• Gabriela Gerhart-owner and founder of The Motherhood Center, teaches the Newborn Care class. Gabriela was born in the small mountain town of Jablunkov, Czechoslovakia. She studied pediatric nursing at The Medical School of Ostrava. After receiving her degree and working one year in the Pediatric ER, Gabriela returned to The Medical School of Ostrava to complete her three-year Physical Therapy degree with her thesis in lower back pain. Since coming to the United States, Gabriela has become a CAPPA and DONA trained Postpartum Doula and has worked with many families with newborns, preemies and multiples. Gabriela is also a Breastfeeding Educator.

• Gary Gerhart

Office Manager

• Maria Proctor

• Amanda Alejos
• Sharmin Karmin

• Melissa Sanchez

Lactation Consultants

• Rene Bryan,RN CCE- teaches the Childbirth Class. Rene has her Bachelor of Science degree in nursing and graduated Summa Cum Laude from Houston Baptist University. She has worked in Labor and Delivery for over 10 years at a large hospital in the Texas Medical Center. Rene has been teaching Childbirth Education for more than 6 years and Breastfeeding for more than 2 years. Rene is also a Certified Lactation Educator and the owner of her own birth related business. Rene is the mother of two boys, and used the same techniques she teaches in her classes to have medication free deliveries.

• Karen Swan

Director of Nanny Placement

• Marie Duncan

Psychotherapist

• Nancy Dinerstein- a native Houstonian, and after attending the University of Texas, married her high school sweetheart, Jack Dinerstein. They have raised three outstanding young men, and have enjoyed a busy life with their family and friends in Houston.  Nancy has been an active leader in many non-profit events, including serving on the Board of the Mental Health Association, Development Board of Texas Children's Hospital, Ronald McDonald House, and the Holocaust Museum of Houston. Nancy loves to be involved with people, and her passion has always been to help others.  In 1993, Nancy returned to graduate school to become a Licensed Professional Counselor. Nancy is now joining the Motherhood Center, and will counsel individual clients and couples, as well as facilitate workshops and seminars.

Massage Therapist

• Shea McCormick

• Lauren Eagle

• Renee Bowling,BSN RN- has been teaching the breastfeeding classes at the Motherhood Center for over 2 years. She is a registered nurse and has worked in the OB/GYN field since 1989. She obtained her Breastfeeding Educator Certificate 10 years ago, and since that time has offered breastfeeding support and education in the hospital, office and home settings.  She has 2 children that she successfully breastfeed, and offers many personal insights on overcoming difficulties and using a breast pump after returning to work.

• Marian Sage-teaches Infant CPR. She has been in the medical field for over 30 years and with Cy-Fair Volunteer Fire Dept. for over 20 years. Her dutites at the fire dept. include training the new cadets and members in CPR each year, Cy-Fair V.F.D. is the largest volunteer fire dept. in North America with over 400 members. Marian is also active in her church, teaching children and working with the little ones in the nursery. She has four children and enjoys teaching CPR. Her husband had a heart attack and went into cardiac arrest, because of CPR and AED he is alive and healthy today.

• MaryBeth Smith,MM, GCFP-is the Director of the FELDENKRAIS® Center of Houston and teaches Feldenkrais Awareness Through Movement®. With over 20 years of teaching experience in university and community settings, she now uses the Feldenkrais Method® to help people improve their self-image, function, and enjoyment in movement and in life. She is the proud mom of two grown children. For more information about the Feldenkrais Method, see MaryBeth's website, www.houfeldenkrais.com/workshops.htm.

• Dr.Alberto Leal-has been certified as a BLS Instructor with the American Heart Association for five years whose background includes years of educational and professional experience in the medical field.  Alberto is currently one of the owners and administrator for “AG&G CPR Training Center” and “AGN’G Healthy Products”, located in Houston, TX. He also is certified as a Healthcare Instructor, Medical Assistance, and Natural Health Consultant.  In addition, Dr. Leal has been working as an Instructor for Medical Assistant’s student in some of the most recognized colleges in Houston, TX. His vast knowledge in healthcare is diverse making him professionally and highly qualified as The Motherhood Center's Spanish CPR instructor.

