Faculty

The faculty of the Shiatsu Therapy Diploma Program is selected for their excellent academic, clinical, and teaching skills, and for their experience. They are also required to satisfy regulations under the Private Career Colleges Act.

Kaz Kamiya
Kaz is the founder and an instructor at the SSC.  He graduated from the shiatsu and acupuncture program in Japan in 1978, and then apprenticed with Shizuto Masunaga. He established the Shiatsu Clinic and the Shiatsu Education Centre (now the Shiatsu School of Canada) in 1981.  

JOANN ALAFRIZ
Clinic Supervisor
Joann is a Certified Shiatsu therapist who graduated from the Shiatsu School of Canada in 1997.  She also holds her B.Sc. from the University of Guelph (1994). She currently practices shiatsu and moxabustion at a private practice in Toronto.

KIM DUNLOP
Special Topics in Eastern Medical Theory
Kim graduated with High Honours from the Shiatsu Therapy Diploma Program in 2000.  She is a Certified Shiatsu Therapist and maintains a private practice in Scarborough and she also works in the SSC Professional Clinic.  Prior to shiatsu, Kim was a modern ballet dancer and choreographer.

Lori Eisler  
Shiatsu Treatment, Shiatsu Practice, Meditation & Stretching
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. She maintains a private practice in Toronto. 

WILLIAM HOSSACK
Clinic Supervisor, Shiatsu Theory
William is a graduate of the Shiatsu Diploma Program at the SSC (1999) and a Certified Shiatsu Therapist. He also completed the four year Acupuncture Program at the Michener Institute in 2003. Presently he maintains a private practice in Toronto.

SUSAN HUBER-YAP
Sotai
Susan is a graduate of the Shiatsu School of Canada (1988).  She has many years of experience as a volunteer teacher's assistant and has been a Sotai instructor since 2001.  Susan is also a certified coach and judge in various sports.

Greta Kubis
Pathology; Public Health; Nutrition
Greta completed her doctor of medicine in Czechoslovakia and became a certified specialist in paediatrics. She recently completed her Master of Science in nutrition at the University of Toronto. 

Lois Kunkel
School Counsellor
Lois Kunkel has her M.Ed. in Counselling Psychology from OISE/University of Toronto.  In addition to counselling at the Shiatsu School of Canada, she has been the counsellor for students in training at the Sutherland- Chan School & Teaching Clinic since 1991.  Lois has a private practice.  

Chai Lien Lee
Anatomy and Physiology
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 20 years of teaching experience includes teaching to students in medicine, dentistry, nursing, physiotherapy, occupational therapy and audio-speech therapy, as well as shiatsu.

J. Carlos Praniauskas
Director of the Shiatsu Program, Clinic Supervisor
Carlos graduated from the first graduating class of the SSC (1988). He has taught the school's General Interest Course and Shiatsu Practice in the Shiatsu Therapy Diploma Program. He maintains a private practice in Toronto.  

VICKI ROSTANT
Business, Communications
Vicki Rostant is an honours graduate of the SSC's Shiatsu Therapy Diploma Program (1996) and a graduate of the SSC's Post-Graduate Acupuncture Program (2000).  With 20 years experience in the business world of banking, Vicki brings a varied range of skills to the shiatsu program.  Her banking positions included those in IT (Information Technology), training and education and project management.  She has been teaching the Business Course since 1998.  She maintains a private practice in Toronto.

julie savoie
Clinic Supervisor
Julie graduated from the Shiatsu Therapy Diploma Program at the SSC in 2001 and is currently completing a Diploma in Acupuncture. She is a Certified Shiatsu Therapist with a private practice in Toronto. Julie specializes in shiatsu for maternity care.

Gilbert Schaefer
Clinic Supervisor, Eastern Medical Theory
Gilbert graduated from the Shiatsu Diploma Program in 1998 and the Acupuncture Diploma Program in 1999.  He maintains a private practice in downtown Toronto.  

peter skrivanic 
Shiatsu Practice
Peter graduated from Queen’s University in 1995 with an honours degree in philosophy. He spent three years in Japan, where he started to receive and study shiatsu. He returned to Canada in 1999 and began to study at the SSC, receiving diplomas in both shiatsu and acupuncture. He is currently studying with a Japanese acupuncturist. Peter maintains a private practice in Toronto, and does shiatsu on-site in the corporate world.

ANNA STRZELECKA (NCCAOM)
Ethics, Clinic Supervisor
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.  Presently she maintains her own practice in Toronto. 

 

Message from the Founder of the Shiatsu School of Canada

When I went for my first shiatsu treatment over 20 years ago, I had no idea how much it would change my life. My curiosity was forever aroused when I experienced such tremendous relief for my aches and pains. I have never stopped being fascinated with the study and practice of shiatsu. After my first treatment, I decided to study shiatsu. As there were no training facilities available in Toronto at that time, I decided to return to Japan to pursue career training in shiatsu and acupuncture. Since I had a wife and two small children, this was not an easy decision to make, but it is a decision that I have never regretted. While in Japan, I was fortunate to have the opportunity to study with Masunaga- sensei, one of the pioneers of shiatsu therapy.

When I returned to Toronto to practice, my clients were also interested in learning shiatsu as well and asked me to share my knowledge. I began to teach an evening certificate program through the Shiatsu Education Centre, but just as I had wanted to know more, my students also wanted to delve deeper into the heart of shiatsu. It was a great day in 1986 when we received approval to establish the diploma program and the Shiatsu School of Canada Inc.  Since the inception of the school, we have offered a comprehensive diploma training program in shiatsu therapy and now we offer an Acupuncture Diploma program. Over the years, I have been impressed with the demand for training and I am very proud of our graduates who are now happily and successfully pursuing their new careers. It has been a period of immense growth, not only for the school, but also for all shiatsu therapists. Shiatsu is now a household word and a respected career.

You're welcome to visit...
Come visit the school - sit in on a class (phone for an appointment) or have a treatment in the Student Clinic. You are invited to attend a free information sessions and demonstrations or to have a treatment to learn more about what shiatsu can do for you and what The Shiatsu School of Canada has to offer.

Kaz Kamiya CST, D.Ac.