Showing posts with label teacher. Show all posts
Showing posts with label teacher. Show all posts
Saturday, March 14, 2015
The Teacher
We are so excited to profile master teacher and teacher trainer, Katina Griffin,this month. The backbone (so to speak!) of TDM is our teachers; their high level of training is what we mainly attribute our success to. Katina is such an integral part of that success that we thought you should get to know her better!
How did you first find TDM?
I had moved out to Marin from the small town in Maine where I grew up and was exploring the dance and fitness scene in the Bay Area. Growing up I was a competitive cheerleader and did all kinds of dance: ballet, jazz, modern, tap…you name it! I was studying pilates here in Marin, when my instructor suggested I try something called a “barre” class. I took one class, bought a 30 day new client unlimited, loved it and never looked back!
What made you want to be a teacher?
During that initial 30 day unlimited, I got so much more in touch with my body and began to better understand movement. That enabled me to begin to carry myself differently. I felt stronger and more comfortable in my skin. This happened in just 3 weeks! One of my favorite parts of teaching is having clients tell me that they feel good about their bodies for the first time in their lives and knowing exactly what they mean because I feel it too. That’s how I know that I am doing exactly what I’m supposed to be doing-- which is also a great feeling!
Can you speak a little bit about teacher training at TDM?
The first and most important thing is a total cliché but couldn’t be more true,” You get out of it what you put into it.” The more invested you are in helping students meet their goals, the more rewarding its going to be. This includes everything from having a precise understanding of anatomy so that you can teach a better class and give more individualized adjustments to not being afraid to let your personality shine through so you can lead a fun, energetic class. All of life seems to be a “you get out of it what you put into it” proposition and it’s just as true here! Our training is rigorous and includes master classes, interactive workshops, in-depth assessment of positions, mock classes and many hours of both assisting and observation. This level of training allows teachers to go into class prepared and confident. Also, both as a teacher and a teacher trainer, I really emphasize the importance of knowing each students name. This not only facilitates a more personal connection with your students, but it helps you to learn what specific adjustments and modifications they may need, which enables you to provide a more individualized experience.
What are you a stickler for in class?
Straight legs and people being present in their bodies! You have to meet your body where it is at that day, and every day is different. Some days you feel strong and some days tired; it is important to work with the body and energy level you have that day. No matter where you are on any given day you can work thoroughly and thoughtfully, and that is where the transformation happens!
Ok, the nutrition question! What is your nutritional philosophy?
I generally like to eat fresh whole foods, but for me its not so much about specific foods as it is a practice of learning to accept and love my body in all its different rhythms.
What’s a perfect day in the neighborhood?
Two local businesses that I love are Bare Escentuals and M Clothing in Corte Madera. I always find great stuff at both even when I’m not looking! I love all the jewelry at M and the Moxie Trail Blazer Lip Gloss at Bare Escentuals. Even better, they are both run by amazing local business women and Dailey Method devotees!
Finally, tell me something that people would be surprised to know about you?
Meet our Master Teacher Trainers
As we kick off our first continuing education intensive of the year, we wanted to introduce you to our Master Teacher Trainers!
This team of experienced educators and Dailey devotees ensures that all of our teachers all across the world come to the studio with the knowledge and education necessary to teach a balanced, aligned, fun and safe class! You can read more about our continuing education program here.
Jill Dailey McIntosh
Jill Dailey McIntosh, Founder of The Dailey Method, has been in the health and fitness industry for 23 years. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Kinesiology from the University of Colorado.
In her early career, Jill co-owned a personal training and Pilates studio and maintained her certifications with the Pilates Guild, The Physical Mind Institute and the American College of Sports Medicine. She also studied with several Lotte Berk instructors prior to opening her first Dailey Method studio in 2000 in San Francisco. Her passion for the body and the intricate way in which it moves is what inspires her every day to continue to evolve the Method. Her true love in the business is in teaching classes and teaching teachers.
She continues her own education on a regular basis, recently completing a 100 hour yoga immersion under Maritza. Jill also benefits from her knowledge and inspiration gained from the incredible talent she has around her - the Master Teacher Trainers and studio owners. She truly believes that the more you learn, the better you can teach and that through this care for alignment and optimal health, The Dailey Method can help so many people in so many different facets of their lives.
Outside of the Dailey Method Jill has three children, 6, 9 and 12 and loves spending time with them and her husband/business partner Doug. She’s also an avid reader (mostly fiction) and loves to cook.
Kerry Corcoran
Kerry Corcoran is the co-owner of The Dailey Method Berkeley and The Dailey Method Lamorinda and has been teaching anatomy to Dailey Method teachers and owners around the world since 2009.
Kerry’s love of health and caring for others started from a young age. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing from the University of Pennsylvania and completed a Masters of Science in Nurisng degree at the University of San Francisco. Kerry is a certified Clinical Nurse Specialist in Critical Care & Trauma, as well as a Certified Neuroscience Nurse.
