A slim, softly-spoken Englishman in his forties, his appearance is more akin to the exponent and teacher of modern dance which he was before he set up Moving East six years ago. A professional dancer with such celebrated companies as the London Contemporary Dance Theatre and Ballet Rambert, he started his new enterprise in the church hall, at the junction of Belgrade Road and Wordsworth Road, to teach dance and his real love, the Japanese martial art of aikido.

A 'little, weedy boy', he enrolled in judo classes at the age of 14 to thwart the school bullies, but a chance demonstration by a Japanese aikido master enthralled him so much that he left to become an Uchideshi (a live-in student) taking two classes a day for two years. Given the highly stylised, fluid nature of aikido, and its emphasis on joint and balance manipulation, it's little surprise that he developed a real talent for modern dance.

He is now himself an aikido master and has spent five extended stays in Japan studying under some of the legends of the art. His spiritual is the The Shiseikan Dojo in the grounds of the Meiji shrine where he finessed his skills in the oldest surviving sword school in Japan - the mediaeval Kashima Shinryu (it was at the Kashima shrine where the samurai warriors met before they rode out to challenge the Mongol invaders). Students begin with wooden swords and, as they grow in skill and understanding, they move on to real, curved, razor-sharp swords. In spite of the aggression and speed of this samurai art, accidents are extremely rare, due to the dexterity, experience and intense concentration of the great martial arts masters.

At Moving East, Paul runs an ongoing programme of classes in tai chi (a new departure), contact improvisation, judo, dance and, in association with neighbour Yogahome, yoga and pilates. Moving East also has a small team of associate therapists who specialise in osteopathy, shiatsu, feldenkrais technique and chavutti thiruma (a massage form from India done with the feet). During the day he helps make ends meet by hiring out his bright, airy upstairs studio, with its sprung, wooden dance floor, to a variety of dance groups from across the world. His aikido practice - Tetsushinkan Dojo ('dojo' meaning 'practice hall') - is attracting an increasing number of students from Stoke Newington and London generally.

Wordsworth Road is an unlikely setting for a samurai (although it was once known as 'Cut Throat Lane' when it was a dangerous path between Stoke Newington and Shacklewell) but, like much of Stokey, it can be an area where a working knowledge of the art of self-defence may come in handy. Moving East runs special classes for kids as well as adults and, if you'd like to find out more, contact the address below. Just don't expect to become a samurai overnight. It takes practice.

Moving East, St Matthias Church Hall, Wordsworth Road, London N16 8DD. Tel: 020 7503 3101.
Email: admin@movingeast.co.uk Website: www.movingeast.co.uk 

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Yoga
Yogahome's extensive timetable offers a variety of disciplines, including ashtanga and hatha fusion yogas, pilates and meditative classes at all levels. Various other therapies designed to clear the mind and lift the spirit, such as holistic massage, reiki, acupuncture and reflexology, are also available. They also operate a highly-recommended programme of pregnancy and post-natal yoga . Six - week courses range from £36/£48 and single-session, drop-in classes are available subject to availability for £10. For more details contact Yoga at 11 Allen Road, N16 8SB, 0207 249 2425 www.yogahome.com .

Hatha Yoga classes are held at Abney Public Hall, Church Street on Wednesday evenings from 8-9.30pm and are £8 per dropin session. For further details, contact Madeleine on 0208 806 2364 or mad@heinemann.freeserve.co.uk 

On 10 October between 3pm-8pm, to mark the Day for Tibet 2004, Yogabeats is being held in Abney Public Hall, involving traditional yoga set to world beats. Live percussion and visual events will take place throughout the course of the day and massage and tarot readings will both be available.
For further information, call Katie on 0207 324 4605 or email katie@freetibet.org 

Various other therapies 
There are also lots of local practitioners of different alternative individual therapies, such as shiatsu, holistic and thai yoga massage. These massage therapies generally use the application of pressure and gentle manipulation techniques to promote a balance of the body's energy and to strengthen the immune system. Such therapies are particularly effective in combating insomnia and general aches and pains and dispelling stress and tension, and focus on promoting a balance of well-being of both mind and body.

One of the largest local centres is Shine Holistic, 52 Stoke Newington Church St, N16. They currently offer a wide range of complementary therapies, such as acupuncture (45-75 mins £40-50), reflexology (60 mins £45), shiatsu massage (60 mins £40-45), Indian head massage (45 mins £35) (see article on facing page). For further details, call 0207 841 5033, log onto www.shineholistic.co.uk  or mail@shineholistic.co.uk 

Other local therapists include: 
Louise Dixon, Unit 7H Wilmers Place, N16 0LW, 07719 716273, loopylouise_uk@yahoo.co.uk (thai yoga massage)
Clare Smith, Mother Earth, 5 Albion Parade, Albion Road N16 9LD, 0207 281 0656, www.bodytherapies.co.uk  (shiatsu, thai yoga massage)

Linda Hall, 0207 923 9831 (holistic massage)
Liz Cadmer, 0207 254 2129 (reflexology, nutrition and reiki)
Deanna Millard, 020 7503 4672 (herbal medicine)

One of these is bound to be exactly what you're looking for to reinvigorate yourself for the coming winter months.