Macrobiotic Summer Conference Presenters’ Bios

Catherine L. Albanese

Cathy graduated from all four levels of the Kushi Institute Leadership Certificate Program in 2014. In her other life, she is J.F. Rowny Professor Emerita in Comparative Religions and Research Professor in the Department of Religious Studies at the University of California, Santa Barbara. She is former department chair, former president of the American Academy of Religion, and now member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. She is the author of numerous books and articles on aspects of American religious history. She offers Macrobiotic Counseling.

Sheri DeMaris

Sheri DeMaris, M.Ed, is a holistic health counselor who has taught whole foods/macrobiotic cooking at various restaurants and cooking schools throughout the United States and Europe for over 25 years. She has run wellness seminars and created programs for “healthy living” for public school programs K-12, community colleges and universities and has authored articles on healthy lifestyles, school lunch programs and cooking for various magazines. She is the author of Macro Magic for Kids and Parents and directs a local TV show Tea with Sheri. She offers Macrobiotic Counseling and menu planning.

Greg DiLisio

Greg’s depth of knowledge and passion to live life fully as a peaceful warrior is apparent in every retreat and class he teaches. He holds the space for every single healing arts service he gives to be a truly transformative experience for you. Greg holds a Masters of Acupuncture from the New England School of Acupuncture and is a licensed acupuncturist in MA/CT. He practiced acupuncture at Kripalu Center for three years and Canyon Ranch for twelve years before going full-time into private practice. He is a licensed massage therapist in MA/CT and has practiced therapeutic massage at Kripalu Center for five years, and LABO Spa of Switzerland for two years, and in the Boston/ North Shore area. He offers Relaxing Massage, Deep-tissue Massage, Reflexology, Shiatsu, and Craniosacral.

Christian Elwell

Christian is founder of South River Miso Company in Conway, Massachusetts. He has also been growing organic rice for more than 30 years.

Edward Esko

Edward Esko has served as vice president of the East West Foundation, associate director of Kushi Institute, and founder of Quantum Rabbit LLC, a new technology company dedicated to a health and sustainable future. He is the author of Contemporary Macrobiotics, Yin Yang Primer, Rice Field Essays, and other books. He offers Macrobiotic Counseling and Nine Star Ki readings.

Naomi Ichikawa Esko

Naomi is a 2010 graduate of the Kushi Institute in Becket. Prior to her study at the K.I., she worked in the restaurant industry in her native Tokyo. In 2011 she established a teaching and counseling center in Tokyo known as Macrobiotics Japan (macrobiotics-japancom) Through her personal experience with successful weight loss and weight management, she began offering special weight loss counseling to clients in the Tokyo area. She also began a consulting business advising restaurants in the development of healthy menus. She also served as a private chef guiding clients in the preparation of healthful and delicious macrobiotic vegan meals. She recently married Edward Esko and resides with her husband in western Massachusetts.

Masumi Goldman

Masumi (in the background of the picture) is a former Wall Street analyst and MIT graduate who wandered into the world of yoga and decided to stay. She developed a physical yoga practice while dealing with a painful condition affecting her joints and tendons, and later discovered the power of meditation during the difficult months following her daughter’s kidney transplant. She continues on her healing journey, guided by macrobiotic principles to make mindful choices about food, health and maintaining balance in all aspects of her life. Today, she is a yoga teacher, writer, and wellness advocate for organ transplant patients. Her commitment to yoga and wellness has been featured in various media outlets, including the Today Show, Bloomberg TV, Yoga Journal, Style Bistro, Shape Magazine, Refinery29 and Business Insider. She has also partnered with major brands, such as Gaiam and Kohl’s in their wellness endeavors. Her hope is to continue spreading the inclusive message of yoga for everyone.

Virginia Harper

Ginny Harper healed herself of Crohn’s disease over 25 years ago with the help of macrobiotics. She is a teacher, counselor, and chef and director of You Can Heal You educational center in Franklin, Tennessee. She has taught at Sha Wellness Clinic in Spain and lectured around the world. She is a co-author of the new book Crohn’s and Colitis: The Macrobiotic Approach with Edward Esko and Alex Jack. She offers Macrobiotic Counseling and menu planning.

