Bios Archive

Bios > Bios Archive

A summary of people who've offered programs over the years.

Michelle St. Pierre studied shiatsu at the Shiatsu Centre in Toronto with Tetsuro Saito and was certified in 1989. She has studied many different modalities of energy healing including reiki and lightwork and various forms of meditation. She is most inspired by flowers and fruit as well as the work and teachings of Stephen Levine, Adyashanti, Pema Chodron, and Sharon Salzberg who continually bring us back to the compassionate heart and Toni Packer (Springwater Center) for her courage, clarity and presence.

Now a resident of Hornby Island, Michelle has been offering body and energy work sessions for 17 years. She has midwifed many toning circles and healing gatherings across Canada, taught energy awareness and meditation in Winnipeg and is committed to the path of the awakened heart.

The deerheart sanctuary is her vision.

Michelle's programs and healing.

Diana Justl

Diana Justl has been a dedicated practitioner, an explorer of inner and outer yoga for 14 years. She has traveled intensively to India, Nepal, England, The Yukon, New Mexico and California to learn both yoga and mediation from highly regarded teachers.

She completed her 200 hour registered yoga teacher training in 2008 at the Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centre and has completed her 150 hour Advanced Teacher Training at the Yoga Centre Winnipeg. Diana's training also includes Level One of The Insight Yoga Institute’s Yin Teacher Training Program with Sarah Powers, a five week one on one retreat with Lama Ludro and assisting Mark Whitwell workshops at Kripalu. She has completed over a hundred hours per year of meditation retreats and yoga workshops for the past 12 years.

Diana has been teaching an alignment based flow yoga practice, interweaving meditation and mindfulness full time for over 3 years. She has mainly been influenced and devoted to Lama Lodro, Adyashanti, Sarah Powers, Aadil Palhkivala, Tias Little, Jan Debenham, Mark Whitwell and Jason Crandell all of whom she has studied with. She has an Honours Bachelor degree in Theatre and Religious Studies and is pursuing a Graduate Degree in Counseling with a Transpersonal approach. She has also completed Level One Thai Yoga Massage with Lotus Palm School.

Diana's programs

jennifer armstrong, Island Yoga

jennifer armstrong, founder of Island Yoga, was introduced to yoga over 15 years ago, here on Hornby Island. Since that time she has had the opportunity to study with such recognized Iyengar, Ashtanga & Yin Yoga teachers as Faeq Biria, David Swenson, Paul Grilley and extensively with Shirley Daventry-French. She has also been practicing Vipassana meditation for nearly 17 years. Jennifer's teaching style combines her knowledge of precise alignment & her inward focus from medition with her natural enthusiasm, creating a way to safely discover joy and ease in the practice. Jennifer lives very happily in a small cabin at the edge of Little Tribune Bay with her fiance, Marc.

Jennifer's programs.

Nancy Frohlick

Nancy has been practicing yoga for over 15 years and teaching since 2000. She has been blessed to study with many inspiring teachers (Donna Farhi, Erich Schiffmann, Paul Grilley, Gioia Irwin, Leila Stuart). Nancy is a certified yoga therapist and she has recently completed level 2 of the Upledger�s Craniosacral Therapy training. The best part about teaching for Nancy, perpetual student at heart, is that she can continue to grow and evolve and share her knowledge and passions with her students. Nancy lives in Vancouver with her husband and 11 year old son. They are all equally drawn to the magic and spice of Hornby Island and its residents.

Nancy's programs.

Maria-Bonita Kapitany

I have had the good fortune to have met many wonderful teachers in my life and now that I am in my middle years, I have discovered which things help me the most in my life. I like to share the collection of self-care tools I have gathered over the years and let people find what works best for them.

There are so many ways in which we can affirm and support vibrant health and optimum happiness. Becoming aware of the energy in the body and communicating with it is a gift of self-empowerment. In my workshops we play with chakras and meridians through energy awareness and movement, bio-kinesiology and left-brain/right-brain integration. We journey inward and outward through journaling, yoga, dance, painting, guided meditation and chanting. In my Energy Movement classes we open and clear our energy channels so that we can access more of our own natural energy.

I am currently residing in Victoria and like to spend a lot of my time on Hornby Island.

Maria-Bonita's programs.

Audrey Mairi

Audrey Mairi is a Reiki Master and a Trager practitioner/tutor/teacher, with a thriving practice in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. She regularly holds workshops for students and therapists dealing with the connection between the body and mind. In addition, she has given numerous presentations to professional organizations.

