About Us

Meet the five teachers who are Stone Women Dancing.

Therese Jacobs-Stewart

2046 St. Clair Avenue, St. Paul, MN 55105

(651) 208-0749

Therese, psychologist and author of Paths are Made by Walking: Practical Steps for Attaining Serenity, is a trailblazer in exploring the science of spirituality and its impact on both business and personal lives. She has been an organizational consultant, certified Spiritual Director and mindfulness meditator for more than 25 years.

Among others, Therese has studied with Tibetan monks in Nepal, the Dalai Lama in India, Christian priests in a Carmelite hermitage, and has completed Jon Kabat-Zinn's famed stress and relaxation program.

Her present zeal is working with the "edge" of modern brain science and ancient contemplative practices--making them easily available to others in an open and warm environment, free from religious and cultural baggage. Therese is the founder of MindRoads Center for Spirituality, where she offers retreats, workshops and individual coaching. She lives in St. Paul with her husband, Jim.

Marilyn Myo-O Habermas-Scher

VoiceWork

(952) 259-1468

e-mail

Marilyn Myo-O Habermas-Scher is an ordained priest and senior practitioner in the Soto Zen Buddhist tradition, teaching classes, lecturing and leading retreats. Her primary teacher was Dainin Katagiri roshi, the first Japanese Zen teacher in Minnesota, with whom she studied from 1975 to 1990. She has been practicing in the Soto Zen and Vipassana Buddhist traditions for nearly 30 years.

Marilyn has an extensive background in the performing arts and is also trained in a a number of body-mind practices, including T'ai Chi, Qi Gong and Body Mind Centering. She is the originator of VoiceWork, body based voice training, which she offers in private practice as well as having taught at a number of colleges and universities. Marilyn has offered Voice Healings at Pathways, a complementary healing center, for more than 10 years. She is the mother of a grown daughter and lives with her husband and two cats in Minneapolis.

Judith Byakuren Ragir

White Lotus

(651) 433-1002

e-mail

Judith Byakuren Ragir is a senior Zen practitioner and priest. She has a background in body work and healing which includes having been a professional modern dancer and a doctor of Oriental medicine using acupuncture, acupressure and Chinese herbs.

She studied with Dainin Katagiri roshi from 1973 to 1990 at the Minnesota Zen Meditation Center in Minneapolis. Following his death in 1990, Judith was instrumental in founding the Clouds in Water Zen Center in St. Paul, where she was a senior teacher for nine years.

She now teaches meditation and Buddhism at various centers around the metropolitan area, where one of her hallmarks is the application of ancient compassion practices to daily living. She makes her home in the St. Croix River Valley with her husband and two sons.

Merra Young

River's Way

3357 36th Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN 55406

(612) 253-5133

e-mail

Merra is an innovator in the integration of psychotherapy with meditation and mindful movement practices. She has created programs, led workshops and retreats for a variety of people from hospice workers to teens to healthcare and prison settings.

Founder of River's Way Insight Meditation and Psychotherapy Center, she has 28 years of experience in both disciplines that she applies to her clients and students. In addition to her private psychotherapy practice, Merra teaches as an adjunct faculty member at the University of St. Thomas/College of St. Catherine Graduate School of Social Work and Spirituality Institute and at the University of Minnesota's Center for Spirituality and Healing.

Merra is a dedicated meditation practitioner in the Vipassana mindfulness tradition and enjoys Qi Gong and yoga. She has completed numerous intensive trainings and retreats at Spirit Rock Meditation Center, Vipassana Metta Foundation and The Forest Way. People describe her as a generous, compassionate teacher with a gift for opening the hearts of her students. She lives with her husband, teenage son and their cat.

Ellen Hufschmidt

Rites of Change: Honoring Life Transitions

3937 21st Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN 55407

(612) 729-6817

e-mail

Ellen's extensive background in consulting, facilitation and process work psychology has influenced her as a Ritualist for 25 years. Her studies in prayer and ceremony with indigenous leaders from Africa, Guatemala and Native America--coupled with her own Celtic heritage--have made Ellen a fluid and creative facilitator of life transitions.

She works with people of all ages and backgrounds to honor life transitions such as welcoming new babies, moving from adolescence to adulthood, or grieving life's losses.

Communities have been touched by Ellen's collaborations on Illuminations with Heart of the Beast Puppet Theater and her annual Honoring Caregivers Ceremony, sponsored by more than 15 local cancer organizations. She also helps organizations to merge acquired cultures, integrate new leadership and accept new direction.

Ellen's current passion is helping people be present to death so that they can be present to life. She lives with her husband Steve, enjoying their garden together.


