Faculty
Joseph Carter, B.S., L.Ac. Joseph is the Director of the Acupressure Institute. He graduated from U.C. Berkeley in Conservation of Natural Resources and is a Licensed Acupuncturist. He maintains private practices in Marin County and the East Bay, specializing in the treatment of gynecological and immunological concerns. Along with teaching acupressure and related Asian health practices, he is also a faculty member of the Academy for Guided Imagery. | |
Michael Gach, Ph. D. Founded the Acupressure Institute in 1976, graduated from Immaculate Heart College in Social Relations and Columbia Pacific University in Health & Human Services. He received advanced training from Frank Chung, L.Ac., O.M.D., in point location; Reuho Yamada (Japanese Zen priest) in Zen Shiatsu; teacher training from Ron and Iona Teeguarden in Jin Shin Acupressure; as well as teacher training in the Yoga of Awareness from the 3HO Foundation. Michael has practiced acupressure for over 30 years and has presented to over 100,000 people. He is the author of Acu-Yoga, The Bum Back Book, Greater Energy at Your Fingertips, Arthritis Relief at Your Fingertips, Acupressure's Potent Points, Acupressure for Lovers, Acupressure for Emotional Healing and numerous instructional self-healing audio, video tapes, CDs and DVDs. | |
Kathleen Davis, B.A., C.M.T. Dipl.ABT Kathleen is a graduate of Mills College and the Acupressure Institute's 850-hour Advanced Acupressure Teacher Training Program. She studies qi gong with Vajrayana Master Zi Sheng Wang and studies Jin Shin Jyutsu as taught by Mary Burmeister. In addition to teaching acupressure and qi gong, she maintains a private practice integrating Chinese Tui Na Massage with Jin Shin Jyutsu. Kathleen is a core faculty member at the Acupressure Institute. | |
Alice Hiatt, R.N. Alice is one of the Acupressure Institute's major core faculty, teaching over 20 different classes. She places an emphasis on the emotional aspects of health and disease. Alice is certified in Touch for Health and Esalen Massage and has taught acupressure around the world. She has studied Jungian dream analysis and trained with Helen Palmer. Alice has been a psychiatric nurse for over 25 years. She maintains a private practice in Berkeley and lives part time in Tanzania East Africa. She is the medicine woman in her village and during her climbs on Kilimanjaro Mountain.
| |
Brian O'Dea, B.A., L.AC., AOBTACI, Dipl. ABT, Dipl. Ac, NCCAOM Brian has 40 years of Martial Arts, meditation, and health care practice. He graduated from the Acupressure Institute and the Academy of Chinese Culture and Health Sciences. He continues his Jin Shin Jyutsu studies with Mary Burmeister and Patricia Meador and Qi Gong with Simu Ou Yang Min. Brian also studied Yang style Tai Chi Chuan with Prof. Cheng Man Ching and Aikido with Lou Kleinsmith. His private practice in Oakland integrates Tui Na Massage, Jin Shin Jyutsu, herbs, and acupuncture.
