OUR PEOPLE

Ailsa & Declan Welcome You

With a passion for the land and the community they wish to share.

Land

The bounty of land 
provides nourishment 
to feed the soul.

People

Coming together
to share voice 
and the joy of presence.

Food

Return to natural
and let food
be thy medicine.

Community

Individuals united
by common purpose
in a centred space.

Ailsa Keppie

BSc. Hons. RMT MFR Therapist
Ailsa has had a lifelong interest in the body and the connection of the physical with other levels of our being. She has studied many forms of dance and movement therapies as well as working for a short time as a professional trapeze artist. Her education also followed this path, with a degree in Physiology, massage therapy and yoga, and Somatic Psychology. 

Ailsa believes that as human beings, we need a way of integrating all aspects of our body, mind and spirit. Here at Our Celtic Hearth, we want to include the land we live on, the food we eat and our relationship to our body and to others. We have a need for relationship and connection that goes beyond the superficial material constructs of today’s western culture. 

Ailsa’s style of teaching and bodywork helps incorporate our body’s wisdom, re-calibrate our nervous system, and engage our soul and spirit in our healing. She is passionate about helping others to reconnect with their true self, and expand the possibilities for desire, joy and ecstasy to be more present in their every day experience. Ailsa is inspired by this quote by Gabrielle Roth

“Put your body in motion and your psyche will heal itself.”

Declan King

Declan began his study of Tai Chi and Qigong in 1998. He found the Internal Arts to be a wholistic way to exercise and increase vitality. Having grown up in North Vancouver and graduating from a program in Sheet Metal Work, Declan was looking for a way to harmonize his mind and body with the environment. He began exploring with many different teachers of the internal Martial Arts, including: 

Ian Sinclair, Liang, Shou-yu, and the many instructors at the SYL Wushu academy, Kelly Maclean, Derek Cheng, Sam Masich, Jan Parker, Dr. Yang, Jwing-Ming, and all my fellow students "on the mountain"

In 2015 Declan decided to enrol in an intensive immersion program with Dr. Yang in California and spent 18 months living and learning Tai Chi principles with a small group of dedicated students. It was at this time that he also began foraging for mushrooms & experimenting with growing a few gourmet varieties. This love of Fungi was sparked by watching the 2014 Ted Talk by Paul Stamets “6 Ways Mushrooms can save the World”. The idea of harmonizing the inner and outer worlds inspires the vision of Our Celtic Hearth, where we are hoping to create an experience of this for others. Declan is more than excited to be bringing the two passions together at Our Celtic Hearth Centre. He attempts to live and be in the world according to this quote by Lao Tsu:

“In dwelling, live close to the ground. In thinking, keep to the simple. In conflict, be fair and generous. In governing, don't try to control. In work, do what you enjoy. In family life, be completely present.”  ― Lao Tzu
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