Professor Neil R. Gumenick, M.Ac. (UK), L.Ac., Dipl. Ac. is Founder and Director of The Institute of Classical Five-Element Acupuncture Inc. in Santa Monica, CA. He holds three degrees and an advanced teaching credential from the College of Traditional Acupuncture (UK), awarded by Professor J.R. Worsley. The American Association of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (AAAOM) recently honored him as a Pioneer and Leader in Oriental Medicine. Neil has been in private practice since 1981 and is a frequent speaker at national and international symposia, a teacher at numerous acupuncture and Oriental Medical schools, a columnist for Acupuncture Today, and the founder of the Classical Five-Element Acupuncture Program™ and the acclaimed Beginning the Journey™ seminar.

Neil trained in acting at the University of Miami under the renowned Robert Lowery. In New York, he trained personally with Gene Frankel, one of the earliest members of the famed Actor's Studio. In addition to practicing and teaching acupuncture, Neil's great love has been coaching actors privately and for The Pretenders Studio: Center for the Performing Arts.

Eliot Ivanhoe, M.D., M.Ac. (UK) received his M.D. from NYU School of Medicine, completed a residency in neurology at NYU-Bellevue Medical Center, and studied Classical Five Element Acupuncture with J.R. Worsley in Leamington Spa. These studies continued in the Master Apprentice Program™ with J.R. and Judy Worsley until 2005. Eliot is a certified Advanced Teacher of CF-EA, a practitioner of the Arica way of enlightenment, and serves on the faculty of The Institute of Classical Five-Element Acupuncture Inc.

Brian Bender, M.S.T.O.M., L.Ac., Dipl. Ac. earned his B.S. in Education/Mathematics from the University of Colorado in 1975 and a Masters degree from the McLaren College of Business Administration, University of San Francisco in 1984. After earning his M.S.T.O.M. degree from Pacific College of Oriental Medicine in 1996, he completed his certification in Classical Five-Element Acupuncture at The Institute of Classical Five-Element Acupuncture Inc. Brian has over 20 years experience as a practitioner and teacher of the martial arts of Aikido and Iaido. He is currently an instructor and clinic supervisor at Pacific College and maintains a private practice in Del Mar, CA.

Lisa Gumenick, B.A. is the founding director of The Pretenders Studio: Center For The Performing Arts in Santa Monica, CA. A dancer and actress from the age of 8, Lisa is an honors graduate from the University of California, Santa Barbara and is a member of the National Dance Education Organization. She has studied dance and the performing arts at UCSB, Brandeis University, University College (Netherlands), and participated in an extensive theatre arts program in Israel. Lisa has taught at Marquez Elementary School, in the STAR Enrichment Program, and has choreographed shows for Marquez, Paul Revere Middle School, Theatre Palisades Kids, and the UCSB Drama/Dance Department. Lisa is the founder of both The Pretenders Theatre Company (2004) and The Junior Pretenders (2006). These programs, combining acting, song, and dance, provide a unique "stepping-stone" between educational theatre and the professional world for actors ages 9-25.

Amy Gumenick, BFA, is a 2008 honors graduate of the University of California Santa Barbara with a BFA in acting. Amy has been acting and dancing since the age of 5, and has been an acting teacher, dance teacher, mentor, and director for the past 8 years. Amy's impressive professional acting resume includes starring or featured roles on Army Wives, My Own Worst Enemy, How I Met Your Mother, Greek, Ghost Whisperer, Grey's Anatomy, Bones, Supernatural, Castle, No Ordinary Family, The Glades, The Closer, Grimm, CSI Miami, and the lead title role in the movies Natalee Holloway and Justice for Natalee Holloway. She has a great passion for theatre and is committed to using her gift as a means of healing and spreading love and creativity to children and adults everywhere.