| |
Instructors
Rebecca Ackerman, B.A, C.M.T., Dipl ABT Rebecca Ackerman is a graduate of the Acupressure Institute with
specializations in sports massage, Traditional Chinese Medicine, and women's health. She graduated from UC Berkeley with a BA in Integrative Biology in 2002. She spent 3 years as an apprentice to Stanley Nakahara in his athletic training clinic working with many athletes. In 2003 she completed a program with The Touch Factor Foundation specializing in massaging people with Hemophelia and other bleeding disorders. Also, in 2003 she became certified to teach infant massage. Rebecca completed the Ashiatsu teacher training program with Edward Spencer in 2005, studied Hawaiian 'Oluea LomiLomi with Daniel Fowlers on Maui in 2005, and studied Traditional Thai Massage at the Old Medicine Hospital in Chang Mai, Thailand in 2006. Rebecca maintains a successful private practice in North Berkeley and enjoys integrating eastern and western health practices. | |
Katie Carrin Katie completed the 850-hour Acupressure Therapy Program at the Acupressure Institute. She also holds a certificate in Traditional Thai Massage (1995) from the Old Medicine Hospital in Chiang Mai, Thailand and studied privately with several Thai Massage masters. She has an Ashiatsu Teaching Certificate through master teacher Edward Spencer and completed a teacher-training course in Traditional Hatha Yoga from the Sivananda Yoga Farm. She teaches, maintains a private practice and is co-authoring a comprehensive instructional text on Northern Style Thai Massage. | |
David Caruso-Radin, MSOM LAc MQP Dipl ABT (NCCAOM) I began my training in Holistic Medicine, Bodywork and Nutrition at The Heartwood Institute In Northern California in 2001-02. The tutelage of Paul Pitchford, author of "Healing with Whole Foods" gave me a strong foundation in Integrated Nutrition, and inspired me to further my degree in Traditional Chinese Medicine. I received my Master's in Science, Oriental medicine from the Acupuncture & Integrative Medicine College, Berkeley where I currently serve on the faculty and as the Dean of Students. In addition, I trained as an Instructor in Wild Goose Qi Gong under Master Hui Liu at the Wen Wu School of Martial Arts in El Cerrito, California; and with Dr. Suzanne Friedman in Medical Qi Gong. | |
Kaleo Ching, M.A. Studio Art; C.A.M.T, C.C.H.T. Kaleo is an artist (University of New Mexico; Tamarind Institute), certified acupressure massage therapist (Acupressure Institute), and certified clincal hypnotherapist (Hypnotherapy Training Institute). He studied Hawaiian Lomilomi with Dane Kaohe Silva and Maka'ala Yates. Kaleo has 35 years of Chi Kung practice. His private practice work is a journey integrating applied Chi Kung, Lomilomi, and hypnotherapy.
He and his wife, Elise, co-teach Chi Kung, maskmaking, and art-as-healing classes for many institutions in the San Francisco Bay Area and beyond, including the John F. Kennedy University Arts and Consciousness Program for the past 18 years. They co-authored /Faces of Your Soul: Rituals in Art, Maskmaking, and Guided Imagery with Ancestors, Spirit Guides, and Totem Animals /(North Atlantic Books, 2006) and /Chi and Creaitivty: Vital Energy and Your Inner Artist/ (Blue Snake Books, 2007). View Five Element and Tiger's Breath Chi Kung videos: www.kaleoching.com View Chi Kung forms they will be learning in Kaleo's classes. YouTube video showing Five Element Chi Kung with Kaleo Ching. | |
Elise Dirlam Ching, R.N., M.A. Transpersonal Psychology; M.A. English; C. Elise, an award-winning poet, has been a Registered Nurse at the San Francisco County Jail for twenty-five years. She has been practicing hatha yoga and Chi Kung for twenty years. She is co-teacher and co-author with her husband, Kaleo. | |
Kathy Christensen Kathy is a graduate of the Acupressure Institute. | |
Frank Chung, L.Ac., O.M.D.  Frank Chung is a licensed Chinese Medicine doctor and pharmacist. He received his formal training in Taiwan and his doctor of Oriental Medicine (O.M.D.) from the San Francisco College of Oriental Medicine. Since coming to the United States in 1975, Frank has practiced acupuncture in San Francisco, Encino, Beverly Hills, and currently in Oakland. He has also served as an acupuncture examiner for NCCA (National Boards) and the California State Acupuncture Examining Committee. | |
Jim Donak, C.A.M.T., M.P.N.L.P. Jim's fascination with the human body began at an early age. He began teaching himself anatomy and physiology at age 8 and studying Gung Fu at age 14. Since then, he has committed himself to in-depth studies of the healing arts, ranging from Tai Chi, kinesiology, and The Alexander Technique, to Neuro-Linguistic Programming, TCM, manual orthopedic and osteopathic techniques, and musculoskeletal therapy.
