Hello. My name is Janet Long and I am a Massage Therapist and founder of In Balance Center for Living.

The world of massage and healing is exceptionally vast and it has opened a world for me that is a life long journey. I am so thrilled to be able to offer our special services to the community. Meeting new people, hearing their stories and supporting each person in a unique way is such a treat.

I began studying massage in 1998 and became a full time therapist in 2001. I currently have 2,000 hours in massage training and 5,000 hours in practice (as of Nov 2006).

Although my work in 1998 focused on Deep Tissue therapy, my year long course at Health Choices in 2000 was much more comprehensive. They taught us dozens of massage styles and techniques. But, most importantly, we learned how to listen and respond intuitively and integrate all our skills to meet the client's needs. It was a profound experience and I am grateful.

Starting in 1999, it was my dream to provide a place where people from all walks of life could find refuge from their daily stresses. We have proudly created a Wellness Center where people can come to surrender their daily burden, feel the warmth of caring and learn how to take better care of themselves once they leave.

We have yoga classes, massage therapy, workshops and many other healing services and special events! OR, just stop by anytime to hang out with a cup of tea and enjoy the cozy and relaxed atmosphere both indoors and outdoors in our healing gardens. Opening our Wellness Center in 2007 was a dream come true. We welcome you.. nurturing YOU is all WE do!

The beginning........

It was not that long ago that I had no idea what "mind/body" meant. This center was born 7 years ago out of my own need to heal and change the direction of my life.

Health and fitness had always been a passion of mine. For 6 years I had taught aerobic classes, been a personal trainer, and helped run Johnson & Johnson's Wellness Programs. But, with a Bachelor degree in Business I felt I should be "moving upward", so I entered the financial field. As a Client Relations Manager I learned to be comfortable and relate to all types of people. But, over time I found myself growing farther and farther away from my "true self". The things that were important to me were no longer being honored. Because of this discrepancy, I began having recurring panic attacks and was frequently sick (lesson number one!). This was a turning point in my life. It was scary, lonely, and challenging. But, it was the best thing that ever happened to me.

For those of you who suffer from panic attacks, you are not alone. Please listen to what your heart is trying to tell you. It was during this time I started dreaming of a place where people would be cared for and nourished to live the healthiest and happiest lives they could.

I also received one of my first massages. My heart had been in a strong clasp, like a fist, for months and I had no idea how to release it. As I lay there the therapist gently rocked me. After endless months of tightness, it just released. I looked up and said "What did you just do?". I don't think she said anything. Massage can heal, I felt it that day and have so many times since (lesson number two!).

And now......

Out of everything difficult, I truly believe seeds of something good are born if we have the spirit to nourish them. Deciding to become a massage therapist was a risk but I gave my all to it and it felt right. In the end, the risk was well worth it and my life has been blessed with the rewards ever since.

Learning new techniques and healing modalities, traveling to see what other therapists are doing in the world, and broadening my skills are passions of mine. So is writing, being outdoors as much as possible, hiking, dancing, smiling, and listening to all types of music.

I would love to meet or hear from you if you would like to learn more about our Center. We are comprehensive in our approach and no matter what your needs, we are here to provide a place where you will get them met!

Thank you again for reading and I wish you a day full of special moments.

Namaste -  "I honor the light within you"

Diana is a NJ Certified Massage Therapist who received her training from Health-Choices Institute and Holistic Massage School in Hillsborough, NJ. She has been interested in the holistic and metaphysical way of thinking and being for years, but it wasn’t until her brother’s journey of being a naturopathic doctor and her husband’s idea of her becoming a massage therapist that she decided to join the holistic health field.

Her massage career has been rewarding in more ways than she could have imagined and she's so grateful it has brought her to In Balance Center for Living. From the staff to the clients, every day brings a new and wonderful experience. A nurturing and loving massage is her specialty and you will definitely feel a difference at the end of your session.

She's also been very passionate about the arts and has been a makeup artist since 2000. She loves using her talents to enhance a woman's beauty through facials, sculpting brows and applying makeup.

Livia is a Professionally Trained Massage Therapist who has a wonderful balance of combining exceptional massage technique with energy work. Some of her specialties include: Swedish, Neuromuscular, Deep Tissue, Reflexology, Face and Scalp Massage, Sports Massage, Reiki I, Rain Drop Therapy, Hot Stone Massage, Traeger, Pressure Point Therapy, Shiatsu, Spa Treatments.

We know you will be very happy receiving a massage or body treatment from Livia. Your body will thank you!

