Jade Shutes
DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION
INSTRUCTOR, BLOG AUTHOR, WRITER, DISTILLER
Jade Shutes holds a Diploma in Holistic Aromatherapy, Holistic Massage, Anatomy, and Physiology, and Reflexology from the Raworth College of Natural Medicine in Dorking, the UK, and a Diploma in Aromatherapy from the International Therapist Examining board (ITEC). Today she is the visionary and director of education for the School for Aromatic Studies.
An aromatherapy practitioner, researcher, and educator for over two decades, Jade opened her first aromatherapy school, The Institute for Dynamic Aromatherapy (IDA), in New England in 1991. She has also taught at Bastyr University, Duke University, Ashmead College, San Diego Hospice, and throughout North America. Recognized as one of the vanguards of professionals who helped introduce aromatherapy to the US, she has since played an active role in the setting of standards for aromatherapy education in North America.
Jade is the past president of the National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy. She served two highly successful and rewarding terms as NAHA President (2000-2003 and 2013-2015). She is the author of "Aromatherapy for Bodyworkers", one of the most widely used textbooks for massage therapists learning about aromatherapy.
Lindsey Feldpausch
DIRECTOR OF STUDENT SERVICES / BLOG WRITER / INSTRUCTOR
Lindsey Feldpausch RH (AHG), is a clinical herbalist helping connect plants with the humans who need them. She believes in our innate ability to utilize the healing powers of plants, and one of her life’s intentions is to kindle this belief in others. An experienced educator, she aims to balance both science and the magic of the natural world within in her teachings.
Michelle Ensley
INSTRUCTOR, CASE STUDY REVIEWER
Michelle’s love for plants began when she was a young child; Seeing a pansy and knowing it was so much more than a flower, always collecting rocks at the beach, and the woods have always been a magical place of refuge for her. Michelle worked beside her mother in the flower beds and helped her parents in the vegetable garden and went on to study Horticulture in high school and college.
Michelle attended massage school at Brenneke school of massage, became an energy worker, studied aromatherapy, flower essences, gem essences, and herbal medicine. She opened her massage practice in 2002 and began her aromatherapy studies with Jade Shutes and the IDA (now Aromatic Studies). She has been teaching the Aromatic Studies curriculum since 2005 and became involved in Hospice work in 2003 with MultiCare Home Health and Hospice, working as a comfort therapist providing massage, reiki, and doing clinical aromatherapy consultations. She continued her studies in spiritual phytoessencing with Dr. Berkowsky, natural perfumery with Ayala Moriel, became a reiki master and teacher, studied
cranial sacral therapy and integrative energy therapy.
In 2006 Michelle was introduced to the amazing world of flower essences and gem essences. She studied and is an international instructor for the Australian bush flower essence company founded by Ian White. In 2014 she enrolled in the chestnut school of herbal medicine founded by Juliet Blankespoor.
“I have been so blessed to have been taught by so many amazing teachers. My life has been enriched by
my students and patients. I am so grateful!”
Michelle’s work can be found at lilygracebotanicals.com
Gergely Hollodi
INSTRUCTOR, BLOG WRITER, AROMATIC STUDIES: HUNGARY
Gergely holds a BA in English teaching and after a 12-year long period spent in the advertising-marketing world decided to change his life and started his journey in the field of healing. Gergely is a graduate of the Cortiva Institute: Seattle School of Massage and is a nationally certified (NCBTMB) and Washington state-licensed massage therapist. He completed the Masters Apprenticeship program with the School for Aromatic Studies in Seattle. He is a professional member of the National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy and the International Federation of Professional Aromatherapists.
He currently lives in Budapest, Hungary where he practices massage as a certified therapeutic massage therapist and offers aromatherapy courses to the public. He is the lead instructor in Hungary for the School for Aromatic Studies. He continues his study of alternative medicine/herbal medicine and is a certified physiotherapist.
"I have a passion for massage and aromatherapy. I am committed to helping my clients with massage for stress reduction, treatment of and rehab from common injuries, relaxation, and discomfort associated with everyday activities. My massage and aromatherapy practice is grounded in the union of East-West healing traditions. I approach healing with healthy curiosity and invite my clients do the same."
Ildiko Berecz
INSTRUCTOR, BLOG WRITER, AROMATIC STUDIES: GREECE
Ildiko Berecz is a modern-day alchemist, bringing her business leadership background dissolved into her roots with nature, creativity and education. Her initiation into holistic disciplines started in 2003, gaining diplomas in complementary practices from Traditional Ushui Reiki, Metaphysical Studies, Tibetan Sound Therapy to Kinesiology, Aromatic Kinesiology, Hawaiian Bodywork, and Aromatic Studies.
Aromatherapy as a life-quality improvement method has been part of Ildiko’s personal life journey from her early 20’s, becoming a major transformative contributor in her own natural healing from endometriosis. She studied at several institutions in Hungary and throughout the world, complementing her life-long learning and research with continued training and conferences such as Botanica. Ildiko nurtures a special connection with her highly respected teachers Gergely Hollódi from Aroma Botanica, and Jade Shutes of Aromatic Studies and honored to have been in a mutually inspiring fellowship collaborative spirit throughout the years.
