Chris Walling, PsyD, MBA, C-IAYT, FABP
Vice President of Education and Outreach
Dr. Chris Walling, PsyD, MBA, C-IAYT, FABP, is Associate Professor in the School of Professional Psychology & Health at the California Institute of Integral Studies where he serves as Core Faculty in the Somatic Psychology program. A licensed clinical psychologist and board certified psychoanalyst, he is the Research Chair & Past-President of the United States Association for Body Psychotherapy. Dr.Walling has previously served as Executive Administrator in the Department of Psychiatry and the Aging and Memory Research Center at the UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine and as Executive Administrator in the Departments of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation and the Markey Cancer Center at the University of Kentucky College of Medicine. He serves as Vice- President of Education & Outreach at the Alzheimer’s Research & Prevention Foundation.
Dr. Walling is a Clinical Research Fellow at the Traumatic Stress Research Consortium at Kinsey Institute for Research on Sex, Gender and Reproduction located at Indiana University, Bloomington and serves on their International Advisory Council. Dr. Walling has lectured throughout the world on the intersections of the somatic psychology and the mind-body connection. Dr. Walling has presented at multiple conferences both nationally and internationally, including chairing the Alzheimer’s Research and Prevention Foundation’s Brain Health Symposium, and the Biennale Congress of the United States Association for Body Psychotherapy.
Dr. Walling is a Fellow of the American Board of Psychoanalysis and serves on the American Psychoanalytic Association’s Committee on Gender & Sexuality. His peer-reviewed works are published in the American Psychological Association‘s Journal of Psychotherapy and the International Body Psychotherapy Journal. He is a member of the American Psychoanalytic Association, the American Psychological Association, and the New Center for Psychoanalysis, where he also serves on both the Faculty Committee and Diversities Committee. His clinical interests survey the fields of relational psychoanalysis, somatic psychotherapies, human sexuality, and trauma psychology. Dr.Walling maintains a private practice in Los Angeles, California.
Eve Adler, RN, RYT
Ambassador for Education and Outreach
Eve Adler is a Health Educator, Registered Nurse, Registered Yoga Teacher, Qi Gong Practitioner, Health Correspondent, and Brain Longevity Specialist. Her diverse experiences in academia, healthcare delivery, health promotion, and media outreach have provided her with opportunities to work internationally with teams of healthcare partners and educators to develop wellness promotion programs and progressive pathways to higher education and employment.
Amy DiLillo, C-IAYT, E-RYT 500, BLS
Education Consultant
After relocating to Massachusetts, Amy saw a need for senior-specific yoga offerings. She began teaching BLTT-infused classes and workshops at her local recreation center, senior center, and senior living community. Amy spearheaded an ARPF fundraising collaboration with her clinical colleagues to offer a series of Brain Longevity sessions. Amy collaborated with the senior center LSW on Resiliency & Neuroplasticity skill-building talks and has been a featured speaker in grant-funded programming (National Council on Aging: Aging Mastery; Massachusetts Council on Aging: Live Your Best Life).
Joshua Freitas, PhD
Education Consultant
Dr. Joshua J. Freitas, Ph.D., is an award-winning memory-care innovator whose work bridges research, program design, and education. As Vice President of Program Development at CERTUS Senior Living, Chief Research Officer of the CERTUS Institute, and Chief Educational Officer & Board Chair at the National Institute for Dementia Education (NIDE), he leads initiatives that translate gerontology and lifestyle medicine into everyday dementia care. He earned his doctorate in Transformative Studies (Gerontology, Aging Neuroscience, and Dementia) from the California Institute of Integral Studies (CIIS); holds a Master of Education focused on non- pharmacological dementia care; completed graduate coursework in Strategic Management and training in Lifestyle and Wellness Coaching at Harvard University; and earned a Bachelor of Music with concentrations in Music Education and Music Therapy from Berklee College of Music. A two-time author (The Dementia Concept, Joining Grandma’s Journey) and host of the NIDE Talks podcast, Dr. Freitas is dedicated to dismantling aging stereotypes and designing vibrant, stigma-free environments for older adults.
