Nancy Rothenberg has been training in the martial arts since 1985 and is the founder, director and head instructor of Spirit of the Heart since 1993.  

Nancy has taught for the National Women's Martial Arts Federation (NWMAF) and the Pacific Association of Women Martial Artists Training (PAWMA) Camps since 1991.

In 2006 she is the Co-Chair of the NWMAF Training Camp Planning Committee.

Nancy has taught self defense and Indonesian kung-fu at Hampshire College and Holyoke Community College and has been teaching at Smith College for 14 years.  She teaches children in various after-school programs throughout the Northampton area.

Nancy also specializes in teaching self defense to women and girls. She has led many workshops for the Girl Scouts of Western Massachusetts and works with community organizations that bring services to women whose lives have been touched by violence.

She holds a Masters Degree in Psychophysical Movement, which combines physical healing methods with traditional counseling techniques. She has also received training in the use of art to promote healing. For the past 11 years, Louise has been working as a counselor at Holyoke Community College in Holyoke, MA. She also sees clients privately.

What Louise loves about Indonesian Kung Fu at Spirit of the Heart is that it is simultaneously powerful and graceful. It appeals to her love of being physically strong with her need to be fluid, relaxed, and light.

"As a survivor of childhood incest, I have also healed a great deal through my training. I no longer feel like a victim and am not afraid to defend myself. These gifts are beyond measure. The community at Spirit of the Heart has been like family, teaching me to trust, to take risks, and most of all, to feel safer in this world."

(c) 2006 Spirit of the Heart All Rights Reserved.