Audrey's programs.

Peter Cloud Panjoyah

Peter has been healing and dealing for nearly twenty years, and considers himself his primary client. He has conducted men's groups, workshops and healing circles over the last fifteen years, and also maintains private practices in astrological counselling, emotional counselling and massage. He wrote a monthly editorial concerning his thoughts on the healing process at the physical, emotional, mental and spiritual levels for the Hornby Island First Edition for four years that is currently archived at http://earthmatrix.net/healinganddealing. He reads email at pjtree@island.net

Peter's programs.

Phyllis Victory

Phyllis has been practicing and teaching Reiki (a sacred, Japanese healing art) for over 20 years in Canada, the US, Mexico and India. Phyllis was initiated as a Master of Reiki in 1985 by her teacher, Carell Farmer. In 1990 she was again initiated by Carell as a teacher of Masters and now trains and initiates Masters as well as practicing and teaching Reiki classes.

She has studied improvisational theater with Scott Kelman and consequently taught theater for 10 years in Canada and the US. She has also taught workshops with Scott, entitled "Life As Theater/ Theater As Life".

She occasionally facilitates meditation classes on Hornby Island, B.C. in the tradition of Paramhansa Yogananda and Yogacharya "Mother" Hamilton. She has been initiated into the ancient meditation technique of Kriya Yoga.

She has been a counselor in private practice in both the US and Canada for over 20 years; using, as her foundation, the deep spiritual teachings that she has learned and ones that have been revealed to her.

She has studied Ayurveda with Dr. Thrikoval Sukumaran (in Vancouver) and, in 1994, accompanied him and his nine other students to India where the group experienced Pancha Karma at an Ayurvedic Hospital in Kottakal, Keral, a hospital where Dr. Sukumaran used to work.

Phyllis has taken groups to India for "Yatra" (pilgrimage) in 1996 and 2001. The itinerary included trekking to the source of the Ganges (in the Himalayas); participating in Pancha Karma in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu (at an Ayurvedic hospital); and an extended stay at Anandashram Ashram in Kanghangad, Kerala.

Phyllis is, most recently, a certified Hanna Somatic Educator (a technique for releasing contracted muscles by reprogramming the brain). In addition to the three years of training to become certified, she has had three additional years of training with the Novato Institute as a Teaching Assistant, and has been employed by them as a student teacher. She has been in private practice as an HSE practitioner for seven years and taught the "Cat Stretch" (a series of HSE exercises) in Mexico with Susan Koenig (one the of the trainers for the Novato Institute) in May 2002, and March and October of 2003. She has been teaching and practicing HSE in the US, Canada and Mexico.

She is also certified in Equine Hanna Somatics (releasing contracted muscles in horses). When she in California she continues her training in Natural Horsemanship with John Stanley, a cowboy who has been practicing the "gentling" of horses for 55 years..

She currently lives on Hornby Island, BC (Canada) and is available for teaching Improvisational Theater, Hanna Somatic Education and Reiki classes, and for facilitating private sessions in HSE, EHSE, Reiki or counseling.

She can be reached at 250-335-0197 or by email at: phyllis_victory@hotmail.com.

Phyllis Victory's programs.

Nadaka

NADAKA was born in Quebec and has been living in India since 1974. In Sanskrit, Nada is the origin of sound and Ka is the one who carries it within. Dedicated to the ideals of India's great revolutionary yogi, Sri Aurobindo, he lives in the international settlement of Auroville, in South India. His love and passion for Indian culture led him to study its music, learn different Indian instruments and vocal styles. He conceived and crafted a unique instrument of his own; a guitar specially designed to play the subtle tones of Indian music.With a number of successful albums to his credit, Nadaka has been touring with many acclaimed Indian musicians. Inspired by Indian rhythms and Ragas, he carries us through his unique musical world that is both modern and rich in tradition.

www.nadaka.com

Nadaka's shantakaram workshop.

Gopika

GOPIKA was born in Mumbai, and grew up in an environment of music and art listening to many of India's great musicians performing at her own family residence. She began singing lessons at the age of seven. Graduating in Applied Arts, she is also a painter and photographer and has held numerous exhibitions in reputed art galleries in India. Progressively discovering a new spiritual dimension within, she turned to the study of Sanskrit mantras and studied this in the international township of Auroville near Pondicherry and conducts regular workshops on Mantras and well-being in many countries. Gopika has a refined and soulful quality in her voice that naturally touches the heart of the ardent listener.

www.gopika.com

Gopika's shantakaram workshop.

