Irene has been dedicated to improving people’s lives ever since she began her studies in human structure and function within The School of Kinesiology at Simon Fraser University in Burnaby, British Columbia. During her final years of undergraduate study she practiced her skills in exercise science and health promotion through various fitness and health-related work placements. She graduated in 2000 and immediately began practicing her skills within the community of Whistler, British Columbia as a fitness trainer and wellness educator.

Irene’s desire to learn more lead her to pursue a Masters in Biomedical Science at The University of Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia. She was the key individual in designing and implementing a nutrition-based study which blended the effects of high-intensity resistance training on skeletal muscle performance in older adults. This project renewed her desire to work with people and make a difference in people lives by restoring function and improving quality of life.

During this time she was in the midst of rehabilitating a series of knee surgeries and discovered the work of Moshe Feldenkrais. This was a pinnacle point in her life as this form of learning drew together her background in movement science, human physiology and her own struggle to be well again. She still remembers her moment of “aha!” while practicing an Awareness Through Movement lesson (the self-directed form of the Feldenkrais Method) in her dormitory room. She could not believe how such gentleness and subtlety as practiced in the lesson could have such an impact on the way she moved and felt.

Irene returned to the Whistler at the end of 2002 and resumed her pursuits within the health and fitness industry at Meadow Park Sports Centre. After working and listening to her clients she began to notice strikingly similar ailments as to the ones she experienced in Australia. Curiosity truly began to surface about the work of Moshe Feldenkrais. She began to question how and why his method aided her recovery and ability to explore her full potential again. In 2004 she decided to pursue this fascination and has recently completed The Victoria Feldenkrais Teacher Training Program studying under the direction of Dr. Jeff Haller. She is now a Guild Certified Feldenkrais Practitioner CM and maintains a private practice in Whistler British Columbia

Irene occupies her personal time practicing what she preaches in the areas of fitness by spending time in the trails surrounding Whistler, or on rainy days training at Meadow Park Sports Centre where she still instructs fitness classes and trains patrons. Her more adventurous side is spent with her husband Alastair enjoying activities such as skiing, hiking and paragliding.