Vivien Schapera has worked in private practice, as an Alexander Teacher and Energy Healer, since 1983. Vivien is the founder and current chair of FourWinds Academy, a school for training healers, that teachers four main subjects: Energy Healing, Intuition, Crystal Healing and Shamanism. In addition to these unusual qualifications, Vivien holds a Master’s Degree in Psychology from the University of Cape Town and a 4th Degree Black Belt in Taekwondo. Vivien has authored several books, manuals, and published articles, including Everyday Magic (2002), How to Lose Weight and Gain Money (2004), Guided Lessons for Students of the Alexander Technique (2010) and the groundbreaking textbook The Complete Guide to Crystal Surgery (2020).
Born in Cape Town, South Africa, Vivien moved to the USA in 1991. She obtained her degrees in Psychology at the University of Cape Town (M.A. 1984) and completed her training in the Alexander Technique at the Constructive Teaching Center in London (Certified 1983.) In addition to these academic pursuits, A perennial student, Vivien has made a point of studying with leaders in the field, namely past lives author, Brian Weiss, crystal author, Melody and shamanism author Michael Harner.
As an accomplished practitioner, Vivien is also a teacher of teachers: In 1993, Vivien and her husband, Neil, founded Alexander Technique of Cincinnati, a school for training Alexander Teachers, and in 1999, Vivien founded FourWinds Academy for the Healing Arts & Sciences, a school for training Healers. FourWinds Academy incorporated as a 501(c)3 in 2000.
Crystals and stones populate every corner of Viven’s work and home life, but Vivien is not only in tune with crystals and minerals. Vivien and Neil live in close harmony with the animal and plant kingdoms too – they have 2 rescue cats, Birdy and Wolfie, and from spring to fall they are avid gardeners.
To add dimension, in an annual cycle, Vivien and Neil immerse themselves in each of the kingdoms: At the end of January they go to Tucson for the gigantic gem and mineral trade show; then, they return to South Africa and go on safari, and over Christmas, when the Midwest is blanketed in winter, they visit an island in Florida to enjoy their love of Nature Each of the kingdoms is a major resource to them – providing a special way to rejuvenate the spirit and recharge the soul.