My name is Bonnie Adams and I have been doing massage since 1998. Massage has been very special for me….far beyond what I ever intended for my life. Far more than I ever expected. After 13 years I am still so passionate about massage. I love taking someone from stress to peacefulness. I take great pride in my work and my ability to be nurturing and sensitive to every persons need. The sense of accomplishment I feel for the many people I have helped over the years is very rewarding.

I also pay special respect and gratitude to my father, a great man, whom I dedicate my career to. In 1996 I lost my father and stepmother in a horrific fire. It was a devastating and heart wrenching event…but one, I realized many years later put me on the path to massage.

At the time, my best friend bought me a gift certificate for my very first massage to help me deal with my stress. It was an amazing experience and I thought…"if I could make people feel that good, wouldn't that be amazing.” I called Health Choices Holistic Massage School in Hillsborough the next day. They had an open house and 3 days later I was signed up for their year program! That year was a pivotal and transformational time of my life.

My father would be proud… he still inspires me to do my best and put my whole heart and soul into everything that I do. I thank him every day for allowing me to pass my gift of touch, nurturing and caring on to others through massage.

I also feel extremely fortunate and thankful to have the opportunity to work at In Balance Center for Living, sharing my gift of massage with special coworkers in a very special place.

I love introducing new people to massage and its benefits and helping people to continue on their massage journey. It is profound and inspiring work. I look forward to sharing my hearts work with you.

The modalities I am trained in include: Swedish, Shiatsu (Acupressure), Polarity (Energy Work) Deep Tissue, Trager (Gentle rhythmic/movement/touch) Joint Manipulation ,Reflexology and Aromatherapy. My studies also included Anatomy, Physiology, Nutrition, Relaxation and Breathing Techniques, Professional Ethics, Self Development and Business Skills.

Continuing Education includes Hot Stone Massage, Geriatric Massage, Lomi Lomi Massage and Stretching Techniques. I am CPR and NJ State Certified for Massage Therapy and a 13 year Member of (AMBP) Associated Bodywork and Massage Professionals.

For a good part of Susan's life, she had struggled with dis-ease in her body; ranging from painful ovarian cysts and tumors, to chronic fatigue syndrome, Fibromyalgia and Meniere’s syndrome, (a vestibular disorder which causes dizziness, pain and pressure, ringing in the ears, and finally, hearing loss). Doctors were unable to help her.

Since studying and applying Reiki in her own life, Susan has been virtually symptom free from the physical ailments that had been plaguing her. Susan is dedicated to helping others discover and trust their own inner wisdom, and develop their capacity for healing and joyful living.

Susan founded a Reiki Share at the Princeton Center for Yoga and Health, sees private clients and has recently brought her Reiki practice to the In Balance Center for Living.

• Certified Reiki Practitioner
• Certified Yoga Instructor
• Graduate of Rutgers University
• Ordained Interfaith Minister
• Life Coach / Spiritual Counselor
• Has over 20 years of experience in studying wellness modalities and mind/body spirit connection.

For over ten years, Robyn has practiced yoga to help heal, energize, and challenge her body and mind. Initially drawn into the practice by its gentle, non-competitive nature, she continues to find joy by connecting breath and movement. As a teacher, she enjoys sharing the peace and clarity that arise from guiding students through a fun and compassionate class.

Ken received his Yoga Alliance certification through the Princeton Center for Yoga and Health. He has been practicing yoga for eight years and came to yoga through dance, so an ideal class for jim deepens the mind-body connection through a creative exploration of challenging standing postures and the activation of different rhythms throughout the practice. He holds a Masters of Fine Arts in Creative Writing from the University of Miami and a Bachelor of Arts in French Literature from the American University of Paris

Heather Mulvey has been practicing yoga since 1998 and has studied various styles of yoga. Her approach to teaching is to offer a class that is accessible to everyone in a open-hearted, safe, and fun environment, while offering guidance to tune inward and nurture our present state. She delights in witnessing the sense of well-being, grounding, strengthening and flexibility found in the yoga practice extend into our daily lives. Heather is a graduate of the New Jersey-based Devalila Yoga Teacher Training, a registered 200-hour course.
Heather is a Registered Yoga Teacher with the Yoga Alliance and teaches group and private classes throughout the central New Jersey region. She is Adult CPR & AED Certified. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree from Rutgers University in Political Science and spent several years as a Communications Director at a not-for-profit organization before entering a corporate career. Heather’s activities include hiking with her Golden Retriever, kayaking, bird watching, gardening with her husband, performing music, and cooking.

