Instructors

Dr. Daryl L. Cooper, Doctor of Chiropractic, Certified Applied Kinesiologist, Structural Integration Specialist, has post-graduate studies in orthopedics, radiology, blood chemistry, nutrition, acupuncture, motion palpitation, pediatrics, pain control, osteoporosis, scoliosis, exercise rehabilitation, biophysics, and Rolfing. In 1998 he became director of the Balance My Body and Osteoporosis Prevention Institute.

Katie Corbett received training in child meditation under Sarah Woodvallely, and is a Certified Child Meditation Facilitator. Additionally, Katie holds a masters degree in Music Therapy, and incorporates music therapy practices into her meditation classes, as well as art, and music -supported movement. Katie works at Children?s Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota as a music therapist, as well is the owner and founder of Mindfulness Music Therapy. Katie looks forward to teaching children fun, creative ways to discover their many unique gifts while leading healthy, balanced lives.

Maria Emmerich is a wellness expert who holds a degree in Nutrition and Exercise Physiology. She shares a passion for helping others reach their goals of optimal health. She struggled with her weight throughout childhood and decided enough was enough. She decided to study health and wellness so she could help others stop wasting their time being discouraged with their outward appearance and not feeling their best mentally. For more information about Maria, check out her website marianutrition.com .

Kevin Finney holds the rank of Master level Black sash, in the following Martial Arts Disciplines: Chuan Lu Kung Fu, Kenpo Karate & Tai Chi Chuan. He has been an avid practitioner and instructor for over 35 years. He has had the privilege of serving various martial arts Masters in the lineage of Bak Mei Pei, Southern Praying Mantis, White Crane and Wing Chun, styles kung Fu, as well as two styles of Tai Chi Chuan.

Lisa Freitag is a Certified Holistic Nutrition Counselor whose passion lies in educating and inspiring people to create a new relationship with food, that will inadvertantly create healthier relationships, career choices, and promote longevity and happiness. Lisa received her training from the Institute for Integrative Nutrition in New York City. She currently resides in Stillwater, MN.

Suzanne Howard is certified as an Ayurvedic Practitioner, Panchakarma Therapist, Yoga Teacher, Yoga of Recovery Counselor and Massage Therapist.

Allan LaValier, a Stillwater resident and River Market member since 1996, has been involved with growing plants for many years and continues to enjoy sharing his knowledge and wisdom gained from the garden. He has studied the GROW BIOINTENSIVE Method of sustainable agriculture with John Jeavons and Carol Cox of Ecology Action in Willits, Ca. He is a lifetime member of Seed Savers Exchange (International seed exchange) and Ecology Action.

Sara Morrison is the owner of “The Backyard Grocery” an urban vegetable garden consulting company based in Bayport, MN. She has a strong love for plants and the delicious foods that can be grown in home gardens no matter what the size. Her main focus is on heirloom vegetable varieties and their unique flavors. Her love of the home vegetable garden started as soon as she had a patch of dirt to call her own, and every year her grass suffers “garden creep” as she expands her raised vegetable garden square footage. She was the Produce Manager at River Market in 2004-2006.



Donald Slinger, gardner for many years, grape, daylily and hosta hybridizer. He uses raised beds, French double digging, intensive planting and heavy mulching in year-round hoop house gardening.

Melanie Timpano is the CSA Coordinator for Big River Farms, a program of Minnesota Food Association based in Marine on St.Croix. She has been farming organically since 2003 on farms in Oregon, Iowa, California and Minnesota. Outside of farming, her passions tend toward growing, harvesting, wildcrafting, and processing medicinal herbs and learning more about how best to use them. She has been studying herbalism independently for several years and is currently a student of herbalist Lise Wolff in Minneapolis.

Dale Wolf is a third generation beekeeper and owner of the Wolf Honey Farm located in Baldwin , Wisconsin. Currently he has about 250 hives around the clover and wildflower fields of the St. Croix Valley area. In the summer, he can be found at the St. Paul?s Farmers? Market where he sells honey, candles, salves, and cough syrups. He is also the former Vice President of the St. Croix Co. Beekeepers Association. For more information, please go to www.wolfhoneyfarm.com.

Valerie Zumbusch, Certified Thermographer, ACCT Level III trainer, owner and director of Picture of Health Thermography, founding member of the American Medical Thermology Society. Certified as a Clinical Thermographer in 2005 at Duke University under the auspices of the American College of Clinical Thermology Inc. With a focus on women's health and breast care, Valerie offers breast and body screenings for women and men using medical thermography at over 20 locations around Minnesota, Wisconsin and North and South Dakota with the Digital Infrared Thermal Imaging medical camera. She speaks to groups about DITI and breast care and how to be proactive against breast disease including cancer.