Mary Jo has a doctorate degree from the University of Cincinnati and did her undergraduate work at Kent State University. She has a 30-year background in all facets of education with a focus in health science, physiology of exercise, sports training, and physical education. Mary Jo is a retired assistant professor of 25 years from Ohio State University where she also coached national and Olympic athletes in synchronized swimming. She was a two time Olympic coach in 1988 and 1992.

Mary Jo is the founder and director of Columbus Polarity, Center for Integrative Health and Wellness and the Ohio Institute of Energetic Studies and Bodywork, which trains and educates students as Energy Practitioners, Polarity Practitioners and Holistic Health Educators.

She teaches complementary and alternative therapy and integrative health and wellness seminars at many medical schools. She has been involved for twenty years in teaching CAM modules for the medical humanities department at The Ohio State University Medical School to first year medical students. She also supervises fourth year medical students for rotations in CAM studies. Mary Jo has taught and established classes at Hocking Technical College, University of Utah, Bellevue Hospital, and Blue Sky Educational Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

She has had a private Polarity and Health and Wellness practice for 15 years and is frequently invited to speak about Holistic Health, Complementary and Alternative Health Care, and Energy Therapies at the local and national level.

As a special interest, Mary Jo has practiced Kundalini Yoga and studied Ayurvedic Health Care for over 30 years. Her special interests include educational concerns for preventive healthcare and creating an awareness of the benefits of Complementary, Holistic and Integrative Healthcare systems.

Sally received her APP certification through OIES in June of 2001 and her RPP in August of 2002. An Associate of Columbus Polarity, Sally gives sessions paying special attention to the client's physical, mental and emotional needs both during and after the sessions. As the Student Coordinator, Sally recruits and assists entering students with any need they may have in starting classes. She provides advise and assistance to students throughout their entire program at OIES. Sally received her BME, Bachelor of Music Education Degree from Baldwin Wallace College and taught vocal music for seven years at Westport, CT. Sally has a passion for children with learning difficulties and is interested in how Polarity energetic bodywork may be beneficial to them. Sally's three years training at the Gestalt Institute of Central Ohio helps her to be especially sensitive and aware of the clients emotional needs in the moments to respond appropriately. Sally is the mother of three children, Justin, Ben and Minden. She resides with her daughter Minden in Westerville Ohio.

Melanie has a Bachelor of Arts degree from ClevelandStateUniversity and attended graduate school at BrooklynCollege in New York City. She received her APP certification in November 2006 through OIES and is currently pursuing a RPP diploma also through OIES. As Education Coordinator for the ClevelandPolaritySchool, Melanie facilitates the administrative details of OIES and assists students with enrollment and registration for classes.

Faculty Profiles

Charoula studied Polarity with OIES, obtaining her APP and RPP certifications. She has been practicing Polarity Therapy for seven years. She is also a Reiki Master, a certified herbalist and an organic gardener. She has twelve years experience in herbology, grows most of her own organic herbs and makes her own herbal remedies which are sold at our center under the name of Wiseheart Herbals. Her practice includes Biodynamic CranioSacral Therapy, Reflexology, Lymphatic Balance, and Energetic Nutrition Counseling, with a focus on cancer care and prevention through helping clients improve their immune system. Charoula is a member of the faculty at OIES, having completed a 300 hour Certified Polarity Educator Program. She also teaches complementary medicine seminars at the Ohio State University Medical School to first year medical students. She offers workshops on wellness, self-help and herbal therapies, both at OIES and on her farm in South Central Ohio. Charoula, as an advanced Herbalist, has instituted the unique program of Integrative Polarity and Herbal Therapies.

Damon Fazio is the Founder, Director and Instructor of Earthwise Polarity Programs in Albuquerque, NM and in Dallas, TX, Director and former Instructor of Polarity Programs at the Santa Fe Institute of Polarity Therapy. He has a Private Practice as a Naturopathic Physician, a Massage Therapist, and as a Polarity Practitioner in New Mexico. He teaches nationally as a Guest Faculty Member of numerous Polarity Therapy Schools including the Ohio Institute of Energetic Studies & Bodywork. Dr. Fazio is a frequent presenter at national conferences on Wellness and Holistic Healthcare. He is a past member of the Board of Directors of the American Polarity Therapy Association. Damon's specialty and expertise is in the detailed development of Spatial Polarity Process Oriented bodywork which he shares in depth to our students.

Lalei is a Holistic Psychologist, Registered Polarity Practitioner, Life and Wellness Coach, Body Process Therapist, Holistic Health Educator, Certified Healing Tao Instructor and Reiki Master. Dr Gutierrez has a psychotherapy, consulting, training and coaching practice. Aside from being a professional faculty at the Gestalt Institute of Cleveland, in the Couples/Family and Small Systems, in the Working With Body Process and in the Graduate Training Programs, as well as at the Diversity Management Program of the Department of Psychology at Cleveland State University. She is also faculty with the Ohio Institute of Energetic Studies and Bodywork. She is a Gestalt Therapist, a certified Hypnotherapist, an EMDR practitioner, and an Energetic Bodyworker. She is an Approved Supervisor with the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy. Lalei also networks and collaborates with colleagues and related disciplines in the delivery of professional development programs. Her expertise in communication helps students from OIES realize how to listen and effectively work with clients.

