Meet Our Team
Ken Banwart – Founder/Executive Director
Certified Kripalu & Yin Yoga Instructor
Ken has studied and practiced a wide range of yoga, nutrition, general health, exercise and indigenous spiritual practices for over 30 years. He has been able to fully demonstrate the results of this training in his personal health practices and vibrant lifestyle. He was Founder and served as Managing Director/Chairman of the Board from 1981 to 2013 of Aspen Partners, Ltd., a successful investment management and financial services business.
Ken received his Yoga Teacher Certification from Kripalu School of Yoga in Stockbridge, Massachusetts. He has also studied and trained with other recognized yoga instructors including Sarah Powers in Yin Yoga. He moved to Blue Ridge, Georgia in 2007 and built his own yoga studio to focus his energies on teaching yoga and other health practices. He teaches and conducts international yoga retreats with his Daughter, Magen Banwart. Magen is Founder and CEO of MB Fitness in New York and was voted One of NYC’s Top 20 Most Popular Yoga Instructors.
Christina Law E-RYT 500– Co-Founder/Managing Director
Yoga Teacher Trainings • Thai Bodywork & Trainings • Processing Inherited & Emotional Suffering • Ayurvedic Yoga Therapy • Resident Chef
Christina Law has dedicated over two decades to the study and practice of yoga, holistic healing, and mindful living. As Managing Director of Heartwood Retreat Center, she offers a grounded, compassionate approach to teaching and healing. Christina leads annual Yoga Teacher Trainings and annual Thai Bodywork Trainings, sharing the authentic methods she first learned in Thailand. Her Thai Bodywork sessions integrate stretching, acupressure, and energy balancing to help release tension, improve flexibility, and restore harmony to the body and mind.
Through Processing Inherited & Emotional Suffering, Christina supports clients in letting go of personal and ancestral emotional patterns using tapping and other mind-body techniques. These sessions encourage deep emotional release and reconnection with one’s authentic self.
Her Ayurvedic Yoga Therapy sessions begin with a detailed questionnaire to uncover individual needs, daily habits, and emotional states. From there, she creates a personalized plan incorporating yoga, breathwork, meditation, lifestyle suggestions, and dietary guidance. Clients may also receive a follow-up treatment plan for ongoing support.
As Heartwood’s resident chef, Christina creates nourishing meals that are often a highlight of the retreat experience—so much so that guests frequently ask for her recipes to take home. She is also the organizer of the Dancing Tree Festival, which takes place in the same neighborhood around the pond, celebrating music, healing, and connection to nature.
Learn more about Christina’s offerings at Awakening2balance.com.
Krissy Warmack –Thai Bodywork and Reiki
Krissy has always been somehat of a mystic. She is a dedicated practitioner and teacher, deeply immersed in the realms of Thai Bodywork, Reiki, and Yoga. With spiritual roots that took hold in Thailand and a journey that led her to the tranquil mountains of Ellijay, she infuses her teachings with a blend of ancient wisdom and modern understanding. As a certified RYT and Usui Reiki Master, Krissy guides her students and clients toward holistic wellness, using breathwork, movement, and bodywork to foster balance and inner peace. Her classes and sessions are an embodiment of fullness, aiming to harmonize the mind, body, emotions, and spirit. Whether on the mat or the massage table, Krissy’s compassionate approach creates a safe space for exploration and transformation, allowing individuals to tap into their innate healing potential. When she’s not sharing her passion for healing, you can find Krissy immersing herself in nature, cooking up a storm, or deepening her studies in Ayurveda.
Adria Chancey –Thai Bodywork and Reiki
Over 20 years of experience in the realm of holistic wellness. As a Thai Bodywork Practitioner and Holy Fire® Reiki Master, Adria brings a unique blend of heart-centered healing to her practice.
Adria’s approach is deeply rooted in trust, honor, and love, guiding her clients towards resilience in the body, clarity of the mind, and connection to spirit. Through nurturing and rejuvenating sessions, she aims to positively affect your entire being.
Passionate about healing on all levels – body, mind, and spirit – Adria believes in the transformative power of pure energy, clean nourishment, immersion into nature, conscious living, and, above all, love. Release and shine with Adria as you embark on a journey of holistic wellness and self-discovery.
Joanna Faith Corby, Ph.D. -Pranic Healing and Herbal and Food-Consultations
Joanna Faith Corby, Ph.D. serves as a Pranic Energy Healer, a Life Coach specializing in Natural Health, and a Speaker & Event Facilitator to live groups and online. She brings rigorous scientific training, a deep personal journey in Natural Health, and a passion for all things Healing to her work as a Natural Health Coach and Pranic Energy Healer. She is deeply passionate about celebrating our life force and transmuting pain into empowerment!
Her journey in Natural Health began in 2014 after five years of suffering from chronic pain due to a debilitating upper spine injury. She was dragged through the medical system, becoming increasingly sick with each medical intervention, developing chronic gut pain akin to IBS, chronic Epstein-Barr viral infections, and an autoimmune condition in addition to the chronic spine issue. Since beginning to work with herbs and Food-Healing in 2014, she has personally recovered from these issues, and handled acute bacterial infections, viral infections and various injuries including persistent/recurring injuries, and coached clients in managing diabetes, heart disease, depression, anxiety, and chronic joint pain.
Her Health Path has led her from pain and debilitation to teaching, sharing, and fully embracing the herbs, foods, and practices that enable vibrancy and good health! She delivers empowering messages that inspire you to step into active engagement and ownership of your health!
Lynwood Dustin Warmack –Licensed Massage Therapist and Thai Bodywork
Lynwood Warmack is a skilled massage therapist who has a true passion for healing through touch. He has always been drawn to the power of the human body and the ways in which massage can help it to heal and rejuvenate. Lynwood has a particular love for Thai massage, which he believes offers a unique combination of stretching, pressure, and relaxation that can help clients feel their best. He also enjoys working on the table, where he can focus on specific areas of tension and help his clients to release stress and find balance. Lynwood is deeply committed to his clients’ well-being, and he takes great pride in helping them to feel their best both physically and mentally.
Steve Hanna-Voice Analysis & Healing Songs, Brain Wave analysis & personally tuned Binaural Beats, Sound Healing and Quiet Mind Sessions
I believe in the transformative power of sound and energy healing. As a certified
practitioner with over 30 years of experience, I am dedicated to helping you unlock your
inner potential and achieve optimal well-being. My journey began in 1980 when I
discovered the groundbreaking work of Steve Halpern, a pioneer in the field of sound
healing. Inspired by his research, I pursued a degree in music therapy and later earned a
master’s in counseling. Over the years, I have delved deep into the world of vibrational
healing, studying the effects of sound and music on the human energy field. To better
serve my clients, I have received extensive training in various energy healing modalities,
including Sacred Sound Healing,Usui Holy Fire II Reiki and Healing Touch. With 22 years
of experience in addictions and mental health counseling, I have witnessed firsthand the
incredible potential within each individual to heal and thrive. I believe that the key to
healing lies within you. By tapping into the power of guided imagery, meditation, nutrition,
and vibrational tools, we can help you restore balance, alleviate discomfort, and unlock
your true potential. Take the first step towards your healing journey today. For more info visit https://soundhealingsoulutions.com