Kerry’s passion for health is equally matched by her love of dance. When Kerry discovered The Dailey Method in 2003 she found a way to combine her two passions in a way she’d never dreamed possible. As a critical care nurse for more than a decade, she was instantly attracted to The Dailey Methods focus on proper alignment and core strengthening. The immediate physical results of the Method had her hooked after her first class. Under the instruction of Jill Dailey McIntosh, Kerry became a certified teacher in 2005. Her role with The Dailey Method grew as she helped develop an anatomy teacher training program specifically designed for Dailey Method teachers. For Kerry there is no greater joy than empowering her fellow teachers and owners by teaching them how fun anatomy can actually be!
Life outside The Dailey Method revolves around her two children (9 and 10 year old boys) and her husband, Rich. She blogs at Anatomy 4 Fitness and You Just Might Like It. A word of warning – You Just Might Like It has recently been taken over by her 10-year old son!
Katina Griffin
In 1994, Katina Griffin suffered a compression fracture in her spine that left her in a prosthesis for 3 months, resulting in her withdrawal from her Bachelor of the Arts program for Dance. This changed Katinas career path trajectory in a major way and was a sad transition but she attributes most of the core strength, true inner and outer healing and overall postural awareness she has today to yoga and to her gem of a find, The Dailey Method.
Katina’s world and body completely transformed when she discovered The Dailey Method in 2002. With a background of over 25 years in dance, Katina brings her deep love of movement to every class. Her passion and enthusiasm for The Dailey Method is evident in her teaching style and she firmly believes in the affects it has on rehabilitating students from injuries due to her firsthand experience.
She holds the position of Manager at our Downtown San Francisco studio location and is one of our Master Teacher Trainers who works closely with her mentor/founder, Jill Dailey McIntosh, to groom the next crop of dynamic Dailey Method studio owners and teachers across the United States, Canada, Mexico City and France.
Chelsea Dinsmore
Chelsea Dinsmore received a Bachelor of Science degree from University of California, Santa Barbara. She always had an interest in health, fitness and nutrition so out of college she found her first job as a nutritional counselor. From there she realized she wanted to reach a larger audience with messages of health and wellness so joined the healthcare group at the public relations firm, Weber Shandwick, where she worked for over 2 years placing stories with major media outlets.
In 2008, Chelsea made a shift. She was deciding between an acceptance to UCLA’s Public Health program or getting her yoga certification. While the choice seemed obvious to many, she decided to take a chance and left her corporate job to attend the White Lotus Yoga Teacher Training. During that time she also got her personal training certification with the National Academy of Sports Medicine. In 2009, shortly after she began teaching yoga and personal training, she found The Dailey Method and immediately began the training program. Over the years, she found herself more and more connected to The Dailey Method, its students and the principles around which the Method was developed. Today, she works full time for The Dailey Method as a teacher, studio and online media manager, and Master Teacher Trainer.
Outside of The Dailey Method, Chelsea runs a website dedicated to health and wellness called Food-Life Balance. She loves adventure, travel, hosting dinner parties and spending time with people who make the world brighter.
Ryan Jerzak
Ryan Jerzak is an accomplished teacher with a comprehensive knowledge of anatomy and movement from his 15+ years of training and experience as a professional dancer and aerialist. He began his professional career as a Kid of The Kingdom at Walt Disney World where he performed the castle shows for 2 years. He sailed with Royal Caribbean Cruise Line for 9 years performing onboard as Dance and Aerial Captain and was selected to debut Broadway’s Chicago, The Musical. Royal Caribbean brought him aboard their training and development team as a Rehearsal Choreographer where he taught, directed and installed the production shows. Along his journey he fell in love with the artistry of aerial performance and joined the world reknowned company, C5 “create with no limits”, as Executive Assistant, Aerial Trainer and Performing Artist.
While in New York on his off season he was introduced to Lotte Berk at Exhale Spa and instantly joined the teacher training program and began teaching for Exhale Spa in 2005. Desiring to cultivate his mind/body connection even further he started studying yoga and embarked on a journey of self-discovery. His time on the mat changed his life off the mat and he discovered that his passion for the stage had shifted into a passion for teaching. Ryan completed his 200hr Power Yoga Teacher Training at Corepower Yoga in the summer of 2011. That same year, he also joined The Dailey Method and is now Director of Training for the Chicago studios.
In 2013, he completed his Master Teacher Training with founder and mentor Jill Dailey. Ryan has since retired from performing and turned his attention to complete mind-body well being. He is excited to embark on his new path with The Dailey Method and fully believes that if we align the four pillars of our life: mental, emotional, physical and spiritual, that we can dance with the divine and live towards our greatest potential.
Here’s to “always being a student”!
-- Jill
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