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Shiatsu Therapy Diploma Program: Instructors

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More than 25 health practitioners and professionals teach at the SSC. The following individuals are just some of those expert faculty who guide students within the Shiatsu Diploma Program.

Our faculty members are all highly qualified and experienced.  We select instructors not only for their clinical expertise, but also for their strong teaching skills.

All faculty at the SSC meet and/or exceed the required level of training stated under the Private Career College Act and all western sciences instructors hold a minimum of a Master's degree within their field of study.

We welcome you to explore your education options by auditing a class or two at no charge. Please contact our Admissions Department to discuss this option further.

We are looking forward to possibly meeting you in person in the near future.

	Stephanie Campbell, BA, Dipl.ST, Dipl.Ac Director of the Shiatsu Diploma Program Stephanie graduated with high honours from the SSC in both the Shiatsu (2005) and Acupuncture (2009) programs. Since 2006, Stephanie has been an instructor and supervisor at the SSC, where she supervises in the shiatsu student teaching clinic and teaches courses on shiatsu theory and practice. Stephanie held executive positions with the Shiatsu Therapy Association of Ontario, serving as Vice-President and Secretary, as well as working with the Examinations Committee. Stephanie stays current in her field with continued studies in shiatsu and acupuncture, as well as expanding her field of knowledge with studies in yoga and craniosacral therapy.  She finds these additional studies help broaden her lens for viewing the body and have proven an invaluable addition to successful practice.  Stephanie maintains a private practice located in the heart of Toronto.
	Chai Lien LeE, Medical Doctor (Foreign Trained) Director of Bio Sciences & Instructor of Anatomy, Physiology, Pathology (Foundational Sciences) & Public Health Chai Lien graduated from the University of Bombay in India in 1976 with an MBBS (medical) degree. She completed a Master of Science degree in human anatomy in 1982. Her 30 years of teaching experience includes teaching to students in medicine, dentistry, nursing, physiotherapy, occupational therapy and audio-speech therapy, as well as shiatsu and acupuncture.
	RONNY BREUER, BA, MSc., CH., TCM Practitioner Director of TCM Programs & Instructor of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Business, Communications & Tuina Ronny graduated from a 4-year comprehensive program of study in Traditional Chinese Medicine, and holds a diploma from the prestigious Pacific College of Oriental Medicine, San Diego, California and now teaches in the Shiatsu and Acupuncture Programs at the Shiatsu School of Canada. He has a clinical track record of thousands of successful treatments for various medical conditions. His fields of expertise cover acupuncture, herbs, nutrition and tuina.
	JOANN ALAFRIZ, BSc, Dipl ST & Dipl.Ac Instructor of Shiatsu Practice & Student Clinic Supervisor JoAnn Alafriz, graduated from the Shiatsu School of Canada, with High Honours in 1997.  Since 2000, she has maintained her own private practice in downtown Toronto. Upon graduating from the 1600 hour Acupuncture Diploma Program at the SSC in December 2008, JoAnn enjoys incoporating a variety of complementaty modalities to enhance her treatment’s effectiveness such as: reflexology, aromatherapy, moxabustion and cupping. An integral part of her treatment includes homecare exercises, stretches and nutritional counselling. Since 2002, JoAnn has instructed classes and supervised the student clinic at the SSC.  She has taught self-shiatsu to the general public and has performed public demonstrations to promote shiatsu. Outside of practice JoAnn loves spending time outdoors. In her spare time you can find her kayaking, camping, cycling or hiking with her dog.
	Lori Eisler, BFA, CST, Dipl. ST, RMT Instructor of Shiatsu Treatment Lori Eisler, is a certified Shiatsu therapist who teaches Shiatsu in the full-time diploma program and instructs meditation stretching and yoga at the Shiatsu School of Canada.  Lori received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Simon Fraser University. She is also a graduate of the Shiatsu School of Canada (1991) and a practicing Certified Shiatsu Therapist. Over the past 20 years Lori has been in private practice.  She has also adapted her skills to the workplace providing treatments and seminars on relaxation.  Her former modern dance career and her continuing education and involvement in dance, yoga and Zen Shiatsu exercise are integrated into her classes.
