RON NAVARRE

I began my martial art training at the age of ten in the Korean style of Moo Duk Kwan Tang Soo Do and Hapkido with master Jae Joon Kim outside of Detroit Michigan. At age sixteen I began to study Chung Do Kwan Tae Kwan Do with master Ron Rose and also became interested in theater and dance in high school. My interest in theater took me to the Interlochen National Arts Academy at age seventeen where I received a scholarship for classical ballet and choreographic studies. Upon graduating high school I received a full scholarship to the Royal Winnipeg Ballet in Canada where I trained as a dancer, teacher and choreographer.

When I was nineteen I awoke one morning to a searing pain in both my knees and could not stand up. I had developed patella tendonitis. The injury to my knees was devastating. I was informed by my orthopedic sports doctor that my dancing career was over. I spent six months in intensive physical therapy, another three months learning how to move and walk without crutches. Toward the end of my rehab process I met a talented massage therapist from Russia and was introduced to deep tissue reconstructive massage. With in two months I was walking and moving freely and was able to resume my dance training to the astonishment of my sports doctor. During my recovery, I shifted my focus from performing to teaching and choreographing until I was strong enough to perform again.

At the age of twenty one, I left Canada and came to New York City where I was hired to perform in a touring Company of the Broadway Musical "A Chorus Line". While in rehearsals I injured my lower back. In a frantic search to find a massage therapist I was introduced to Shiatsu, a Japanese form of acupressure massage. After one session I was 80% better and was able to continue rehearsals for the show. After returning from my tour I studied Shiatsu with Dr. David Taylor and was asked to join the Broadway company of "A Chorus Line." I began my own practice as a Shiatsu Therapist at the age of twenty four.

While performing on Broadway I continued to study martial arts ( Aikido and Tai Chi) and alternative healing modalities. At the age of twenty five I began my studies in taoist esoteric yoga and Chi Qong with master Mantak Chia and Michael Winn and eventually with Taoist medical priest Jeffry C. Yuen. Around the age of twenty seven I began studying Yoga with Juliu Horovath and Hilary Cartwright of the White Cloud Yoga Studio. After three years of training I was asked to become a yoga teacher at the White Cloud Studio in New York City.

In 1993 after almost 12 years of performing, choreographing and directing I decided to shift my focus and my career to the healing arts. I created Stress Defense® and began teaching stress reduction seminars based on the holistic principles I learned in the martial and healing arts.

The synthesis of the martial, healing and performing arts has proven to be very successful. I have taught Stress Defense® seminars for Prudential Securities, Columbia University, The Smithers Center for Alcoholism, The Pacific Institute of Oriental Medicine, The Dorot Center for senior citizens, The Regent Hospital for Drug Rehabilitation, The American Academy of Dramatic Arts, The Mattel Corporation, the Girl Scouts of America, Bally's Total Fitness, Origins Cosmetics and The New York Real-Estate Association in Manhattan. I have been featured at the International Hong Kong Tai Chi Festival In Central Park in NYC, Free Spirit Magazines Health and Fitness Forum and can be seen on the Discovery channels Health and Fitness channel, and on Good Day New York on Fox channel 5.

As an adjunct professor I have taught tai chi at Fordham University at Lincoln Center, New York University through the Lee Strasberg Theater Institute and the Pacific Institute of Oriental Medicine in New York City. In addition to tai chi and Chi Qong, I taught Yoga at the Alvin Ailey American Dance Center for fourteen years. I am currently on the teaching staff the Lee Strasberg Theater Institute where I teach Tai Chi, Chi Qong and Internal energy management. In addition, I hold a private practice as a Reiki master, energetic healer and spiritual counselor.