Our Team
Elena Kanaki is a certified yoga instructor and Registered Massage Therapist currently practicing in Toronto, Ontario. Elena is highly passionate about the study of different movement techniques such as yoga, gymnastics, classical and folk dance, Feldenkrais and the Alexander technique. Her many years of research has allowed her to develop a unique program that incorporates the most beneficial aspects of both ancient and modern physical therapy techniques depending on the personal needs and body type of an individual. The Healing Motion system blends these physical therapy techniques with dance movements, yoga and massage therapy to provide an enjoyable, relaxing and therapeutic experience.
Elizabeth Needham (B.Ed., M.A., D.T.A.T.I., RP (Q)) is a professional art therapist and former English and drama teacher with over 20 years experience. She is also an accomplished mixed media artist with qualifications in mindfulness-based stress reduction, cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and trauma-informed expressive arts.
Ruth Noble (B.A., M.Div) is the Director of the Rosedale Hub as well as the Lead for its Community Programs. Ruth is a fundraiser, marketer, and storyteller who oversees Community Engagement at Rosedale United Church. Ruth is passionate about justice for all and volunteers her time with Five Oaks Education Centre in Paris, ON, as well as volunteering with Pride Toronto and the Inside Out LGBTQ+ Film Festival.
Kristin Philipson (B.A. Hons, M. Div, D.Min) is the Wellness Lead of the Rosedale Hub. She is passionate about helping people to make meaning in their lives and to live out their deepest beliefs with courage, conviction and hope. She is being prepared as a Facilitator by the Centre for Courage & Renewal and has participated in Circle of Trust programs over the past decade.
Daniel Rubinoff (PhD) completed his PhD at York University and wrote a dissertation on the Eurhythmics method of Émile Jaques-Dalcroze. He was awarded a Doctoral Fellowship through the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada, and he completed extensive archival and pedagogical research in Geneva at the Institut Jaques-Dalcroze. He is an accomplished professional musician and currently holds the position of Music Director at Lawrence Park Community Church, where he offers beginning and advanced level Rimbala classes. Dr. Rubinoff works with the Cognitive Intervention and Brain Plasticity research team at the Canadian Consortium on Neurodegeneration and Aging (CCNA) at Baycrest Health Sciences in Toronto. He is also a Research Associate at the Music and Health Research Collaboratory (MaHRC) at the University of Toronto. Rubinoff’s Rimbala method developed out of his research specialization in Dalcroze Eurhythmics and his interests in Laban Movement Analysis, Bartenieff Fundamentals, Alexander Technique, Feldenkrais and the Taoist practices of Tai Chi and Chi Gung.
Sarah Svendsen (Ch.Mus.Dipl., B.Mus., M.Mus., D.M.A.) is the Arts Lead for the Rosedale Hub. She is a concert organist, a choir director, an educator, a music occupational health and safety philosophy researcher, and an arts administrator. Sarah likes projects which support life-long learning and joyful, fun experiences. She believes that the arts and arts education is for everyone and, through her various professional roles, seeks to create access and remove barriers to help workers and students have a strong sense of community and belonging. In her education initiatives, Svendsen is focused on developing engagement and outreach opportunities for organ appreciation, as well as researching and disseminating vital information on occupational health and safety to student and professional musicians and organists. She is the Curriculum Design and Program Coordinator for the Summer Organ Academy of the Royal Canadian College of Organists (RCCO). Sarah was born and raised in rural Nova Scotia, Canada.
Dondrub Wangchuk has been practicing Chinese martial arts for the past 29 years and teaching Tai chi for the past 22 years. His martial arts studies began with 7 years of studying and teaching Shaolin Kung Fu. During the beginning of his training he was also introduced to Taiji Chuan and soon after shifted his focus. To deepen his practice in the Chinese Internal Arts, Dondrub was accepted to the Teachers Training program at the Tai Chi and Meditation Centre where he achieved the rank of Full Instructor. Since then he has included Baqua, Xing Yi, Medical Qi gong and Vipassana meditation to his studies. His interest in the study of Traditional Chinese Medicine led him to train and become a Therapist and Teacher of Zen Shiatsu therapy.
