Paul Olko's Bio

As a Massage Therapist


Paul began studying bodywork in 1971 with an apprenticeship in reflexology, yoga, massage and acupressure. Paul continued his studies with Swedish Massage and in 1977 became certified in Polarity Therapy. His training continued with an in-depth study of Connective Tissue Massage from 1978 through 1983 as well as studying Shiatsu, Manipulation and Lymphatic Massage in 1979. A year later, Paul received certification in Acupressure Therapy from the East West Center in Atlanta. Deepening his knowledge and skill in Acupressure and Manipulation, Paul studied with Stan Malston, author of Own Your Own Body. In 1983 Paul became certified as a Massage Therapist by the Atlanta School of Massage. That same year, he acquired training and certification in Neuromuscular Therapy from Paul St. John of St. Petersburg, Florida and the Institute of Natural Health.

In 1984 Paul studied Ayurvedic Massage at California’s Mount Madonna Center. At the Omega Institute in New York, Paul studied Tibetan Acupressure, Massage and Moxibustion, and in 1987 after three years of study in Chinese Manipulative Therapy (Tui Na), he received certification from the Academy of Oriental Heritage in Vancouver, BC. In 1988, Paul completed further training in Tui Na Massage, Qigong, and Tai Chi at the Florida Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine.

In 1998, Paul was one of the first to be certified by the National Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM) in Asian Bodywork Therapy.

  As an Herbalist/Naturopath


Paul Olko was first introduced to the study of herbology and nutrition in 1971 through the study of Yoga at Fairleigh University with Margabandhu Martarano in New Jersey. For the next five years, Paul taught himself herbalism by extensive study of the book Back to Eden by Jethro Kloss. Using this information he practiced on himself, his friends and family and worked on healing his own body and mind through herbs, natural foods, and Yoga.

In 1975 Paul completed his Bachelor of Science degree from the College of New Jersey and traveled to Boston to study at the Hippocrates Health Institute. Paul later studied and worked with Viktoras Kulvinskas, author of Survival in the 21rst Century. In 1976 Paul taught his first herb course, “Transcultural Herbology,” with Alan Jay, N.D., at the International Polarity Foundation in New York City. Paul studied macrobiotics with Michio Kushi at the Kushi Foundation in Boston in 1977. The following year he again studied nutrition, this time with Carlton Fredericks, Ph.D., at Fairleigh Dickenson University.

In 1977-1978, Paul also studied with Little Tree Rahota in the Ramapo Mountains of New Jersey. In 1979 at the Misty Mountain Herb School in New Hampshire, Paul completed an herbalist training with William LaSassier; the following year, Paul attended classes on African Herbology at Upsala College in New Jersey with Is’mael Jamal. From 1981-1988, Paul worked with Stan Malstrom, author of Own Your Own Body, one weekend each year. In 1982, he completed his training as a naturopath at the Southeastern School of Naturopathy.

In Watonsonville, California at the Mount Madonna Center, Paul completed a training course in Ayurvedic Medicine with Dr. Vasant Lad in 1984. After seven years of work and study, Paul completed his Master’s and certification as an herbalist from the East West Herbal School under Michael Tierra (author of Way of Herbs) in Santa Cruz, California. The course covered Chinese, Ayurveda and Western Herbology. Also during this year Paul attended and completed the standard course from Tom Brown’s Tracking, Survival and Nature School in Asbury, New Jersey.

Paul has taught herbalism and nutrition at many seminars, schools, centers and cities, including the Well Being Center in New Jersey, Life Chiropractic College in Georgia, the Atlanta School of Massage and Healing Arts, and the University of Virginia.

Since 1989, Paul has extensively studied Taoist medicine and philosophy as well as the ancient Taoist movement arts such as Qigong, Tai Chi, Eight Treasures, Dao-In and many others. Paul has personally studied with and has been greatly influenced by Taoist teacher Hua-Ching Ni.

In 1994, Paul became one of the first in the United States to be board certified as a Diplomate of Chinese Herbology by the National Council for the Certification of Acupuncturists in Washington, D.C.

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