Mandy Shintani, has been an occupational therapist for 30+ years and is a gerontologist.   She is an international conference speaker on urban poling aka Nordic walking for rehabilitation and fitness.  Fifteen years ago, with her skills as an OT, she developed the evidence-based Activator Poles (patented) and technique specifically for rehabilitation, which are the focus of 10 current independent studies. 

5,000+ therapists and wellness professionals in Canada, Australia, UK, Ireland and more recently in the USA have completed the courses she developed on the use of Nordic walking for fitness and rehabilitation.  These courses are CCU approved in the USA with ProCert (APTA), ACSM and FAI.  She has been featured numerous times in media and was a finalist in the prestigious YWCA Women of Distinction Award for Innovation & Entrepreneurship.