Alex Jack

Alex Jack has served as president of Planetary Health, executive director of Kushi Institute, and editor-in-chief of East West Journal. He has helped introduce macrobiotics to China and Russia and has written many books with Michio and Aveline Kushi, including The Cancer Prevention Diet, Aveline Kushi’s Complete Guide to Macrobiotic Cooking, The Book of Macrobiotics, and One Peaceful World. He is also the co-author of the newly published The One Peaceful World Cookbook with Sachi Kato. He is on the guest faculty of the Kushi Institute of Europe and has presented at the Cardiology Institute in St. Petersburg, the Zen Temple in Beijing, Shakespeare’s New Globe Theatre in London, and Rosas Dance Company in Brussels. He offers Macrobiotic Counseling and Nine Star Ki readings.

Gale Jack

Gale Jack is a macrobiotic teacher, counselor, and author. Originally from Oklahoma and Texas, she worked as an elementary schoolteachers and psychologist. She has lived in New England for nearly thirty years. Her books include Promenade Home and Women’s Health Guide. She offers Macrobiotic Counseling and family and psychological counseling.

Sachi Kato

Born in Gifu, Japan, Sachi Kato moved to California where she studied and worked in the field of photography. Through her desire for a more natural way of living, she discovered macrobiotics. Sachi’s devotion to global health and peace led her to study macrobiotics at Kushi Institutes in the U.S., Europe, and Japan where she completed all four levels and became a certified teacher, counselor, and chef. Working as a macrobiotic chef and instructor fulfills her passion for sharing nurturing food. She is a macrobiotic chef and educator based in San Francisco Bay Area. Sachi is co-author with Alex Jack of The One Peaceful World Cookbook (BenBella Books). Contact: www.sachikato.com. She offers Macrobiotic Counseling and menu planning.

Warren Kramer

Warren Kramer is an internationally recognized macrobiotic counselor, lecturer ,and cooking teacher with over 30 years of experience. He has guided thousands of people back to health over the years. Warren teaches the macrobiotic approach to health and wellness, including principles of food selection and preparation, exercise, work and personal relationships. Warren was a traveling cook for six years working privately with cancer patients throughout the world. He currently teaches in 10 cities throughout the U.S. Warren and his wife run the Macrobiotic Center of New England. He assisted Michio Kushi for over 10 years in Boston where he lives. Warren and Fatim have a son, Adam. He offers macrobiotic counseling.

Amber Maisano

Amber Maisano served as kitchen manager at Kushi Institute for several years and taught cooking and shiatsu in the Macrobiotic Leadership Training program. She was head chef for the 2017 Macrobiotic Summer Conference She lives in Lenox Dale, Massachusetts and does private cooking and counseling. She offers macrobiotic counseling, shiatsu, and menu planning.

David McCarthy

A pharmacist and successful businessman with over 30 years’ experience, David was forced to reevaluate his attitude towards modern medicine when his son was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor and given just a few weeks to live. By introducing Jonathan to a vegan diet, David was able to prolong his son’s life far beyond the estimates predicted by medical experts. Following Jonathan’s passing, David dedicated his life to search the most healthy diet and lifestyle. Upon finding macrobiotics, the approach answered all of his questions and delivered amazing results and benefits. After graduating from the Kushi Institute of Europe, David became a qualified Macrobiotic Counselor and Teacher. He now teaches internationally as well as running the newly opened Kushi Macrobiotic School in the UK with his wife Nicola. He offers Macrobiotic Counseling and menu planning.

Nicola McCarthy

Nicola is co-director and founder of the Kushi Macrobiotic School UK, a center of excellence for teaching macrobiotics in Mid Sussex, England. For the past few years Nicola and her husband David have lead a life immersed in macrobiotics, setting up a macrobiotic café, two retail stores, and a teaching center in the UK. Together they also ran for nine years www.macrobioticshop.co.uk, an online store, sourcing and supplying top quality specialist macrobiotic lines from around the world. Nicola loves nothing more than to share the knowledge that changed her life and actively teaches macrobiotics in England and throughout Europe and the USA. Her enthusiasm for her subject is contagious. She offers Macrobiotic counseling and menu planning.

Judy MacKenney

Judy is an internationally recognized macrobiotic counselor, educator and cooking instructor. She is a certified holistic health counselor and member of the American Society of Alternative Therapists. She has presented at medical schools, hospitals, churches and conferences throughout the US. She was introduced to macrobiotics in 1992 after being diagnosed with Stage IV non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. She offers Macrobiotic Counseling and menu planning.

