Teaching / Training

My Teaching Background includes:

• Classes
• Program Design
• Recognitions
• Presentations

My Training Background includes:

• Western Exercise Science
• Eastern Exercise Training
• People with Disabilities
• Continuum
• Contact Improv-Dance & Body-Mind Centering
• Feldenkrais
• Gymnastics

• Personal Training (ongoing)
• Better Balance Class at Treloar Physiotherapy Clinic (2007-2010)
• Training Psychiatric Outpatient Staff at the Vancouver General Hospital (2002- 2006)
• Sadhana Dojo Bagua Zhang classes (Winter 2003-2004)
• Qigong Course at Langara (Summer 2003)
• Training students in Qigong at Traditional Chinese Medicine school at Langara ( Fall 2003)
• Burnaby Correctional Center (2001)
• Founder Of The "Chi Development Program" At Langara College, Vancouver B.C., Canada (2000)
• Vancouver School Board (1999/2000)
• Mt. Pleasant Neighborhood House (1999/2000)
• Kitsilano Community Center (1998-2000)
• Shambhala Training Meditation Center (Summer 1999)
• Strathcona Community Center (1998)
• Gaia Gardens Herbal Dispensary (1998)
• Art Of Martial Arts (Roundhouse, 1998)
• Green Mountain Meditation Center (1996)
• Ongoing Private Classes & Workshops

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• Chi Development Program: Blending Eastern chi development with Western Exercise Science for a comprehensive program of mind-body integration (July 2000; for Langara Continuing Education)
• Falls Prevention Program (2007; at Treloar Physiotherapy Clinic)
• Bagua Curriculum at Sadhana Dojo (with Steve Peterson; Sept/03 - Feb/04)

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• "Mixed Abilities" at Roundhouse Community Center Dance Allsorts, April 8/2001. Mixed-abilities dance pieces.
• All Ba-Gua Zhang Championship Tournament- Silver Medal Winner (Chinese Martial Art; Fairleigh Dickenson University, Teaneck, NY)
• "Golden Key International Honour Society" Recognized for Outstanding Scholastic Achievement and Excellent
• "Instructor Appreciation & Recognition Day" by Vancouver School Board Sat, Dec 2/2000
• "World Chess Festival" most valuable contribution Jan23 - Feb 20/1998

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• "Dynamic Posture & Your Core" (Posture is the position in which you hold your body. It is never static, it is dynamic! Our focus will be on how the core muscles maintain posture, preventing injury); Britannia Community Services Centre; Jan 10/2005; Dec 11/2005
• "Experiential Fitness Session - Feel the Qi!" for UBC Health Symposium: Cultivating Healthy Change; Oct 27/2004
• "Chi Gung Demo" Kitsilano Community Center, Jan 15/2000
• "Taoist Internal Art of Tai Chi" Shared Vision Breakfast Club, May 14/1999
• "Exploration of Movement" VanWest 2000, (People with Disabilities Workshops) May 15/2000; Co-taught with Grant McClean
• The Art of Martial Arts - Nov 7-Dec 6/1998, at the RoundHouse Community Center (Video Available)
• "Taoist Techniques for Stress Management", Langara Recreation Leadership Grad Class, April 16/1998
• "Qigong and Healing Touch" March 10/2001, at the Burnaby Correctional Centre for Women (BCCW), in the Open Living Unit
• "Building Your Chi" for the Holistic Nurses Professional Practice Group, Jan 11/2001
• "Chi Gung" for OT Consulting/Treatment Services Ltd. Sept 4/2001
• "Self-Massage" for Housekeeping Staff at Fairmont Waterfront Hotel 2 sessions, 2001
• "Health Care Fair" at Hotel Vancouver, Dec 15/2000

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• Exercise Prescription
• Measurement in Sport and Physical Activity
• Neuromuscular Integration of Human Movement
• Prevention of Sport Injuries: musculoskeletal system, sense organs, internal organs, and central nervous system
• Adapted Physical Activity
• Human Functional Anatomy and Applied Exercise Physiology
• Conditioning for Sport, Physical Activity and Athletic Training
• Motor Skill Learning, Performance and Development
• Biomechanics, Kinetics and Performance Analysis
• Sport, Health and Lifestyles Psychology
• Theories of Counseling
• Leisure and Sports Studies
• Infant Development
• Brain and Behavior
• Sensory Systems
• Educational and Artistic Gymnastics
• Statistics and Research Methodology

