Click here for Therapist Bios

Since 1992, High Desert Healthcare & Massage has been committed to providing the highest quality bodywork in a relaxing and nurturing environment. Our priority is to offer outstanding treatments at an affordable rate, so our space is simple and peaceful, without the trappings of an expensive spa.

Each of the owners, Catherine Peck, Jill Gerber and Tracy Conrad, have loved doing bodywork for over 20 years. They are very particular about the independent contractors who join them, hiring only those who have great skill and excellent hands, and who also love their work. Most of our therapists have been with us for years and have thriving practices with a majority of repeat clients. We consider all of our therapists to be Master Level Therapists, and several of them are also instructors of massage, Rolfing ® or acupuncture.

As a group practice, we encourage our clients to try each of us in order to find multiple therapists who can meet their needs. With four treatment rooms and twenty therapists, we are big enough to provide a wide range of therapeutic modalities and treatment styles, yet small enough to give excellent individual, professional care. Simply put, we are all happy to be here doing what we love, and it shows in all aspects of the business.

We offer Swedish and Deep Tissue Massage, Acupuncture, Rolfing ® Structural Integration, Cranial Sacral Therapy, Myofascial Release, Hot Stone Massage, Thai Yoga Massage, Shiatsu/Acupressure, Hands and Feet Reflexology Massage, Prenatal Massage, Reiki, and Lymph Drainage Therapy.

You don't have to choose just one...most of these therapies can be received individually, combined, or integrated into a Swedish massage, depending on your preference and needs.

What sets us apart from the rest...

• Our therapists:
  
  
  
  • All have at least 2 years professional experience, with an average of 15 years in practice, and many have over 20 years experience
    
  • Graduated from accredited massage schools and complete continuing education classes every year
    
  • Are trained in Swedish massage and a wide variety of bodywork modalities
    
  • Have all been with us for years, some for the 16 years we've been in business
    
  • Have thriving practices with a majority of repeat business
    
  • Meet our high standards for professionalism and the exceptional quality of their work
    
  • Are licensed in the state of New Mexico
    
  • Are here because they love what they do!
    
  
  
• Caring, friendly staff
  
• Not a day spa, but a group massage and healthcare practice dedicated to helping our clients feel better
  
• Large percentage of repeat clients who have been coming to us for years, some for the entire 19 years we've been in business
  
• (As far as we know) best prices of any spa or group massage practice in Santa Fe
  
• Conveniently located downtown, just a few blocks from the Santa Fe Plaza
  
• Second location in the community of Eldorado, 20 minutes from downtown
  
• In business since 1992
  
• Locally- and women-owned
  
  

Therapist Bios

Catherine Peck, co-owner





Catherine Peck learned her first massage stroke at age nine from her father, who made it an honor to sit behind him in the car and "creeble" his neck and shoulders. A massage apprenticeship at a clinic in Denver twelve years later reaffirmed for Catherine that she had an intuitive affinity for massage. In 1985, a bodywork workshop rekindled the desire to connect with people through healing touch, and Catherine moved to Santa Fe to attend The New Mexico Academy of Massage and Advanced Healing Arts. After graduation, Catherine was invited to join the teaching staff there and was an instructor of massage and bodywork until the fall of 2005.

Catherine is one of the original co-owners of High Desert Healthcare & Massage. She remains extremely grateful to have her practice there, and feels that it is a caring place full of fantastic people. Catherine's work integrates Swedish Massage, Deep Tissue Massage, Myofascial Release and Hands and Feet Reflexology with a deep energetic component, creating an experience that is therapeutic, nurturing and relaxing. She is also trained in Prenatal Massage.

Catherine says, "Doing massage asks me to listen, breathe, and be in attention with another person in the moment. Clients leave with a deeper connection to themselves, and their bodies usually feel better, too. I am so grateful to be doing this work."




Jill Gerber, co-owner





Jill Gerber went to massage school in 1987, at the age of 21, out of a desire to leave the world a better place, an intention that she believes massage has helped her to meet. She has been a full-time bodyworker since then and loves it as much now as she did at the beginning.

