Our Facilitators
Inner Journey Canada, the Canadian-based affiliate of the U.S.- based Inner Journey Seminars is an educational organization which offers a curriculum of personal development and transformational workshops for participants 18 years of age and older.
We welcome people of all races, ethnicities and sexual orientation, and our facility can accommodate people with disabilities. We honour all spiritual and non-spiritual paths and tradition. The curriculum is designed to enable people to develop their own path for inner work.
Typically, one man and one woman from the list below, co-facilitate the Inner Journey Seminar, supported by several other facilitators or trainees, and a full complement of
staff.
We welcome people of all races, ethnicities and sexual orientation, and our facility can accommodate people with disabilities. We honour all spiritual and non-spiritual paths and tradition. The curriculum is designed to enable people to develop their own path for inner work.
Typically, one man and one woman from the list below, co-facilitate the Inner Journey Seminar, supported by several other facilitators or trainees, and a full complement of
staff.
Michael Schiesser, MA (Psychology)
A former Buddhist monk, policeman, and therapist, Michael has been facilitating inner work groups since 1982. He created the Inner Journey seminars out of his desire to assist people on their paths towards awakening. As the founder of Inner Journey Seminars, Michael is responsible for course design, facilitator training, program development and holding the Inner Journey vision. He facilitates transformational
seminars in the U.S., Canada and Europe.
seminars in the U.S., Canada and Europe.
Neelama Eyers, BA (Religion)
Neelama has been guiding people through personal transformation for over 13 years. She takes great joy in assisting people in the process of discovering themselves beyond their personality. She has a B.A. in Comparative Religion and has lead international meditation and yoga retreats as well as facilitated hundreds of spiritual and transformational seminars. In 2000, she began a successful life coaching business and in 2001, she created Body Embraced, a seminar for women, out of her desire to transform the body discontent that most women experience into a vehicle for profound healing and growth. In 2004, she co-created Devotion; Calling The Beloved a spiritual retreat focused on discovering, experiencing and deepening one's personal connection with The Divine. For more information about Neelama and her work, please visit www.neelama.com.
Jack Lafleur, MA (Counselling)
A former military and high school chaplain and long time spiritual seeker, Jack has been facilitating personal and spiritual growth since 1993. He brings to the Inner Journey a wide range of experience which includes, organizational health, spiritual direction, the study of martial arts, working with trauma survivors, men's issues, teaching various forms of meditation and Ken Wilber's Integral Model. Jack's work with people comes from a deep trust in transformational work and in a firm committment towards helping others awaken to their essential spiritual nature and fullness of psychological health. Jack currently works as an EAP counsellor and individual, couple and family therapist in private practice.
Gerry Giuliani, BA (Psychology)
Gerry has extensive experience in training and coaching youth and volunteers in a variety of settings. He is a former National Program Director of a major youth organization and has had a long standing and active interest in the areas of education, spiritual and personal development. His experience includes the Hoffman Quadrinity Intensive in Toronto, Miracle of Love Intensive in San Diego as well of a number of other similar intensive workshops. Gerry has been active in the Inner Journey since it was first introduced in Eastern Canada in 1997 (as Quest) and completed his 4 year Inner Journey Facilitator Training in 2004. He also has a practice as an Inner Journey Coach offering individual sessions.
Rita Finnigan, MSW
Rita has worked in the field of social work since the mid 1970s in community and hospital settings and some private practice. Her spiritual path has involved bringing three amazing beings into this world and combined her love of music, of working with people and of connecting to those deep inner spaces from which to bring her service to the community around her.
Divyanand Curcarro
Divyanand feels that after completing his B.Ed, his true education began with the discovery of eastern philosophies and spirituality. These studies led him to the teachings of a Himalayan master who stressed the practice of the journey inward, meditation, as the road to freedom. As a life coach and meditation teacher, Divyanand cherishes being part of the transformation of seekers that discover that inside themselves, behind the veils of human conditioning, lives the joy that we usually search for outside. This joy is their authentic self. Divyanand has been involved with Inner Journey Canada for the past eleven years, both as a participant and a facilitator.
Maria Marrongelli
Maria Marrongelli has a background in psychology and alternative health and has been running a successful private practice in transformational coaching and bodywork since 2001. She has also been facilitating experiential workshops both in the US and Canada since 2006. Maria has helped many people over the past 12 years to understand and experience the connection between body, emotions and mind as a way of moving beyond the limitations of human conditioning. Her work is fueled by her heart’s desire for everyone to fully live their own unique expression and awaken to their authentic self.
Synandra Lechner
Synandra Lechner, MBA, has 25 years of diverse seniour management experience in public and private sectors followed by 10 years of management consulting for a variety of Federal Canadian Goverment Departments. Her consulting assignments have focused primarily on organizational reviews, design, transition support, change management, group facilitation and training. Ten years ago she started down a path of personal growth which opened up a whole new world to explore - her inner world. It also exposed her to the benefits of experiential learning.
Positive changes resulted in her work and personal life and these led her to become a trainee facilitator for the Inner Journey Seminar. Facilitating learning today, Synandra draws from her experience with goverment organizations, traditional professional development courses and experiential personal growth programs.
Positive changes resulted in her work and personal life and these led her to become a trainee facilitator for the Inner Journey Seminar. Facilitating learning today, Synandra draws from her experience with goverment organizations, traditional professional development courses and experiential personal growth programs.