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• Hakko Denshin Ryu JuJutsu (Sept/05- Present)
  • Instructor: Seamark Shihan; at Sadhana Dojo: www.sadhanadojo.com
  • During formal class, students practice Aiki, relaxing, and repetitions of techniques without the use of strength. When these techniques are applied in self-defense situations, they can be used to simply control an attacker or in exceptional cases, injure an attacker. Additionally, the practice in relaxation helps a person remain calm, focused and able think clearly during a violent confrontation.
  • A Hakko Denshin Ryu dojo has a non-competitive atmosphere. Hakko Denshin Ryu practitioners work with each other in the spirit of cooperation as they focus on developing an understanding of the heart of the eighth light techniques.
• Hakko Denshin Ryu Jujutsu- Taikai (a gathering to share knowledge) (May 12-14/06)
  • 40th anniversary of the Eighth Light Dojo (held in Akron, Ohio U.S.A.)
  • Instructors: Soke Sensei Michael J. LaMonica, Soke Sensei Antonio Garcia, Kaiden-Shihan Joe Hoffer and Kaiden-Shihan Ken Hoggart.
• Jiu-Jitsu British Columbia (JJBC)- Victoria Technical Seminar (May 6/06)
  • Sensei Ari Bolden: incorporate combat grappling and ground work into traditional Jiu-jitsu forms. Stand-up plus ground work.
    • Variations on chokes with and without use of gi/ clothing
    • Head & spinal control techniques & affects on body movement
  • Sensei Joe Friede: defense against experienced Martial Arts attacker:
    • Distance fighting against both MA practitioner/ street fighter
    • Close range fighting/ counter techniques against Jiu-jitsu or other martial arts techniques
    • Takedown and ground techniques against a trained martial artist
    • Police/ Military / Special Forces, combat/self-defense applications.
• Jiu-Jitsu British Columbia (JJBC- 2005 Annual -Training Camp- Oct 30/05)
  • Train with BC’s Best Ju-Jutsu instructors from many of the different schools of Ju-Jutsu found with in BC:
  • Shihan Seamark – Teaching defenses from rear and side attacks- HDR
  • Sensei Wilding – Teaching escapes (hakko dori)
  • Sensei Brousseau – Teaching defenses against Chokes
  • Shihan Hiscoe – Teaching Defenses against Pepper spray
  • Sensei Ray – Teaching striking and defense
  • Sensei Al St.John - Jujutsu kneeling tech.
  • Sensei Randy Martin – Ronin Jujutsu / Kaizan Ryu
• Hapkido Vancouver (Feb-June/05)
  • Instructor: Miles Tulloch, sixth dan black belt, www.hapkido-vancouver.com
  • Hapkido is a traditional Korean martial art. The skills of kicking, striking, throwing, grappling, and joint manipulation are all practiced in situations that reflect the dynamics of street style violence. Hapkido trains towards the constant refinement and simplification of technique. It represents the economy of motion. This concept is derived from the belief that in a violent confrontation the practitioner's automatic response should be quick, simple, and combined with constant motion. In Hapkido, we train so such a response comes naturally regardless of body type or situation.
• Master Yang Guo Tai- Bagua (2000-2005)
  • Master Yang Guo Tai is a 6th generation Bagua master. His training includes conditioning exercises, small and big palm changes, weapons, hard and soft chi gong, and applications. He is meticulous and in-depth, with a strong focus on the precise details of the movements.
• B. K. Frantzis Energy Arts, Inc. International Chi Gung & Tai Chi
  • Chi Gung: Gods Playing in the Clouds Retreat 2000
  • Wu Style Short Form Instructor Training Retreat 1999
  • Opening the Energy Gates Retreat 1999
  • Taoist Breathing Retreat 1999
  • Spiraling Energy Body Retreat 1998
  • Ba Gua as a Martial Art Retreat 1998
  • Dragon and Tiger Instructor Training Retreat 1996
  • Spiraling Energy Body Retreat 1995
  • Bend the Bow and Shoot the Arrow Retreat 1995
  • Marriage of Heaven and Earth Retreat 1994
  • Taoist Moving and Sitting Meditation 1994
• Integrated Healing Arts Institute
  • Self healing programs & qigong 1992-1994
• Master Victor Fu- Bagua
• Ming Wei Gu- Wu Tai Chi
• Kelly McClean- Yang Tai Chi
• Kawahara Sensei- Aikido
• Dorsun Satoglu Bujinkan Taka-Seigi Dojo- Taijutsu
• Constantine Darling- Celestial Dragon Kung Fu

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• Integrated Dance Workshop with Light Motion at Dance Allsorts

  May/04; Light Motion is a Seattle-based dance duo featuring Charlene Curtiss and Joanne Petroff. Charlene is the inventor of "front-end chair control," a technique which has expanded the limits of wheelchair dance. Joanne is a modern dancer/choreographer and has been instrumental in bringing integrated wheelchair dance to the forefront of new trends in dance. New Performance Works presents Dance Allsorts, in collaboration with the Roundhouse Community Centre & the Dance Centre and in collaboration with Society for Disability Arts and Culture.

• People Moving: towards an integrated learning culture for dance

  Feb 20/04; sponsored by The Victoria Dance Series. “This integrated, full-day course for experienced dance practitioners (artists, teachers, workshop leaders) to explore practical ways of creating an environment where individual learning can prosper, will be led by two distinguished dance teacher/artists (Jo Parkes and Kelly Davidson) from London, England. The curriculum for the People Moving workshops aims to support dance practitioners creating work for the stage as well as those working in educational institutions, giving them an understanding of the issues surrounding fully inclusive dance provision.” The People Moving workshop includes:

  • strategies for delivery and management of integrated dance learning
  • a suggested “toolkit” and resources
  • opportunities to try out ideas and practical sessions
  • references to key text “Making an Entrance” by Adam Benjamin

  The Society for Disability Arts and Culture (S4DAC) is collaborating with the Victoria Dance Series Community Outreach Program and the Vancouver Dance Centre to present the Vancouver workshop, which will be the flagship offering within a larger plan to adapt and present the workshop in Victoria and in Ottawa.

