Meet The Team
Our dedicated team of instructors, wellness practitioners, and providers is here to support your journey toward well-being. With diverse expertise in movement, healing, and holistic care, they create a welcoming space where you can feel grounded and supported.
Your Instructors
Lisa Ackerman
Pilates Instructor
Lisa teaches with a mix of classical and contemporary Pilates styles. A lifelong passion for dance comes to life with ballet-inspired moves adding to the challenge and grace of her classes.
At 39, Lisa found postpartum recovery challenging. Getting fit, regaining her core strength, and finding joy in exercise felt unattainable. She traded her gym routine for Pilates to break through the plateau. She experienced newfound energy, strength, and the confidence she could achieve her fitness goals. Lisa’s passion for Pilates was born.
An emergency spinal surgery in 2022 dealt Lisa a blow that felt like an insurmountable setback to achieving her health and fitness well-being. Once again, her Pilates practice was the key ingredient to overcoming the physical and psychological challenges of recovery. In just three months post-op, she returned to Pilates and quickly regained strength, mobility, flexibility, and confidence. Her practice supplied the mental and physical balance she needed.
Pilates was central to overcoming two of the most difficult physical and psychological challenges she’d faced. She enrolled in Pilates teacher training in 2023 to pursue her passion for the practice and share the power of Pilates with her friends and community. When Lisa isn’t practicing Pilates, you'll find her on outdoor adventures with her two young daughters, husband, and sweet Aussiedoodle.
Tommy Au
Strength Instructor
Tommy is dedicated and experienced Certified Fitness Professional and Weight Loss Training Specialist. He brings a passion for helping individuals achieve their health and wellness goals. With a background in exercise science, he brings a comprehensive understanding of the intricate relationship between fitness and weight loss.
His tailored training programs are designed to cater to the unique needs of each client, ensuring that they not only shed unwanted pounds but also develop strength, endurance, and overall vitality. Through a combination of proven workout routines and motivational guidance, Tommy empowers his clients to make sustainable lifestyle changes. His approach goes beyond physical transformation. He emphasize the importance of mental and emotional well-being, fostering a holistic journey towards a healthier and happier life.
With Tommy’s expertise and unwavering support, you can trust that your weight loss goals are in capable hands.
Maria Inez
Yoga Instructor
Since 1998 Maria Inez’s passion for mental wellness through fitness has led her to root her education in Kinesiology and begin a life long career in the health and wellness industry as a Personal Trainer.
Drawn to the mystery of Yoga in 2002 she naturally fell into teaching in 2007. Always a student and a teacher she has competed trainings in various niches from Vinyasa, Y4T(yoga for trauma), Yoga for Anxiety and Depression, Meditation, Yoga Psyche, as well as immerse in the rich teachings of Classical Tantrik Yoga. She has found a deeper connection and meaning to life through the vast universe that Yoga offers.
Her hope is to connect and share with all who are open to receive.
Kristi Mannix
Pilates Instructor
Coming Soon...
Anandi Martinez
Yoga Instructor
Anandi is the founder of Alyce Life Yoga. She has 20 years of experience as an instructor at Kaiser Permanente and was trained and certified at the Integral Yoga Institute in San Francisco.
Anandi specializes in accommodating almost all physical challenges. She is a nurturing and knowledgeable mentor who is dedicated to her students.
She teaches Hatha Yoga integrating Breathing, Meditation, Guided Relaxation, and Postures.
Lizette Marx
Yoga Instructor
Her passion for yoga began while working as a journalist at Yoga Journal in the early 1990s. After suffering serious injuries in a car accident in 1993, yoga therapy became an integral part of her healing journey and inspired her to deepen her practice.
In addition to her a 500 RYT certification through YogaWorks in 2013, Lizette has received certification in Restorative Yoga from Judith Lasater's world-renowned Relax and Renew Restorative Yoga teacher training program and Yin Yoga through Yogaworks and Yoga Nidra training with Dr. Richard Miller, Yoga Anatomy with Leslie Kaminoff as well as numerous training workshops with Gary Kraftsow. She continues to study yoga philosophy and Viniyoga with her mentor of 10 years, Mynx Inatsugo and is currently working towards her Mindfulness Teacher Training certification with Tara Brach and Jack Kornfield.
When not on the mat practicing, studying or teaching yoga, Lizette changes her yoga pants for a pair of chef pants. As a chef, culinary instructor and nutrition consultant, Lizette brings yoga into the kitchen and endeavors to help others discover vibrant wellness through food, community and mindful choices in body, mind and spirit.
