Terésa Stern, Founder/Director

Inspired by the healing power of mind/body exercise, Terésa became a group fitness instructor in order to help trauma survivors use movement as a healing tool.

Since 2008, Terésa has led weekly classes for survivors of sexual and domestic violence. She’s partnered with the Joyful Heart Foundation, founded by actress Mariska Hargitay, and the Mount Sinai Sexual Assault and Violence Intervention Program (SAVI). She’s led workshops at treatment centers for teenagers in recovery from depression and addiction and for professionals working in the trauma field.

A survivor with two decades of recovery, Terésa is an emergency room advocate and speaker for SAVI. She has addressed a variety of audiences including medical students, law enforcement officers, recovering addicts, prison inmates, forensic examiners, and medical and psychotherapy professionals.

Terésa is certified as a Group Fitness Instructor, an intenSati Instructor, a Kripalu YogaDance Teacher, and a Rape Crisis Counselor. She is currently training in Somatic Experiencing and pursuing her master’s degree at Hunter College School of Social Work. Terésa is a published writer and mother of two young adult daughters.