In addition to teaching at the Acupressure Institute Jim teaches classes at San Francisco's Circus Center were he leads the popular Extreme Stretching class and teaches privates lessons in trampoline and skill development. He also maintains a private practice in San Francisco focusing on musculoskeletal healing using Eastern and Western manual and exercise therapies. www.divingbuddah.com | |
Jason Frye Jason Frye began a study of Tui Na and Acupressure along side a study of Tai Chi and Qigong with Brian O'Dea and Kathleen Davis in 1998. He is a certified Jin Shin Jyutsu practitioner and combines this with Tui Na and Medical Qigong in every session. Jason continues his studies with Brian, and has been an instructor of Tui Na and Acupressure at The Acupressure Institute in Berkeley and McKinnon Institute in Oakland since 2002. After a couple years of study, Jason was introduced to Kathleen's and Brian's teacher Simu Ou Yang Min in San Francisco. He studied with her from 2000 until she passed on in 2007.
Since graduation from the Masters program in Traditional Chinese Medicine at The Academy of Chinese Culture and Health Sciences in Oakland, he teaches Tui Na there. He practices these healing arts in his home office in Uptown Oakland just a few blocks from Lake Merritt. | |
Susan Gann, M.Ed., M.M.H., C.M.T. Susan's work is a synthesis of 3 decades devoted to working with people of all ages. Her professional training includes a Masters of Education (child development specialty), a Masters of Mental Health from the John Hopkins School of Medicine, and advanced training at the Acupressure Institute. Her earlier work as a preschool teacher and then long-time child and adult psychotherapist has brought her to the field of energy medicine with great respect and sensitivity for the mental/emotional/spiritual aspects of physical wellbeing. Her work as an acupressurist is enhanced by studies in Reiki (she is a Reiki master), Healing Touch, Compassionate Touch, healing imagery, intuition training, shamanic study, infant massage instruction, and Massage In Schools instruction.
She maintains a private practice in Kensington, where she specializes in Acupressure for Emotional Healing as well as Energy Field Massage, a technique for removing pain and trauma from the electromagnetic field around the body. Susan also volunteers the gift of touch to both ends of the age spectrum, having held babies at the Newborn Intensive Care Unit at Alta Bates for many years and also providing hospice massage to the dying. www.artfultouch.us | |
Leah Gilman Leah Gillman began studying Barefoot Shiatsu with Edward Spencer at the Acupressure Institute in 2000, completed his 9 month apprenticeship program in 2005 and continues as his mentee, assisting with his classes and with the authoring of a series of texts. Leah has extensive experience as a modern dancer, choreographer, and as a competitive cyclist. She has played with partner acrobatics, studies White Crane Silat martial arts with Peter Ajemian, and participates in the occasional sprint-distance triathlon. Leah began practicing vinyasa yoga in 1994, teaching yoga in 1999 and now leads Yoga Immersion! a 200 hour teacher certification course.
www.BarefootMovement.com | |
Kathy Kapps, B.S., C.M.T., Dipl. ABT Kathy began her Zen Shiatsu practice at the SF Chiropractic Clinic in 1984 after studying at the Acupressure Institute and private Zen Shiatsu tutoring from Ping Lee. In 1994, she relocated her practice to the Dr Stein/Wood Sports Clinic. Kathy maintains a successful private practice and privately mentors Zen Shiatsu students. | |
Julia Katz Julia is a graduate of the Acupressure Institute. | |
Ananda Ma ERYT, ASIACT She practices Foot-Reflexology and Acupressure with Tuning Forks in Larkspur, CA. Trained under the renowned Marianne Uhl in 1995 in Frankfurt, and Margarete Teuwen, OMA in 1998 in Los Angeles. Originally from Germany Ananda is a certified Teacher with the Art and Science International Academy of Colour Technology, UK since 1997. She incorporates AURA-SOMA Colour energies and basic ACUTONICS sound vibrations in her sessions to bring Colour & Light to specific parts of the body. Ananda's awakening to work with Qi and nature's forces began with training horses, which led her to dedicate her life to Movement Therapies and work with subtle energies, which also reflects her artistic soul. Being a registered Yoga Alliance Teacher, Ananda is a popular Yoga Therapist in the Bay Area for 15 years, drawing from many Yoga Philosophies. She was honored with former Certification in Bikram-Yoga (95), Yin-Yang Yoga (02) Iyengar Yoga (07) and Acu-Yoga (08). She teaches Acu-Reflexology and Acu-Yoga classes at the Acupressure Institute in Berkeley. | |
Kyle Miura, LAc, LMT, DiplOM/ABT (NCCAOM) Kyle is a licensed acupuncturist, herbalist, and massage therapist (CA and HI), and an instructor of Asian bodywork therapy at the University Hawaii. He practices a painless Japanese approach to needling. He is also a yoga instructor and spiritual counselor.