Melissa Murphy
Strength Instructor
Growing up in Walnut Creek and residing in Lafayette, Melissa is super excited to join the Higher Ground family. She grew up playing sports and has always made fitness a priority. As Melissa got older, she realized that one cannot enjoy peak performance without a solid nutrition strategy. This realization started her quest for nutrition knowledge. Melissa’s passion for both fitness and nutrition led her to become a Spin and Baby BootCamp Instructor as well as a Certified Nutrition Coach. She launched her own business, Motivate with Melis, which focuses on helping women make themselves a priority in their busy lives.
She is excited to continue her journey in the fitness studio to offer you a high energy, full body workout. The goal for Melissa’s classes is to create a fun and inviting experience. She will motivate her students to challenge themselves and to move beyond their mental and physical limiting beliefs. Classes will include a combination of exercises including: HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training) workouts, plyometrics, weight resistance and abdominal exercises. If you are ready to get a fantastic calorie burn workout while having a blast, then Melissa’s classes are for you!
When Melissa is not bopping around the fitness studio, she is attempting to keep up with her 3 teenagers and 2 dogs. In her free time, she can be found on the tennis courts channeling her inner Serena Williams while listening to her favorite artist, Lady Gaga.
Jenny Runckel
Yoga Instructor
Jenny, a UC Davis graduate and education teacher at St. Mary's College of Moraga, is a certified 200-hour yoga instructor, wife, and mother of three.
She loves her golden puppy and sweet kitty. Her yoga classes emphasize holistic well-being through breath work and meditation, creating harmony between body and mind. Teaching all levels—from fast-paced studio vinyasa to chair yoga for seniors—Jenny believes yoga is for all abilities. She describes yoga as a journey of body, mind, and spirit, and defines wellness as doing what makes you feel your best as a lifestyle.
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Sam Salaich
Strength Instructor
Sam is a passionate and dedicated instructor. As an ex-Division I athlete, she brings fire and challenge to any class. Sam completed her first 200 HR RYT in 2013 and since then has completed a second 200 HR RYT in 2014, Yin training in 2016, Sculpt training in 2016, and is RPYT in 2020. She also has been instructing Fitness Fusion classes since 2021. She was a Flex teacher at Humble Yoga and NOW is the Flex & Slide teacher at Higher Ground Fridays at 11am!
If she’s not guiding people in classes. She’s either at the gym herself or spending time with her husband Ryan and 2 kids Henry & Barrett.
Chris "Coach" Walsh
Yoga Instructor
Coach is a 500 E-RYT trained by Master teachers Mynx Inatsugu and Melanie Salvatore-August. He has 700 hours of Professional Teacher Training through YogaWorks and over 5,000 hours of teaching Yoga.
In 2014 Coach Walsh started the Yoga program at Campolindo High School (Moraga) where he taught for 29 years. The program began with one class of 45 students and has grown to 5 classes of 45-50 students. He also holds a Teen Yoga Teacher Training Certificate.
Coach draws on his educational background (Un. Of Oregon M.S. Anatomy & Physiology) incorporating aspects of anatomical and biomechanical skills into his teaching of skilled alignment in Asana.
Your Wellness Practitioners
Dr. Andrea Jang
Acupuncturist &
Higher Ground Founder
Bio to come…jangacupuncture.com
Dr. Emily Navas
Acupuncturist
Emily Navas is a licensed acupuncturist and primary healthcare provider with over two decades of clinical experience, specializing in Fertility, Women’s Health, Functional Medicine, and Classical Five Element Acupuncture. Her integrative approach weaves together Traditional Chinese Medicine, Functional Medicine, and Chinese Herbal Medicine to support women through every stage of life—from preconception and fertility to pregnancy, postpartum, and hormone balance.
Emily holds specialty certifications in Acupuncture for Fertility, Preconception, Pregnancy, and Postpartum Care, as well as Pain Management, Autoimmune Disorders, and Emotional Health (Anxiety & Depression). She is also trained in Microneedling with a Functional Medicine lens, treating the systemic root causes of skin and hormonal imbalances to support both internal wellness and outer radiance.
Her clinical approach is deeply personalized, addressing both the physical and psycho-emotional levels of health. Emily’s training in Classical Five Element Acupuncture allows her to identify and treat the root causes of imbalance by understanding each patient’s unique constitution and life history.