Diane C. Manos, MD, APP, teaches Orthodox Anatomy/Physiology at OIES-Columbus Polarity, brings with her a varied and long history in sports, medicine, and the health arts. She received a BA from Ohio Wesleyan University, where she was a three sports athlete, named an Outstanding College Athlete of American, and a member of the University's Athletic Hall of Fame. In 1978 she received a BSN in Nursing from Case Western Reserve University. She continued the hands-on healing that began in nursing school as she worked in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Ohio State University Hospital. Earning her Medical Degree at OSU in 1987, she pursued three-year residency training in Family Practice at Mt. Carmel Medical Center in Columbus. She became Board Certified in Family Medicine in 1990, and had a private medical practice in Columbus until 1996. She has become a Clinical Assistant Professor in Family Medicine at OSU since 1987, and in 1996, she joined OSU Student Health Services where she held a position in Urgent Care, Sports Medicine, and Minor Surgery Services to the students. In addition to the conventional medical therapies, she began pursing alternative therapies in 1976, and currently provides Reiki, Polarity and acupressure for her patients. She is currently employed at the OSU Center for Integrative Medicine. Dr. Manos is an outstanding holistic teacher and integrative medical practitioner.

Robin is a Registered Polarity Practitioner with the American Polarity Association receiving both her APP and RPP certifications through OIES. Robin studied massage therapy at the Ohio College of Limited Medical Practice in Cleveland, Ohio and has eleven years as a massage therapist. Her training is in neuromuscular, myofascial, cranial sacral, and aromatherapies. She has six years of teaching experience with aromatherapy with Arc Ancient. Robin began teaching massage therapy at the Cleveland Institute of Medical Massage in October of 2001. She completed her 300 hour Certified Polarity Educator Program under OIES. Robin's unique ability to teach energy work along with other modalities is an excellent addition to the faculty.

Irina holds a Master of Arts in English and American Literature and Education (Kharkoo State University, Kharkoo, Ukraine, 1986). Irina completed both APP and RPP level studies at the Ohio Institute of Energetic Studies & Bodywork (Columbus, OH) and is registered through the American Polarity Therapy Association. She is completing her Ohio Qualifications as a Certified Polarity Educator. Irina is also a graduate of the Institute of Parapsychology in Moscow, Russia and holds a White Belt in Nia. Irina skillfully brings her talent of integrating exercise and dance with the five elements of the polarity system.

Shila (Janet) Wilson is a Registered Polarity Practitioner, a Registered Cranial Sacral Therapist and Polarity Wellness Educator with a private practice in New York City and Ohio. She is currently on the faculty of OIES. Shila became interested in the preventive health and supportive therapeutic modalities while working in the field of nursing in the 1970s. Eventually she began a 12 year residency at the Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health where she studied and taught yoga, breathing exercises, bodywork, meditation, relaxation, and programs related to health and personal growth. In 1990 she continued her studies in New York City, at the Polarity Wellness Center. She continued teaching workshops and classes related to yoga, meditation and relaxation, breathing, and stress reduction. She moved to Ohio and has expanded her work experience personally and professionally with the modalities that she employs. Her expertise in Ayurvedic cooking, Polarity systems approach to wellness, advanced communication and Cranial Sacral Therapy is tops in the field.

Echo has her A.B. in Mathematics (1976, West Virginia University). She became a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) in 1993 (State of Ohio), and keeps her practicing license current. She works as a corporate accountant for Stark Ceramics, Inc. in East Canton, OH. Echo is a T'ai Chi student of Master David Schenk of Tallmadge, OH (1993 to the present), as well as a student of Mind-Will Chi Kung. Echo completed both APP and RPP level studies at the Ohio Institute of Energetic Studies, Columbus, OH, and is licensed through the American Polarity Therapy Association. She has completed her Ohio qualifications as a Certified Polarity Educator. She is a Reiki Master, and is certified as a facilitator for Levels 1 through 4 of the Melchizedek Method^TM meditation classes. She is also certified as a teacher of the Level 1 SomaEnergetics^TM tuning fork techniques which use the ancient Solfeggio scale, and is certified as a Level 3 practitioner by SomaEnergetics™. Echo is currently interning/student teaching RPP classes at the OIES as preparation for teaching at the RPP level.

Intern Profiles

Cathie Drumm, RPP, completed her studies through OIES, is a Reiki Master, and completed her advanced Usui Reiki Teacher training in 2002. She attended Arizona State University for Marketing and Cleveland State University where her focus was Interpersonal Communications. She has spent the past 20 years in a successful Real Estate career in the Cleveland area. Her practice incorporates Reflexology, Reiki, Cranial Sacral Therapy, and Polarity Therapy.

CEU Faculty Profiles

Ddeani is an RPP graduate of the Ohio Institute of Energetic Studies. Her practice, Simple Path, specializes in helping people maximize their physical and emotional well-being through holistic practices and increased self-awareness. Ddeani is a student of meditation and is a partner in Holistic Health Professionals. She has a Masters Degree in Social Work and has many years of experience in relationship building.

Business Name: Simple Path
Address: Lakewood, Ohio
Phone; 216-228-1919
E-mail: Ddeani@asimplepath.com