Keynote: Zabie Yamasaki

yoga instructor. educator. activist. survivor.

Having the opportunity to transform her own trauma through the practice of yoga, Zabie Yamasaki, truly believes in the healing power of asana practice. For years, Zabie's unfaltering support for survivors of sexual violence has manifested itself in many forms. She has ultimately made it her life's goal to help empower survivors of assault to regain their strength and self-worth. She is extremely passionate about yoga and its ability to help individuals connect to their emotions, be present on the mat, develop peace of mind, and take the necessary steps to become their most true, authentic self. 

~zabieyamasaki.com~

Autumn Mist Belk

Mantra: Use Your Voice for Healing

Autumn Mist Belk (MFA, University of Maryland; BA, University of Alabama) is an Associate Professor at NC State University (teaching dance, yoga, and gymnastics), the artistic director of Code f.a.d. Company, curator of FAD (Film-Art-Dance) Festival, and a yoga teacher at Bliss Body and Blue Lotus Yoga (specializing in Vinyasa and Yin classes). In 2015, Autumn was inducted into NCSU’s Academy of Outstanding Teachers, and most recently, she was chosen to participate in artist residencies (making dance films and teaching dance and yoga) in Iceland and Austria. In social situations, Autumn is typically quiet; however, through her yoga practice she has discovered how important our voice can be to feel our own worth and weight in this world. She is particularly interested in helping other introverts (whether by nature or because of past trauma) unearth the power of their voices through mantra practice.

~autumnmistbelk.com~
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Laura Terry

Supportive Yoga Environments:
​Empowering Students to Connect to their Bodies

A Physical Therapist since 1998, Laura Terry has practiced in many different settings with clients with a variety of problems and goals: from people with major neurological disorders and injuries to clients with chronic pain and orthopedic and muscular injuries. Laura started practicing yoga 15 years ago, turning to it more consistently as she tried to find balance between working full time and raising 2 young children. Her yoga practice allowed her to more fully connect her physical and emotional well being.  In 2008, Laura became a yoga instructor in order to share this benefit with others and to integrate it into her PT practice. She is one of the curriculum developers and lead trainers for Balance Through Movement Yoga Teacher Training program based in Chapel Hill. The training is heavily influenced by neuroscience, anatomy and physiology along with the therapeutic aspects of yoga. She has her own practice of Yoga and Physical Therapy in Chapel Hill. Laura has an undergraduate degree in Exercise and Sports Science from UNC-Chapel Hill and her Masters in Physical Therapy from East Carolina University. She is a certified practitioner of Integrated Positional Therapy (a gentle and effective manual therapy technique for neuromuscular pain).

Tracey Williamson Miller

Open Trauma: Intersections of
​African American Culture and Sexual Trauma

Tracey Williamson Miller is the Director of Community Education at the Orange County Rape Crisis Center in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Within this role she is a prevention educator, consultant, supervisor, and builds new community relationships with nontraditional partners. Prior to this she was the Prevention Education Coordinator for Pee Dee Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Assault in South Carolina. Tracey created and initiated “The Barbershop Initiative” which is a program that encourages open and honest discussions with African American males on topics such as intimate partner violence, child molestation, sexual assault, healthy relationships, and mentoring. She served as Assistant Coordinator for the Pee Dee Coalition AmeriCorps Connecting The Dots Program and trained AmeriCorps members to become community educators.

Tracey is a certified master trainer for Empowering Parents of At-Risk Males and also “Yes You Can” self esteem training facilitator for African American women. She provides trainings for the Trevor Project which is a safe zone training for LGBTQI youth and a Stewards of Children facilitator which provides trainings to parents and professionals on ending child sexual assault. She is a certified RAD self -defense instructor as well as a national speaker. She has presented at the 2014 and 2016 SAFECHR Coalition for Human Rights International conferences in Chicago and Virginia. Tracey enjoys community engagement, increasing collaborative community partnerships, and spending time with family. Tracey and her husband Tracee are parents to 3 adult children.

​Kelley Carboni-Woods

Peace Filled Parenting:
​Cultivating Consent & Honoring Humanity ​​​​​

Kelley Carboni-Woods is a writer, wellness advocate and community organizer committed to using the tools and philosophies of yoga to cultivate liberation, joy and peace for herself and others. Her connection to the living practice of yoga, a path of mindful wellness and self realization fuels her work, impacts her life and propels her to want to share it with others through her writing, events and guest teaching opportunities. She remains focused on making this healing practice accessible to all, connecting to communities that are normally excluded or ignored in mainstream wellness circles.

Being a mother of two liberated souls has created a point of focus that brings these tools to the way she is mothering them and also calling her to share this with all parents. Through in person and online offerings, she centers her work on making these connections with authentic and sustainable tool building. 

~peacefilledmama.com~

Jenna Horgan, LCSW

Creating Safe Spaces:
​Trauma-Sensitive Group Facilitation

Jenna Horgan, LCSW, is a bilingual mental health therapist who works at El Futuro, a nonprofit outpatient clinic that provides mental health services for the Latinx community in Durham, North Carolina. Her certifications include Music Therapist-Board Certified, Registered Yoga Teacher and Trauma Center Trauma Sensitive Yoga-Facilitator. Jenna works primarily with survivors of trauma, and frequently integrates yoga and mindfulness into individual therapy. She has extensive experience with group facilitation including music therapy, psychotherapy and trauma-sensitive yoga groups. Jenna values each individual’s right to self-determination, self-advocacy and healing, and believes in our collective responsibility to rise up against oppression and work for equality for all people.  She loves the way group-work brings a sense of universality and connectedness, promoting healing in community.

Naomi Ardea, LMBT

Transformation through Subtle Awareness:
​Survivor Self-Care in Yoga Settings

Naomi Ardea is an artist, author, massage therapist, and survivor of adult and childhood sexual violence. A graduate of Oberlin College and Body Therapy Institute, Naomi’s work and personal backgrounds center around nature, children, creativity, and the power of touch, all of which enrich her approach to the healing arts. In her Chapel Hill-based practice, Naomi specializes in trauma-sensitive massage and energy work, holistic self-care consultations for sexual trauma survivors, and nurturing touch consultations with parents and children. She also advocates for rigorous ethics education and accountability in alternative healing professions. In 2016, Naomi published an award-winning self-help memoir, The Art of Healing from Sexual Trauma: Tending Body and Soul through Creativity, Nature, and Intuition. She believes in the healing power of connection – that we can move toward health and peace by connecting to our bodies, our creativity, our community of support, and our Earth.    

​~NaomiArdea.com~