ay To Health is designed and run by some of the most experienced and qualified macrobiotic teachers to be found anywhere. Coming from a variety of backgrounds and locales, they each bring their unique perspectives and years of study to the classes and lectures and consulations they lead. Many of them have personally recovered from life-threatening sickness with the help of macrobiotics, and have amazing stories to tell.
Our Beloved Faculty
	Luchi Baranda A Kushi Institute teacher and counselor, prior to her starting macrobiotics Luchi had long history of poor health. She came to macrobiotics after trying numerous ways to solve her chronic kidney problems from which she almost died. She was born in Chile and moved to Spain, where she met Michio Kushi and started working with him, assisting in international seminars and as the Program Manager of Mr. Kushi's International teaching tours. Along with her cooking instructor and head chef duties, Luchi as been in charge of the cooking for many Kushi Institute special events and summer conferences.
	Mirea Ellis A Kushi Institute teacher, Mirea started macrobiotics in 1973 in order to overcome the chronic allergies that had plagued her for years. She studied with macrobiotic teachers in New York, Pennsylvania and Massachusetts, and attended the Ohashi Shiatsu Institute in New York City. Prior to joining the Kushi Institute in 1982 she worked for various macrobiotic organizations, including the East West Center of Philadelphia, where she was a macrobiotic head chef. She has taught macrobiotics and another major interest, wild foods, in various cities in the Northeast. She has been interviewed on T.V., radio, and in newspapers, and has published articles. Mirea is the founder and president of Rejuva Organics, LLC, a natural bodycare products and natural foods consultant business.
	John Kozinski A Kushi Institute teacher, counselor and shiatsu practitioner, John began studying macrobiotics in 1976, and has been a teacher at the Kushi Institute since 1987. John has counseled and taught at macrobiotic educational centers throughout Vermont, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Connecticut. In 1987 he founded the Macrobiotic Learning Center in Connecticut. In addition to teaching and counseling at the Kushi Institute, John offers seminars and dietary counseling in major cities throughout the United States.
	Warren Kramer A Kushi Institute lecturer and cooking instructor, Warren is a popular teacher who has also brought the macrobiotic approach to health and wellness to groups and associations worldwide including the United Nations Macrobiotic Society, Bread & Circus Whole Foods Market, Barnes & Nobel Bookstores, hospitals, nursing homes, churches, temples, health conferences and tennis clubs. (Warren is a former tennis professional.) He also spent five years traveling throughout the world working in individual homes teaching cooking and assisting people in recovering their health.
	Charles Millman A Kushi Institute teacher and counselor, Charles has a degree in history and education. He started studying macrobiotics in Philadelphia, and later moved to Boston where he assisted Michio Kushi in consultations for many years. While in Boston he also helped develop a regional New England educational network. After moving in 1985 to the Kushi Institute's Berkshires Center, Charles developed the Kushi Institute Extension Program. He is the Education Manager of the Kushi Institute and has also edited two books: A Natural Approach to Arthritis and A Natural Approach to Infertility and Reproductive Disorders.
	Clyde Motosue A Kushi Institute teacher and shiatsu practitioner, after receiving his Masters of Architecture degree at the University of Hawaii in 1978, Clyde studied and taught shiatsu for four years. In 1982 he moved to Boston to continue his studies of shiatsu and macrobiotics at the Kushi Institute. Clyde has an active shiatsu practice in the Boston area, where he also runs a macrobiotic study house. He has taught shiatsu in other cities of the United States as well as in Germany, and is a member of the International Macrobiotic Shiatsu Society and the American Organization for Bodywork Therapies of Asia.
	Abraham Oort Kushi Institute teacher, shiatsu practitioner and CranioSacral practitioner Abraham Oort received his Ph.D. in meteorology from the University of Utrecht, the Netherlands. A scientist at the Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory/NOAA for 30 years, Abraham taught a Princeton University and guest lectured all over the world on global climate issues. He received his shiatsu training at the International School of Shiatsu and the Kushi Institute. Abraham is a certified practitioner of the American Organization for Bodywork Therapies of Asia, and teaches macrobiotic shiatsu at the Kushi Institute and the New Hampshire Community Technical College in Claremont. Abraham has a private practice in macrobiotic shiatsu and CranioSacral therapy and is a facilitator at the Mindfulness Practice in Quechee, Vermont.
	Carry Wolf A Kushi Institute teacher and counselor, Carry is a native of Germany. She has studied natural health and healing around the world. She moved to Boston in 1983 to study with Michio and Aveline Kushi. Since 1986 Carry has taught macrobiotic philosophy throughout North America and Europe, the Caribbean, South Pacific, and Hawaii. She has also participated in macrobiotic activities in Russia and Japan. She teaches a holistic approach (Mind, Body and Spirit) of natural food and way of life education to support health, healing and world peace. She has also produced a video entitled Heal Thyself with Bio-Breath Kinetics.
	Bettina Zumdick A Kushi Institute teacher and counselor, Bettina is a native of Germany. She started macrobiotics in 1987, and went on to study Nutrition and Food Technology at the University of Muenster, Germany. Her macrobiotic studies in the United States included seven years of training with senior teachers Edward and Wendy Esko in cooking, lecturing and assisting counseling. She has also studied martial arts, such as Qi Gong, Tai Chi, and Judo and has taught these as well as macrobiotic cooking throughout Europe and the United States. An accomplished artist, Bettina has illustrated many macrobiotic publications.
	Judy MacKenney Kushi Institute counselor and faculty member Judy MacKenney is also a certified Holistic Health Counselor and member of the American Society of Alternative Therapies. In 1991 Judy was diagnosed with stage IV non-Hodgkins lymphoma, medically termed inoperable and incurable. She started her macrobiotic practice in 1992 under the guidance of a Kushi Institute counselor and fully recovered. Judy and her husband Larry ran a macrobiotic Health and Wellness Center in Florida prior to her continuing her studies at the Kushi Institute and graduating from the Kushi Institute's Career Training Program.
	Naoki Sakaguchi A Kushi Institute teacher, Naoki grew up in Japan, where he was a sushi chef. After moving to the United States he started studying macrobiotics in Boston with Michio Kushi. Naoki later moved to Western Massachusetts to work at Ghinga, a Macrobiotic Japanese restaurant,and it was during this time he learned traditional Japanese fermented food production from Guy Lalumiere at the Kushi Institute. An expert in the making of traditionally fermented products such as koji, miso, natto, tempeh, naturally leavened bread, sprouted bread, Naoki became a teacher at the Kushi Institute in 1994. He has also taught in Japan and in Spain with his wife, Kushi Institute teacher and counselor Luchi Baranda.
	Debora Wright A Kushi Institute teacher, Debora completed an M.F.A. in art and design, with a strong interest in the art and philosophies of Eastern cultures. She is a certified Hatha Yoga Instructor and has developed a diverse background of experience in forms of Qi Gong, Meditation, and macrobiotics. Her own health recovery process served as a catalyst in developing a macrobiotic catering service, teaching interactive cooking classes, and traveling as a personal Teaching Cook Tutor. She completed Level IV of the Kushi Institute Macrobiotic Career Training program and was certified as a Kushi Institute counselor in 2002. She has been working with groups and individuals in programs at the Kushi Institute since 1998.

 

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