Dawn began studying massage after getting relief from chronic pain and headaches naturally. While in massage school she found the practice of yoga kept her balanced while working, studying and living. Wanting to share these two practices with her clients and communtiy, Dawn opened Garden of Life Massage & Yoga Center in November 2003.

People seeking lasting relief from acute and chronic pain and stress find themselves in Dawn's hands. Dawn uses Tuina, an eastern massage technique and part of Traditional Chinese Medicine, blended with the western modalities of Swedish and Deep Tissue. She also performs Hot Stone Massage, Sports Massage, Pre & Postnatal Massage, Baby's First Massage Instruction, Chair Massage, Reflexology, and Geriatric Massage.

Yoga and massage are for every body. Dawn creates a way for each individual, no matter the age in her care to benefit. Yoga instruction can be modified to a chair or the workplace for wellness programs. Classes taught by Dawn inlcude Hatha, Vinyasa, Intro to Yoga, Kid's Yoga, Restorative Yoga and Pilates.

In January 2001, Dawn graduated from the Institute for Therapeutic Massage in Pompton Lakes, with high honors. Her continued zest to learn more brought her to Shanghai, China in the springs of 2006 and 2008 to continue her studies in Tuina.

Born in Dublin, Ireland, Eileen attended the National College of Art and Design in Dublin where she studied graphic design and photography.

She has been a freelance photographer and newspaper correspondent for over 15 years enjoying the flexibility it gave her to be home to raise her son Conor.

As her son got older she had less demands on her time and decided to explore an area she has always found extremely interesting, massage.

Eileen attended the Institute of Therapeutic Massage in Pompton Lakes where she studied Swedish and Medical massage.

While Eileen enjoys all massage modalities she is particularly interested in medical massage which she believes if done on a regular basis can effect significant positive change in the body, regardless of age.

Mellon h as been practicing massage therapy in New Jersey and Florida for close to 30 years.  She received her training in massage at Lindsey-Hopkins in Miami, Florida in 1980.  Besides her training in traditional Swedish massage her specialities include sports massage and the chronic pain relief modalities of neuromuscular massage, trigger point therapy.  She also has training in CranialSacral Therapy, a light touch therapy which works to remove restrictions involving the nervous system.  More recently Mellon has added the use of essential oils as one of her tools in order to promote further the physical, psychological and spiritual wellbeing of her clients.

“Over the years, I have worked with a diverse client base with varying physical needs to develop creative ways to solve challenging situations, to draw out my clients’ positive feelings to access healing, and to bring an open mind to my work.  I have worked with athletes as they prepared to compete at high levels in their individual sports as well as with clients seeking relief from serious health issues like cancer and MS. “

During her free time time she enjoys hiking and in winter skiing.  She enjoys especially her book club gatherings and participates in many of the buddhist  dharma celebrations held at the Kadampa Meditation Center in Glen Spey, New York.

The motivation for Danielle Firmenich to begin helping others to heal themselves through therapeutic massage started with her own journey towards healing. After receiving her first massage Danielle was convinced that massage has intricate abilities to guide the body into relaxation and the path to health. Danielle has been a vegetarian for many years and practices mindfulness under the teachings of Thich Nhat Hahn (Zen Buddhist Monk, Author of No Death No Fear). She received the five mindfulness (meditation) trainings where she was given the Dharma name, Tranquil Relationship of The Heart. She has also practiced Yoga (Hatha) and Taijiquan for many years.

Danielle graduated as a Natural Therapeutic Specialist from New Mexico School of Natural Therapeutics, located in Albuquerque, NM. This 800 hour program specializes in Therapeutic Massage and Polarity Therapy. Developed by Dr. Randolph Stone, Polarity Therapy is a healing art that restores the vital energy to a relaxed and energized balance. A soft, stimulating, or deep touch is used to affect the finer electromagnetic energy currents within the person's body and mind in order to create a state of self-acceptance, balance, and restored health. Danielle also practices reflexology and some Shiatsu. She has basic knowledge of Homeopathy, Herbal Medicine, Hydrotherapy and Flower Remedies.