Beth is certified through ACE (Personal Trainer), AAAI (Group Fitness Instructor), Powerhouse Pilates (Mat and Reformer Pilates Instructor), Physical Mind Institute (Mat Pilates Instructor), Turbo Kick (Cardio kickboxing Instructor), and Heart Saver CPR. She recently opened a Pilates studio in her home where she trains clients on a personal level. Her goal is to help everyone improve their fitness, strength, flexibility and overall feeling of well being. With her positive encouragement and motivation, she hopes that everyone who participates in her classes feels a great sense of satisfaction and achievement every time they work out.

I fell in love with yoga at the tender age of 34 following a health crisis that had essentially rendered me physically weak and hopelessly depressed. I had spent years as a dancer and as a competitive racquetball player and when my body would no longer cooperate, I sank into despair. I knew I needed to challenge myself, my body and my mind in order to be happy again and full of the positive love of life I had always had. The beautiful marriage between breath and movement transformed my depleted body and gave energy and interest back to my mind. Each new class I took encouraged me to move forward not only with my practice but with my life. I decided to become a teacher because I wanted to share that life changing experience with others. I completed my yoga teacher training program under the direction of Master Yogi Stefanie Pappas at Devalila Yoga. The training had a profound effect because I learned the deeper aspects of yoga beyond physical practice and into the metaphysical, psychological and philosophical beliefs that have become for me the foundation and sustenance of my practice. My practice as well as my teaching style, continue to morph with every new student I meet and with every new experience I have. I have created my own blend of hatha, vinyasa and pranayama to provide my students with a balanced class designed to meet their own specific needs and desires and to teach them the benefits of the continued learning process that is Yoga.

For over 20 years, Jennifer Schrey has been exploring the dynamics of energy and consciousness through the various schools of Yoga and methods of holistic healing. Her formal training spans various models of energy healing, as well as, studying the psychosomatic functions of the human energy field. She completed her initial yoga teacher training while living at the Kripalu Center in 1997 and continued to study under the guidance of Parvathi Nath Saraswati. Jennifer is also a certified massage therapist and certified as a yoga therapist by the Rocky Mountain Institute of Yoga and Ayurveda. As well as instructing group classes, she offers private healing sessions. She has been working as a healer, bodyworker, and somatic therapist for 12 years. Jennifer holds a space of open compassion and curious exploration as she supports students' journey on the healing path and into the adventure of yoga.

Joni is a certified 200 hour Yoga Teacher/Therapist who teaches and practices classical Hatha Yoga focusing on postures, breathing, relaxation and meditation and uses traditional teaching methodologies. She has studied holistic therapy, anatomy/physiology, and holistic nutrition through Gurukul Holistic Center in Bridgewater, NJ. She is pursuing her 500 hour certification in the Fall of 2011. Joni suffered from chronic headaches for several years. After going to several doctors and specialists and finding no relief, she decided to try yoga. She discovered that some gentle postures to stretch and release tense muscles, deep breathing techniques, relaxation and meditation all helped prevent as well as reduce the severity of her headaches. Her passion for Yoga has grown since this experience and now she wants to share it with you. A proud and busy mother of 3, she also enjoys running, photography, music, family and studying nutrition.

Vilma Roberts is a nationally certified massage therapist and Kundalini Yoga teacher. She recently joined us here in New Jersey from Miami, Florida where she had a very successful practice in healing arts for over 15 years; Vilma also leads group gatherings for new moon native American drumming, chanting, kirtan, and yoga dance. Vilma has a well-rounded spiritual background, raised both in Hindu and Christian cultures bringing her a unique perspective offering alternate points of views on how we can heal and enjoy life. She has studied with world renown visionaries such as Jim Self, Brian De Flores, Shiva Rea, and Solara who hold higher vision for the age of Aquarius. Vilma has also been deeply influenced by Deepak Chopra, Wayne Dyer, Carlos Castaneda, Eckart Tolle amongst others. Vilma has also raised a son as a single parent and has recently entered the sweet journey of marriage with her partner Keith. To maintain joy and balance in today’s challenging world, they keep sacred daily yoga practice and attend yoga intensives several times a year. Her knowledge of healing arts and life experiences offer us a teacher with well-rounded conscious awareness to assist us in our growth and expansion.

Margo is a Fitness Instructor who truly understands the challenges of getting and remaining fit. At 51, a mother of two, she has discovered a path to fitness that truly works. Having founded her own business, “Body Sculpt & Fitness by Margo,” she is proud and happy to share her formula with woman of all ages who are seeking a fit body and a healthy active lifestyle.