About Me

My name is Norman. I was raised as an only child in Glendale, Queens, NY, by parents and a grandmother who migrated to America from war-torn Austria. My upbringing was Roman Catholic, and I went on to earn a BS in electrical engineering after college. I joined a well-known telecom company and climbed to the top of my profession.

One day during my lunch break, I felt a strange sensation come over me—a moment of questioning. Is this all there is? I did everything I was “supposed” to. Yet despite my accomplishments, I wasn't fulfilled & worse I still had anxieties and bouts of depression that had plagued me since childhood. Conventional medicine failed me. This started me on a 20+ year search for answers.

I was always Intrigued by hypnosis, & thought maybe I had some unconscious blocks that were the problem. I found a hypnotherapist that said they could help & I started some meetings. During one of these sessions, I had a profound “spiritual awakening.” This experience set me on a trajectory of seeking esoteric teachings on spirituality, healing modalities, and the purpose of my existence. I spent 16 years studying Kundalini yoga with an Indian Guru but still felt something was missing.

I decided to stop with my hindu path & headed to Sedona to rest and rethink my path. While I was there I found a DVD on the healing benefits of Qi-Gong. I was very interested and quickly learned the form. The teacher on the DVD  was world renowned Qi-Gong master Michael Winn. I became excited when I saw he still holds summer retreats and attended the next one possible. I was blown away at the profound healing effects & simplicity of the Qi-Gong. Mike’s approach made this ancient art simple and easy for Westerners to learn. I'm proud to say I have been his student for over 9 years. 

Mike noticed my eagerness to learn and suggested I become a certified instructor which I completed in 2017.

The many Qi-Gong forms I learned have transformed my life in ways I never expected.—I’m less reactive, have healthier relationships, improved health, and greater presence. 

My path to Pilates was much shorter . In the late '90s, I discovered it at a local gym. Cardio kickboxing & had been my passion, but when the kickboxing instructor left. The gym owner introduced me to Pilates. Despite my initial confusion, I loved the stretching effect of the reformer. But I was still not yet fully interested. I explored many various fitness options but found nothing gave me the feeling I had with Pilates s. 

It wasn't until years later when my wife joined the local Pilates studio, and I saw the amazing results she was getting in such a short period of time. 

Intrigued, i decided to give Pilates another chance. I took the intro class & have never looked back. The low-impact core & strengthening conditioning exercises  Pilates offers are by far my favorite form of exercise.

As with Qi-Gong, the studio owners saw my passion & encouraged me to become a Pilates instructor. Within six months, I was teaching my first class—a rewarding journey alongside my Qi-Gong practice.

Pilates has rewarded me on multiple levels—as both an instructor and a student. It enhances my mental and physical strength, resilience, and overall well-being.  I wish I had stuck with back in the '90s, I would have definitely made it my fitness routine.

Alongside Qi-Gong, Pilates has transformed my life in countless positive ways like better balance, flexibility, mentally stronger & the ability to navigate today’s life stressors much more easily.