Ambika

Hello. My name is Ambika and I teach yoga on Hornby Island, BC and at the Omega Institute for Holistic Studies in Rhinebeck, NY. I also teach private classes and have led workshops throughout North America. While traveling I've taught in Thailand and Malaysia. I've been teaching yoga since 1992. Yoga is my bliss; I invite you to join me. The Hatha Yoga classes & workshops I offer are based in Kripalu yoga and seasoned with a mix of various styles I've studied. My teachers include Don & Amba Stapleton at Nosara in Costa Rica, Sharon Gannon & David Life at Jivamukti in New York, Erich Schiffmann at Sacred Movement in California, and Megha Nancy Buttenheim & Sudha Carolyn Lundeen at Kripalu in Massachusetts. I certified in Interdisciplinary Yoga in 1996 through the Nosara Institute. My vision is to support global healing through the encouragement of individual healing. Yoga is combined in my life with spiritual study. Working with my teachers ~ Ram Dass, Stephen Levine, Deepak Chopra, Sharon Salzberg , Krishna Das and many others has opened me to the path of spiritual growth & compassionate discovery.

Ambika's archived programs.

Asrael

Asrael brings with her to Deerheart a blissful spirit and the desire to grow and share with others. Asrael has been teaching yoga for six years, having studied and practiced in the US, Canada, and India. She infuses her classes with a beautiful and healing energy. Her intention in her teachings is to connect students to their true being, facilitating growth and opening. Asrael lives on Hornby Island where she is a healer, a yoga teacher, and a clairvoyant. Her wish is to live from the heart and to help others shine into their true spirit. For more information on what services Asrael offers see www.webstarts.com/ayurvedicbliss

Asrael's programs

Joanna Finch

Joanna Finch
Photo by
Anne Marie Krahn

Joanna Finch has been performing, jazz folk, blues and world music for over 20 years at festivals, schools, conventions, and concerts. A multi-instrumentalist with voice as her primary instrument, her repertoire of vocal sounds in comparable to Bobby McFerron. She has shared stages with Jane Siberry, Miles Black, Rita MacNeil and Rhiannon. Joanna is an educator, improvisor, singer/songwriter who uses her voice for social activism and for healing. Her workshops are fun, invigorating and interesting. She loves to sing and dance because it makes her happy.

reverbnation.com/joannafinch

Please contact Joanna @ 250 336-2474 for more information. Private or corporate workshops are also available.
joyjobird@gmail.com

Joanna's programs

Kevin McMahon

Kevin McMahon has been with deerheart sanctuary since its inception in 2004 where he has developed the website and helped facilitate retreats and events that have occurred over the years. He has been mountain biking for around 20 years in areas as diverse as the Edmonton river valley, Alberta Rocky Mountains, and BC coast. He enjoys Hornby's natural beauty and seasonal rhythms, especially in the off season.

Kevin's programs.

Ron Sitter

Ron has taught Djembe hand drumming to both adult and children groups and also facilitated large and small group drum circles. In Calgary Ron was a member of a world beat percussion ensemble named DANSA. The ensemble has three world beat CDs in circulation.

Ron's programs.

Stephanie Austin

Stephanie Austin M.A. writes the New and Full Moon Forecasts for the Mountain Astrologer magazine, teaches Archetypal Astrology at John F. Kennedy University, and has lectured at many regional and international conferences. Her background includes extensive personal growth work and studies in Flower Essences, Ecopsychology, and Leslie Temple Thurston�s four-year teacher training program. She has been a professional astrologer since 1986 and is now living in Port Townsend, WA.

Stephanie's programs.

Yamaya Moonshine

I have been leading circle dances for over 16 years because it is so much fun! I connect with my child self which definitely enlivens my spirit. I experience a sense of oneness and peace. I feel empowered and enriched on many different levels of consciousness. The circle is a very powerful healing place where I accept and allow life's challenges/changes to take place. Like all Earth based religions, the rhythmic movements of our bodies creates deep spiritual connections. So, Let's Dance!!

Yamaya's programs.

Ed Hoeppner

The instructor, Ed Hoeppner, has studied T'ai Chi for over 30 years, having had many teachers. He has instructed many students, both in weekly classes, and weekend and week long workshops. It has been interesting to notice over the years of teaching that numerous students, after only a short time of study, have reported beneficial changes in other areas of activity such as: playing music, snow boarding, mountain biking, unicycling, horse back riding, etc. Thus, it seems from observation, that learning is easily assimilated and absorbed within the context of activities one is already engaged in.