Larry MacKenney

Larry is a macrobiotic teacher and counselor. He graduated from the Kushi Institute and with his wife Judy teaches in southwest Florida where they offer hands-on macrobiotic cooking workshops and retreats.

Patricia Martin

Patricia “Niti” Seip Martin, BA, health psychology, University of Massachusetts, is founder of the Healing Art of Yoga for Ongoing Cancer Recovery at CHD Cancer House of Hope and has specialized in yoga for cancer since 2001. She is a mind/body yoga teacher at Canyon Ranch and Cranwell Spa, and leader of Yoga and Walking: Soul to Earth at Kripalu Center in Lenox, Massachusetts.

Tom Monte

Tom is an author, counselor, and teacher of natural healing. He has authored over thirty-five books on macrobiotics and natural health including Recalled by Life, Unexpected Recoveries, and the Complete Guide to Natural Healing. He teaches and gives seminars worldwide. He offers Macrobiotic Counseling.

Miwaka Ohara

Miwaka is a graduate of Texas Health and Science University (formerly known as Texas College of Traditional Chinese Medicine) in Austin, Texas. She is licensed by the Board of Registration in Medicine in the state of Massachusetts with twenty years experience in the field. She is also nationally certified by the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM) in the USA. She offers Japanese Toyohari Acupuncture.

Christina Pirello

Christina healed herself of leukemia with the help of macrobiotics. She is the Emmy-award winning host of Christina Cooks! TV show and has written many best-selling books.

Evan Root

Evan is one of Michio and Aveline’s original students in Boston and helped them found Erewhon. For many years he has directed Kindling Point, a wellness center, and given seminars on the art of living. He offers personal life counseling.

Jane Stanchich

Jane Stanchich, Licensed Nutritionist, Certified Macrobiotic Teacher, counselor, author, and chef, is an international teacher of natural health principles with over thirty-five years experience. This Aveline Kushi Award-winning educator presents with her husband, Lino, dynamic seminars and retreats, internationally, focusing on the optimum diet and lifestyle for personal and planetary health and peace. Jane has produced a cooking DVD Macrobiotic Cooking for the Whole Family and written the book Healthy Holiday Cooking: Delicious Macrobiotic Recipes for Autumn and Winter Celebrations, as well as the DVD, Cooking Terrific Tofu Turkey. Jane’s website, www.greatliefglobal.com is a dynamic macrobiotic resource for a worldwide community. She offers Macrobiotic Counseling and menu planning.

Lino Stanchich

Lino Stanchich is a renowned macrobiotic educator and counselor with over forty-five years of experience. A Licensed Nutritionist, Licensed Massage and Bodywork Therapist, author, and researcher, Lino is a dynamic multilingual educator. He has lectured, with his wife, Jane, at major macrobiotic and wellness centers throughout the world, including the Kushi Institute in the U.S. and Holland, as well as the famed SHA Wellness Clinic in Spain, and to universities, corporations, and the United Nations. Residents of Asheville, NC, Jane and Lino have authored many popular books, audios, and DVD’s to enhance natural health that are available on their website, www.greatlifeglobal.com. He offers Macrobiotic Counseling and bodywork therapy.

Denny Waxman

Denny Waxman is an internationally recognized teacher, counselor, and writer on health, natural healing, and macrobiotics. Through the Strengthening Health Institute and his counseling practice, many thousands of clients have been empowered with the ability to overcome a variety of health issues using the macrobiotic diet and lifestyle. His counseling practice now concentrates primarily on the major issues that dominate our society today: low energy and vigor, infertility, imminently life-threatening afflictions like cancer, type-2 diabetes, heart problems, and obesity. He offers Macrobiotic Counseling.

Susan Waxman

Susan has been a macrobiotic teacher and counselor for sixteen years. She is co-director and executive chef of the Strengthening Health Institute in Philadelphia. She offers Macrobiotic Counseling and menu planning.

Bettina Zumdick

Bettina Zumdick is a teacher, counselor, humanitarian, and author who has integrated modern knowledge of the West with the ancient wisdom of the East. With a strong background in Food Science, Dietetics, and Nutrition from Wilhelms University in Muenster, Germany, she has shared her knowledge of food as medicine for over 30 years. Her experience in the fields of holistic health, wellness, and macrobiotics has helped thousands of people to regain and maintain their health and vibrancy. www.culinarymedicineschool.com. She offers Macrobiotic Counseling, menu planning, and Tao-In Yoga instruction.