Certified Teachers

We are proud and delighted to introduce the first certified Body Tales instructors. These women have years of Body Tales experience. Each began as a participant in classes and retreats, later joined our in-depth teacher training, and then completed an individualized certification program. Each brings a wealth of related experience and training in the healing and performing arts. Their diverse expertise and life experience make them unique and outstanding teachers.

Robin Mankey is an activist, educator, artist and performer. She uses art, storytelling, performing and teaching to inspire people about the connection between humans and spirit, and humanity and the earth. She is currently an urban farmer, helping people grow food using sustainable techniques; is a marine mammal protector, educator and activist; has taught art, doll making and gardening in schools and community centers. All this interweaves with her years of dance and movement training and experience and fuels her Body Tales teaching. She has been devoted to Body Tales as a personal and community pathway to story and healing since 2000. Robin lives in East Palo Alto, California, and offers Body Tales classes, performances and workshops in San Francisco and on the Peninsula. She can be reached at 650-322-6311.

"Body Tales provides an opportunity to explore one's self fully — beyond restrictions. This is a loving community of creative, healing beings."
— Kristi Jacobson, school psychologist

Elizabeth Moriarty is a warm, wise and charismatic community leader, facilitator and performer who holds a wide and deep space for spirit, presence, authenticity, humor and passion. She has years of experience as a body worker and ritual facilitator, with an extensive background in dance, performance and Earth-based ritual. Her work as a professional snake dancer, fire dancer and respected improv theater performer weave into her present work. She has studied, practiced and performed Body Tales since 1995, and has been teaching Body Tales since 2002. Elizabeth lives in Sebastopol, California, and offers Body Tales classes, workshops and performances at the Sebastopol Center for the Arts and in other North Bay locations.
sacredministry.com

707-829-1398

Donna Kaufman is an entrepreneur, community organizer and movement educator. She has BA degrees from UC Berkeley in Environmental Design and Geography. She holds deep value in motivating environmental action through community involvement, media and the arts. She has co-founded the successful organizations LandWatch Monterey County, Footage Search and Freestyle Dance Jam Pacific Grove. She has studied dance since early childhood and has used the movement arts as a spiritual and healing practice for over 20 years. She has been impassioned by Body Tales since 1999, when she was first introduced to the work. She currently teaches Body Tales in the greater Monterey Bay Area.

(831) 375-2312

BT Certification Candidate Bonnie Freestone is a dancer, writer and performer. She has been doing Body Tales since 2001 and uses it to develop her performance work and to birth sensory-rich and heart-centered poetry and fiction. She has her Master's degree in Transpersonal Psychology and has worked with many people since 2001, supporting them in their inner work through counseling, visual art, movement and energy work. She offers somatic healing work in Asheville, North Carolina, and is a facilitator for the Asheville Movement Collective, which has its roots in the Five Rhythms work of Gabrielle Roth. She loves holding space for people engaged in their own artistic and healing processes, and teaching Body Tales is her favorite way to do that. Bonnie's BT programs in Asheville: weekly classes Tues 3–5pm & Wed 5–7pm, both open to beginners. Starting soon: Body Tales Nine-Month Focus Group for those who want in-depth exploration with a specific artistic or personal-growth intention. Also in the works: Body Tales for kids!

(828) 606-4314

"Wrapped in the warm embrace of community, I find the safety to be myself — to be all that I am."
— Cristiana Moline, Body Tales participant