Faculty
Brenda Anderson BSN CHTP/I has combed her nursing background with Healing Touch since 1993. Her private practice includes helping people prepare for childbirth and other life transitions. She offers support for people coping with chronic pain, cancer, autoimmune disorders, stress related challenges depression, and loss. Brenda teaches the Healing Touch synthesis of Mentgen’s, Joy’s, Bruyere’s, and Brennan’s work. She is a mentor for student practitioners and other instructors, with a special interest in the principles of energetic communication. Brenda is also an instructor in Langara’s Integrative Energy Healing Program.
Lynne Edel, Registered Aromatherapist, Certified Integrative Energy Healing Practitioner and Reiki Master Teacher. Lynne has been in private practice since 1999 and has worked within the spa industry since 2002. She has studied aromatherapy with Pat Antoniak, Dr. Vivian Lunny, Dr. Light Miller, and John Steele to name a few. She is a Professional member of the British Columbia Association of Practicing Aroma therapists and sits on the board of directors for the British Columbia Alliance of Aromatherapy. Lynne is passionate about holistic healing as both a science and an art form.
Renate Geier has a background in spa ownership which spans from 1980 to 2006. In the areas of business development; Renate has honed her skills in management, spa operations, sales and marketing, public relations, team and client management cultivation systems; based on the principles of a holistic model and integrated approach of spa management. Recognized for her many years of visionary dedication to the Canadian Spa Industry for over the last 30 years, Renate has pushed the envelope on many business approaches, and in 2001 was invited to join other industry peers to form our national spa association. Stepping up as a Director of the “Leading Spas of Canada” (formerly known as the Canadian Spa Association) and, as Chair/Manager of its National Annual conference, in 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006. This exploration has inspired a vision; of creating transformational events, retreats, and training programs to cultivate leaders of influence; who embrace spiritual and economic values of sustainability of a future world vision of Spa Wellness and Healing.
Naseem Gulamhusein, BA, Senior Yoga Teacher, is certified with the Yoga Association of British Columbia (YABC) and Kundalini Research Institute (KRI). She has studied Classical Ashtanga, Hatha and Kundalini yoga with renowned masters Baba Hari Dass, Gurumayi and the late Yogi Bhajan. Naseem's advanced yoga training includes an Ayurvedic Practitioner’s program, Level 2 Postures (with Guru Prem), Conscious Communication and Non-Violent Communication, as well as over 18 months residential service in yoga communities. She has taught internationally, to all levels of students, ranging from pre- and post-natal to seniors, and been an instructor for yoga teacher training programs in Canada and the USA since 2002. In addition, she has worked in the spa industry for over 5 years and is certified in Reiki (Level 2), Thai Massage and Aromatherapy massage.
Lydia Masri - Lydia has a strong practical and business background in the spa industry. She began her wellness career as a Vibrational Energy Therapist and continued her education to become a Certified Spa Therapist and Bodyworker. Her business experience includes managing the Ancient Cedars Spa at the world class Wickaninnish Inn located in Tofino. After returning to Vancouver, she was the Director of Guest Care and Marketing at SpaEthos, one of Vancouver’s top day spas and then became the Program Director at the Vancouver School of Bodywork and Massage. Currently, Lydia runs her own private massage practice, Body Wisdom Massage, located in Kitsilano and teaches business and leadership skills at the Vancouver School of Bodywork and Massage.
Randy Persad, Registered Massage Therapist, Pharm D began his professional career as a pharmacist on the Caribbean island of Trinidad. In 1989, he moved to Canada and studied massage therapy at the Sutherland-Chan School and Teaching Clinic in Toronto. In 1991, he received his designation and five years later moved with his family to stunning British Columbia. He then spent several years in a successful clinical practice and taught advanced courses at the West Coast College of Massage Therapy and the Boucher Institute of Naturopathic Studies. In 2002 Randy completed the Provincial Instructor Program at Vancouver Community College. To add to his impressive credentials, Randy authored the text-book Massage Therapy and Medications, which is currently used in massage schools across North America. Randy joined Spa Utopia and Salon in 2003 and is currently the Director of Massage Therapy—a position which has responsibility management of a department of over 60 practitioners including registered massage therapists and aromatherapists across Spa Utopia’s trio of locations. Randy is currently the Dean of Education at Utopia Academy’s Faculty of Massage Therapy.