Mary Lou Green, BA, MA, CDP, BLS
Caregiver Education Consultant
Mary Lou took care of her father who had Parkinson’s-related dementia and cared for her 100-year-old mother who had unspecified dementia. She has 15 years of experience in caring for her parents in her home as well as becoming the care manager for her mother. Mary Lou has served as the Family Care Consultant and Community Liaison for Dementia Help Center since 2017. She has found her deep passion in supporting, educating, and coaching family members who are caring for loved ones with Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia and in creating awareness for the vital role that care partners provide within her community. She resides in Palm Desert, CA.
Carol Hahn, MSN, RN, RYT, CPT, CDP
BLTT Faculty
Carol Hahn is a Registered Nurse with over 35 years of varied health experience in hospitals, nursing homes, assisted living facilities, home care, and adult day programs. She has taught in several university nursing programs and worked at the Alzheimer’s Association. Carol is a Registered Yoga Teacher and a Certified Personal Trainer with her own business as a Wellness and Fitness Nurse.
Laura Jean Kokoska, RN, CKYI
Curriculum Consultant
Laura Kokoska is a registered nurse and certified Kundalini yoga instructor who teaches integrative practices to health and wellness professionals as well as individuals with complex medical conditions. As a holistic healer, Laura’s focus is to empower the natural healing processes available in every human being. She is the owner of DNA Yoga & Meditation, in Niantic, Connecticut.
Cheryl Kravitz, APR, CFRE, RYT, BLS
Education Consultant
Cheryl is President of CRK Communications and The Gentle Yogi. Former Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley appointed Cheryl as Vice-Chair of the state’s Family Violence Council and Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett appointed her to the Montgomery County Hate Violence Committee where she served as Chair of Community Outreach. Cheryl served on the boards of the Family Justice Center Foundation and the Domestic Violence Coordinating Council. She was an elected member of The Board of Education in Tulsa and taught journalism there and in Chicago. Cheryl was Program Chair of Leadership Washington and is a graduate of both Leadership Washington and Leadership Tulsa.
Jane Stelboum, RYT 500, E-RYT 200, BLS
Education Consultant
Jane founded Sarasvate (sar-as-vah-te´) in 2012 in honor of her mother Sarah, whom she lost to Alzheimer’s – a company whose mission is to prevent memory-related diseases like Alzheimer’s and help those already impacted maintain a high quality of life as long as possible. She does this through workshops, speaking engagements and Caregiver training sessions. She has been a featured speaker at conferences by the Smithsonian Associates (Yoga as Lifestyle Medicine), Aging Life Care Association, Alzheimer’s Foundation of America and the Alzheimer’s Disease Resource Center and has conducted workshops and trainings at yoga retreats, yoga studios, senior living communities and corporate offices along the east coast.
Jane lives in North Potomac, MD.
Alessia Tanzi, RYT, BLS
Education Consultant for Italy
Alessia has worked as a business consultant for over 15 years with leading consultancy firms and top executives of major international groups. She is also a member of the Ikyta (International Association of Kundalini Yoga Teachers). She is a certified Advanced Neuro-Trainer by the Neuro-Training College, Melbourne, Australia. Alessia founded Yoga Coaching®, a company that supports business people to reach their full potential. She has been teaching at the university for the elderly “Università Primo Levi” in Bologna for 5 years.
Cathy Watkins, Ed.D, RYT 500, RCYT, Wellness Educator, BLS
Scholarship Ambassador and Coordinator
Cathy is an educator who has an interest in blending traditional exercise, movement, and yoga. Cathy is a perpetually curious learner whose teaching style includes humor, spontaneity, and providing a supportive environment for her students, ages 5 to 91. She can be found most days reading, being with family and friends, cooking, and dancing.
Avtar Nordine Zouareg, MA
Curriculum Consultant
Two-time Mr. Universe bodybuilding champion, Avtar Nordine Zouareg is an internationally acclaimed, high-performance coach and wellness expert, bestselling author and speaker. He lives in Tucson, Arizona.
