Retreat Facilitators
These people are the life-blood of our retreats and programs. Articulating the nuances of their fields, they are our teachers and spiritual guides. It is both a gift and honor to share their knowledge and expertise on our retreats and training programs.
Jenna - Bellydancing
Jenna began her dance training at the age of four with ballet. In 1991, she turned her attention to middle-eastern dance, and took her first lessons in a small restaurant in Berkeley, California. She continued her practice of this beautiful dance form through university, taking college courses in ballet & modern as well.
Once back east in New York City, she intensified her study of belly dance at Anahid Sofian Studios with Andrea Anwar, and then intensified her training at Serena Studios (with Serena and Azza Amon) where she taught from 1998 through 2004. That year, Jenna was selected to form the trio Bellyqueen: Danse Orientale, with whom she created and performed original choreographies until 2002.
Beyond Bellydance
Gaston Robert Olsen, L.M.T - Thai Massage
As a graduate of the Swedish Institute College of Health Sciences and The Nayada Institute of Thai Massage as well as continued studies in Chinese Medicine, Gaston has learned to approach his work from both an intellectual and instinctual perspective. Combining the traditional and extraordinary techniques of the East with modern methods of the West, each session is customized to suit the particular needs of the individual in a safe, serene environment.
In combination with a private practice located in the heart of Union Square in NYC, Gaston is continually reaching out with his knowledge and experience to work with others. Gaston has worked with patients undergoing chemotherapy at the Saint Vincent's Cancer Outreach Center; he has generously given his time to assist the visually impaired training in massage therapy and worked with the women's basketball team players at the NYU Sports Center. Gaston is currently on staff at the Cabrini Medical Center where he helps patients with pain management and symptom control.
Inspired by personal growth, travel, and continued training in various forms of healing arts, Gaston is always seeking new ideas to combine with learned old-world techniques to better his practice and working with others.
Body and Qi
Peter Kaaberbøl - Thai Massage
Peter Kaaberbøl is the founder of LagoCph © activity center and has been practicing Massage and Yoga for the past 14 years. He teaches internationally as well as in Nepal with his master, Rahul Bharti - founder of The Healing Hands.
Peter has studied a great variety of Yoga (he is a 200 hour certified teacher with the Yoga Alliance), Massage, Coaching and Healing techniques, (including anatomy, and pathology) but has had a special interest in the art of Thai Yoga Massage, which he have developed so it work specifically with yoga corrections and adjustments. Furthermore Peter has developed the Body Stretching System © He is currently teaching for a great variety of schools and body workers internationally (Copenhagen, NYC, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Italy, England etc.)
LagoCph
Jared Koch - Nutrition
I graduated in 1992 from the University of Michigan where I majored in Economics while I was also pre-med. I was accepted into medical school, but decided to forgo medical school (I thought only temporarily) and help my brother in a business he had just started. In 10 years we grew our event entertainment company from approximately a half a million dollars to $10 million in sales. I was successful in ways I thought would make me happy, but the way I was feeling was telling me differently. I seized an opportunity to sell my stake in the company and began my journey of personal healing and understanding optimal health and happiness.
I spent the next four years reflecting on my past experiences, practicing and studying yoga, meditation, nutrition and other holistic healing modalities. I became certified as a yoga instructor, nutritional consultant, holistic health counselor and Thai massage therapist. My life has been completely transformed and I can honestly say I am now truly happy. Today as a wellness counselor, I am able to share what I learned over the last four years to inspire and help others to love them selves, develop a deeper awareness, find balance and have better health and much more happiness in their lives.
I truly meet my clients wherever they are in their own journey and provide them with the space, support and resources to be able to forge their own path. I help them to become aware of the choices they make in all aspects of their life and give them the tools they need to make wiser choices and live at their best. Some of the changes my clients have experienced in just a short time include increased energy and vitality, better time management skills, improved relationships, more enjoyment, creativity and efficiency in their chosen career, and more spiritual awareness. Many clients have said they are the happiest and healthiest they have ever been.
Everyone is unique and yet we are all the same. Our unique paths, when combined with awareness and wisdom, lead us all to the same goals happiness and health. And when we are happy and healthy, this then serves as a vehicle for us to live our lives to the fullest, not from fear but from love.
