Flora D.H. Ojanen, M.AmSAT, RYT
Flora D.H.Ojanen
Flora D.H. Ojanen is an Alexander Technique educator, movement specialist and yoga teacher with a private practice in San Francisco. She is well known for her warmth, enthusiasm and commitment to her students, and truly loves teaching and empowering people to find more of their individual potential.
Born in Berlin, Germany, Flora holds a degree in Sociology (1994) and massage therapy (1996). In 1997 she began taking private Alexander lessons to overcome a painful back condition.
After finding not only relief from back pain but also an unknown joy and empowerment that just kept on getting better with time, she decided to train as a teacher herself after moving to San Francisco in 1999.
Being a long-time student of traditional chinese Martial Arts, Flora's teaching is strongly influenced by the brightness, directness and ease of Daoist thought and philosophy. She started teaching Tai Chi with a focus on alignment, balance and inner power in San Francisco in 2013.
Flora is a member of the American Society for the Alexander Technique and has been teaching since 2002. In addition she became a Yoga Alliance certified Yoga Teacher in 2006. The fact that "off the mat" habits and daily tensions show up "on the mat" as well has inspired her to create new ideas to integrate Alexander into yoga and make it accessible for any body shape, age and ability.
Flora has been a guest teacher at the Alexander Educational Center in Berkeley, CA, the Alexander Technique Centre in Galway, Ireland, taught in Berlin and at the 10th International Alexander Congress in Limerick, Ireland (2015).
Last summer she co-lead a 4-day Continuous Learning Workshop at the 11th International Congress for the Alexander Technique in Chicago, alongside Richard Brennan, renowned Alexander teacher from Ireland.
Considerations
As an educator, Flora D.H. Ojanen does not diagnose or treat specific physical conditions. She educates her students in the principles of the work of F.M. Alexander and helps them to develop the awareness necessary for constructive change.
Theory and practice of the Alexander Technique is supported world-wide by the medical community, and research in neuroscience and education is ongoing.
Doctors familiar with this work recommend it to their patients. If your doctor does not yet know about the Alexander Technique, Flora will be happy to provide any information upon request.
Tai Chi Chuan
Alignment, Balance & Inner Power
Classes in SF
Effortless Power: Yang Tai Chi Instruction
Where: SF Golden Gate Park/
Walk In Balance Alexander Technique Center
When: Upon Appointment
Tai Chi is a wonderfully calming and stress-reducing activity, naturally counteracting our fast-past, modern life-styles. When you learn and practice Tai Chi, the benefits are multifold. Besides cultivating internal power and a more easy-going attitude, benefits of a regular Tai Chi practice include better posture and flexible joints, balance and co-ordination, relaxation, clarity of mind, reduced stress and improved body tone.
Your internal structural system gets a tune-up and reset each time you practice, which can prevent injury and pain associated with a sedentary life, too much stress and computer overuse.
Alexander's principles of effortless power, self-cultivation and grace in movement are the cornerstone of this unique and mindful way of learning Tai Chi. Even though functional alignment and precision are emphasized as important keys to a successful and long-lived practice, we are not necessarily concerned with how flexible you are, but rather how to bring ease and fluidity to your movements.
