Our Team

TRAINERS

Click on each name for more information, if available

We are proud of the outstanding quality of our teaching staff. Our talented faculty is carefully and personally trained in the full MBS Academy curriculum. Our stringent accreditation process, as well as our personal coaching and mentoring program, creates teachers and practitioners of the highest quality and proficiency.

MIA SEGAL

MBS MASTER TRAINER / EDUCATIONAL DIRECTOR

Mia Segal was Dr. Feldenkrais’ first assistant, collaborator and associate for sixteen years, after which together, they trained students worldwide.

Of Mia, Feldenkrais said: “With you, I have reached summits that alone, I could not reach. The best lessons I ever gave, were inspired by your encouraging gaze”. Mia is known for her unequalled mastery of the work and as a superb teacher. The unique design of her programs is testimony to her vast experience and leadership in teaching this method. She is committed to ensure that this work continues in the essential and powerful form it was given to her by Dr. Feldenkrais during their many years of collaboration and friendship.

Mia has been acclaimed worldwide as the standard bearer for the applications and philosophy of Dr. Feldenkrais’ Mind Body Studies. Mia has a black belt in Judo, which she received in the Kodokan, Tokyo, in 1970. Click here to learn more about Mia Segal.

LEORA GASTER

MBS MASTER TRAINER / PROGRAM DIRECTOR

Leora has been teaching Mind Body Studies internationally for over 4 decades. The work is a synthesis of the work of Dr. Feldenkrais, Human Biology focused on the connection of Brain and Behavior, NLP, Anatomy and Philosophy.

With her mother, Mia Segal, they continue to qualify a new generation of practitioners and trainers at all levels and for multiple professional applications, from medicine to athletics. Leora has published manuals and Core Principles of MBS, including a program for school children and a teaching manual of awareness through movement lessons, and has produced online programs, videos and audio recordings, making the work accessible to people of all levels and needs.

Leora has a degree in Human Biology from Stanford University, with a focus on the interconnection of brain and behavior, and is an Advisory Board member of USC’s Peermental Health Initiative. She is also an NLP trainer and a black belt in Judo, by Kodokan, Tokyo.

GRACE SOUEN DOH

MBS TRAINER; SEOUL, KOREA

Grace completed her Feldenkrais Training in 2002 and became an MBS Master Practitioner in 2011. She runs a private practice in Seoul, Korea and is organizing and teaching MBS Korea’s first Professional Foundation Training. Her background is in Exercise Physiology, Neuroscience, Biotechnology and patent law.

MARGIT HRASDIL

MBS TRAINER; BOLZANO, ITALY

Margit completed a Feldenkrais Training in Lewes, GB in 1994. Since 2000, she continues to study with MBS Academy and qualified as an MBS Practitioner in 2005. Her background includes 20 years working as a physical education teacher, specializing in track and field. She currently runs a private MBS practice in Northern Italy where she specializes in working with children. She teaches MBS Group Classes in both German and Italian and offers personal Individual Lessons. Margit continues to work in schools with students and teachers. She also conducts seminars for physiotherapists, music teachers, and physical education teachers. Click here to learn more about Margit.

CHRIS VAN DER HOFF

MBS TRAINER; BEVERWIJK, NETHERLANDS

Chris graduated from MBS Academy in 2006. Since attending his first Feldenkrais workshop in 1989, he has been integrating the work into his profession: Posture and Movement Therapy (Oefentherapeut Cesar). He helps people with pain, stress, and breathing problems. By helping them become aware of what they are doing they are able to become aware of all the other possibilities which were previously outside of their awareness.

CHIEKO OMIYA

MBS TRAINER; SENDAI, JAPAN

Chieko graduated from a Training in Tokyo in 2000. She was first introduced to Group Classes in 1985 and began studying with Mia in 1997 at the Japan Feldenkrais Training. Chieko is a professional traditional Japanese dance teacher. In her MBS practice she specializes in ballet and dance. She is interested in MBS Academy’s way of guiding, leading, and directing students.

JOCHEN JADKOWSKI

MBS TRAINER; BERLIN, GERMANY

Jochen graduated from Mia Segal’s Zurich 3 Foundation Training in 1993. He runs a private practice where he teaches mainly MBS at his center, Praxis Ayuda in Berlin. Jochen worked as a special needs teacher (remedial work with children from 1991-2004 and “Lerina-Therapie” (therapy for children after craniocerebral injury) from 1985-1995. He is also trained in body-centered psychological therapy (Villa, das Centrum fur Psychotherapie).

PATTY UNDERWOOD

MBS TRAINER; FAIRFAX, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES

Patty graduated from a Feldenkrais Training in New York in 1998, and became an MBS Master Practitioner in 2011. During her 30 plus years experience as an Occupational Therapist she pioneered the development of the Occupational Therapy training program in Zimbabwe. Patty is a Certified Teaching Assistant for CranioSacral Therapy and Manual Lymphatic Drainage with the International Alliance of Healthcare Educators. She has a private practice in Feldenkrais, CranioSacral Therapy, Manual Lymphatic Drainage and Lymphedema treatment in Novato and San Rafael, California.