From this feedback from past students he has decided to offer the teachings of T'ai Chi in a way that can be applied across disciplines. The movements of the T'ai Chi Chuan form are not the T'ai Chi. They are but the context within which to learn T'ai Chi, as a moving meditation and a martial art. The context can be any art and can be any movements or activity. Yoga seems a natural medium through which to absorb the principles.

Ed's programs.

Isabela Boyd

Isabela is a certified Biography Work Facilitator with Waldorf Teacher Training and a Fine Arts background. She has worked with children and adults for many years combining Anthorposophic training with weaving.

In Brazil, Isabela was a biographer at Artemisia (a well known biography centre), founded Da Terra (anthroposophic therapies), and presented workshops in many places.

In Canada she has facilitated groups in Toronto, Calgary, Nanaimo, and Duncan. Besides facilitating biography groups, she holds workshops for adults, teaches individual biography work, and teaches hand work / weaving classes.

Isabela's programs.

John Cox

For the past ten years John has studied and explored various approaches to psycho-spiritual growth and development including Zen Buddhism, Vipassana meditation, Hatha Yoga, the Enneagram, the Hoffman Process, Land-based and Shamanic modalities, and the Diamond Approach. He studied in the Ridhwan School for 4 years with various teachers including A.H. Almass. He is currently in training in California and Europe with Faisal Muqaddam and the Diamond Logos work. He brings aliveness, creativity, passion for truth, and a deep wish for all beings to discover and embody their essence. He currently lives near Berkeley, California.

John's programs.

Lynn Crawford, LCSW

Lynn Crawford, LCSW has been a student of Buddhism for over 25 years, as well as a Jungian-oriented psychotherapist. She lives in San Francisco, and spends part of her summers on Hornby. She works with Ken McLeod in the Teacher Development Program of Unfettered Mind, a Buddhist service organization that provides instruction, training programs, and guidance in Buddhist methods for being awake and present. She has also trained in shamanic and healing practices. Her interest in Buddhism, healing and sacred art have taken her on pilgrimages throughout Nepal, India, and Bhutan, as well as stranger places like the United States. She is also a hypnotherapist, thangka painter and writer.

One of the teachings which has meant the most to her in her own journey is this quote from the Buddha:

Do not believe in anything simply because you have heard it.
Do not believe in traditions because they have been handed down for many generations.
Do not believe in anything because it is spoken and rumored by many.
Do not believe in anything simply because it is found written in your religious books.
Do not believe in anything merely on the authority of your teachers and elders.
But after observation and analysis, when you find that anything agrees with reason, and is
conducive to the good and benefit of one and all, then accept it and live up to it.

Lynn's programs.

Basira Godfrey

Basira Godfrey has been leading the Dances since 1986. In 1996 she completed a two year training in Dance Leadership. She lead a dance circle on Denman Island from 1992-97 and currently leads a Circle in Courtenay. Bob Gamble will be providing musical accompaniment on Guitar for the deerheart workshops.

Basira's programs.

Amanda Hale

Amanda has been writing for over 30 years. She is a published novelist and poet, has written for theatre and worked in journalism. She has taught creative writing at University level and in Continuing Ed. Her first novel, Sounding the Blood, was published by Raincoast Books in 2001. Her second novel will be published in Spring 2006.

Amanda also offers Critical Alliance Editorial Services for writers seeking a professional critique and guidance with a work-in-progress in fiction, non-fiction, poetry or memoir. This service is offered on line or in person. To discuss, contact amandakhale@telus.net

Amanda's programs.

Jim Hall

Jim Hall M.A. is a compassionate and entertaining healer and teacher who offers a mix of herbal lore, medical intuition, and energetic healing tools. He is a third generation healer whose mentors include herbalist Michael Moore, David Hoffman, Choctaw herbal healer Karyn Sanders, Pomo "Dreamer" Lorin Smith, and medical intuitive Laurie Schryver. He teaches at the California School for Herbal Studies and has a special interest in holistic treatments for cancer. Jim has practiced various forms of healing for 25 years and currently resides in Port Townsend, WA.

Jim's programs.

Theresa Hanley

Theresa has been working as a raw food chef for the last few years and has been studying the benefits of a raw food diet.