Child Development Instructors

• Ana Trevino-Godfrey

• Angel Goines-an aspiring dancer, started dancing at the age of four. She received training for five years at Dance World Studios Inc. in LaPorte, TX. There, she learned ballet, tap, and jazz. Dance training came in and out of her life from various dance studios and cheer gyms until the start of high school. She was involved in several dance competitions where she received many awards on top of her team becoming a national champ drill team. Angel also learned various dances from various choreographers at the American College Dance Festival (ACDF) in Fortworth, TX. During her first two years of college, Angel taught dance at Kennedy Dance Theatre and Dancetree in Webster, TX. Anywhere from the ages of 2-18 years old, she instructed her students in ballet, tap, jazz, hip hop, cheer, drill and gymnastics.

• Susan Tracy- graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a B.A. in Elementary Education and Special Education, and has worked in both public and private schools since 1972. She took the AMI Assistants to Infancy training, accomplished both in Houston and in Rome, and specializes in children ranging from conception to three. Susan has taught in Montessori schools since 1984, at Post Oak since 1995 and has led infant-parent classes both at Post Oak and for Project Even Start. She coordinated a Montessori program for infants and toddlers at the Community Family Center and also teaches classes at the Motherhood Center. She has four children who all attended Montessori schools from two months of age through eighth grade. Susan is currently working toward her doctorate degree in Pre and Perinatal Psychology at the Santa Barbara Graduate Institute and enjoys studying the current research in this field. She is also an avid student of Energy Science Healing and meditation.
  

Yoga Instructors

• Kate Lenig -teaches Mommy and Me Yoga and has a degree in Kinesiology from the University of Texas. She was the Athletic Director at The University Club before starting a private personal training and massage therapy business in 2002. Her personal yoga practice began in 1999 as a means to alleviate tight muscles from marathon training. After experiencing the many benefits of yoga, she studied under Robert Boustany in 2003. She now teaches yoga to private clients and groups in the area. Kate and her husband Chris are proud parents of Grace and are expecting one on the way.

• Marjie McNamee-teaches Prenatal Yoga and received her certificate to teach Yoga in 2001 and received her AFAA Certificate for teaching Prenatal Yoga the next year. For the past two years she has taught Prenatal Yoga at Infant Care Club, University Club, Robert Boustany Studio and several other locations. She participated in St. Luke’s Hospital “Care for the Caregiver” seminar and presented Yoga/Tia Chi to the yearly Conference of Muscular/Neurological Disease.

• Erike Locke -teaches Prenatal Yoga and is a Geologist and proud mother of a two sons. Erika has practiced yoga for more than 11 years and studied under Robert Boustany and Misha Laird to get her certification in Prenatal Yoga Instruction. Her class is basic Hatha Style Yoga. Erika believes nature provides the wisdom and knowledge for a woman to deliver a healthy baby and her goal is to help pregnant women stay centered, stress free and physically healthy.

• Teresa Coker-Teresa began her yoga journey in Cincinnati in 1980 with Lilias Folan. This practice brought renewed energy and balance into her life, which inspired her commitment to share yoga with others. Certified as a Hatha Yoga Instructor since 1996, further studies include Ashtanga, Vinyasa, Bikram, and Partner Yoga. Training with expert yogis includes Robert Boustany, Doug Swenson, Jonny Kest, David Williams, Julie Byrd, Misha Laird, Ana Forrest and Joy Winkler.Her students range from children to seniors, athletes, expectant parents and desk warriors. Humor and adaptations make Teresa’s classes an exploration of limits and personal power. She invites students to cultivate awareness and acceptance so their Prana (vital energy) flows freely.

• Barbara Strax,R.N.,BSN,RYT-Teaches prenatal yoga and is a registered yoga teacher with YOGA ALLIANCE. She has studied since 1978 with several Houston teachers such as Lex Gillan of the Yoga Institute and Robert Boustany of Hatha Yoga Studios. Currently has completed a year of study culminating in an Instructors Certification at Boustany Hatha Yoga Studio.Starting a family in 1980, she understands firsthand the power of yoga in the birthing process.Traditional Hatha yoga safely prepares the body physically for childbirth promoting strong muscles. Breathing techniques encourage relaxation, stress reduction, increased confidence.The GOAL: "Connect mind and body as you connect to your baby"