| |
Sylvia Nachlinger, B.A. Sylvia is a holistic health educator, acupressure therapist and animal communicator. Her background includes training in psychic awareness, Chinese and Western herbology, yoga, astrology, and acupressure. She started her studies in 1979 at the Acupressure Institute and has been teaching there for over 20 years. Sylvia maintains a private practice that integrates intuitive counseling, chakra balancing, acupressure, and herbs in her work with people and animals. | |
Stan Nakahara, M.S., A.T.C., P.T.A. Stanley has been doing bodywork for 30 years, mostly with athletes. He learned Biomechanics, Sports Medicine, Exercise Physiology and Athletic Training at UC Berkeley and University of Wisconsin, Madison. Participating in Karate and Kendo gave Stan experience to heal people with muscular dysfunction and fascial pain. As a certified athletic trainer, Nakahara has developed techniques utilizing acupressure and myofacial release to relieve pain and regain normal function. | |
Christian Nix, L.Ac. M.A. Christian is a graduate of the first-ever master's degree program for Integrative Healthcare Administration.
Prior to obtaining his degree, he completed a five-year apprenticeship in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) which allowed him to achieve certification as a Licensed Acupuncturist (L.Ac.) He currently runs acupuncture and experiential learning externships in Central America and his Teishin Institute in the leader in TCM teacher training (teishininstitute.com). Christian travels and teaches internationally. In addition, he is co-founder and president of the Calacirya Foundation, a 501(c)3 whose mission is to promote cross-cultural exchange through experiential learning. | |
Janet Oliver, L. Ac. Janet Oliver has practiced and taught Acupressure and Traditional Chinese Medicine for over 25 years. With delight, she has recently returned to teach at the Acupressure Institute, where she was a Senior Instructor for 15 years from 1982 through 1997. She brings a wealth of education and experience to her classes. She studied Qi Gong with Simu Min Ou Yang for ten years, and apprenticed with Dr. Alex Feng in Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine for several years. In addition, Janet studied Jin Shin Jyutsu intensively with Mary Burmeister, became a faculty member of Jin Shin Jyutsu in 1993, and teaches throughout the United States and internationally. Furthermore, she developed the curriculum and wrote four textbooks for a 500-hour Acupressure Therapy Program, which she has taught at various bodywork and acupuncture schools in California. Janet was a member of the Asian Bodywork Examination Development Committee for the National Commission for Certification of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine for several years. She is a graduate of the Academy of Chinese Culture and Health Sciences in Oakland. Janet is a Licensed Acupuncturist who prefers to practice and teach Acupressure, due to the joy, nurturing qualities, and effectiveness she finds in this modality. She maintains a full-time private practice in Berkeley. | |
Janiece Piper, M.S.W., C.A.M.T., R.Sc.P. Janiece Piper began her career as an acupressurist after 20 years in the field of social work. She has a Master's in Social Welfare from UC Berkeley, and her B.S.W. from the University of Uppsala in Sweden/C.S.U. Sacramento. She combines her years of experience in various positions in Medical Facilities, (Oncology Wards, Chronic Pain Clinics, Rehabilitation Wards (spinal cord injuries, head trauma, multiple sclerosis, etc. and Psychiatric Wards) with experience in various clinics for battered women and abused children.This experience and knowledge base, combined with her extensive experience with 12 step program, was consolidated into a comprehensive private practice in acupressure, to focus on healing work for body, mind and spirit especially in working with Adult Children of Alcoholics. As well as her basic modality of Jin Shin, she provides counseling, focusing on cognitive reframing. She also teaches both in classroom settings as well in private tutoring and instruction, both for acupressure students and the lay person who wishes to learn how to work on specific issues with a loved one (including pets!). After having graduated from the Acupressure Institute, she has studied further, to include a specialization in Jin Shin Jyutsu, and has taught at the Institute since 1988. She has conducted workshops for Kaiser, Shell Oil, the California Emergency Physicians Association, Shelters for battered women, health clubs, and various community colleges and Universities. | |