In 1992, Jill founded High Desert Healthcare & Massage with four friends to provide a place for excellent therapists to offer bodywork in a peaceful, happy environment. She became certified as a practitioner of Rolfing® Structural Integration in 1996, an Advanced Rolfer® in 2002 and a Certified Rolf Movement Practitioner® in 2005. Her practice is currently half Rolfing and half massage, a balance she loves. People come for Rolfing® when they are ready for support in the next phase of their life, whether that means getting out of chronic pain, recovering from an injury, standing up straighter or moving out of a stagnant place in their life.

Jill has also received training in Advanced Myofascial Techniques, Prenatal Massage, and Hands & Feet Reflexology. This, along with her Rolfing training, has given her tools to work with a myriad of conditions. She is currently an instructor for Advanced-Trainings.com.

Articles by Jill Gerber: Rolfing ® for the Rest of Us, Why Get Massage? & Myofascial Release.




Tracy Conrad, co-owner





Tracy Conrad moved to Santa Fe in 1981 in order to attend St. John's College, and, after graduation, she made Santa Fe her home. She eventually went to massage school, completing her course of study in 1991, and then became one of the founding partners of High Desert Healthcare & Massage.

Tracy became interested in acupuncture after being treated by Dr. Thomas Duckworth for asthma. The results were so impressive that she began a four-year apprenticeship with Dr. Duckworth in Japanese Kototama Medicine. She graduated in 1998 and obtained her state as well as national acupuncture license.

Japanese Kototama Medicine is a style of Acupuncture that concentrates on finding the root cause of the dis-ease in the body and balancing the energy flow so that each person can achieve better health and mobility. In her treatments, Tracy utilizes sterile single-use needles which are planted super-superficially and are extremely small, about the diameter of a human hair. Tracy tends to use a single-needle technique, meaning that the patient never has more than one needle at a time anywhere in the body. This makes it easier to adjust the treatment to the patient's comfort level and ensures that the session uses the minimum of needles needed to balance the pulses.

Tracy now concentrates exclusively on acupuncture, finding it effective for many conditions. She is continually fascinated by its depth and complexity.




Amanda Hanson





Amanda (Mandy) Hanson, graduated from the New Mexico School of Natural Therapeutics in October of 2007. NMSNT focuses not just on massage therapy but many other forms of natural therapeutics as well. Mandy's style is considered integrated bodywork. Mandy personalizes each treatment, never giving the same massage twice. After listening to your wants and needs for the session she will adjust the treatment to your specific needs, most often using a combination of Swedish Massage, Deep Tissue Massage and Polarity Therapy. Mandy also enjoys doing Hot Stone Massage, Aromatherapy and working with Flower Essences to enhance the therapeutic experience. Mandy loves working in the massage and therapeutics field she finds it inspiring and humbling work. "Not only is it amazing to help assist people on their way to health, it helps me to heal myself in the process."

Mandy is currently interested in becoming a registered Bach Flower Essence practitioner and will be taking classes starting in September 2011to enhance her knowledge of Bach Flower Essences. She also uses Robert Stevens flower remedies from NMSNT. Also in September she will be attending Robert Stevens Level 1 Core Synchronicity and hope to start using that in her practice.

Mandy's ultimate goal is to become a counselor and to work with children. She is currently working towards her degree and hopes to go to Southwestern for her graduate program.




Cathy Louisell





Cathy Louisell first became interested in body/mind integration after receiving Rolfing treatments. A need to address her own physical pain and tightness ultimately led her to train as a massage therapist. She graduated from the Boulder School of Massage Therapy in 1981 and went on to study Cranial Sacral Therapy with Dr. Hugh Milne in 1987 at Esalen Institute. She has been studying Continuum Movement with Emilie Conrad since 1989, and has also studied Chi Nei Tsang (Chinese visceral manipulation) with Caryn Diel at White Cloud Institute, Gi Gong, Sound Frequency Theory and Therapy, Neurological research, and Energy Medicine as a regular part of her continuing education in the fields of bodywork, movement and consciousness.

