When I was 17 years old I started my personal journey towards the life that I believed in - that animals and children can teach us so much if only we would take the time to listen. I was raised in a rural area close to Ottawa Canada where I spent most my formative years rescuing and repairing sick or injured wild animals. School was difficult for me, and to this day I still do not understand how they teach each child in the same cold, confusing way.
I went to a Universities in Ottawa Canada, London England, & Washington DC to continue to study what the animals in the forest had taught me. I studied children, their development, and their learning behaviors and found tremendous parallel's between children and animals and how they listened, responded, and learned. I completed my book & testing studies in Dog Training, Animal behavioral, Personal Fitness Training, and became a International Preschool and Elementary Montessori School Teacher. The little pieces of paper they give you after you have finished their tests simply allow you to go forth and truly learn and apply what is written in the books. A certificate of completion such as a diploma is simply a license to now begin learning.
For more than 20 years, I have enjoyed my work and observations throughout the world of both dogs and children. My travels and experiences throughout Australia, Europe, Fiji, Africa, Hawaii, Central America and North America have written the book of me. I home school both my children utilizing animals and what they can teach them every step of the way. I am a personal trainer and enjoy helping people conquer their supreme health, helping many lose up to 100lbs. I am married to my very supportive best friend who is the smartest business man that I know & we own three Fitness Gyms. I love being a mom to my young daughter and older son who lives with Aspergers. They are champion swimmers, horse back riders, triathletes, and serious students
I have started schools, owned summer camps, back packed the world in pursuit of the observation and work with children and animals. Being a lifeguard, teaching windsurfing, kayaking, & water skiing have all been a part of the healthy me, and qualifying for nationals in slalom water skiing was an highlight for me in 2002. I have been addicted to triathlons, cycling, and started the water ski program at the Sports Center in Mission Bay.
With all that I have done nobody has taught me more than the unwanted shelter dogs who have come to me when their bad behavior does not allow them to go to anybody else. These wonderful, simple, beautiful creatures help me to let go of all that we are taught as a human, forget time, and let go of stress. Through body language they help me to remember to calm down and breath. Through listening they too relax and once again become thankful, happy and loving...never holding a grudge from the life they came.
