Meet the Board

MEERA CHARI

Founder/ Director/ President/ Coach

As a cancer survivor of over 30 years, Meera believes deeply in the power of the positive mind in the healing process as well as in mindful living to create a sense of harmony and wellbeing. She retired from her successful career in corporate finance and has turned to what she feels passionate about: an integrative approach to cancer treatment to help the broader community she lives in. She has been an active volunteer for the American Cancer Society for the 'Reach to Recovery 'program for many years. She has served in the Board of many non profit organizations in the Bay Area. She is a daily Yoga practitioner and a certified yoga teacher with Yoga Alliance and believes in the power of mindful yoga and meditation to transform one's health and life.

DR. MARNI CHANOFF

Integrative Medicine / Program Development/ Secretary/Director

Dr. Marni Chanoff is a Harvard-trained Integrative Psychiatrist and Kripalu-trained Ayurvedic Consultant. She is Director of Wellness at the OnTrack Program at McLean Hospital. She received the Mel Kayce Award for Excellence in Psychotherapy. She completed fellowships at The MGH Center for Psychoanalytic Studies and Harvard University Health Services. Following her training, she joined the clinical faculty at McLean Hospital as Psychiatrist-in-Charge of the Schizophrenia and Bipolar Program. She has also completed her Ayurvedic studies at the Kripalu School of Ayurveda. Dr. Chanoff has a private practice in Boston, Massachusetts where she uses an integrative and individualized approach to mental health care and serves as an advisor for health and wellness programs internationally.

DR. SANDY SRINIVAS

Oncologist/ Treasurer/ Director

Dr Sandy Srinivas is a professor of Medical Oncology at Stanford University and has served on the faculty at Stanford since 1998. After her medical degree from Madras, India, she did her residency training in internal medicine in Rochester, NY and obtained her oncology training at UCSF. Her clinical and research interests are in Urologic Oncology. She has numerous publications in the field of urologic cancers and is recognized nationally as an expert in the field. She has a passion for teaching and has received teaching awards 10 years in a row at Stanford. Her research interests include drug development and discovery and is also very interested in exploring new pathways to deliver best care to patients.

Deborah Davis

Program Development/Fundraising/ Director

Deborah Davis hails from a family of philanthropists, steeped in a rich tradition of serving the local and global community. She has had a long successful career as professional musician with a masters degree from Johns Hopkins University. She also serves as CEO of a real estate company based in San Jose California. In balancing these two careers and raising her two children, Deborah has looked to yoga, meditation and art as resources for health, enrichment, enlightenment and comradery. Deborah also finds fulfillment in her volunteer work in many nonprofit organizations. She has served as Polio Plus Chairperson for Campbell San Jose West Rotary for 9 years. She has also served on the boards of Hillel of Silicon Valley and of the Addison-Penzak Jewish Community Center.

As a grateful breast cancer survivor of over 35 years, Deborah is excited to add value and participate in Integrative Healing’s mission and projects.

Our Teaching Team

The Teaching Team at Integrative Healing is a highly talented, experienced and compassionate group of individuals who are actively involved in program development and coaching.

Meera Chari, Teacher at Integrative Healing has practiced mindful yoga for the past 35 years and is a certified Yoga Teacher, registered with Yoga Alliance.

As a cancer survivor, she has always been deeply engaged in yoga, mindfulness and a holistic approach to health. She taps into her compassion and knowledge base to impart what she believes in: the ability to transform oneself with positive thinking and mindful movement. In her teaching to cancer patients, she focuses on the lymphatic flow to boost the immune system and rekindle healing.

Naoko Kanno goes by her nickname of “Mamo”, she completed her RYT-500 Yoga training from 'Breathe Together Yoga’ and in addition, Mamo has also completed advanced Yoga Immersion training in: Restorative Yoga, Yin Yoga, Ayurveda Foundations Intensive, Yoga for Trauma recovery etc. She draws upon her past work as a nurse in bringing kind caring to her teaching. Her teaching style encourages her students to have a relaxing yet fun experience.

Krysten Smyth is a life and wellness coach dedicated to helping young athletes, working parents and corporate executives find their strengths and reach their potential by investing in their bodies, hearts and minds. As a certified Yoga Teacher, she taps into that knowledge base, her innate compassion and her 16 years of experience as head gymnastics coach at Stanford University, to enhance the work of Integrative Healing. She heads ‘Sunpower Yoga’ studio.

Sangeetha Sampath is a certified Yoga Therapist. She took her training from India, SVYASA (Swami Vivekananda Yoga University) Bangalore and has been teaching / leading Yoga Therapy sessions since 2012. She currently teaches at various studios and has her own private practice based in San Jose. She adds a layer of warmth and loving kindness to her practice.

Miyuki Bridgewater has been a Yogi for the past 20 years. Working for a global IT company she recently completed her 500 hour certification. She has found through her journey that Yoga brings peace to her body and mind. She makes her practice very accessible and is eager to show how Yoga can support everyone, especially those with difficult and stressful lives.

Abril Flores is a bilingual (English and Spanish) yogi, athlete and health coach. She has a BS in business and is a certified 500 RYT yoga instructor registered with Yoga Alliance. Abril’s great interest in exploring the body’s innate power to heal continues to evolve from influential teachers such as Tias Little (SATYA), Timothy McCall, M.D (Yoga as Medicine), Tiffany Cruikshank and Jenn Prugh. Abril teaches from a place of joy, rooted in her belief that yoga is for all & that all can benefit from a practice that connects our inner wisdom, the mind/body via breath.