Graham Quigley, B.A., C.M.T. Graham teaches the Acupressure for Animals and Animal Communication classes and has been studying Asian Bodywork for over eight years. He is a graduate of the Acupressure Institute and currently a graduate student in Traditional Chinese Medicine at the Academy of Chinese Culture & Health Sciences in Oakland. He holds a Bachelors degree in Psychology from Colby College and has completed Sylvia Nachlinger's 10 month Spiritual Dimensions of Healing apprenticeship and Edward Spencer's 9 month Ashiatsu Teacher Training apprenticeship. He has also studied Animal Communication and Remote Healing privately with Sylvia Nachlinger, and is currently studying Intuitive work with Phyllis Pay at the Intuitive Energy Center in Berkeley. Graham maintains a private practice in Oakland working with people and animals. His animal work brings him into the homes of distressed pet owners who are looking for new ways to bring their animals back to health. Graham's approach is to empower his clients with knowledge about animal nutrition, holistic health, and acupressure while helping them to establish a newfound heart connection with their pets. | |
Tom Sherman, Ph.D., LMT, CHTP Tom holds his Ph.D. in Organization Development, has completed post doctoral study in ecopsychology, is a licensed Massage Therapist, and an Energy Healer with certifications in Healing Touch, Acupressure, and Acu-Yoga. Tom's work integrates his consulting background, personal practice of yoga, experience in various massage and healing practices, eco-psychology. and 25 years of history with AIDS. Tom was diagnosed HIV+ in 1987 and with AIDS in 1994. He currently thrives in radiant health.
www.chakraman.com | |
Estevan Sifuentes, B.A. Estevan graduated from UC Berkeley with a B.A. in Comparative Literature. He has a background teaching languages and literature. In 2006, he began training at the Acupressure Institute and the Chi Nei Tsang Institute for Asian bodywork. He has since completed two advanced programs in Acupressure with specializations in Traditional Asian Therapies and Tui-Na. He maintains a private practice in Oakland at the Grand Acupuncture Center. His work integrates Tui-Na, abdominal massage and Acupressure. He also practices t'ai c'hi. | |
Edward Spencer, B.S. Edward majored in psychology and has graduate credits in clinical psychology. He has been a practitioner of Ashiatsu (Barefoot Shiatsu) for 28 years and an instructor in the Bay Area for 23 years. Edward has studied psychic work with Phyllis Pay and facilitated men's groups in intuitive processing for 15 years. | |
Valerie St. Louis Valerie St Louis is a graduate of the Acupressure Institute's 850 hour Acupressure Therapist Program. With concentrations in Advanced Acupressure and Traditional Thai Massage, she holds certificates for over 1200 hours of coursework. Valerie has been a teacher of mixed modalities since 2002, including Traditional Thai Massage, Shiatsu, Advanced Shiatsu, Acupressure, and Hot Stone Massage Therapy. | |
Keith Stetson, M.Ac. Keith Stetson practices Five Element acupuncture in Berkeley. She trained under J.R. Worsley for more than 14 years and has incorporated many other styles of acupuncture into her private practice. She teaches the inner correspondences of the elements and how to find the treatment root within the interconnecting dance of the twelve officials and the five elements. She is certified in massage therapy through ReSource. | |
Charles Strange | |
Joyce Thom, M.P.A., M.M.Q. Joyce has been studying acupressure, meditation, and energy cultivation since she began training in martial arts in 1979. In her private practice, she facilitates movement toward greater peace, awareness, transformation, and health through Acupressure, Medical QiGong, Jin Shin Jyutsu, Yoga Therapy, Visionary CranioSacral Work, and several energy balancing modalities. She is a graduate of Yale University, Princeton University, the International Institute of Medical QiGong, and both the Acupressure Institute and the Milne Institute where she is a faculty member . She enjoys teaching classes in consciousness studies, integrated movement, energy cultivation, and acupressure. Her clear and caring teaching style facilitates and provides a supportive environment for students to absorb, integrate, and apply the material easily and in their own way.
