The Team | Halo Pathways, Near Glasgow

Centre Director

Dr Lucine Techer

Lucine is a Chartered Psychologist and yoga teacher with a special interest in the mind-body relationship in health and wellbeing. Local to Kirkintilloch, she established Halo Pathways to offer a holistic approach to health and wellbeing that acknowledges many complementary paths.

As a Health Psychologist, Lucine spent several years in university lecturing and research, specialising in health promotion, during which time she also completed a Diploma in Nutrition & Health with The Royal Institute of Public Health. Lucine has always been curious about the way in which people think and feel about their health and the connection between the mind and body. These interests drew her to yoga, where she experienced first-hand the powerful interplay between the mind and body. Beyond the physical benefits, she found that a regular yoga practice worked at a deeper level to challenge thoughts, emotions and reactions.

Wanting to explore how yoga could be used as a therapeutic pathway to facilitate positive change and wellbeing in others, Lucine went on to undertake her initial teacher training with the International Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centre in early 2008 (200 hour Yoga Alliance accredited). Since that point she has pursued an active programme of learning and self-development, studying with internationally-renowned teachers from a range of approaches through further specialist training and workshops. Through this process she has had the benefit of exploring various styles and applications of yoga. She has a particular interest in the therapeutic application of yoga in women's health and has undertaken specialist qualifications in fertility yoga (Birthlight), pregnancy yoga (Yogacampus, with Uma Dinsmore-Tuli), postnatal yoga (Birthlight), and is also a KG Hypnobirthing teacher. Lucine is also a qualified 'Yoga for Healthy Lower Backs' teacher (evidence-based programme for chronic low back pain) and has undertaken additional training in the practice and teaching techniques of the primary series of Ashtanga Yoga (with David Swenson) and Integrative Yoga Therapeutics (with Bo Forbes).

Lucine has complemented her training with a study of eastern views of the body's energy system, qualifying in on-site seated shiatsu (Glasgow School of Shiatsu), and this is an area she continues to explore. Lucine also undergoes continued personal and professional development in meditation and mindfulness-based practices, with a particular interest in applying these approaches in the management of stress and anxiety.

Yoga Teachers

Dr Lucine Techer

Please see above bio.

Irene Techer

Following a long career of public service in the health and social care sector, formerly working with adults with learning difficulties and latterly as an occupational therapy assistant, Irene now teaches yoga full-time. Irene has always had a keen interest in Eastern traditions and she attended her first Hatha Yoga class in Glasgow more than forty years ago. Instantly inspired, she made it a quiet ambition to one day teach yoga herself, and from that point she actively pursued her own development, taking guidance from both self-study and teachers from various schools of yoga. In 2006 Irene completed her teacher training with the Anahata School of Yoga (200 hour Diploma) in Glasgow, from which point she has continued her professional development, with a particular focus on yoga nidra, yoga philosophy, and meditation. Irene’s classes are grounded in building the core foundations for an effective yoga practice, focusing on awareness, alignment and working with the energy channels in the body. Irene enjoys sharing her experience and knowledge with students, regardless of level, and working closely with them to help them reach their full potential.

Julie Nelson

Julie has recently gained her Yoga teaching qualification with Seasonal Yoga Teacher Training. She has had a love of yoga for many years and decided it was time to explore this more, completing her 200 hour Yoga Alliance Accredited training. She has worked in Pre-5 Education for almost 25 years as a Child Development Worker and latterly as a Child Development Team Leader. Julie is also a keen cyclist and runner and sees the benefits that yoga can bring to both these sports. The beautiful thing about yoga is that it is a very personal experience which presents different goals and benefits to each individual during practice. From personal experience Julie knows that yoga can evoke emotions that bring clarity to thought and an improved sense of self-worth. She is looking forward to developing her Seasonal Flow Class and is excited at the prospect of teaching yoga and opening up this wonderful way of life to others.

Alice Blazey-Winning

Bio coming soon.

Debbie Cronin

Bio coming soon.

Therapists

Amanda Kerr

Amanda is an experienced massage therapist who holds diplomas in both Swedish Massage and Seated Acupressure Massage, gained from the Western School of Massage and Professional Therapy in 2011 and 2012 respectively. Amanda has also undertaken additional training in pregnancy massage that is accredited by the Royal Collge of Midwives. The stresses of everyday life can have a significant impact on an individual and their health and Amanda recognises massage as a valid and valuable intervention, having multiple health benefits for both the body and mind. She is committed to providing professional holistic treatments to promote wellbeing and improve quality of life. She is registered with the SMTO (Scottish Massage Therapists Organisation).

Fiona Boyle

Fiona is an experienced and professional therapist who holds diplomas in reflexology, aromatherapy, and Beauty Therapy. Originally qualifying as a reflexologist in 1999, Fiona now specialises in this complementary therapy, as a direct result of the positive improvements she has witnessed in clients’ health. She has undergone continuous education throughout her career, and recently completed additional training at The Complementary Medicine Centre in Glasgow, trained by Ruth Chapell, who is one of Scotland’s leading experts in reflexology and related therapies. Fiona also holds a specialist qualification in pre-conception and fertility reflexology. She is studying Philisophical Ethics part-time at Glasgow University and is interested in the important connection between the health of the mind and the body. As a member of The Association of Reflexologists, Fiona subscribes to their code of ethics and strives to provide clients with an effective therapy in comfortable and relaxed surroundings.