  Workshop co-leader, Jo Parkes says, “Teaching or leading dance in inclusive settings raises challenges for all of us. When the class before us contains students with physical disabilities, sensory impairments or learning disabilities, we are confronted with the fact that a ‘one size fits all’ approach will not work. Integrated dance teaching requires that we, as teachers, approach dance teaching with a different attitude…an approach which starts with each individual, their body and mind and what they can do: an approach in which ‘individual learning can prosper’. This approach applies whether we are working with an inclusive group or not."

• "Cyborg Dance Workshop" with Helen Walkley, January 25, 2004;The Society for Disability Arts and Culture sponsors these movement workshops with. Part of each half-day session will explore a cyborg (human/machine hybrid) theme. The workshops will serve as research to develop an original movement/theatre production to premiere at the international kickstART2 Festival of Disability Arts and Culture in Vancouver, September 16-19, 2004. People with disabilities and teachers or dance artists interested in the potential of integrated dance are invited to participate. The workshops will be informative and fun for anyone regardless of their interest in cyborgs or in performing!
• "CandoCo Dance Company” a Dance Workshop, May 23/1999 - "To develop a dance style suitable for non-disabled participants and those with physical and/or sensory disabilities". To provide further research and development in integrated contemporary dance through training for professional dance artists, teachers and those working in the dance and education sectors".
• "Mixed Ability Dance Workshops"” by Society for Disability Arts and Culture 2001
• "GF Strong Rehab Center: Gearing Up for Summer" June 20/2000, A Recreation Resource Fair for people with physical disabilities

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• "Exploring Inner Movement" with Doris Maranda, Sept 1996, Based on Continuum A Meditation in Motion. Doris Maranda - Authorized Continuum Movement teacher and Somatic Experiencing practitioner. Vancouver, BC, Canada.
• “Continuum Movement” with Susan Harper, Oct 1995, Oct 1996, Nov 1997 “The realms of inner feeling, emotion and perception are woven with an awareness of the movements that are in the flow of biological life. Developing the tremendous resource of movement and organismic intelligence is emphasized in each workshop. Continuum Montage workshops contribute to somatic educators, and to those interested in personal growth by providing a wide range of skills and experiences in the fields of movement, perception, emotions, healing shock and trauma, dreams, relationship, and meditation. In these workshops you can mature and hone personal and professional skills for your own practice.”
• “Continuum Movement” with Emilie Conrad Da’oud, May 1995, May 1996, Aug 1997. “The potential of each individual lies within our own system--however, as we go through life, we learn to censor, lose the buoyancy of our childhood, and forget our body¹s natural alignment with the earth. Our creative process can become interrupted, stalled. As human beings, we are constantly moving--whether the movements are large, obvious movements as in walking or smaller, subtle movements to carry out constant activity as simple as breathing. What we don¹t always take into consideration is the pleasure in movement, the joy of having a body, the sensual nature inherent in being alive. Continuum's programs allow the students open these long closed doors and find the unique voice of their own bodies. Movement is what we ARE, not something we DO."
• "Life on Land" by Emilie Conrad-Daud May/ 1995

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• “Bodywork Centered Contact Improvisation” by Ray Chung and EDAM Artistic Director Peter Bingham; Jan 2001
• "Body-Mind Contact” with Saliq, Reg Movement Therapist, in Body-Mind Centering and Contact Improvisation (Feb/ 2001)
• “a momentous movement intensive” by Shannon McMurchy, May 17-21/1999
• “EDAM Summer Intensive” July 18-july 4/1996. The workshop will use a multi-faceted approach to training based on the correlation between the techniques of contemporary dance, contact and improvisation.
• “Bodywork from Movers” by Mascall Dance, May 17- 21/1999 Pilates-based movement, Relative Motion and Body-Mind Centering.
• “Contact Arts” with Su-Feh Lee & David McIntosh at Kiss Project Jan 23/1997
• “Experiential Anatomy and Expression” by Mascall Dance Classes; Body Mind Centering; Oct/ 2000
• "Seattle Festival of Alternative Dance & Improvisation" 1995, 1996, 1997
• "Contact Improv Instruction" Ongoing at EDAM (Experimental Dance And Movement)

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• “Feldenkrais Works- Whole Body Dancing” with Anna Haltrecht, July 11-13/1997

  “Feldenkrais is a Method of somatic education that helps you reconnect with your ability to move with ease, through a natural, exploratory learning process. The Feldenkrais Method helps you learn how to make any activity easier, more effective and more enjoyable.”

• “Feldenkrais” June/1997 with Marty Balas (workshops & classes)

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• "Phoenix Gymnastics Club Adult Programs”, March-June/ 2000 - “Classes increase strength and flexibility with an emphasis on fun and skill development. Participants can work at their own level and pace. It is never to late to enjoy the benefits of gymnastics!!!”

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