	DRAZEN KRivokuca, Dipl ST & Dipl.Ac Instructor of Shiatsu Practice, Shiatsu Theory & Student Clinic Supervisor To be posted soon.
	ANNA STRZELECKA (NCCAOM), Instructor of Ethics Anna completed her General Certificate of Education in Poland in 1992.  She is also a graduate of the Shiatsu School of Canada (1994) and a graduate of the acupuncture program at the Mitchener Institute for Applied Health Sciences.  Anna interned in the Acupuncture Clinic in the Wasser Pain Management Centre at Mount Sinai Hospital .  She is one of the Directors at the Tai Chi Meditation Centre, and is actively involved with Friends Of Alternative & Complementary Therapies (FACT). She presently maintains her own practice in Toronto.
	WILLIAM HOSSACK, BHSc, Dipl. Ac, Dipl. ST Supervisor of Specialty Clinics William Hossack, is the owner and a practitioner at the Danforth Progressive Health Centre.  He has been practicing in the Eastern Medical field since 1999 as a Shiatsu Therapist.  He went on to study Acupuncture and Chinese medicine for 4 years at the Mitchener Institute for Applied Health Sciences graduating with the Gold Medal for academic achievement.  During his time at Mitchener, Will’s clinical experience included 6 months at St. John’s Rehabilitation Centre and 1 year at Mount Sinai Hospital’s Wasser Pain Management Centre.   Will held an executive position with the Shiatsu Therapy Association of Ontario, serving as Secretary and working with the Examinations Committee for 3 years.   He is currently an instructor at the Shiatsu School of Canada, where he teaches Shiatsu and Acupuncture Theory.  Will also has extensive clinical experience which varies and includes treatment for sports injuries, pain, immunological conditions and digestive complaints.
	lisa Dowling, BA., Dipl. ST, Dipl. AC Instructor of Shiatsu Practice, Shiatsu Stretching, Sotai, Auxillary Modalities & Student Clinic Supervisor Lisa Dowling completed her honours diploma in shiatsu therapy at the Shiatsu School of Canada in 2001, and her diploma in Acupuncture at the Shiatsu School of Canada in 2007.  Previous to this, Lisa majored in Psychology at York University and was always fascinated with the mind body connection.  She first experienced Asian Medicine in University, then went on to spend over a year working and studying in Asia.  Since graduation from SSC, Lisa has maintained her own full-time practise for 10 years and has treated thousands of patients with a wide variety of health conditions.  Her clinical practise ranges from doing treatments in her own clinic, working at various sports medicine and naturopathic clinics to home and office visits as well as treatments within hospitals. Lisa has also continued to study on an ongoing basis. She has taken specialized courses in treating Pregnancy, Fertility, Chronic Pain and Illness, in such modalities as Pilates, Movement Therapy, and of course Shiatsu and Acupuncture.  Lisa has studied with such instructors as Suzanne Yates, Ted Saito, Junji Mitsutani, Kiiko Matsumoto, and Frank Bach as well as doing an extensive apprenticeship in Japanese Medicine with Tak Tsurusaki. Lisa has been teaching special topics of Shiatsu in Pregnancy and the Extra Meridians at the Shiatsu School of Canada for the past four years, as well as a beginner shiatsu course at the University of Toronto Hart House for the past six years.  Lisa also organized and ran her own courses in partner shiatsu, and has been teaching pilates and conscious movement classes for the last ten years.
