instructors
Michael T. Porterfield - Founder
B.A. Psychology UCLA, TMF, CMT-P (IMTA)
Michael has worked as a teacher, coach and mentor for over 35 years. He has taught psychology, coached (head and assistant) both football and track and field, and acted as mentor/life coach for both men and women of all ages and walks of life.
After discovering Transcendental Meditation at age 18, Michael’s curiosity and passion put him on this lifelong path. As a longtime practitioner of mindfulness and meditation, Michael has been extensively involved with the UCLA Mindful Awareness Research Center (MARC) in a variety of capacities, from student to facilitator. He has completed their Intensive Practice Program (IPP) and is a graduate of the Training in Mindfulness Facilitation (TMF) program. He is a Certified Mindfulness Teaching Professional through the International Mindfulness Teachers Association.
Michael teaches UCLA Mindful Awareness Practices (MAPs) classes, leads sitting groups, drop-in meditations, workshops and retreats. In the field of education, he facilitates a high school mindfulness club as well as providing classes and guided meditations for school administration, faculty and staff. He works with athletes, coaches and teams offering individuals or groups private mentoring/coaching.
Michael is committed to the development of the whole person, to live in love and peace for and with others. He is passionate that the consistent practice of meditation and mindfulness cultivates the ability to live a full and authentic life.
Contact Michael: mike@awareoasis.com
Tina Carlson - Founder
TMF, CMT-P (IMTA)
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Tina is a certified mindfulness facilitator who is adept at noting what’s arising and passing, even as she writes her bio. (Some tensing in her body around attempting to present herself in an interesting manner, some easing as she recognizes the folly of her ego, feeling some nerves in her stomach as she debates whether sharing her bodily sensations is annoying, and even without actually doing it, there is a sensation of her own eye rolling as she notices writing this all in the third person).
She has taught at UCLA for the Mindful Awareness Research Center offering beginning “MAPs" meditation classes, and programs for families in mindfulness, creativity, and compassion at the Hammer Museum. She’s a university guest lecturer, has worked on studies with UCLA’s Schools of Medicine, Public Health, and Education, and has extensive experience at schools with staff and students of all ages. She has been a facilitator for parents at the Early Childhood Partial Hospitalization Program at the Semel Institute, and when school is in session, she offers drop-in meditations at UCLA's CAPS student counseling center.
She’s also a creative powerhouse, having worked as a writer and artist, winning awards in photography, painting, and stage and screen directing. She was the mindfulness consultant for Random House’s Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot About That mindfulness book, where she got to sum up mindfulness in rhyme: “So often we think of what’s past or ahead, with mindfulness we notice what’s now instead!" She loves helping people gain skills to alleviate suffering, awaken to their lives and have fun playing with awareness.
Contact Tina: tina@awareoasis.com
Thomas Marsh
For twenty years, Thomas Marsh has practiced the external and internal martial arts.
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Thomas spent his first decade of training in Bangau Putih Silat, a martial art and meditation system rooted in the Shaolin Five Animals kung fu tradition. In the summer of 2000, he studied under the direct supervision of Guru Gunawan Rahardja at his PGB Center in Bogor, Indonesia. Thomas then began teaching classes throughout the Los Angeles area and held demonstrations at several international retreats.
Now an acknowledged Sihing (senior trainer) in the Wu tai chi lineage of Grandmaster Leung Shum, Thomas has spent the last decade training in a tradition that can be traced back several generations, through the Chinese Jing Mo Association to Wu Chien Chuan. Thomas is proficient in qi gong, the traditional 108 posture long form and round form, partner sensitivity training sets, and jian sword forms.
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He will be teaching qi gong and tai chi movement and meditation practices.
Jenn Foster
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Jenn Foster is a Los Angeles based wellness advocate. Jenn’s discovery of mind body connection began in 1993 when she began practicing yoga. She considers herself a lifelong learner and continues to adopt wellness practices into her daily life. In 2013 Jenn listened to a calling and became a certified kundalini children’s yoga educator. She incorporated her practice in schools, community centers and private groups teaching children and families yoga practices. For almost 10 years, Jenn has worked closely with families of children with special needs. In the past several years, Jenn has added corporate clients to her repertoire of wellness advocacy with services like morning meditation, lunchtime yoga and healing arts workshops. What’s next for Jenn Foster? Jenn was selected to be a part of a global teacher training program. She will be the class of 2023 and we are all excited to see her wellness advocacy taken to more levels.
Jenn is a mom of three amazing kids, family of 5 unique Beings and friend to us all.