Mary Light Bio
I have been drawn to the healing arts and holistic living for as long as I can remember, starting, as a child, with plants, cooking, animals and herb foraging. A turning point came in the 90's, when I was able to begin deeper studies At Kripalu center in Lennox Mass, in bodywork therapies- which was an amazing and intensive learning center at the time for somatic therapies, holistic lifestyle, and transformation.
As life unfolded , I continued to study, travel, and practice. I know that creating a safe space of compassion and guidance is just as important as a repertoire of expanding skills, anatomical understanding, and method integration.
I refer out to a network of adjunct practitioners whenever necessary, honor confidentiality, and provide an Evaluation and Treatment plan for clients engaged in ongoing rehabilitation and care.
As a sole practitioner, I see us as part of a community. Always welcoming calls to connect and clarify!
Dexter Natural Health Center
I closed a State Licensed MASSAGE THERAPY AND NATUROPATHY School in 12/24 after 16 years , and had the good fortune to land, at the end of 2025, in a beautiful dual- use building to house a Cooperative holistic center for several practitioners.
As of 04/2026, we have a yoga studio, with offerings for adults, children, and an integration of Art Therapy- directed and taught by Kristen Sabatini
The Center houses my Herbal Medicine Apothecary, Classrooms, and a quiet serene bodywork and consultation session room which itself, has space for one on one movement. Currently the Center has space for another bodyworker, and for CE classes and holistic gatherings.
BACKGROUND OF EXPERIENCE FOR MARY LIGHT ND H LMT
Summary of holistic education, certification, diplomas
KRIPALU CENTER FOR YOGA AND HEALTH- Formal Bodywork Training One month residential. Certificate. Meditation Training. Teacher Training
FLORIDA School of Massage- 1,000 hour massage therapy /hydrotherapy program
PASSED- FLORIDA STATE BOARDS, and the NATIONAL CERTIFICATION EXAM
Advanced CE certifications:
NEUROMUSCULAR THERAPY/TRIGGER POINT WORK.
Polarity Therapy- 400 hours Certificate level workshop training, plus 20 years private practice .
Intra-oral massage therapy continuing education
Pregnancy and Post Natal Massage, at Finger Lakes School of Massage, Ithaca, 24 hours intensive continuing education with Nurse/Midwife ' LMT
Approved Provider of Continuing Education - approved for 6 different Ce workshops to ;date spring 2026; Hydrotherapy. Scar Reduction Massage , Foot Reflexology, Integrating Nervous System Balancing with Massage
Training in ENERGY MEDICINE WITH CAROLYN MYSS
YOGA TEACHER TRAINING, NOSARA, COSTA RICA.
HERBAL MEDICINE - Established GAIA CENTER FOR HERBAL STUDIES 2005, now teach herbal medicine as an Independent teacher.
HERBAL MEDICINE - Currently have modules and programs ongoing in the training of herbal medicine
HERBAL MEDICINE- Established apothecary - HERBAL PHARMACY AND DISPENSARY AT 3255 CENTRAL STREET DEXTER MICHIGAN 48130
HERBAL MEDICINE - International Travel and Training:
Belize, exploring tropical local wild medicinal plants and medicines.
Italy - PLANT LOVERS JOURNEY with ROSEMARY Gladstar
FINDHORN COMMUNITY IN NORTHERBN SCOTLAND- Experiential exposure to permaculture , Living Machine, local plants, local healing customs.
STATE LICENSED MASSAGE THERAPY AND NATUROPATHY /HERBAL SCHOOL- established 2009-2024. Graduated 160 students, MBLEX EXAM pass rate highest in Great Lakes region.
Early Education and Endeavors
College - N:utrition, Food Science, Dietetics - reflecting my interests since childhood.
Personal development in that era- exploration of the natural and herbal world in the paradise of Appalachian forest and meadows.
Culinary Background- I taught myself to cook since age ten. Freelancing in restaurants in WV, MA, and NY was helpful. I was a cook in the first ever vegetarian restaurant in WV- influenced and assisted by books such as Moosewood Cookbook, Vegetarian Epicure, and Laurels Kitchen which I still have copies of and hold in high regard to this ;day. During the early era, chefs were becoming celebrities, and niches with specialty food, such as Silver Palate in NYC where I lived ate the time, shaped the scene.
I then was private chef for the owner (Peter Sharp) of the Carlyle Hotel ( in NYC) at his Martha's Vineyard Edgartown home, (lavish weekend banquets with family and notables ) and did private chef summers for Senator Metzenbaum, and established my own Catering business- Four Seasons Catering, which I closed in 1990s to pivot completely to holistic health studies. Check the Vineyard Gazette archives for my ads and a photo of my hurricane swamped van in (1991?) at five corners, Vineyard Haven,
HOLISTIC HEALTH - although I had been independent scholar for herbs , field id, medicine making since age 17, hitting the trails, paths and the f ew books out there,
an era began of investing savings plus inheritance in whatever quality programs and teachers I could find. ()under construction, more to the story!)
