Cheryl is an RYT 500, visionary, and Semper Fidelis Health & Wellness hero. Before our inception, she was in the trenches at Camp Lejeune, N.C. helping out Marines in the Wounded Warrior Regiment. Her work serves as a continuing inspiration to us all.

Cheryl discovered yoga in 2001. She attended Wilmington Yoga Center’s 200 hour teacher training program in 2007. In 2008, Duke Integrative Medicine awarded Cheryl certifications in “Teaching Yoga to Seniors” and “Yoga for Seniors Therapist”. Cheryl’s work while enrolled in Duke’s seven-month program included mentored study and practice, and led to her development of a research paper titled “The Effect of Yoga in Senior Populations with Osteoarthritis of the Spine.” Duke Integrative Medicine’s program is recognized by the International Association of Yoga Therapists, an organization of which Cheryl is also a member.

Cheryl received a training scholarship from Richard Miller, PhD, to study his Integrative Restoration, or iRest, Yoga Nidra training in February 2009. iRest, a form of guided meditation and mindfulness training, is being used at Walter Reed Army Hospital in Washington D.C. to treat military personnel with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Clinical trials have proven iRest to have very positive effects on PTSD. Cheryl has had the honor of leading iRest sessions for the Wounded Warriors at Camp Lejeune Marine Corps Base.

Cheryl has had the privilege of studying with Paul Grilley, Sarah Powers, and Daniel Orlansky at Kripalu. Cheryl has taught yoga in the Swansboro area since 2007. Cheryl is also the spouse of Marine combat veteran, Eric. Eric suffers with PTSD from a tour in Liberia and TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury) incurred from a tour in Iraq. He served with Charlie Company 1st BTL 8th Marines, the same unit as our Founder and Director Alvaro Matta.

Cheryl was chosen in February 2011 as a Defense Center of Excellence DCoE 'HERO" for her work with Marines who suffer from PTSD/TBI in the Camp Lejeune area.