INSTRUCTOR PROFILES

Judy Cashmore has studied and performed in a range of movement forms for over 20 years, including ballet, jazz dance, modern dance, traditional fitness, tai chi, bellydance, and 5Rhythms. A student of Nia since 1999, Judy is currently a Certified Blue Belt Nia teacher, a mother of two boys, and is mid-Masters in Counselling Psychology. Her teaching style is artistic and athletic, playful and inviting, and her students are naturally drawn to her presence, humour and inspiring passion. Judy is excited to share the possibilities for health and personal growth through Nia's invitation to know ourselves more deeply, to express ourselves more fully, and to enjoy being "at home" in our own body.

Keith Lehman is a full time ceramic artist and has been working with clay for over 14 years. He rec ei ved a BA from Goshen College in Indiana and studied ceramics at Capilano College in North Vancouver. His work ranges from unique tableware deign to one of a kind sculptural forms and can be seen at Kingsmill studio Pottery in Granville Islands' Net Loft building or on his website at www.poplarstudio.ca

Brian Ruhe, author of Freeing the Buddha, has an insight into Buddhism and meditation that can only be had by someone who practiced and studied seriously in a Tibetan Buddhist Centre, was a monk in Thailand, and was the public relations official for the largest Chinese Pure Land Buddhist temple in Canada. A Buddhist since 1991, Brian trains in the Theravada Forest tradition and he spent a short time in the monkhood in Thailand where he was trained as a Vipassana meditation instructor. Brian has taught thousands of people at temples, community colleges and adult ed. courses around the Vancouver area for 10 years and he is also a personal coach. Brian says "Meditation means directing the mind." See Brian's website at theravada.ca.

Joy Russell is a poet, playwright and writer. She has been an instructor and community workshop facilitator. Her work has appeared in numerous journals and the anthologies including Beyond the Pale: Dramatic Writing from First Nations Writers and Writers of Color, Velocity, The Fire People, IC3: The Penguin Book of New Black Writing in Britain and Bluesprint: Black British Columbian Literature and Orature. She has also worked in the UK for many years as a researcher and assistant producer on the documentaries Rebel Music: The Bob Marley Story, Pump Up The Volume and The Hip Hop Years.

Ron Stelting has been facilitating Rhythm Events on the West Coast and Hawaii for almost 10 years. He has been playing drums professionally for over 25 years. He brings a joy of drumming and an energetic personality to his Drum Circles. You will have FUN. He has been leading the Winter Solstice Procession for almost a dozen years.You have to be a bit crazy to be drumming outside in the middle of December but there have been hundreds and hundreds of participants over the years. For more info on Ron & drumming please visit www.yogadrum.ca

Astor Tsang is a popular knitting/crochet teacher and knitwear designer in Vancouver . With a love for all things yarn, Astor takes a lighthearted, enthusiastic approach to knitting. She is pictured here in her published “Desperate HouseFrau Wig�. Visit www.knittingAstor.com and learn more about Astor and her work.

Doug Williams has been a professional photographer for more than twenty years. He taught photography for five years at a Vancouver photography school and in his own workshops for several years, including a photo tour in Spain. Check out his site: www. dwphotography.com