Emily is licensed by the California Acupuncture Board and nationally board-certified by the NCCAOM. She also holds an advanced certification in Functional Medicine, allowing her to offer cutting-edge diagnostics and care plans that address complex issues such as GI disorders, autoimmune disease, hormonal dysregulation, and chronic inflammation.
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Dr. Lauren Parish
Acupuncturist
Dr. Lauren Parish, LAc., DAc. (they/she) has over 10 years of experience in Chinese Medicine and believes in empowering patients to take control of their own health and wellness.
Lauren specializes in a wide range of areas, including pain management, gynecology, Long COVID care, and queer and trans health, while also bringing valuable experience in chronic health conditions, stress and anxiety, addiction, and more.
Outside of work, Lauren is passionate about fitness, enjoys amateur fermenting, is a mushroom foraging enthusiast, and loves scuba diving.
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Dr. Orly Politi
Acupuncturist
Journeying through the complexities of healing as a human has inspired a fondness within me for the spaces between. The subtlety of dancing the line between pain and discomfort, choosing to exist in a space that occupies both light and dark, and finding a rhythmic flow within the surrounding chaos- all have inspired my decision to practice Chinese medicine.
I am drawn to the way a needle simultaneously converses with both our physical and energetic bodies, a welcome reminder of how one is inherently affected by the other. Imbued with the intention of re- introducing harmony and balance to mind, body, and spirit, I find joy assisting others traverse their spaces between, while promoting healing from within. I am a good fit for those interested in creatively exploring and deepening connection to Self, while we work together on navigating: chronic pain, psycho-emotional discord, life transitions, an overactive nervous system, or perhaps you are simply in need of a reset.
I find joy in working in both the community setting as well as one-one-one. A private session may be suitable for those wanting to supplement their community treatments and are curious about journeying more deeply into their healing. Abdominal massage, gua sha, e-stim, cupping and needles are all available during private sessions. With over ten years of yoga teaching experience, I also offer alignment, movement, and breathwork recommendations. Please don’t hesitate to ask any questions that may come up for you throughout treatment.
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Sunny Tomaya
Massage Therapist
With a deep passion for healing, Sunny has been a dedicated massage therapist since 2015, offering a variety of modalities designed to relax, restore, and rejuvenate.
A graduate of the McKinnon Body Therapy Center, she specializes in Swedish, Deep Tissue, Reiki, Prenatal, and geriatric massage, providing a personalized approach for each client based on their unique needs.
Known for her empathetic, friendly, and compassionate nature, Sunny creates a warm, safe space for her clients, ensuring they feel comfortable and supported throughout their healing journey.
As a trauma-informed therapist, she is committed to offering care that is sensitive to the needs of each individual, making sure that every touch is mindful and therapeutic.
Sunny truly loves what she does, and it shows in her work. Whether you're seeking relief from tension or simply a moment of relaxation, Sunny is here to help you feel your best.
Your Well-Being Team
Karen Jang
Office Manager
Coming Soon...
Preshet Moore
Wellness Program Manager (Operations)
Driven by a profound passion for wellness, Preshet has immersed herself in practices such as meditation, yoga, and sound bowl healing for the past six years. She believes in the transformative power of these modalities to foster holistic well-being and has integrated them into her own life with dedication and enthusiasm.
Her thirst for knowledge extends far beyond wellness alone. Preshet is fascinated by different cultures and countries. Having lived in three different countries and speaking French, Portuguese, Spanish, and German, she brings a diverse spectrum of experiences to her endeavors. Living abroad has broadened her understanding of well-being, unveiling its diverse interpretations across cultures and communities. This multicultural exposure inspired her to pursue a graduate degree in International Healthcare Management, where she gained invaluable insights into global healthcare practices and policies. Her journey includes experience in meditation facilitation and mentoring in Europe, where she had the opportunity to support and guide others on their paths to growth and self-discovery.
Melissa Buwembo
Marketing Specialist
Coming Soon...
Sydney Moen
Marketing & Studio Operations Intern
Sydney is the Studio Operations and Marketing Intern at Higher Ground Yoga and Well-being with a deep passion for movement and mindful living. As a Marketing student at Santa Clara University, she brings creativity and organization to the studio while supporting its mission to cultivate wellness and community.As an enthusiast of yoga, fitness, and health, Sydney views these practices as powerful tools for both personal growth and connection.
She strives to create an inviting space where everyone feels welcome and inspired, blending her marketing background with her love for wellbeing to share the transformative benefits of yoga and holistic health with others.Sydney is grateful to be part of the Higher Ground team and looks forward to continuing her journey alongside a community dedicated to balance, growth, and intentional living.