Dr. Harjit Samrai BA, ND is a Naturopathic Doctor specializing in Orthomolecular medicine. Dr. Samrai undergrad degree was in Psychology from the University of Dalhousie. She graduated from Naturopathic Medical School in 2004 and uses orthomolecular medicine in regards to patients with depression, schizophrenia, bipolar and stress/anxiety related ailments. Dr. Samrai spent over one year in the Jalandhar general hospital in Punjab India in 2005, treating patients and learning more about Ayurvedic medicine. Dr. Samrai began to incorporate Ayurvedic medicine in her practice and focuses on balancing the mind-body connections in order to alleviate imbalances caused by modern day life. Dr. Samrai has been teaching Ayurveda, Nutrition and various other courses at colleges throughout the lower mainland in British Columbia since 2004.
Kai Subsermsri – Registered Thai Massage Practitioner, provincial center of skill development, Ministry of Public Health in Thailand and Master of Public Administration. Kai received a Master’s Degree in Public Administration in 1983 from Texas Southern University in Houston, Texas, USA. He also studied traditional Thai massage for 2 years at the Thai Traditional Medical Services Society - the most famous and most recognized institution in Thailand. He successfully completed the level of professional trainer to be a certified teacher at that institution. His Thai Massage courses have been recognized and approved by the College of Massage Therapists of British Columbia, Canada. Kai received a Diploma of Spa Therapy from the Sprott-Shaw Community College. Kai teaches for the Utopia Academy School of Massage and also Sprott Shaw.
Linda Turner, RN, MN, CHTP is a registered nurse and has studied extensively with Jon Kabat-Zinn at the University of Massachusetts in the area of Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction. She is currently the manager of Holistic Health Programs at Langara College and is an instructor in the Integrative Energy Healing Program and an instructor of Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction. She has 25 years of experience in hospital based patient care and has worked for many years to integrate complementary and alternative healing into the mainstream of health care. She has a strong interest in bringing healing modalities to spa programming as a step towards this end.
Dr. Ludmila Vacek, PhD has a background in clinical immunology, allergy and preventative medicine. For many years she has been active in clinical practice and research. She has published numerous scientific articles and public education materials. She is an active member of the International Spa Association, the European Spa Association, the International Society of Medical Hydrology, the American College of Allergy and Clinical Immunology and the Committee of Integrative Medicine. Over the years, she has been interested in preventative approaches to disease management and has been involved in health education programming, promotion and delivery. Her expertise includes development of spa programs and educational materials for the needs of spas. She obtained theoretical and practical experience in spa establishments in Europe and the United States. In Canada, she has developed and consulted for many spa programs.
Vince Ziccarelli MSc. RD FICN Vince has his masters of Science degree in nutrition and metabolism from the University of Alberta, and he is a registered dietitian. Vince is a fellow of the International College of Nutrition (FICN) due to his academic contribution to the advancing research in nutritional sciences. Vince has many years of experience as a nutrition consultant, and has helped coach many people in reaching their unique nutrition and wellness goals. He empowers his clients with the necessary skills to make long lasting and practical changes to their lifestyle helping them realize their fullest health potentials. In addition to his nutritional expertise, Vince incorporates evidence based natural health programs including the sensible use of natural health products wherever appropriate. He is a well known expert in Natural health and has conducted many seminars on various natural health topics to health care professionals and the general public. Vince also played professional soccer, has trained and continues to incorporate intensive fitness into his daily living. With his years of invaluable experience in fitness, Vince has coached many clients on strategies to optimize their personal success with reaching their unique fitness and weight management goals.