Staff Directory

Walter Marker - Chief Instructor of the Martial Arts and Mind/Body Programs.

Dr. Marker began studying martial arts when he was in high school and never stopped. In addition to aikido, he studied a variety of martial arts including Japanese karate, Taekwondo, Okinawian karate, Iaido, Jodo, Judo and Tai Chi.  He currently holds the rank of Rokudan in aikido (sixth degree black belt), and 1st degree black belts in Jodo and Iaido. He is also licensed by the State of Texas as a Massage Therapist, Massage Therapy Instructor and Approved provider of Massage Therapy Continuing Education. He also has been certified as an NLP teacher by the Society of Neuro Linguistic Programmers. In addition to his martial arts training, he has a PhD degree from the University of Chicago and is currently employed during the day at NASA, Johnson Space Center.

Chantay Marker - Chief Instructor of the Tai Chi Program and Instructor in the Aikido Program

Currently, Chantay teaches a variety of fitness programs at Bay Area Center.  In addition, Chantay has been studing martial art for 17 years. She instructs both adult and children's aikido classes, Tai Chi and Karate. She currently holds the rank of Nidan (second degree black belt ) in Aikido.  In addition, Chantay is Licensed by the State of Texas as a Massage Therapist, Massage Therapy Instructor and Approved provider of Massage Therapy Continuing Education.

Chantay comes from a background in health and fitness that spans more than 20 years. Beginning in the 1980's, her experience spans the entire breadth of the fitness industry, extending from hard-core bodybuilding to large scale fitness facilities to "South Florida Style" personal training studios to hospital rehabilitation and wellness programs. While her formal education at the Fitness Institute at Florida Atlantic University provides the basis for safe and effective training, it is her wide experience that allows her to successfully develop classes and individual programs that fulfill our members needs. 

With regards to her personal approach to fitness, Chantay has stated:

"I believe my best qualifications are my experience and my empathy. As a middle aged mother of 3, I have been in shape and out of shape at various times in my life. Also, I have had sport injuries from which I had to recover. The key to a successful fitness program is to keep your training interesting and realistic so it will produce satisfying results physically, mentally and emotionally. If your program does not do this, it's unlikely you will follow it for long. That is why I offer a wide variety of specialized classes. Together we can create a program that's tailored for your needs and desires that will change and evolve as you succeed."   

Juan Nunez - Instructor in the Aikido Program

Sensei Juan Nunez was born in Venezuela and began studying Aikido in Venezuela under Sensei Nelson Requena in 1985. Juan moved to the U.S. in 1999 and trained with several Aikido instructors. He became affiliated with the Aikido program of the Bay Area Center in 2013. Throughout the Aikido community, Sensei Nunez is a very well known Aikido practitioner since he has attend many Aikido workshops and seminars across the U.S.  Nunez  Sensei is a fun and dedicated Aikido Instructor who brings the enjoyment of training in the art to all his classes.

Lauren Kennedy- Assistant Instructor in the Aikido Program

Lauren is the youngest person to ever have received a Shodan (1st degree Black Belt) from Seishinkan dojo or the Aikido Association of America.  Sprinkled throughout out websites are pictures of Lauren at a variety of ages, starting from very young.  Visit our Aikido webpage to see photos of Lauren throwing a partner when she first joined us and, just to the right, another photo of her at the head of the line at one of our children's seminar. As a young person herself, Lauren brings a unique ability to explain techniques to our younger students and provides a very positive role model that shows what can be accomplished by dedication and practice at a young age

Lynn Brown - Visiting Seminar Leader in Shamantic Studies

Phone: (541) 778-2055
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.ayni.us

Lynn's Bio

Lynn Brown is a shamanic energy medicine healer and teacher. She is certified at the Master Level in Energy Medicine by Dr. Alberto Villoldo and The Four Winds Society (www.thefourwinds.com). Lynn’s background also includes 10 years of teaching the practice of aikido as a Nidan (second degree black belt). She also teaches Zumba fitness/dance. Lynn holds an M.S. in Space Technology, a B.S. in Physics, and a B.S. in Education, and is as former NASA Engineer. For more, click on www.ayni.us