Meet Our Staff...

LORI RUBENSTEIN, MAppSc, PT, FAAOMPT, CYT

Lori graduated from Boston University in 1987 with a Bachelor of Science in Physical Therapy. In 1998 Lori completed an Advanced Master's Degree in Manipulative Therapy from the University of South Australia where she studied under the direction of world renowned physical therapists. Lori completed her Master's thesis on "Backpacks and Schoolchildren" and was an invited guest on "Good Morning America" to discuss her findings as one of the first healthcare professionals to address this evident and ever growing problem. She received her Yoga Teacher Certification from Samata International Yoga and Health Institute in Los Angeles and advance training in Yoga Therapy from Larry Payne Ph.D., Founding President of the International Association of Yoga Therapists. She is also certified in Pilates by Retrofit. Lori has been recognized, on numerous occasions, in publications across the country and has authored articles in several professional journals. She is one of the few elite physical therapists qualified to be a Fellow in the American Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapists Lori teaches in the Doctoral Program of Physical Therapy at Mount St. Mary's College in Los Angeles and is also a senior instructor on staff for the Yoga Therapy Rx certification program at Loyola Marymount University. She volunteers with The Flying Samaritans, providing free medical care to indigent people in remote villages throughout Mexico. Lori has years of experience customizing the successful rehab for a variety of patients with debilitating injuries, including professional and Olympic athletes. Her grateful patients include members of the Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Clippers, Phoenix Suns, Colorado Rockies and Arizona Rattlers as well as professional tennis and volleyball players, figure skaters, gymnasts and musicians. In her spare time, Lori enjoys the outdoors, dance, hiking, yoga and traveling.

DANICA BENAVENTE, MPT

Danica graduated from University of Hawaii at Manoa with a Bachelor of Science in Food Science and Human Nutrition and a minor in Dance. She danced professionally touring the United States and Europe with a professional dance company from 1987 to 1998. Her dance background and her desire to help others and be in an active career led her to naturally pursue a career in physical therapy. Danica received her Master’s degree in physical therapy from Mount St. Mary’s College in Los Angeles, CA. Danica is also a certified Pilates Instructor and has worked with both professional and amateur dancers, surfers, rockclimbers and skateboarders. In her spare time, Danica enjoys dancing,performing with her Polynesian dance company, surfing, rockclimbing, hiking and anything outdoors and physical.

JANICE DATE, PT, OCS, GCFP

Janice received her Bachelor of Science Degree in Physical Therapy from California State University, Northridge. Since then, she has taken and assisted in several orthopedic manual therapy courses. Janice has been a consultant for The Foto Group since 1989, where she reviews physical therapy documentation for insurance companies. Janice has been a Guild Certified Feldenkrais Practitioner since 1994. In 1998 she became a Board Certified Orthopedic Clinical Specialist. Janice is also a guest lecturer and on faculty at Mount St. Mary’s College School of Physical Therapy where she instructs in orthopedic patient management, motor learning and medical documentation. Her special interests are in orthopedics, posture, gait and movement re-education.

MARIA SHRIME, DPT, OCS

Maria received her Bachelor of Arts in Communications from Santa Clara University, with an emphasis in Print Journalism. Before continuing on to physical therapy school, she taught English in Costa Rica for a year, where she became fluent in Spanish and an avid salsa dancer. Maria received her Doctorate degree in physical therapy from Chapman University in CA. Maria graduated from the Kaiser Permanente Orthopaedic Manual Therapy Residency Program and is an Orthopaedic Certified Specialist. Maria is a marathon runner and a professional salsa dancer. She ran the Honolulu Marathon in 2003 and has trained for multiple marathons since. She also competed professionally in the 2006 Mayan Salsa Competition. Maria enjoys motivating a variety of people to attain their rehabilitation goals, from those needing to alleviate pain sustained during daily activities, to those looking to improve their athletic performance. She excels in manual therapy techniques and believes in the importance of exercise prescription.

JILL LISTER, DPT

Jill graduated from Biola University in La Mirada, CA where she earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Kinesiology. She graduated at the top of her class and was voted Major of the Year in her last year. She received her Doctorate degree in physical therapy from the University of Southern California, which was recently ranked #1 in the nation for physical therapy by U.S. News and World Report. Jill has been an athlete since her childhood and has competed in many sports including: soccer, field hockey, softball, gymnastics, and dance. She furthered her career in dance by performing in the half-time show of Super Bowl XXXII, and by traveling across the nation teaching and choreographing for high school dance teams as a United Spirit Association Instructor. Her extensive knowledge and experience from these activities has given her the ability to incorporate rehabilitation techniques for people of all ages and levels. In her spare time, Jill enjoys running, yoga, waterskiing, snowboarding, beach volleyball and traveling.

JENNIFER CHENG

Jennifer Cheng, Gyrotonic® Instructor and Personal Trainer, has received training from leading Gyrotonic® studios in New York City. She has trained a variety of clients, from professional dancers (including the most senior ranking female dancer in The Alvin Ailey Dance Company), to high-risk pregnant women, and men and women over 50 with severe injuries. Originally from San Francisco as a musician/dancer and statistician, she enjoys helping her clients with whole-body movement analysis to improve their health and wellness.

SUE CHOI

Sue is professionally trained in Yoga, Pilates and Massage. The combination of these disciplines allows her to see the body as a whole and teach embodiment with skill, creativity and precision. Most of her yoga training was taken in San Francisco, India and Los Angeles. She trained in Pilates through Body Arts and Science International and with Marie-José Blom-Lawrence of Long Beach Dance Conditioning. She studied massage at the Institute of Psycho-Structural Balancing in Culver City and through the Polarity Healing Arts in Topanga. She continues to educate herself in various mind-body disciplines to improve the quality of her instruction.

MARCIA LOPEZ

Marcia has been a professional massage therapist since 2004. She has extensive bodywork training that ranges from Sports Massage and Deep Tissue to Reiki and Compassionate Touch Therapy. She has worked for the Sony Eriksson Pro Women's Tennis Tour and is also a Heart Touch volunteer, an organization that serves the ill and isolated. She has studied dance, is a long distance runner, and a martial arts practitioner. She knows that body maintenance is essential for longevity and a holistic approach necessary to maintain it. A Vegan and Raw-foodist she believes in health for the individual and the planet.

MARNI GREER

Marni is a certified Pilates and Affiliated Anusara Yoga instructor. She received her Pilates training in 1998 at Long Beach Dance Conditioning with Marie-Jose Blom. She received her Anusara Yoga teacher training Levels I & II at City Yoga in West Hollywood and Yoga Therapy Training with John Friend. Once an avid mountain biker, she discovered yoga and Pilates after injuring her back. Gratefully, it was through these practices that she was able to recover and heal her body. She decided to devote her life to helping others with injuries and limitations by becoming a teacher and diligent student. In 2001, she was led to John Friend and his highly transformational, heart centered and therapeutic, Anusara Yoga. She learned that in order to heal the body, one must also heal the heart. She has studied and worked abroad in Micronesia, Bali, Tahiti, the Caribbean, and Central America. Marni is committed to cultivating an expansive environment where clients can maximize their physical efficiency though the balance of strength and flexibility. Her sessions promote reeducation and connection with the mind and body. They challenge all levels of ability and are combined with therapeutic exercise for posture and alignment based on the work of Joseph Pilates.