Michael Torresan is the Director of the Authentic Living Institute (ALI) in Seattle, WA. He has 25 years experience leading work groups and guiding individuals whose desire is to achieve psychological maturity and a deeper realization of their essential potential. Michael began working privately with A. H. Almaas, founder of the Ridhwan School and the Diamond Heart Training in 1979. In 1985 he was ordained as a minister/teacher in the School and in that capacity initiated the Diamond Heart Training in Vancouver, B.C. in 1987 and Seattle in 1989. He directed the work of these on-going groups until 1995. He also taught in Brazil and Germany. In 1995 he left Ridhwan to begin developing ALI and forming groups in Seattle and Vancouver. In 2005 Michael was invited by Murray Kennedy to present a series of weekend workshops to the Enlightenment Intensive community in Vancouver, B.C. This work continues with the EI community in Victoria, B.C in association with Simon Thomson, and Kira MacDuffey.
Michael has done pioneering work in developing a body of teaching and practical techniques to deal with the super-ego, or inner critic. He was acknowledged by Byron Brown, author of Soul Without Shame – A Guide to Liberating Yourself From the Judge Within – for his role in the early development of Byron’s work. Michael also teaches the Enneagram of Personality types.
Background: After finishing graduate school in 1970, Michael worked on Wall Street in the area of corporate finance and later as a corporate consultant to Fortune 500 companies. After encountering A. H. Almaas in 1979, this work remained a minor emphasis until 2007 when he closed ALI to accept a corporate position with a firm in Seattle. This work took him to China and Vietnam and grounded him in the global marketplace. In 2009 he began working with Boeing to facilitate a major reorganization of a 10,000 person group. He also consults on implementing the concept of a ‘learning organization’ and the use of systems thinking. He lives in Edmonds, WA, with his wife Julia and his 12 year old son Will.
