Stan Kononov

Health & Power Studio Massage Therapist and Yoga Instructor

My name is Stan Kononov, I was born in the Ukraine and presently live in Wisconsin.  I am a practicing Massage Therapist, Personal Trainer and Yoga instructor in Milwaukee.  I hold CMT, CYI, and NSCA-CPT certifications and I am experienced in Thai Massage, Letha and Longi Yoga among other healing systems.
I have been involved in sports since I was 12 years old, focusing on athletics and Karate.  After graduating the Donetsk Technical University in 1993 I entered the Academy of Sports to pursue a degree in Physical Education.  In 1998 I became a student of Dzogchen Master Chogyal Namkhai Norbu Rinpoche, who has lived in the west since 1960. He was Professor of Tibetan and Mongolian Language and Literature from 1964 to 1992 at the Oriental Institute of the University of Naples. The Dzogchen teachings are considered by some to be the pinnacle of the nine yana, (vehicles) of the Nyingma school of Tibetan Buddhism and the Tibetan Bön tradition. The instructions that point to the Dzogchen state are sometimes described as a set of "inner" or "heart" teachings. I practice Dzogchen methods of meditation and Yantra Yoga. My Reiki teacher Michael Rotor (Ukraine) initiated me into the first and second levels of the Usui Reiki Ryho tradition in 1997. The Usui system of Reiki evolved from the experience and dedication of Dr. Mikao Usui, a college professor who lived on Japan in the late nineteenth century. Through extensive meditation, study, and travel, Dr. Usui developed a healing art based on ancient Sanskrit teachings.

In 1997 my healing path began when my Yoga teacher showed me a method of energy healing.  At the time I had just begun to study Iyengar Yoga. I have also been a student of the Korean tradition of Zen Buddhist Meditation since 1994 in Ukraine under Sergey Felonenko (Il He Sunim).

 In February of 2005 I began training Thai Massage under Christine Klim which practice Thai Massage from 1997 and later that year, Letha Yoga.  Based on ancient Ayurvedic sciences, Thai Massage and Letha Yoga incorporate everything from Yoga positions to Reflexology.  This was my first experience in body manipulation.  This type of bodywork also helps me to improve my personal Yoga skills.  Passive stretching during Thai Massage helps to increase range of motion in a specific joint or limb, and reduces muscle soreness and back pain in the body.  As a natural massage system, I believe that Thai Massage treats the body holistically-mind, body and spirit.
 I also practice Tai Chi Quan, and Qigong with Angela Laughingheart.
Over the years, I have studied under many teachers, including Dr. Maung Gyi (Letha and Longi Yoga), Shri Dharma Mitra (Hatha-Raga Yoga), Andrey Lappa (Universal Yoga), Dr. Yang Jwiming (Tai-Chi, Qigong),  Sensei Michael Coleman ( Koryu- Karate), Guro Anthony Sell (Letha Yoga, Kali, Escrima), and other numerous Martial, Healing Arts and Yoga instructors.