Living Well Institute Faculty are Integrative & Lifestyle Medicine experts, centered around delivering care through a biopsychosocial, interdisicplinary, yogic model of care. The Medical Therapeutic Yoga methodology, documented in the text of the same name, is centered around creating safety and evidence-based assessment and intervention. Licensed healthcare providers are the primary deliverers of MTY; however yoga teachers and therapists can also use MTY to establish dialogue and working relationships with medical providers to improve community health and increase the effectiveness and safety of their yoga instruction. Dr. Ginger Garner, founder of Living Well Institute, formerly Professional Yoga Therapy Institute, has developed online and in-person training programs for medical professionals and yoga practitioners. Ruth Goldeen joins the Living Well Institute Faculty as a registered and licensed occupational therapist, and is a graduate of the PYTI program. Jess Hartmann is also a member of the Living Well Institute Faculty and is a physical therapist who brings her expertise as an orthopaedic and manual therapist and graduate of the program. Matthew Remski is an adjunct Living Well Institute Faculty member and brings his expertise in demystifying yoga and helping the yoga community acknowledge and move past its long history of abuse. Living Well Institute and the Professional Yoga Therapist and Integrative Lifestyle Medicine programs are committed to nondogmatic, evidence-based instruction in yoga as Integrative Medicine & Lifestyle Medicine.
Dr. Ginger Garner PT, DPT, ATC, LAT
Certifications: PYT, DipACLM
Founder & Executive Director, Faculty
Dr. Garner is a University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill trained doctor of physical therapy (DPT), licensed athletic trainer (LAT, ATC), professional yoga therapist (PYT), and board certified in Lifestyle Medicine (DipACLM/DipIBLM). She has extensive training in orthopedics, manual therapy, yoga and yoga therapy, mindfulness, including Pilates and other Lifestyle Medicine practices and modalities. She has spent 25 years studying and creating “best fit” yoga and other mind-body practices in and outside of healthcare. Ginger founded Living Well in 2000 and Professional Yoga Therapy Institute® in 2001. She is the author of multiple specialty CE’s programs, including the Professional Yoga Therapist certification & Lifestyle Medicine Certificate. Her most recent publication is Medical Therapeutic Yoga, slated for 4 foreign translations. See her publications & CV here. She lives with her husband, 3 sons, and rescue Labrador Scout in Greensboro, NC. Read her full bio & story here, as well as make patient appointments in person or via telehealth.
Jessica Hartmann PT, PYT, PhD (candidate)
Faculty, Level III Certification
Jessica graduated from the Physical Therapy program at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, PA. She began her PT career with a focus on Osteopathic Manual Therapy and she is now the owner and operator of Integrative Rehab and Wellness, Inc. Jessica is grateful to have the opportunity to combine Medical Therapeutic Yoga with manual therapy. She specializes in treating back and neck pain, sacroiliac joint dysfunction, sciatica, musculoskeletal issues, chronic pain, fibromyalgia, migraines/headaches, anxiety, arthritis, and TMJ. Jessica is the co-director of Living Well Yoga in Healthcare Yoga Teacher Training Program, along with PYTI® Founder, Ginger Garner. She is adjunct faculty at the University of North Carolina Wilmington in the School of Health and Applied Human Sciences. Jessica also teaches at several YTT’s in the eastern USA. Jessica lives in Wilmington, NC with her husband and her pets, where she loves the sunshine and coastal vibes. Visit Jessica at www.integrativerehabandwellness.com.
Ruth Goldeen, OTR/L, M.Ed., PYT
Assistant Faculty, Level I Certification
Ruth earned her Occupational Therapy degree at University of Pennsylvania and later completed a Master’s Degree in Early Childhood Education with a Special Needs emphasis at University of Virginia. She began her career in adult rehab in Philadelphia – but quickly followed her heart into the world of Pediatrics, first in Jerusalem, then California, and finally landed in Charlottesville, VA. In 1987 – working for UVA Medical Center ever since. Close to 20 years ago Ruth discovered that she could combine her love of Yoga with her professional life, which has influenced her practice ever since. She was thrilled to find PYTI for the opportunity to learn from and with other passionate health care professionals following this path – and completed her PYT certification in 2017. Ruth has presented about use of Yoga as an OT at conferences locally and internationally – and has taught about use of yoga for children with Autism in Vietnam and Honduras. She has created a video entitled: Yoga for Children with Autism – Worldwide, which is available for free on YouTube in 3 languages (with a 4th translation in process) for distribution to underserved populations.
While in Charlottesville, Ruth and her husband raised two wonderful children and many animals. The kids have become a source of travel opportunities – with a daughter living in Portland, Oregon and a son doing Peace Corps in Africa. Says Ruth, “It is a thrill to now join the faculty and to bring PYT to UVA in 2020!” Visit Ruth on Facebook and YouTube.
Matthew Remski
Adjunct Faculty, All Levels
Matthew Remski is a yoga teacher, industry consultant, and author of nine previous books, including threads of yoga: a remix of patanjali’s sutras, with commentary and reverie. As the survivor of two cults, his work has been pivotal in illuminating the shadows of globalized yoga and Buddhism, and showing that disillusionment and critical inquiry can be gateways to mature spirituality. He facilitates modules in philosophy, history, culture and community health in yoga teacher training programmes internationally. He lives in Toronto with his partner and their two children.
Jeff Jablonski
CFO, Vice President, Director of Student Affairs
Jeff is the resident fixer of all things, performing magic in the office and also from far away. He mostly works in the background attending to students, handling administration, technical needs, and keeping the Living Well Institute machinery well oiled. Jeff is a Virginia Tech grad, member of the VT Cave Club, commercial pilot, and Senior Aerospace Engineer working for the United States Navy and Marine Corps solving problems in turbofan engine maintenance engineering, mishap investigation, and fleet support.
Recently retired from the Living Well Institute kitchen staff, in his spare time, Jeff enjoys brewing beer and kombucha at home, cooking, creating amazing home improvements, sending flowers to Ginger, and mowing the grass. Jeff lives in Greensboro, NC with his wife, Ginger, their three sons, rescue Black Labrador, Scout, and currently missing snake, Snoot.