Jenna Sneed, MPH, CPH, CHHC Co-Owner, Program Director & Senior Teacher
Jenna Sneed, has understood the importance of health and wellness from a young age. When Jenna was twelve, she was required to have a pacemaker implanted after doctors discovered that she suffered from a rare and disabling heart condition. The pacemaker gave Jenna a second chance and the opportunity to survive. Out of gratitude for a second chance, Jenna has dedicated her life to becoming a leader in the health and wellness industry. Since 2008, she has studied a multitude of proactive modalities that maximize a person’s health and enjoyment of life to the extent that they not only survive, but THRiVE! Jenna has intensely studied yoga and weight training since 2007. She is a national qualifying fitness competitor and a certified 200-hour yoga instructor. Jenna holds a Bachelor of Arts in English from Texas A&M University, a Master’s Degree from the University of Texas in Health Promotion Behavioral Science, and participated in a number of nutrition-based research programs at the Texas Medical Center. She is also a certified personal trainer and a certified holistic health counselor from the Institute of Integrative Nutrition. Jenna’s hobbies include: practicing yoga, hosting dinner parties, salsa dancing, photography, and world travel.The privilege of a lifetime is to become who you truly are.” – C.G. Jung
Jonathan Sneed, LEED AP, JD Candidate Co- Owner & Logistics Director
Jonathan Sneed earned his Bachelor of Science in Construction Management and became a LEED Accredited Professional in 2009. Jonathan currently attends South Texas College of Law and will be an attorney licensed to practice in the state of Texas by Spring, 2013. Jonathan highly values organization when packaging any professional product or service. He has studied project management and effective resource allocation methods since 2005, and has served among numerous project management teams for multi-million dollar construction and commercial development projects. With a background in energy efficient design, Jonathan’s aim is to provide a clean, attractive environment where clients can enjoy a unique combination of personal health services. Jonathan’s hobbies include: finding new music, salsa dancing, playing piano, reading design magazines, and world travel.The human race has one really effective weapon, and that is laughter. - MARK TWAIN
David Sneed, DO Medical Director
THRiVE Medical Director Dr. David Sneed has a great interest in preventive health and anti-aging medicine. He is the founder and medical director for Aesthetica Med Spa, a cosmetic dermatology clinic. Dr. David Sneed has been an Austin family doctor since 1985. He served and trained in the United States Navy and is a Fellow of the Academy of Family Physicians. He is a past Chairman of the Board of South Austin Hospital and is active in numerous professional organizations. Dr. Sneed is enthusiastic about teaming up with THRiVE in order to help people prevent disease, systematically optimize their health, and feel and look their best. Dr. Sneed’s hobbies include: spending time with his family, photography, and world travel.I’ve got a Caribbean soul that’s out of control and some Texas deep down in my heart. – Jimmy Buffett
Shannon Forssman, B.A. Social Media Correspondent
Meet South African native, Shannon Forssman, THRiVE’s Social Media Correspondent. Whether at a farmer’s market, an adventure race, THRiVE workshop, or Q&A session, Shannon is there to capture the content, art, and personality of the moment through photography. Shannon received her B.A. in English Literature from Texas A&M University, class of 2007. Following graduation, Shannon became a secondary teacher. Although she enjoyed inspiring young minds, being an artist at heart she yearned for a more creative outlet. When Shannon is not in the field capturing content for THRiVE’s blog “THRiVE Journal” she works in social media management and website development for antique stores, The Gray Door and The Red Vault. Interesting things about Shannon include: former competitive equestrian, was raised in New Jersey and Dallas, and has never been to Mexico or seen Gone with the Wind. Shannon’s hobbies include: Live music, exercising with Pilot (her epic companion dog), reading, good television, dancing at the club, drawing, and Google-ing stuff.…dismiss whatever insults [of] your own soul, and your very flesh shall be a great poem and have the richest fluency not only in its words but in the silent lines of its lips and face and between the lashes of your eyes and in every motion and joint of your body… – Walt Whitman, Preface to Leaves of Grass
Amita Chawla, BA Hatha Yoga Instructor
Amita Chawla holds a Bachelor of Arts in advertising from the University of Oklahoma with an emphasis in professional writing. Amita loves how yoga unites people to their higher goals, unites them to the best version of the self, encourages people to embrace life’s positivity, and to let go of the poisons of negativity and self-doubt. Amita brings a sense of playfulness to each class and teaches a style of yoga to nurture the inner development in others. It is her belief that through this inner development our world can be a healthier, happier place. Amita’s hobbies include: being creative, hanging out with her dog, making natural soaps, painting, and writing.Never Give Up. – Dalai Lama
Jasmine Khanani, MBA Vinyasa Flow Instructor
Jasmine holds a degree in mechanical engineering from University of Waterloo, an M.B.A. from Queen’s University in Canada, and uses them both to lead a team of engineers in a large Fortune 150 company. At a young age, Jasmine was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis and after 24 surgeries from age 16-32, she knew that there must be a greater purpose to it all. Yoga became her patient healer and gently strengthened her back into an active and balanced life. Jasmine has gone on to summit mountains (literally, Mount Kilimanjaro and Mount Everest Base Camp), compete in short distance triathlons, and ride some beautiful waves around the world. She brings a magnetic sense of inner peace and authenticity to each class and encourages her students to really, really, really live! As she says, “Every moment in life is beautiful. We must enjoy the ride.” Jasmine’s hobbies include: practicing yoga, surfing, training for endurance events, and traveling.When I look inside and see I am nothing, that is wisdom. When I look outside and see I am everything, that is love. Between these two my life flows. – Nisargadatta Maharaj
Adam Griffin, B.A. candidate Vinyasa Flow Instructor
Adam is an undergraduate student at Rice University studying Psychology and Kinesiology. A three-sport athlete in high school, he began practicing yoga at age 16 and instantly found it to be so much more than just the perfect complement to an intense athletic schedule. Adam understands that yoga offers different things to different people, so he embraces his role as a young male teacher and pursues a diverse range of personal interests in an attempt to make it relatable to everyone. Adam tries to infuse a lighthearted sense of humor into everything he does, so he hopes all of his students come in willing to smile or at least leave feeling better than they came, because smiling more is one of the reasons we do all of these wellness activities to begin with. Adam’s hobbies include: Basketball, Pilates, soccer, piano, learning bad jokes, exploring new places with friends.You can’t stop the waves, but you can learn to surf. – Jon Kabat-Zinn
Larry Thraen Yoga Director & Senior Instructor
Larry discovered yoga when he was training for marathons. In order to keep his body well despite an intense weekly running regimen, Larry intuitively combined stretching with his breath. Later, he attended his first yoga class and discovered that he had been doing yoga all along. ‘Yoga Larry’ is a Vinyasa style instructor who has spent the majority of his teaching career in Nicaragua. Since 1998 he has studied extensively in Los Angeles under Vinnie Marino, Bryan Kest, Annie Carpenter, Steve Ilg, Mark Blanchard and Kathryn Budig. He teaches from life experience and incorporates traditional wisdom of the Tibetan Diamond Sutras and A Course in Miracles. He now lives the life of his dreams – guiding people to move beyond fear and helping students live to their higher potential. Larry serves as the Yoga Director and Senior Teacher for THRiVE Yoga Teacher Training as well as leads retreats, workshops, and advanced yoga training. Larrys’s hobbies include: Continued wellness education; mountain biking; surfing; and world travelBe the change you wish to see. - Mahatma Ghandi
