The Body is Our Temple
About Don McGinnis
“Don is a heart centered, highly dedicated and skillful practitioner and teacher.” IH, Victoria
“I appreciate the opportunity to really listen to my body.” KM, Victoria
"Your gentle way of approaching this material is perfect and especially in this environment--a lovely retreat...thank you so much for organizing and putting your whole heart into this practice and teaching."
I began offering body centered practices soon after I experienced first-hand their potent impact in many areas of my own life. I advocate for a kinder, more loving world, and for skills that help build joyfulness, confidence, calm, and a lightness of being. And, something miraculous happens when people come together for healing work; a beautiful synergy awakens.
People find classes rich, subtle, rewarding and heart centered. The culmination of wisdom and experience help open new dimensions of possibilities. This work is both practical and profound.
I have been a practicing psychiatric nurse for 30 years, and a strong advocate of body-centered approaches, introducing these practices everywhere I have worked. I have facilitated groups for my entire working career.
1984: Graduated Psychiatric Nurse
1986: I trained and was certified as a Polarity Therapist, a pressure point system based on Ayurvedic teachings, and simultaneously studied yoga with Sandra Sammartino
1988: I studied Qi Gong under the instruction of Master Zian Chan in Vancouver, BC
1992: I helped establish a psychiatric day program in Penticton, BC Canada, where we applied dance therapy, qi gong, and yoga practices. These practices helped people with mental health problems feel more relaxed and balanced, and in general felt better about themselves, less anxious and less depressed.
1996: As a student and advocate of practical spirituality, I have studied with MSIA, the Movement of Spiritual Inner Awareness for the past twenty years.
1996: I began working in the addictions recovery field, where I have been working ever since. I ran a Men’s Day Treatment Programs at Pathways Addictions Resource Center in Penticton for several years, and again, introduced strong body-centered, and movement centered elements to this group work.
2002: I worked for Creekside Daytox program and developed yoga classes at Creekside, using a trauma sensitive approach.
2009: Studying Yoga Therapy, I became a certified yoga teacher, and had the opportunity to study with Donna Martin, founder of Psoma Yoga.
NOW: I am an advanced Hakomi Student, and I hope to complete certification as a Hakomi Therapist this year. I discovered Kum Nye Tibetan Yoga in 2011, and I am moving towards certification in both of these practices. I have a strong foundation in group and individual work, and I will continue to offer groups and individual sessions on Salt Spring Island.