Kinder Associates :: Health & Wellness Consultants

MIDGE KINDER, MAT, RYT

Midge is a dedicated and caring educator, always responsive to unique and diverse educational settings. Co-founder and partner of Kinder Associates, her personal commitment to education spans more than 40 years. With considerable teaching experience in her areas of certification (early childhood, pre-primary impaired, and special education for emotional support), 9 years ago, Midge created our innovative mindfulness in education program, Wellness Works in Schools™. She continues to teach, research and create curriculum for classroom instruction and teacher training programs. Midge, a certified and registered yoga instructor (RYT), has taught Mindful Yoga classes and mindfulness workshops in the community for 20 years.

She received professional training in Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction under the direction of Jon Kabat-Zinn, Ph.D., founding director, and Saki Santorelli, EdD, executive director, Center for Mindfulness, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Yoga Ed™ teacher training in grades K-8 and Social Action Teacher Training with the Lineage Project (NYC). Midge holds a bachelor’s degree in communications arts and secondary education from Michigan State University and a master's degree in education from Oakland University (Rochester, MI). She is an adjunct faculty member of Millersville University’s Department of Educational Foundations.

RICK KINDER, MBA, RYT

Rick, formerly in corporate management of communications and marketing, brings a unique understanding of the dynamics and stresses within individuals and organizations. A registered yoga teacher (RYT), Rick's teaching and consulting career in mindbody health has evolved through more than 15 years of practice in mindful yoga/mindfulness meditation, and 9 years of teaching Wellness Works in Schools™ in a wide range of educational settings, Mindful Yoga classes, and mindfulness workshops in the community. He has received professional training in Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction under the direction of Jon Kabat-Zinn, Ph.D. and Saki Santorelli, EdD with the University of Massachusetts Medical School, Yoga Ed™ teacher training in grades K-8 and Social Action Teacher Training with the Lineage Project (NYC). Co-founder of Kinder Associates LLC, Rick develops and maintains our business and marketing/ communication activities. Rick holds a bachelor’s degree in economics and history from Albion College (MI) and a master's degree in business administration from the University of Michigan.

WYNNE KINDER, BA

Wynne brings energy and compassion to teaching. Her 17-year teaching career in private and inner-city public schools (formerly with the School District of Lancaster) provides a strong foundation of skills in building relationships, handling behavior management and teaching social and emotional strategies. Now in her 6th year of conducting Wellness Works in Schools™ programs, Wynne is a partner in Kinder Associates LLC, Lead Instructor (K-12 classroom settings) and helps manage our Wellness Works activities with particular focus on classroom scheduling, teacher orientation, administrative contacts, curriculum planning, and maintaining our websites www.kinderassociates.net and www.wellnessworksinschools.com. She has practiced movement and meditation for more than 13-years, is trained in Mindful Yoga; Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction; Boys Town Teaching Social Skills to Youth; and has received YogaEd™ teacher training, along with Social Action Teacher Training with the Lineage Project (NYC). She is a board member of the YWCA and Compass Mark (formerly the Council on Drug and Alcohol Abuse). Wynne is a PA certified teacher (K-8) with a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Alma College (MI).

CHRISTEN COSIA, BSE

Christen is an enthusiastic, compassionate and caring educator. As a classroom teacher for 8 years, Christen has taught in both private and public educational settings (formerly with the School District of Lancaster) with students of varying abilities from preschool to fifth grade. In her fifth year of conducting Wellness Works in Schools™ sessions in urban educational settings, she is a Lead Instructor in a number of alternative and special education classrooms. Christen is trained in Boys Town Teaching Social Skills to Youth and Mindful Yoga, and has maintained a personal yoga practice for 8 years. Christen is a certified teacher (K-6), with a bachelor's degree in elementary education from Millersville University. Christen is skilled in conversational/classroom Spanish.

JODI SWARTZ-RANKIN, BSE

Jodi is a creative educator and individual. She has 9 years of public school teaching experience in various special education classroom settings, most recently with Lancaster-Lebanon Intermediate Unit 13. Jodi is a certified yoga instructor and brings over 10 years of personal yoga practice to her four years of teaching Wellness Works in a range of classroom settings. She also has spent much of her life as a dancer and teaches dance to all ages. While servicing the public school classroom, Jodi implemented community building strategies, as well as, thoughtful approaches for students to handle daily challenges. A certified K-12th grade special needs teacher, Jodi holds a bachelor’s degree in education from Millersville University and has done post graduate work in educational law.

MICHELE ZERBEY, RYT

Michele creates a nurturing and supportive environment in which students can explore breathing, mindful movement and deep relaxation. Believing strongly in the healing and rejuvenating powers of mindbody wellness programs, Michele strives to educate and motivate Wellness Works students on the importance of mindful awareness practices as a means to developing greater sense of peace and balance in their lives. She is a certified Kripalu Yoga teacher and is a registered yoga teacher (RYT) through the National Yoga Alliance. Michele teaches pregnancy yoga, heart healthy yoga and hatha yoga classes at Lancaster General Hospital. She attended Stockton State College (NJ) where she studied psychology.