About Mind Roads
Mind Roads Meditation Center is a hub for a variety of classes and workshops featuring ancient spiritual practices, and modern scientific principles of how the mind functions. Opened on September 11, 2004 in St. Paul, it provides space for a community of teachers practicing different disciplines.
The Center was founded by Thérèse Jacobs-Stewart, who has been a practicing psychologist, workshop developer, and international consultant for more than 20 years. She's the author of Paths are Made by Walking: Practical Steps for Attaining Serenity — a unique synthesis of science and spirit which offers 20 basic practices designed to establish more healthy emotional responses to the stresses of everyday life.
Our Teachers
Thérèse Jacobs-Stewart
Thérèse Jacobs-Stewart has been a practicing psychotherapist, meditation teacher, and international consultant for more than twenty-five years. In 2004, she founded MindRoads Meditation Center, a neighborhood practice center integrating contemplative practices from both East and West and home of the Saint Paul, Minnesota chapter of Twelve Steps and Mindfulness meetings.
Thérèse has studied with Tibetan monks in Nepal and India, Carmelite contemplatives in a monastery in Arizona, and the Soto Zen community at Green Gulch Farm Zen Center in San Francisco, California.
Thérèse is a recognized subject matter expert in emotional intelligence, and the author of Paths are Made for Walking: Practical Steps to Attaining Serenity. Her newest book, released in June 2010, Mindfulness and the 12 Steps, Living Recovery in the Present Moment, offers recovering people a new resource and fresh perspective for developing their own spiritual path. Included are lessons from ancient and modern Buddhist teachers, and a guided approach to putting mindfulness practices into action.
Jim Jacobs
Jim Jacobs, LICSW, has been a marriage and family therapist for over 40 years. An ardent meditation practitioner and wonderful teacher, Jim has been a student to the Zen Buddhist tradition for the past fifteen years. He did his Jukai ceremony at Clouds in Water Zen Center in Saint Paul, Minnesota and currently studies with Tenshin Reb Anderson, senior dharma teacher at Green Gulch Farm Zen Center in San Francisco, California.
Sandra Cesca
Sandra Cesca, M.Ed., is a long-time school teacher and yoga instructor and has worked in education for many years, including teaching middle school science, college chemistry, Waldorf student handwork, and parenting. More recently, she has worked with young children at a local orphanage.
Four years ago, Sandra moved to Puerto Vallarta to live her dream of a home in tropical paradise. Her company, Learn Vallarta, is a source of information for anyone considering relocating to Vallarta. She recently published her first book, Walking Puerto Vallarta and beyond.
Jean Fraser
Jean Fraser is a teacher specializing in wellness, yoga, and personal development. Her teaching is informed by over thirty years of study in therapeutic movement, yoga, and stress management, and she refines these practices into accessible tools for everyday life. Founder of Soma Yoga and Soma Ventures, Jean is a member of the Kripalu Yoga Teacher's Association.
Colleen Dooley
Colleen is a Registered Yoga Teacher through Yoga Alliance (RYT 500) and Certified Restorative Yoga Teacher with over 20-years experience in yoga. Some of her training includes:
- Extensive studies in the Iyengar tradition with Faye Berton (1993).
- Yoga Teaching Certification - 200 hours with Christopher Baxter, founder of AtmaYoga, a Kripalu based Hatha Yoga fusion (2001).
- Yoga Teaching Certification-500 hours with Tanya Sowards founder of Devanadi Yoga: merging Hatha, Vinyasa, Tantra, Ayurveda & Energy Medicine (2011).
Colleen continues ot inform her teaching and relationship to yoga by studying with:
- Rod Stryker (Himalayan tradition-ParaYoga)
- Aadil Palkhivala (Iyengar based-Purna Yoga)
- Judith Lasater(Restorative Yoga),
- Matthew Sanford (Iyengar and Adaptive Yoga)
- Bo Forbes (Elemental Yoga)
- Tanya Sowards (www.devanadiyoga.com)
- and you!
In additiona, Colleen is a Certified Massage Therapist and Member of ABMP (Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals). You can reach her at 651-249-8014 or Colleen@breathbybreathmassageandyoga.com.