Cathy's understanding of a unified field influences all her work. To help her clients achieve spiritual, emotional & physical integration, she works with light, pulse and rhythm and the primary energies of the four elements (earth, including animals & plants, air, fire and water). Her work incorporates Swedish Massage, Cranial Sacral Therapy, Chi Nei Tsang, and Reflexology. She also practices Barefoot Shiatsu and Prenatal Massage.

The ability to embrace and enjoy living in a physical body has been Cathy's passion. She loves developing her being through movement and bodywork. Nurturing people, and offering joy and ease is her pleasure.




David Kaminker





David Kaminker is a Doctor of Oriental Medicine and a Licensed Massage Therapist. He specializes in Japanese Acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine and Craniosacral Therapy.

At the age of eighteen, David found his passion in the healing arts when he began studying yoga, massage, and herbal medicine. At the Heartwood Institute in Garberville, CA, he became certified as a Holistic Health Practitioner, completing a twelve-month, full-time program in Swedish, Deep Tissue and connective tissue massage, Craniosacral Therapy, Zen Shiatsu, and nutrition.

David graduated from the four-year, full-time program at Southwest Acupuncture College in Santa Fe, NM, studying Chinese and Japanese Acupuncture, moxibustion, Tui Na, nutrition, and Chinese herbal medicine. He is certified by the National Certification Commission of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine as a Diplomat of Oriental Medicine (Dipl.O.M). David is currently a Teacher's Assistant at Southwest Acupuncture College.

David's desire to understand the human body/mind/spirit is insatiable. He continually strives to deepen his knowledge and enhance his skills, to become an even more effective practitioner. Presently, David is immersed in an advanced certification program in Craniosacral Therapy. He is also a dedicated practitioner of Qi Gong, Ba Gua Zhang, and meditation.

"My vision is to create a sacred place of healing. Everyone who enters my treatment room will be met with compassion, acceptance, and unconditional love. I will truly listen to each and every patient, and do everything within my power to facilitate the healing process."




Dianne Weaver





Dianne Weaver is a Doctor of Oriental Medicine and a Licensed Massage Therapist. She uses Japanese and Chinese styles of Acupuncture (always using a gentle needling technique), massage, as well as Western and Chinese herbs to promote health and well-being. With these tools, Dianne assists people in their evolution towards better health, on physical, emotional, and spiritual levels.

Dianne's skills in acupuncture and massage provide benefits to many individuals, including those suffering from acute and chronic pain, elder people who wish to have a higher quality of life, and women going through their life transitions. Her favorite way to assist people in their quest for health is to do a "Combo" treatment of both acupuncture and massage, but she also does Swedish Massage, Deep Tissue Massage, Acupressure, Reflexology, Hot Stone Massage, and Prenatal Massage.

Dianne graduated from East West College in Portland, Oregon in 1992. She later did further training in Jin Shin Do Acupressure in Eugene, Oregon. In 2004, she graduated from Southwest Acupuncture College in Santa Fe.




Doug Conwell





Doug Conwell is a graduate of Jay Scherer's School of Therapeutic Massage in Santa Fe, NM, and has been a massage therapist since 1979. He has additional certifications in Polarity Therapy, Cranial Sacral Therapy, Trigger Point Release and Hot Stone Massage.

Doug refers to his work as Intuitive Massage because it calls upon deep listening to the client. Overall, it is a meditative, flowing experience that incorporates Swedish Massage, Trigger Point Release, Reflexology, non-specific stretching and Cranial Sacral Therapy, with some deeper tissue work integrated as appropriate.

Doug's sessions include guided breath work and visualization, allowing the client to become more fully aware of his or her own body and areas of tension and stress. Once he determines where the client may have structural or tissue stress and holding, Doug uses gentle pressure and Feldenkrais-inspired movements to help the client discover new patterns of flexibility, range of motion and vitality. He always makes sure to add gentle stretching and short pauses as he transitions from one area of the body to another, allowing the client to integrate the overall healing experience.




Ellie Gray





Ellie Gray's interest in health and bodywork began in the late 70's, when she owned and managed a natural food store in California. After selling the store, she went on to study massage and holistic health at Heartwood Institute in Santa Cruz, CA. She completed the program 1980 and, soon after, relocated to Santa Fe, where she has been practicing ever since.

