Ryan Brooks TCMP, D.Ac, B.A.

Ryan Brooks is a graduate of the Toronto School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, one of the leading institutions in Ontario for Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine. He has also studied at the Academy of Classical Oriental Sciences in British Columbia and is a graduate of the Eastern Studies program at the University of Western Ontario.

Following his studies in Canada, Ryan participated in a clinical internship at Chendgu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine Teaching Hospital in the Sichuan Province of China. Ryan’s practice includes traditional Chinese medical treatments such as acupuncture, moxibustion, herbal medicine, auriculotherapy, nutritional and lifestyle counseling, Tuina bodywork, Gua Sha, Cupping and Qi Gong.

Ryan is an active lobbyist for the implementation of a high professional code of practice for TCM practicioners. In July 2005 he was selected to propose criteria relating to such professional standards before an investigatory Parliamentary panel. His presentation, along with others of the Toronto TCM community, will ultimately inform the regulation process soon to be legislated by the Ontario government.

Ryan is currently a faculty member at Kokoro Dojo where he teaches Traditional Chinese Medicine theory and diagnostics.

"My single aim is to help people improve their lives, to take control of their health, and to increase their physical and mental strength".

Yo Koyama D.Ac

Born and raised in Kyoto, Japan, Yo Koyama spent her early years thinking about justice and the meaning of life. She studied law and philosophy as a student at the University in Japan, and traveled in Latin America without finding the answer for the metaphysical question. After living and working in Europe for 5 years, she moved to Toronto and found Kiiko Style Acupuncture, which has been developed by Kiiko Matsumoto based on traditional Japanese acupuncture and her original analysis of the ancient Chinese medical classics.

Through Kiiko style acupuncture, Yo discovered the Qi cosmology. There exists a universe inside individual human beings just as in nature. Put simply she has been amazed that a single needle insertion can change the balance of body and mind and contribute greatly to a person's physical and mental well-being. She believes that helping people with acupuncture is her way for making the world a better place and her way of following the tao.

Yo is fluent in English, Japanese, Dutch and Spanish. She is also a Martial Arts enthusiast.

Darren Hall D.Ac

Darren Austin Hall, D. Ac is an integrated health practitioner who specializes in Chinese Medicine, Acupuncture, Sound Healing and inspired living. A graduate of the esteemed Institute of Traditional Medicine where he received his Diploma in Acupuncture and studied under teachers, shamans and indigenous elders from around the world (even a Druid!).

Darren brings a dynamic, holistic approach to his practice drawing from many diverse traditions to help his patients in the many colourful ways cultural evolution has developed. Along with his domestic studies, Darren studied Kung Fu and a form of standing meditation called Qi Gong in China for two years where he worked as an English Teacher.

Darren also has a certificate in Creative Transformation Therapy that he received after completing a two-year intensive with eminent psychotherapist and 'American Shaman' Bradford Keeney, who imparted to him the powerful tradition of Shaking Medicine used by the Bushmen of the Kalahari, perhaps the most ancient healing practice in human history. Darren is also a passionate educator and published writer on health and spirituality and performs sound healing shows under the guise SHEN (Sound Healing Energy) using quartz crystal singing bowls and mantra with the Chakra model to show people the best antidepressant is music.

When Darren isn't waking people to the incredible healing potential that we all have within us, he can be found plucking his guitar while singing love songs to Mother Earth, staring lovingly at plants and trees with ever new found wonder and encouraging people to include 'qi' in their daily vocabulary (qi is a central Chinese medicine concept that has been loosely translated as 'vital energy' or 'life-force', though Darren likes to leave it open to interpretation. It is the reason acupuncture works miracles!). Darren is passionate to serve all people in the realm of health and help them create lives of artful beauty as he constantly decries: "You are what you are searching for!".