As a holistic intuitive, and a creative catalyst Ildiko has been bringing life-changing experiences through her highly-inspiring and transformative aromatic practices, coaching, writing and photography since her move to Crete island in 2013. She offers workshops, field trips, and travels when needed.
Ildiko has been a contributing writer of Aromatika Magazine in Hungary since 2015. She got invited to serve as a member of the Association of Hungarian Aromatherapists from 2016, as well as to speak at the DROPS Aromatherapy Conference in Budapest in 2019.
“I am ultimately connected to nature which is both a source of inspiration and a life-style worth living. While mostly spending my time on Crete, I bring along holistic life-changing experiences through highly-inspiring and transformative aromatic journeys. Essential Reflections is a personal blog and an umbrella label I use for writing, photography and botanical creations.
Plants, harvesting, distilling, herbal formulations & aromatherapy blending are all integral part of my daily life and teachings, just as therapy work, holistic coaching and consultations to empower others. My mission is to promote a deeper understanding of sustainable practices with transparency and authenticity in one’s personal life and work ethos.”
Heidi Nielsen
Heidi (Amaru) Nielsen is the founder of From Nature to Nurture and Amaru Aromatherapy. She is a Certified Aromatherapist, Shamanic Yoga Teacher and the creator of a beautiful line of Organic Aromatherapy and Specialty Herbal Products.
Her deep love of nature, the four elements, plant medicine, crystal healing, ancient teachings from past civilizations as well as Hindu Mythology,Yogic Philosophy and Andean Medicine are great teachers for her. She is fueled by a passion to live in a world free from oppression and patriarchal attitudes that have for centuries held all beings back from their highest healed state. Amaru shares her voice in a number of ways as a Mother, Feminist and Medicine person. She holds space with an open heart and is Reiki attuned, herbal infused, and trauma informed. She is honored to be a keeper of medicine songs, facilitator of ceremony and weaver of healing circles.
To learn more about Heidi, visit: fromnaturetonurture.com
Larken Bunce
ONLINE INSTRUCTOR
Tongue Assessment for Western Herbalists, Nutritionists and Aromatherapists
Larken Bunce, MS is a clinical herbalist, educator, writer, gardener, and photographer. She is a founding co-director and core faculty at Vermont Center for Integrative Herbalism, which runs a full-time sliding-scale community clinic and a 3-year training program for clinical herbalists. Her practice and teaching draw equally from science and spirit, novel practice and tradition, clinic and garden, reflecting her diverse experiences in over 20 years in the field. She is committed to the ongoing work of social and ecological justice and repair, especially as these relate to herbal medicine. She holds a Master of Science in Clinical Herbal Medicine, as well as certificates in Zen Shiatsu, Swedish/Esalen Massage, and Mind-Body Skills. Larken is passionate about clinical mentorship, bridging traditional healing models with biomedical sciences, and restoring Nature to culture through herbal medicine.
Nicholas Zemp
COURSE CONTRIBUTOR
Nicholas Zemp is a Clinically Certified Western & Chinese Herbalist, educator, aromatherapist, and avid naturalist and gardener. He is the founder of Grey Mountain Herbs and Director of the Grey Mountain Herbs School of Botanical Medicine.
Growing up close to nature in Southeastern Idaho, Nick has always loved the outdoors and been fascinated by the Earth’s natural abundance and innate intelligence. At the age of 15 he (precociously) threw off modern medicines and began to voraciously devour any book regarding herbal medicine and natural therapies he could find. After moving to Oregon at the age of 18 and volunteering on a medicinal herb farm, he devoted himself to an herbal healing path. In 2007, he received a Traditional Western Herbalist Certificate from the Appalachian School of Holistic Herbalism, and in 2010 received an Advanced Chinese Herbalist Certificate from the Institute of Chinese Herbology. Nick continues to educate himself and others in the wonders of botanical medicine and Gaian consciousness.
Course Contributors
Juliet Blankespoor
COURSE CONTRIBUTOR
Juliet Blankespoor started the Chestnut School of Herbal Medicine in 2007, after deciding to become a professional plant-human matchmaker. She lives with her partner Tom outside of Asheville, NC, in a wee handbuilt home where they nurture a medicinal herb garden and a delightfully hilarious daughter. Juliet has been sharing her passion for plants for over twenty-five years through teaching herbal medicine and botany. Despite a seemingly single-minded obsession for medicinal plants, she’s branched out in the last few years, exploring new territory and interests—namely photographing, videoing, and writing about: medicinal plants.
Juliet is an unabashed botanical entrepreneur –her earliest project during her collegiate years included a get-rich-quick-scheme involving papaya trees. After graduating from University of Florida with a degree in botany, Juliet founded and formulated a tincture line, Green Faith Herbals. She spent her twenties growing and wildcrafting medicine for her tincture business.
http://chestnutherbs.com/
Erika G. Galentin
COURSE CONTRIBUTOR
Erika is a Clinical Herbalist and an ITEC-certified Clinical Aromatherapist consulting from Sovereignty Herbs in Athens & Columbus, OH. She holds a degree in Herbal Medicine from the University of Wales, Cardiff, UK and Scottish School of Herbal Medicine, Glasgow, UK. She is a professional member of the National Institute of Medical Herbalists (UK) and the American Herbalists Guild (USA). She is also a proud member of Pi Alpha Xi National Honor Society in Horticulture (USA).