Over the years, Ellie has studied other healing modalities, including Medical Massage, Foot Reflexology and Cranial Sacral Therapy, which she has incorporated into her practice.

Ellie says, "I have been with High Desert Healthcare & Massage since they opened in 1992 and have thoroughly enjoyed working with the staff and clients through the years. My career in bodywork has brought me a lifetime of delight and satisfaction. I have a deep fascination with and appreciation for the human body, and it means so much to me to be able to help others feel more connected and comfortable in theirs. Our bodies are a precious gift. May yours always be blessed with the best of health!"




Erin B. Kaminker





Erin B. Kaminker is a Doctor of Oriental Medicine and a Licensed Massage Therapist. She specializes in Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine, as well as integrative bodywork.

Erin found her passion for the healing arts at the age of eighteen when she began studying Reiki and yoga. She attended the Heartwood Institute in California, completing a twelve-month Holistic Health Practitioner program in Swedish and Deep Tissue Massage, Zen Shiatsu, Nutrition, and Craniosacral Therapy. Erin studied directly under Paul Pitchford, author of "Healing with Whole Foods."

After immersing herself in bodywork and nutrition, Erin's interest in the energetics of the human body grew deeper. She attended the four-year program at Southwest Acupuncture College in Santa Fe, New Mexico, where she studied Acupuncture, Chinese Herbal Medicine, Nutrition, Tui Na, moxabustion, and cupping. Erin graduated with honors and has since completed a clinical internship at Heilongjiang Traditional Chinese Medical Hospital in Harbin, China.

"I believe the human body has an amazing ability to repair and heal itself. My passion is to help facilitate this profound healing process."




Evelyn Clark





Evelyn Clark offers her clients a blend of experience, knowledge and love of the work. You can relax under her hands with the confidence that you will enjoy your treatment and feel great as a result.

Licensed by the State of New Mexico, Evelyn is also Nationally Certified in Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork. She ran her own successful massage therapy center for 17 years in downtown Boston, MA, before moving to New Mexico in 1999.

Evelyn has had extensive training throughout her career as a massage therapist. In her work, she synthesizes ancient, traditional and present-day scientific and intuitive knowledge to provide an effective and transforming therapeutic massage experience.


"I've been Evelynized!"
-L. G., Santa Fe, NM




Jamie Brayshaw





Jamie Braywhaw's interest in massage therapy and bodywork began as a young athlete. Each injury and rehabilitation she went through fed her curiosity of the body's make-up and healing process. She grew up in the northwest but eventually her desire to study massage therapy brought her to New Mexico where she attended the New Mexico School of Natural Therapeutics (NMSNT). She learned a variety of forms of bodywork within the context of holistic health care and the body-mind-spirit connection. Her areas of focus included Polarity Therapy, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and Acupressure, Reflexology, Cranial Sacral Therapy (CST), Swedish and Deep Tissue Massage, Sports Massage, Herbal Medicine and Flower Essence remedies. Since graduating she has continued her studies of TCM with several intensive classes on Shiatsu, Tui-Na (chinese massage), and Windows to the Sky Acupressure Points.

Jamie utilizes a variety of therapies based on the individual needs of her client. She especially finds Acupressure, Reflexology, CST, and Myofascial Release techniques to be highly effective in releasing areas of tension in the body. She also enjoys working with specific injury rehabilitation as she has been through the process herself. She believes the body is capable of healing in more profound ways than we may generally think. By simply tapping into and supporting the body's vast healing mechanisms, the possibilities are boundless. She is continually grateful for the opportunity to do this work and to witness each body's individual's healing process.




Janis Diamond





Janis Diamond received her first therapeutic massage in 1993 as part of a treatment to aid in recovery from chronic pain. Her experience was one of relief, relaxation and, most importantly, nurturance that she had never felt before. As she continued her treatments, it became apparent to her that massage was not only helping her to regain physical freedom from pain, but was a body-mind-spirit connection, providing a solution for mental and emotional stress.