She co-owns Yummy Mummy's Vegan and Raw Delights, a busy catering business out of Courtenay, and often comes to Hornby to cater events.

She will be sharing her knowledge in workshops as well as preparing our food for the retreat.

You can reach her at 338-7430.

Theresa's programs.

Louise Jarvis

As a child, I remember insisting that my family stop singing because I was singing. Now one of my great joys is choral singing, and helping others to sing with confidence.

I have conducted children's choirs, the Hornby Community Choir, and the Hornby Peace Choir which celebrated the visit of the Dalai Lama in 2004, and I taught Suzuki piano for ten years.

I have taken singing workshops with Brian Tate and Denis Donelly and have sung in many choirs and groups.

Louise's programs.

Matthew Kocel

Matthew Kocel is a throat singer, sound healer, visionary musician, and healing arts practitioner driven by his mission of opening direct access to the unified field through sacred sound.

The ancient sages from around the world taught what modern science has only recently revealed - everything in the universe, from the subatomic realm to celestial bodies, is in a constant state of vibration. Everything is moving, vibrating, creating sound whether we hear it or not.

Matthew's unique musical chanting fuses two, three, or more notes at the same time, creating a profoundly moving experience as he blends his voice with crystal singing bowls, Tibetan bowls, harmonium, conch shell and more.

See Matthew's programs
See Matthew's website, omshaman.com

Paula Marie Skalnek RCHT

Paula's medicine trunk is filled with an eclectic mix of plant based remedies, energetic modalities, colour, laughter, and love.

She began her intense studies in Western style herbal medicine in the early 90's. Paula was one of the first North Americans to achieve the designation of Clinical Herbal Therapist. Oh but it didn't stop there. Paula lives her motto; life is for learning. She has gone on to earn certificates in Aromatherapy, Lightwork, Counseling, and Iridology.

Paula considers herself a hybrid practitioner of herbal medicine, marrying modern medical herbalism with the truth of the ancients. She encourages her clients to access their natural healing potential, to utilize diet and better lifestyle choices, and to embrace the wisdom of our green allies.

Paula has lectured for many community groups and for institutions such as Langara College, Douglas College, and Dominion Herbal College. She has been invited to speak at conferences including Herbal Faire in Washington and The Breast Health and Menopause forums for the Women's Health Collective.

The most heard feedback following her lectures is "She makes it easy to understand."

Paula's programs.

Maxine Matilpi

Maxine Matilpi has a background in dance, pilates, art, and costume design. A former construction worker, childbirth educator, and practicing lawyer, she looks forward to bringing Nia to diverse communities on Vancouver Island. As an academic coach, she assists law students and others in attaining their educational goals; she now delights in helping others be the best they can be through Nia.

Please contact Maxine for info maxinnia@gmail.com

Maxine's programs

Jim Traynor

Jim Traynor is a long-time local resident of Hornby Island and is active as a teacher, and demonstrator of housing design and alternative building techniques

For a current example of Jim's work, see the lightwork ecovillage blog archive entries about cob building on Gambier Island.

Jim's programs.

Navaro Franco

Navaro Franco has been drumming and dancing for over 25 years. She has studied music and dance in North America and Africa with renowned teachers such as the Chigamba family, Gordy Ryan of Drums of Passion, and Babatunde Olatunji. She was a long time member of Gordy Ryan's Island Rhythm, Marimba Muzuva, and she co-directed Drum Prayers with Pepe Danza for 3 years. Navaro has also deeply explored dance in the forms of Contact Improv and Improvisation, as well as studying African Dance, and modern ecstatic dance forms. She has taught and performed drumming and ecstatic dance to thousands of people over the past 20 years.

Contact
www.navarofranco.com or
www.onewithdrum.com
navaro@tribal-bliss.com

Navaro's programs

David Hickey

Canadian born and raised in Hamilton, Ontario, David Hickey has long had a love for music and crystals. After being introduced to his first Crystal Bowl in 2002 he began to assemble his own set which now includes over 30 different crystal tones. He plays these bowls in combination with vocals, Tibetan bowls, Oriental Wind Gongs, Paiste Gongs, Chimes and various drums to create beautiful meditative and healing music.

David has played the bowls accompanied by various vocalists as well as instruments such as the harp, piano, keyboard, guitar, mandolin, flute, didgeridoo, orchestra bells, drums and chanting.

www.crystaljourney.ca

David's Crystal Journey.