About Irene
Here Are My Credentials…
- I’m a certified Somatic Experiencing® (SE) practitioner. I started my SE studies in 2008 and I continue to grow this skill set today by attending and assisting at the Master Class levels which are exclusively taught by the founder of SE, Dr. Peter Levine. Master Class topics I’m well versed in include: working with near-death and anesthesia states; working with anger, depression, healthy aggression and life force energy; working with syndromal representations (such as autoimmune disorders) in conjunction with the polyvagal theory. I regularly mentor and offer consultation to my colleagues within the Somatic Experiencing practices.
- I’ve studied extensively under Kathy Kain and Stephen Terrell within the body of work called Somatic Practice. I’ve completed the Touch Skills Training and Somatic Resilience and Regulation Training and have attended speciality workshops throughout the years. I maintain active communication with these stellar teachers to help further my learning and the learning of my mentees and clients.
- I’ve studied the work of Dr. Moshe Feldenkrais, founder of The Feldenkrais Method. I’m a Feldenkrais Practitioner, and have gone through a 4-year intensive Professional Feldenkrais Teacher Training Program. I’ve taught public classes, built a private practice in Whistler, British Columbia, and even started a video documentation project dedicated to educating more people about the wonders of this work and how it is needed in the world. Dr. Feldenkrais’ principles around neuroplastic healing and awareness through movement play a massive part in my online teachings, in-person workshops and my own personal movement practices.
- Finally, my early University foundations span between the year 1993 and 2008 wherein I studied exercise physiology, applied human nutrition, the biomedical and health sciences. I completed my Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology plus obtained certificates in fitness and nutrition in 2000 from Simon Fraser University (British Columbia, Canada). In 2008 I completed my Master of Science from the Research School of Health and Biomedical Science, University of Wollongong (New South Wales, Australia).
Fun Facts About Me…
(i.e., What Irene Does When She’s Not Talking About The Nervous System)
- I almost started car racing in the late 90’s. But instead, I put 10K towards grad school. (I still fantasize about racing the Formula 1 circuit, driving a petrol-free race car.)
- I used to bake while in University late at night to help me stay up studying… Waiting for them to bake that extra 30-40 minutes did the trick. My specialty was banana bread. (I still make a mean and delicious full-of-butter-and-sugar-and-gluten banana bread.)
- I’m a kick-ass skier and love dropping into anything steep and fast.
- My clay sculptures earned me a few art awards in junior high school. I love that now I get to sculpt human systems, virtually and in person.
- I flew paragliders for a few short, adrenaline-filled years. (My favorite spot was in the desert areas of British Columbia, a special spot called Savona.)
- I thank my kidneys for working and being so healthy every time I pee.
- I’ve had 7 black cats in my lifetime: Puss Puss, Casper, Kitty, Jacko, Sid, Sylvester, and Newton (I got him when I was studying physics.)
- Despite passing Calculus with flying colors, I still count my fingers for basic arithmetic.
- I figure skated from age 5 to age 22. Loved to ice dance and my favourite dance was The Blues.
- Cell membranes excite me. If you’ll let me, I’ll tell you all about how dietary fat influences the insides of our cells.