In 2001, Janis graduated from massage school in Santa Fe, New Mexico, and has been working at High Desert Healthcare & Massage since 2002. She integrates Swedish and Deep Tissue Massage, Reflexology, Hot Stone Massage, Cranial Sacral Therapy, Aromatherapy, Chakra/Energy balancing, Ayurvedic Marma energy work and Prenatal Massage into her sessions as appropriate. She also specializes in helping women who are recovering from abuse and addiction issues by recognizing and honoring these clients' need for nurturance, relaxation, healing, and modest yet comforting touch.

Janis believes we are all blessed with natural gifts and that, combined with her training, compassion and the ability to listen to her clients through touch is the magic behind every modality she practices. She feels she has been able to administer therapeutic touch and massage as it was given to her during those years of her attempts to recover health and well being.

Janis currently specialize in deep upper body massage using Myofascial Release and trigger point therapy work, helping her clients to walk away with a smile of relief.




Jewel Alexander





Jewel Alexander is a 2nd degree certified Reiki practitioner and master candidate in direct lineage through Reiki Alliance Masters, in the true and honorable Usui System of Natural Healing, or "Usui Shiki Ryoho."

A Spiritual Counselor, writer, and Certified Life Coach, she has progressively studied deep human spirituality, leading fields of psychology and consciousness, health, wellness, and the contemplative arts for over 30 years. Specializing in helping people navigate life's transitions, her coaching, writing, and gentle wisdom serve to help people build consistent skills for increased, sustainable well-being and happiness.

Jewel holds a Masters degree in Consciousness Studies and certification in Life Coaching from John F. Kennedy University. She lives and practices in Santa Fe, NM.

Articles by Jewel Alexander: Have You Had a Massage Lately?
Jewel's Blog: "Undivided Wisdom"




Jim Reid





Jim Reid started practicing massage part-time in 1989 while raising a family and working as a mechanical engineer. In 1995, he quit his day job to focus entirely on massage and has never looked back. He feels bodywork is his calling, and a great pleasure, inspiration, and source of discovery and learning.

Jim specializes in Deep Tissue work, but he emphasizes that this does not always mean hard pressure. He is a good listener and enjoys focused work, addressing specific problems, and working out the kinks. He incorporates different techniques to get muscles to relax, including Myofascial Release, connective tissue work, Trigger Point Therapy, Swedish Massage, Polarity Therapy and Reflexology.

A long-time student of Tai Chi Chuan and Chi Gung, Jim has completed instructor training in a spinal chi gung method. He is currently studying Advanced Myofascial Techniques and intends to complete the entire course for certification. In his spare time, he enjoys film, performing arts, good books, good food and good company.


"The absolute best massage I ever received. Very targeted work. Very helpful to my injuries. Thank you!"
-S. S., Michigan




Julie Strassburger





In her 23 years of bodywork, Julie Strassburger's touch has become ever simpler and softer. Clients are surprised at how deeply she affects the body while still being so gentle.

The latest 10 years of her work have focused on the lymphatic system, giving a very fluid quality to all her sessions. She nourishes and soothes your 'inner oceans', whether the technique is Deep Tissue, Medical or Swedish Massage, Cranial Sacral Therapy or Visceral Manipulation (both Chikly Method), Jin Shin Do Acupressure or Reflexology. Her hands are continually asking the tissues, 'How can I best support you, here and now?'

Julie is certified in Manual Lymph Drainage Therapy and Complex Decongestive Therapy (CDT) for the treatment of lymphedema and venous conditions. She is currently studying for advanced certification with the Lymphology Association of North America (LANA). http://www.clt-lana.org.

A founding partner and former co-owner of High Desert, Julie moved to Santa Fe in 1987 to attend the New Mexico Academy of Healing Arts. She currently sees clients here on a limited basis, as she now lives part time in Encinitas, CA. She can also be contacted for appointments in Encinitas at (760) 632-1925.

For more information about Lymph Drainage Therapy, brain curriculum and the work of Bruno Chikly, MD, DO follow this link: http://chiklyinstitute.org.