www.thepath.us | |
Kimberly Thompson, B. S., C.M.T Kimberly graduated with a B.S. degree in Kinesiology with an emphasis in Human Movement from SFSU in 2002. She furthered her training with a clinical based 500-hour program in Integrative Medicine and Spirituality while providing massage to patients in a hospital setting. Following the certification, she worked as a supervisor-in-training for the massage program at California Pacific Medical Center in San Francisco. Combining the practice of acupressure, massage and yoga, she continues to be fascinated with the human body. Kimberly combines her traditional education with her hospital experience to teach Anatomy and Physiology for the basic acupressure program. | |
Chelsea Tiernan Chelsea is a graduate of the Silva Method and of the Acupressure Institute. A Certified Acupressure Massage Therapist. An Acu-Yoga instructor and a Tiger's Breath Chi Kung instructor having studied under Kaleo Ching. | |
Marta Viola Marta is originally from Brazil. She has had two major interests in her life: learning languages and inner cultivation through meditative practices.
In Brazil, she majored in Letters and Sciences and completed her Master Degree in Applied Linguistics, especializing in English and Portuguese. At the same time she studied languages, she began her trainings in meditation and bodywork. When she was still 13, she began taking different classes: Silva Mind Control, Transcendental Meditation, Inner Guide Meditation and Yoga. She continued to pursue healing arts studying Tai Qi with Master Lee Wu Wan, practicing Osho's meditation techniques in Brazil as well as Europe, and energy channeling . She also became a Reiki master and had her first massage training while still in her home country. In the USA, she graduated from the 850hr program at the Acupressure Institute and became a Diplomate in Asian Bodywork Therapy through the National Commission for Acupuncture & Oriental Medicine. She also has training as a doula and pre and perinatal massage therapy. She lives in Berkeley, where she mantains a private practice, and keeps deepening her meditation practices as a student at the Tibetan Nyingma Institute. | |
David Wei David was formally trained in China at Wudangshan, under the guidance of Master Yuan Xiu Gang in Taoist internal kung fu, qigong and meditation, and under the instruction of Master Du Yi Jun. He was accepted as a disciple of Master Yuan in 2007, and spends part of each year at Wudangshan upholding his responsibilities as Senior Disciple at the Wudang Daoist Traditional Internal Kung Fu Academy.In addition to his Wudang training, David is also certified in Wat Po Traditional Thai massage, and acupressure from the Institute of Acupressure in Berkeley, California. David also trained in traditional Shaolin kung fu with Master Y.C. Chiang. | |
Tom Wilson, Ph.D. Tom is a certified teacher and practitioner of Traditional Asian and Western Therapies for humans and animals, including Acupressure, Jin Shin Jyutsu, Craniosacral, Wuji Qigong, Polarity, Tui Na, Reiki, and Somatic Emotional Experiencing. He is an Usui Reiki Master, certified by the Sai Reiki Center of Pune, India, and creator of the Reiki Distance Healing Network. He is a faculty member of the Acupressure Institute, the Healing Arts Institute, Citrus Heights, CA, and director of the Animal Acupressure Training Academy in Nevada City, CA. Tom's approach to energy work emerges from his belief that the compassionate, loving touch of the practitioner is the art of listening deeply with our whole being while healing and transformation occur in the stillness and presence where the breath of life meets the blueprint of the body. He invites you to bring your heart, your touch, and behold the beauty of the body-mind-spirit revealing and renewing itself. | |
Devon Wortz, B.A., C.M.T., ABT. Devon received her BA in Dance Therapy from Columbia College, Chicago. She is a graduate of the Acupressure Institute, the Massage Institute, the Upledger Institute, the Milne Institute and the Academy for Guided Imagery. Her private practice in San Rafael combines Craniosacral Therapy, Acupressure, Orthopedic Massage, Interactive Guided Imagery with the influences of her studies in Continuum Movement, Tai Chi, Cross Cultural Shamanism and Dream Work. | |
