From my heart, warmest welcome. 

 

It is all about the details and a continual journey... 

​

Shelley's life journey is a vibrant tapestry woven with diverse experiences and a deep commitment to holistic well-being. At the core of her endeavors lies a passion for guiding others toward inner harmony and vitality.

​

Currently at the University of California San Francisco (UCSF), Shelley teaches yoga, qigong, and meditation classes, as well as leading workplace wellness events. She developed and led a yearlong campus-wide meditation program that enriched the lives of students, staff, faculty, and patients by fostering mindfulness and stress management. 
 

As a Well-being Specialist at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center's Integrative Medicine Department, Shelley curated hospital yoga programs, taught private yoga sessions in the hospital, co-facilitated Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction eight week courses, taught the Lebed Method of dance for breast cancer patients, led cancer support groups, and participated in research for Integrative Medicine supportive modalities. These experiences deepened her ability to provide empathetic, individualized care for people navigating complex health journeys.

​

At Weill Cornell Psychiatric Hospital, she taught dance and mindfulness to students K-12 attending school within the hospital. Working closely with their psychiatrists, she developed classes to fulfill artistic expression, physical education, and emotional well-being. One of her greatest joys was choreographing the Stepping Up graduation ceremony for all grades, a highlight that fostered a profound sense of accomplishment within the community

 

Shelley served as a teaching artist for the NYC Ballet integrating arts into public school curricula. She guided the students in choreographing their classroom lessons and showcasing their work in a school performance. She also brought them to experience NYC Ballet scintillating performances at Lincoln Center.

 

Shelley was the director of a pre-professional high school dance company,

Steffi Nossen Dance in Education, at SUNY Purchase. She nurtured the artistic growth of the young dancers by coaching them in professional choreography and organizing performances in underserved communities. This deepened her commitment to fostering meaningful connections through the arts.

 

A particularly meaningful project was a two-year grant initiative at the New Jewish Senior Living Center where she lead movement classes to ease anxiety among Alzheimer’s patients. These classes significantly reduced anxiety from sundowning and fostered a greater sense of collective awareness and community support among participants, their families, staff, and caregivers.​​​

​

Her authored works, The Ecstasy of Practice, now available on Audible,  Apple Books, & Amazon and Peaceful Journey A Yogi's Travel Kit published by Barron's  Educational Series, stand as testaments to her dedication to spreading holistic wellness.​​​​​​​

​

Before her immersion in holistic practices, Shelley had an eclectic career as a ballet dancer in New York City. With the Balinese American Dance Theater, she explored fusion blending Balinese dance with ballet. Her versatility shone while freelancing and touring globally for over a decade with numerous companies including New American Ballet, Battery Dance, Alice Farley Dance Theater, as well performing in the musicals: Phantom of the Opera, On Your Toes, and South Pacific.

​

​​Her collegiate journey began with a full scholarship to the University of Arizona. While attending school she danced professionally with Ballet Arts. Her final year of school Shelley studied abroad in the disciplines of English Art & Architecture as well as Shakespeare at the University of London. She also received a scholarship to study at the renowned Ballet Rambert Conservatory in England.

​

Her passion for movement and holistic well-being extended beyond dance. Shelley delved into teaching Pilates, training with Fran Lehen, an original student of the Pilates method in the US, at the established Ground Floor Studio in Manhattan. She immersed in Tai Chi Chuan, La Hok Ba Fa, and double-edged sword form under the guidance of Master CK Chan, enriching her artistry through inner awareness and Qi power. Shelley also trained with Master Robert Peng in the Twelve Cycles of Qigong and Yi Jin Jing.

 

Shelley is certified in Interdisciplinary Yoga, Yin Yoga, Laughter Yoga, Aromatherapy, Dance methods, Meditation, and Guided Imagery. Her commitment to Ekam Meditation Center in Andhra Pradesh, India, spans over a decade, where she studies, volunteers, and is deeply grateful for the continual growth and development.

Shelley's greatest joy is sharing the inner arts with others, providing a meaningful contribution to health and happiness.