Director, Lavandu Face and Body
Pat is a Certified Massage Therapist and Licensed Esthetician. In October 2010 she started Lavandu, providing therapeutic massage in a small one-room suite on the second floor of a two-story building on Main St, Pleasanton. After two years, she moved the business to an 1,800 square foot facility in the Mission Plaza on Santa Rita at Valley with four treatment rooms, a lounge, and a boutique and changed its name to Lavandu Face & Body. In addition to therapeutic and relaxation massages, Lavandu offers a variety of beautifying and corrective facials and treatments, including Face & Neck Manual Lymphatic Drainage. Lavandu is a regular donor to the American Cancer Society Discovery Store in Pleasanton and is actively involved with The Bill Foundation and Karma Rescue, both of which benefit and focus on rescuing homeless dogs from the streets as well as from kill-shelters and in helping them find loving homes.
Come meet and find out more about these dedicated healthcare professionals at this great event at the Pleasanton Public Library on January 5.
Dan is a nationally certified personal fitness trainer and former continuing education faculty member of the National Academy of Sports Medicine and the American Council on Exercise. He is the owner and head trainer at Tri Valley Trainer in Pleasanton, which provides personal training, small group fitness and nutrition guidance. He can be reached at Dan@TriValleyTrainer.com