	CARLOS PRANIAUSKAS, Dipl.ST, MQP (Medical Qi Gong Practitioner) Instructor of Medical Qi Gong Carlos Praniauskas completed the 2200 hour Shiatsu Therapy Diploma Program at the Shiatsu School of Canada in 1988. He became a Shiatsu Instructor at the Shiatsu School of Canada in 1990 and 3 years later Clinic Supervisor. His excellent communication skills and extensive knowledge within the field of Shiatsu therapy, created a wonderful learning environment for shiatsu students. Carlos has devoted his life to the continuously expanding his knowledge within the field of Shiatsu Therapy. Carlos chose to refine his technique by learning other forms of Shiatsu Therapy by attending seminars on Seiki Therapy under Master Aklinobu Kishi as well as Tao Shiatsu under Master Ryokyu Endo, Toru Namikoshi, Kiiko Matsumoto, Honora Lee Wolfe. He continued to work alongside leaders in the Shiatsu field; individuals such as Tetsuro Saito who introduced Shiatsu to Canada and Kaz Kamiya, founder of the Shiatsu School of Canada. Carlos first studied Qigong under Dr. Zaimen Shen from 1987 to 1990, later on with Master Wu. He also studied Qigong at the Acupuncture and Integrated Medical College in Berkeley, California where he received his certification as a Medical Qigong Practitioner in 2006.  This form of moving mediation exercise has proven to help reduce therapist burn out and increases overall health, flexibility and wellbeing. Qi Gong  is an important component to any healthy practice for both client and therapist. The incorporation of Qigong to the Shiatsu practice allows the practitioner/individual the chance to connect to a deeper energetic level, elevating the effectiveness of the treatments. Qigong not only helps physical complaints but also helps to release deep emotional blockages or trauma. He currently operates his own Shiatsu and Qigong Practice in Toronto and has done so since 1988.
	TONY TAVARES, Dr of TCM Dipl., TCM Practitioner Instructor of Shiatsu Theory & Eastern Nutrition Tony Tavares is the founder of Shining Waters Health. He completed acupuncture training programmes at both the Canadian branch of the Beijing Capital University of Medical Sciences and the Institute of Traditional Medicine.  He has also completed the Doctor of Traditional Chinese Medicine diploma program with the Canadian branch of the Beijing Capital University of Medical Sciences. He is currently a faculty member of the Shiatsu School of Canada – SSC Acupuncture Institute. In addition to his credentials in acupuncture and Chinese medicine; Tony has two decades of experience as a leader in the Toronto holistic, wellness and spiritual communities. His experiences are quite varied, having worked not only as a registered yoga teacher, but also as a fitness consultant and a Reiki Master. He has also received training in Tuina, Shiatsu and Ayurvedic bodywork modalities. His interest and training in North American and African shamanism have lead him to receive initiations in these ancient spiritual traditions and, has brought about a deeper understanding of healing the whole individual and exploring the root cause of disharmony on physical, mental, emotional and spiritual levels. His practice as a professional in the healing arts is imbued with these various philosophies and principles.
	Tetsuro (Ted) Saito Instructor of The Shin So Shiatsu SystemTetsuro (Ted) is a world renowned shiatsu master and regarded as the "father of shiatsu" in Canada.  Saito is the founding director of Shin So Shiatsu International and supports hundreds of dedicated post-graduate students in North America and Europe.  He continues to research and maintain a shiatsu practice at the Shiatsu Centre in Toronto.
	Heike Raschl Instructor of The Shin So Shiatsu SystemShinso Therapist and Instructor at Shin So Canada and Master Student of Tetsuro Saito.  Additionally, Heike has been instrumental in coordinating the annual Shin So Shiatsu Summer Camp held each August at the Ecology Retreat Centre.
	peter skrivanic, MA.,Dipl.ST, Dipl.Ac Instructor of Shinso Shiatsu Techniques Peter Skrivanic began receiving and studying shiatsu while living in Japan. He returned to Canada to study both shiatsu and acupuncture at SSC. He has been in private practice since 2001, has offered shiatsu in corporate settings, and has been teaching at the SSC since 2003. He has continued his study of Oriental Medicine, through a year-long internship with a Japanese acupuncturist, as well as pursuing post-graduate study with shiatsu innovator Tetsuro Saito. Peter helped to edit Saito's book "Shin So Shiatsu: Healing the Deeper Meridians," and now teaches post-graduate courses in this style of meridian shiatsu. He recently completed his Master's degree in Medical Anthropology at the University of Toronto, where he focused on how East-Asian medical knowledge is received and transformed in the North American context. He practices meridian-style shiatsu and is interested in shiatsu's potential as a discipline that facilitates enhanced self-awareness.