HealRise Sanctuary

Antonia Estela Pérez is a Chilean-American herbalist, gardener, educator, community organizer, and artist based in New York. Growing up at the intersections of land stewardship, education, and social justice, they developed a lifelong relationship with plants as a way of restoring connection to land, memory, and community. They are the founder of Herban Cura, a healing justice, herbalism and ecology school that centers Indigenous, Black, Queer, and Trans voices through knowledge shares, the Plants to the People mutual aid program, and an herbal CSA.

Ashni, daughter of Cynthia and Allan, is an Earth Loving mover, Reiki Godmother, farmer, at Mumbet’s Freedom Farm,  facilitator, educator Flower Essence Practitioner and Somatic Experiencing Practitioner, born and raised in Brooklyn, NY with rich roots in the island of St.Vincent & The Grenadines.

Movement, music, healing and their expansion through meditation and love are essential keys to Ashni’s being. From early experiences with death, escapades in library stacks to discovering yoga and teachings with Buddhist monks in High school, Spirit has always peaked her curiosity and tickled her heart. From an early age, Ashni has been devoted to learning from and listening to Spirit.

Ashni is a land steward, Somatic Experiencing Practitioner and has a private practice at Minka.  She  facilitates 1 on 1 and a group sessions, ceremonies, meditations and experiences permeated with love that cultivate radical awareness, appreciation of self and overall ecstatic wellness within participants and their community with the intention of re-cultivating a deep connection with the Earth

Carmen Mayes is the founder of Exalted Moon Wellness and a Traditional Wellness practitioner with over ten years of experience supporting personal growth, healing, and transformation. Her work weaves together intuitive guidance, astrology, tarot, Reiki, and ritual as practical tools for clarity, self-trust, and aligned decision-making.

Carmen's mission is to help clients better understand themselves and the world around them. Her speciality, astrology, as an ancient science used since antiquity to track time, understand large cycles, guide daily activities, and deepen self-awareness. As a Reiki Master, she supports energetic balance and restoration, while ritual and intuitive practices create intentional space for release, integration, and renewal. Through Exalted Moon Wellness, Carmen offers grounded spiritual guidance that meets clients where they are—helping them reconnect with their inner knowing, move through life transitions with confidence, and cultivate a more aligned, empowered way of living. Connect with Carmen at www.ExaltedMoonWellness.com

Devi (pronounced Day-vee) is a trauma-informed sound therapist, music producer, and Reiki practitioner. Since 2013, she has been dedicated to helping her community reduce stress and find calm. Devi earned her degree in Occupational Sound and Vibrational Therapies from the Globe Institute of Sound Healing and Vibration in San Francisco, CA. In 2017, she created Vibrobath, a unique sound bath experience that combines technology, sound bodywork, and meditation. Devi has worked with memory care patients to support cognitive function and emotional well-being. Her work and music has been featured in BuzzFeed, Marie Claire, The Cover of The Wire Magazine, The New York Times, and on The Real Housewives of New York (Season 13). Devi’s approach, rooted in her multi-ethnic heritage from Southeast Asia and the indigenous traditions of Gabon, bridges ancient wisdom with modern innovation, making sound healing more accessible and impactful.

Forrest Lahens is an energetic and compassionate therapist who has been practicing the art of massage therapy for over 15 years. In this time, he has worked for various day spas, built a private practice and participates in corporate chair massage events throughout the city. Forrest’s style of bodywork incorporates the ancient acupressure technique of shiatsu and the long and short strokes of Swedish massage. He has masterfully developed a full body massage that combines compression, light stretches and range of motion that targets all the joints of the body. His style offers integrative bodywork that promotes the physical and emotional well-being of his clients. Forrest believes in the vitality of good health and the balance of mind, body, and spirit. What is placed in your body orally, mentally, spiritually and visually reflects who you are. A sound regiment of a healthy diet, drinking plenty of water, exercise, and massage will keep your body at optimal performance.