Tracy grew up right here in Wantage. Because of being raised in Sussex County, she has a profoundly close relationship with nature. This relationship with nature is the reason that she became consumed with holistic health, and natural healing at the age of 15.

She danced at Dance Expression from the ages of 7-17. Her dance background gave her a deep respect and understanding of the human body. Unfortunately, at the end of her senior year at High Point, a knee injury prevented her from persuing a college career as a dance major.    

After High School, she needed to support herself to eventually put herself through college. She began to work as a receptionist at a health insurance office. As a young lady, she enjoyed the money and the benefits the work provided, yet she went home every day very unfulfilled. Her soul yearned to make a difference in the world. So, in early 2001, she decided to attend ITM. This was a decision that would unknowingly change her whole life for the better.    

Upon completing her massage training, she relocated to Virginia Beach. She began her massage career there at a well known AVEDA Salon/Day Spa. While working there, she was a natural nail technician apprentice. She also attended many AVEDA body care and facial workshops. Once she started working as a Massage Therapist/Spa Specialist, she soon realized that she had most certainly chosen the right career path. Not only did she leave work at the end of the day with a feeling of personal satisfaction, but most of her clients were repeat clients and spoke highly of her work.

After 3 years of working in the day spa atmosphere, she yearned to accomplish more in her field. In 2006 she became a full time Massage Therapy Instructor at Centura College in Virginia Beach. She also continued to practice part time as a therapist on the days she did not teach. Like the old saying goes, "If you want to know something, teach it".  As an instructor, Tracy was able to become more skilled as a therapist. Instructing also made her appreciate the massage profession on a deeper level. She taught many classes besides basic massage skills, including Hydrotherapy/Spa applications, Aromatherapy, Reflexology, Deep Tissue Massage, Medical Massage, Ethics, Natural Nutrition, Business, Anatomy, Physiology, Pathology, and Client Assessment, just to name a few.     

In 2011, Tracy decided to move back to Wantage to be closer to family. She is thrilled and excited to join our team here at Garden of Life. She loves to help people to relax deeply because she believes that stress is a main cause of most disease. It is her wish to have you leave your massage feeling like you are floating on air. She loves to tailor the massage to your specific needs and will usually use a mix of all the modalities she knows to accomplish your personal massage goal.

Judi is a Certified Registered Yoga Teacher/Therapist who has been teaching  yoga for the past 30 years.  She received her certification from New York’s Integral Yoga Institute and has studied with many Yoga Teacher/Therapists since that time.

Judi developed both a Gentle and Chair Yoga Teacher Training Certification Program and Manual for Integral Yoga and is currently on the Board Of Directors for this program.

She has always been very concerned about making Yoga accessible to everyone; the elderly, the disabled, those with injuries, those with chronic pain as well as the physically fit.

Judi brings compassion, an open heart, a sense of humor and lightness to all of her classes.

Judi is also a Traditional Reiki Master, trained by the Loving Touch Center, International School of Reiki, Inc.  She began to study Reiki in 1994 and continued on to becoming a Reiki Master in 1997.  That same year she was ordained as a Minister of Spiritual Healing and has performed many marriages, blessings and memorial services.

She also became a Master Teacher of Magnified Healing in 1995 and is a graduate of Silva Mind Control.

Dave has been instrumental in raising awareness of Yoga in Northern New Jersey. He developed the Yoga Program at the Sussex County YMCA in 2006 and has taught over 1000 classes there since. He is also the creator and producer  of the Evolve Music and Yoga Festival (evolvefest.com) which was featured in the January 2010 edition of Yoga Journal.

Evolution Flow Yoga is a power vinyasa style series of 70 individual asanas.  All major muscle groups of the body are stetched, strengthened, flexed and toned throughout the Evolution Flow. There is also an emphasis on meditation and connection with your source energy. This class is designed for all experience levels and will help you towards your goals of bodily wellness, beauty of form and peace of mind.  Evolution Flow is a totally new experience designed to promote you to the next level of your unique personal potential!

Dave also composes and performs Kirtan Chant. In addition, Dave is an avid student of Yoga's primary text- The Bhagavad-Gita and will often share it's ancient yet relevant insights throughout his class.