A decade of clinical practice has provided a platform for a deep and influential understanding of the efficacy of medicinal plants within a clinical environment. It is through this clinical practice that Erika is able encourage positive, learned relationships between plants and people. She is a firm believer in celebrating the role humanity plays in the ecology of our landscapes and that our relationships with the natural world should be based upon reciprocity and exchange.
In addition to clinical practice, Erika is both a student and teacher of horticulture and native medicinal plant conservation and ecology. Erika is also deeply passionate about the history of botanical medicine in the United States as depicted by the American Botanical Movement of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and has built her clinical philosophy around the principles and practice of Physiomedical and Eclectic traditions.
Camille Charlier
COURSE CONTRIBUTOR, BLOG WRITER, RESEARCHER
Camille is a clinical herbalist, artist, mole enthusiast, and literary sleuth. A recent graduate of the Eclectic School of Herbal Medicine's Clinical Intensive Program, Camille aims to support marginalized people and populations confronting complex trauma. With a background in academia -- a degree in biology from Reed College -- Camille interweaves rigorous scientific research, plant medicine, queer theory, and an impish appreciation for encounters with the mystical, the inexplicable, and the absurd. When Camille isn't jamming on trumpet and accordion, you'll find them clowning, making comics, and reading Borges.
Certified Aromatic Studies Teachers
Michelle Ensley
Cert. Aromatherapist, Flower Essence practitioner and educator.
Michelle’s love for plants started as a young girl, helping in the flower and vegetable gardens with her mother and father. She studied horticulture in high school and college. She now utilizes plants in the form of essential oils and flower essences with clients and patients.
Michelle is a graduate of the Brenneke School of Massage and a graduate of The School for Aromatic Studies. She has studied various types of bodywork and energy work and has continued her education in Aromatherapy and Aromatic Medicine to enhance not only her practice but also self care.
Michelle is the owner of Soulscents & Bodywork in Enumclaw, WA. She works as a comfort therapist for Multicare Home Health and Hospice utilizing Aromatherapy, Massage and Reiki.
She has been teaching for the School for Aromatic studies for a decade. She also teaches Australian Bush Flower Essences course for the ABFE co in Australian and Reiki Classes. Teaching and sharing her experiences with health and healing is her passion.
Margo Hertzfeld, Cert. AT.
Margo received a B.S. in Merchandising from Indiana University in Bloomington, and later went on to create Rosy Glow Beauty Company, a line of all-natural personal care products for moms. When she realized the most fulfilling part of this business was researching essential oils for the line, Rosy Glow Aromatherapy was born!
Margo’s aromatherapy education began in 2011 with a Level I certification from Jade Shutes, B.A., Dipl. AT, Cert. Herbalist, Director of Education for the School for Aromatic Studies (now the New York Institute for Aromatic Studies), and David Crow, founder of Floracopeia, with an emphasis on the priciples of Ayurveda. She went on to receive her Clinical certification with the School for Aromatic Studies. She went on to become an instructor for the school, focusing on teaching the live Level I Foundations course.
Margo has expanded her natural therapy education with a certification in Reflexology from the Guardian School of Massage and Reflexology in Sterling Heights, MI, as well as Level I certification in flower essence therapy from The Bach Centre’s education center in the U.S.. Other coursework completed includes natural perfuming, meditation, yoga, mother and baby care, natural oncology therapies, hydrosol applications and botanical skin care.
She is currently completing a certification as a holistic wellness coach.
Margo is a professional member of the National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy, as well as the Regional Director for Northwest Ohio and Southeast Michigan, and a member of the Natural Perfumers Guild.
Kathy Klug
Kathy has been practicing Holistic Aromatherapy for over 30 years. She became a Certified Aromatherapist, Level 1 and 2, many years ago through the School of Aromatic Studies(at that time known as the East West School of Herbal and Aromatic Studies) at Cheryls Herbs in Maplewood, Mo. and was taught and mentored by the late Cheryl Hoard. She then went on to receive her Registration in Aromatherapy.
As a retired nurse of 36 years, she has used her medical knowledge and training along with her knowledgeof Essential Oils and Herbs to create a successful practice in Aromatherapy and Holistic Health. She is a Reiki Master Practitioner, owns her own home based business, supplies several locations with products she has designed and created and is invited to deliver presentations for various groups and organizations, regarding the use of Essential Oils in different situations and conditions. Kathy also writes a quarterly article for Spirit Seeker Magazine, a local St Louis publication and has been featured on their local radio show.
She has been a member in good standing with NAHA, AIA and AHNA for several years. Kathy was born, raised and continues to reside close to St Louis, Mo where she has been teaching at Cheryls Herbs since Cheryls passing in 2015 along with various other facilities in Missouri and Illinois.