Jane Meek

Jane graduated from the Western School of Remedial Massage in 2000 with a diploma in Sports and Remedial Massage. Earlier careers as, first, a professional linguist in Paris and, second, as a wine marketer and educator in Scotland had broadened her mind and her palate but left her with chronic back, neck and shoulder pain linked to long hours at the computer in a pressured work environment. Massage provided an obvious solution, but Jane soon realised that traditional soft tissue techniques could provide only part of the answer to her own complaints and those of her clients. In 2004 she began to focus on myofascial approaches, exploring the role of fascia (connective tissue) as a cause of pain and dysfunction in the human body. Jane studied Integrated Myofascial Therapy with Ruth Duncan and Mary Cunningham in Glasgow in 2004/2005 before enrolling on the programme of seminars taught by John F. Barnes, the pioneer of modern Myofascial Release (MFR), in the United States. She completed a clinical internship at the Barnes MFR treatment facility in Paoli, Pennsylvania, in May 2006 and subsequently continued her training to an advanced level in Sedona, Arizona, attaining the status of Advanced Myofascial Practitioner in 2009.

From the outset Jane has had a particular interest in combining movement approaches with MFR to encompass all facets of the relationship between mind, body and human wellbeing. She qualified as a Pilates matwork teacher with Body Control Pilates in 2004 and, in February 2014, graduated as a practitioner in Mind Body Studies from Mia Segal’s 3-year Foundation Training in Bad Toelz, Germany. (Mia Segal worked closely with Moshe Feldenkrais over many decades and teaches his work, better known as the Feldenkrais Method, under her own banner of “MBS”.) The Feldenkrais Method uses movement as a vehicle for the exploration of human learning, helping us to discover much about ourselves - our attitudes and beliefs - that would otherwise remain hidden from us. The Pilates Method, too, is about awareness, applying this to the development of strength, flexibility and control in the way we use our bodies.

Jane is currently working towards completion of Mia Segal’s Postgraduate Skills Seminar series in Germany while continuing to develop her knowledge and skills in the areas of Pilates and myofascial therapy.

Karen Trofimova

Karen graduated from the reputable Western School with a Diploma in Swedish Massage (DSM) and Remedial and Sports Massage (DRSM). Her greatest passion lies in remedial massage therapy which targets clients' aches and pains and injuries, increases range of motion, restores muscular balance and reduces the risk of re-injury. Sports massage does exactly the same thing in a sporting environment and also helps enhance athletic performance during training and competitive events. With a young baby at home, Karen also decided to train as a Relax and Sing Baby Massage and Yoga Instructor, completing a Royal College of Midwives-Accredited instructor Training course in 2015, qualifying her to run courses for parents and babies. Having spent more than eight years working in office-based project management, effectively ruining her posture and muscular balance by sitting down all day, Karen decided to make the giant leap and turn her career around. Her philosophy is simple - "bodies are made for motion, not for stillness" . She has experienced first-hand how effective massage therapy can be in restoring and improving an individual's normal muscular function and tailors her treatments to each client's unique needs.

Alison Walker M.B.A.C.P

Alison is an experienced counsellor who gained her Post-Graduate Counselling Diploma at Strathclyde University in Glasgow in 2008. She has gained extensive experience in both short and long term counselling within the Voluntary and Private Sector over the past 12 years. Alison counsels clients within a wide range of issues, including pre and post- natal depression, anxiety, addiction, bereavement, depression, trauma, employment and relationship issues. She has also provided Critical Incident de-briefing for clients involved in traumatic incidents. Alison has completed the Cruse Bereavement Care Course, gained a Sacro Mediation Skills Certificate in 2012, and a Certificate in Hypnotherapy Skills in 2015. She has been a Member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapists since 2006 and continues to increase her knowledge and skills through Continual Professional Development. She works with and adheres to a strict Ethical Framework of the B.A.C.P. The Counselling Service is private. and confidential. Alison’s work as an experienced Counsellor has allowed clients to begin to see a way forward when life becomes tough and overwhelming. The simple step of talking to a counsellor can truly be liberating and hopefully lead to positive change through time.

Polly Douglas

Polly Douglas is a nutritional therapist who has a passion for making people feel better, and helping people to help themselves get better. Whether it’s a chronic health condition, lacking in energy, dealing with bloating and wind, or helping couples to get pregnant (…sort of!), Polly believes that food can make an enormous difference to our health and wellbeing. She has an undergraduate degree in environmental biology and a PhD in fish parasitology and a diploma in nutritional therapy, where she has finally found her happy place. Through her own personal health issues with eczema and IBS Polly has seen how changes to her diet helped her heal, and now loves the thrill of hearing how much better her clients feel too, with simple, easily achievable changes to their diet.

Derek Wilson

Derek has spent many years as a Reiki practitioner and he encourages the establishment of Reiki support groups where people can give and receive Reiki treatments. He gained his Master’s teaching certificate in 1998.He also has an extensive background in martial arts disciplines. Derek has many other areas of expertise, including Stress Management, Conflict Management and Life Skills Coaching. He believes that complimentary therapies are a key part of a healthy living lifestyle.