Lindai Loutun is a Reiki Master Teacher, 13th Octave LaHoChi Instructor, Meditation Guide, Thai Massage Therapist, and Natural Health Consultant who brings heart, intuition, and a holistic approach to her work. She is the founder of Lindai’s Bodywork, a healing and teaching space near Prospect Park in Brooklyn, New York, created with the intention of nurturing both individual and collective well-being. Lindai is passionate about guiding others on their healing journey and creating experiences that foster balance, connection, and transformation. Through her practice, she offers Reiki and 13th Octave LaHoChi training, Thai Massage instruction, meditation sessions, somatic movement practices, and community gatherings such as New & Full Moon Ceremonies, Sound Baths, and Solstice Celebrations. Her work is rooted in the belief that healing ripples outward — when one person heals, the community is uplifted. Learn more about her offerings and upcoming events at bodyworkny.com.

Minya DeJohnette is a NY state licensed acupuncturist and massage therapist and Certified Balance System Acupuncture practitioner. She earned her Master of Health Science degree from the Swedish Institute of Acupuncture in 2007 under the training of Jeffrey Yuen of the Jade Purity sect and 99th generation Taoist Priest. The lineage she currently trains under is Balance System Acupuncture as refined by the late Dr. Richard Teh-Fu Tan. Master Tan passed on his teaching to her teachers; Dr. Eileen Han, Dr. Delphine Armand and Dr. Sonia F. Tan. The lineage stems from Classical Chinese Medical teachings of Taiwanese practitioners, Dr Chao Chen, Master Tung with additional techniques created by Dr. Richard Tan.

Minya was first introduced to acupuncture as a teenager when a family member was diagnosed with a condition that western doctors could not treat successfully. Acupuncture was not as widespread at the time so, out of desperation, that family member went to a local family practice in Kingston, NY. It was one of the only acupuncture clinics operating in the area at that time. Not only were the practitioners able to figure out the cause of the condition, they were able to completely resolve it within six months. After that experience, Minya and the rest of her family started to seek acupuncture treatment for other issues.

The family practice became their primary care practitioners for many issues. It was from the effectiveness of these treatments that Minya decided to one day pursue training as an Acupuncturist. She has been in practice since 2008. Her continuing education training includes completing the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center course in Acupuncture for the Cancer Patient. The Balance system that she practices addresses advanced

pain management, symptoms associated with auto-immune disorders, anxiety, depression, sleep disorders, reproductive disorders, inflammatory and digestive disorders. She is certified in Kampo Herbal Medicine by the NYC Kampo Institute. Kampo is the herbal medicine practiced by primary care physicians in Japan. It is used as primary and adjunctive therapy within Japan’s national health care system.

Taganyahu Swaby is a licensed acupuncturist and founder of Yaad Wellness in Catskill, NY.  In 2016, he co-founded The Lefferts Community Acupuncture at Minka Brooklyn.  Taganyahu also practices acupuncture in conjunction with Columbia County Mental Health Associates and with MINKA, a Brooklyn-based healing collective.  A graduate of Tri-State College of Acupuncture and has trained with Kiiko Matsumoto, Ross Rosen, Famous, Andrew Nugent-Head, Marcus DeGrazia and others. Taganyahu is a generalist who specializes in treating trauma and addiction and managing pain.  He has succeeded in treating ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease, sleep disorders, psoriasis, eczema, menstrual irregularities, depression, thyroid imbalance, digestive disorders, and more. 

His first-hand experience with autoimmune disease informs his approach: empowering patients to heal themselves by giving them the tools they need to cultivate their own wellbeing.  During sessions, he may practice other healing modalities including bodywork, traditional Chinese medicine, energy work, and/or essential oils depending on the patient’s needs.

Taganyahu is a 13-year practitioner of the internal martial arts.  He began studying acupuncture after training Qi Gong and Tai Qi Chuan, two forms of internal martial arts that, along with acupuncture, share the principle of Qi, or life force, as their foundation.  His experience of cultivating Qi inspired him to learn more about its healing applications.  Tagan taught Qi Gong to at-risk and incarcerated youth in New York City. He currently teaches Qi Gong for the New Earth Mystery School and both remotely and in-person at Yaad Wellness.