		Meet the five teachers who are Stone Women Dancing.



		Therese Jacobs-Stewart MindRoads Meditation Center 2046 St. Clair Avenue, St. Paul, MN 55105 (651) 208-0749 Therese, psychologist and author of Paths are Made by Walking: Practical Steps for Attaining Serenity, is a trailblazer in exploring the science of spirituality and its impact on both business and personal lives. She has been an organizational consultant, certified Spiritual Director and mindfulness meditator for more than 25 years. Among others, Therese has studied with Tibetan monks in Nepal, the Dalai Lama in India, Christian priests in a Carmelite hermitage, and has completed Jon Kabat-Zinn's famed stress and relaxation program. Her present zeal is working with the "edge" of modern brain science and ancient contemplative practices--making them easily available to others in an open and warm environment, free from religious and cultural baggage. Therese is the founder of MindRoads Center for Spirituality, where she offers retreats, workshops and individual coaching. She lives in St. Paul with her husband, Jim. Marilyn Myo-O Habermas-Scher VoiceWork (952) 259-1468 e-mail Marilyn Myo-O Habermas-Scher is an ordained priest and senior practitioner in the Soto Zen Buddhist tradition, teaching classes, lecturing and leading retreats. Her primary teacher was Dainin Katagiri roshi, the first Japanese Zen teacher in Minnesota, with whom she studied from 1975 to 1990. She has been practicing in the Soto Zen and Vipassana Buddhist traditions for nearly 30 years. Marilyn has an extensive background in the performing arts and is also trained in a a number of body-mind practices, including T'ai Chi, Qi Gong and Body Mind Centering. She is the originator of VoiceWork, body based voice training, which she offers in private practice as well as having taught at a number of colleges and universities. Marilyn has offered Voice Healings at Pathways, a complementary healing center, for more than 10 years. She is the mother of a grown daughter and lives with her husband and two cats in Minneapolis. Judith Byakuren Ragir White Lotus (651) 433-1002 e-mail Judith Byakuren Ragir is a senior Zen practitioner and priest. She has a background in body work and healing which includes having been a professional modern dancer and a doctor of Oriental medicine using acupuncture, acupressure and Chinese herbs. She studied with Dainin Katagiri roshi from 1973 to 1990 at the Minnesota Zen Meditation Center in Minneapolis. Following his death in 1990, Judith was instrumental in founding the Clouds in Water Zen Center in St. Paul, where she was a senior teacher for nine years. She now teaches meditation and Buddhism at various centers around the metropolitan area, where one of her hallmarks is the application of ancient compassion practices to daily living. She makes her home in the St. Croix River Valley with her husband and two sons.





Merra Young River's Way 3357 36th Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN 55406 (612) 253-5133 e-mail Merra is an innovator in the integration of psychotherapy with meditation and mindful movement practices. She has created programs, led workshops and retreats for a variety of people from hospice workers to teens to healthcare and prison settings. Founder of River's Way Insight Meditation and Psychotherapy Center, she has 28 years of experience in both disciplines that she applies to her clients and students. In addition to her private psychotherapy practice, Merra teaches as an adjunct faculty member at the University of St. Thomas/College of St. Catherine Graduate School of Social Work and Spirituality Institute and at the University of Minnesota's Center for Spirituality and Healing. Merra is a dedicated meditation practitioner in the Vipassana mindfulness tradition and enjoys Qi Gong and yoga. She has completed numerous intensive trainings and retreats at Spirit Rock Meditation Center, Vipassana Metta Foundation and The Forest Way. People describe her as a generous, compassionate teacher with a gift for opening the hearts of her students. She lives with her husband, teenage son and their cat.

Ellen Hufschmidt Rites of Change: Honoring Life Transitions 3937 21st Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN 55407 (612) 729-6817 e-mail Ellen's extensive background in consulting, facilitation and process work psychology has influenced her as a Ritualist for 25 years. Her studies in prayer and ceremony with indigenous leaders from Africa, Guatemala and Native America--coupled with her own Celtic heritage--have made Ellen a fluid and creative facilitator of life transitions. She works with people of all ages and backgrounds to honor life transitions such as welcoming new babies, moving from adolescence to adulthood, or grieving life's losses. Communities have been touched by Ellen's collaborations on Illuminations with Heart of the Beast Puppet Theater and her annual Honoring Caregivers Ceremony, sponsored by more than 15 local cancer organizations. She also helps organizations to merge acquired cultures, integrate new leadership and accept new direction. Ellen's current passion is helping people be present to death so that they can be present to life. She lives with her husband Steve, enjoying their garden together.