Karen Welden



When Karen Welden received her first massage in 1985, she felt that a whole new world opened for her. In 1991, Karen moved to Santa Fe and began her studies at the New Mexico Academy of Healing Arts. Since her licensing as a massage therapist in 1992, she has continued to study a variety of healing modalities. Her current practice ranges from specific muscle and tissue release to a broader view of body and spirit. She competently incorporates Swedish Massage, Reflexology, Ortho-Bionomy, and Cranial Sacral Therapy. She is also trained in Prenatal Massage.

Karen is an experienced and effective therapist. Her finely developed intuition guides her in the use of her broad study and experience. To Karen, the most important aspect of massage is finding the connection with a client who comes to her for help in finding his/her place of relaxation and healing. That "aah" place where anything can happen.

Karen's travels have taken her to Brazil where she learned to use a crystal bed from the Casa De Dom Inacio where the medium "John of God" performs healings. The crystal bed uses a combination of quartz crystals, color and light to aid in the process of physical and spiritual balancing.

Articles by Karen Welden: Crystal Bed Healing




Kat Swain





Kat Swain has, as long as she can remember, wanted to help others on all levels: physically, mentally, spiritually and emotionally. She graduated with a BA in Psychology in 2006 and from massage school in 2008. She loves massage and is eager to learn new modalities, integrating each with her massage.

Kat found her passion in Sacred Hawaiian Lomi, of which she is an advanced practitioner. Sacred Lomi is an ancient practice that combines long, flowing, strokes that spiral around the body unweaving old, negative patterns, replacing them with new, healthy patterns. It is a combination of physical touch and energetic healing that helps find the direction of one's life. Sacredlomi.com explains the lineage in more detail.

In the Lomi and in her massage, she combines elements of Swedish, Deep Tissue and Therapeutic Massage, as well as Shiatsu and passive stretching, to cater to the client's specific needs. She also practices Hot Stone Massage.




Linda Byington





Linda Byington, Registered Aromatherapist, is the founder of Elemental Aromas LLC. Her interest in aromatherapy and healing modalities began in 1990. In 2003 she became a Registered Aromatherapist (RA) through the national Aromatherapy Registration Council. Linda then received a Diploma in Aromatherapy, with Honors, from the nationally accredited American College of Healthcare Sciences. She is a Certified Reflexologist in the Ingham Method of Reflexology and Swiss Reflex Therapy by Shirley Price of England.

Linda is a member of Associated Bodywork and Massage Professionals, and was the Regional Director of Oregon for the National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy.




Linda Carr





Linda Carr has been an athlete and a dancer all her life, and this is what brought her into the realm of bodywork and healing. For twelve years she has been a licensed Massage Therapist specializing in Pain Relief and Rehabilitation. She has training in Advanced Myofascial Therapy, Ortho Bionomy, and most recently Wholistic Manual Medicine. In Wholistic Manual Medicine Linda has been trained to observe and treat the whole body. She works with fascia, muscle, bone and viscera, directly accessing the Central Nervous System. This is where permanent change can result. The use of Young Living Essential Oils is another component of each session, unless one is opposed.

Linda is also a Certified Equine Positional Release/Ortho Bionomy Practitioner and applies this work and these principles to all animals. She is a Certified Personal Fitness Trainer and Food Coach and a Consciousness Coach.

Linda's mission overall is to support the consciousness and wellness of others (including animals) and to improve their quality and experience of life. She offers workshops and outdoor experiences for facilitated healing and expansion on all levels and uses movement and athletics as avenues to healing for clients.




Liz Bucy





Liz Bucy graduated from the massage certification program at Northern New Mexico College in 2005. A former cafe owner and pastry chef, she loves to create a warm and nurturing environment for others. She enjoys the freedom and creativity that comes with being a massage therapist and is grateful for the time she gets to spend with her clients. Liz specializes in Swedish Massage, deep work, Trigger Point Therapy, Lymph Drainage Therapy, Reflexology, Prenatal Massage and Therapeutic Touch.

In her free time, Liz enjoys practicing voice and guitar, dancing, running, cycling, and spending time with her 11-year-old son.


"Liz is a compassionate and gifted healer. Her intuitive and insightful use of Lymph Drainage Therapy has been a true blessing in my healing journey."
-T. M., Santa Fe, NM




Magdelyn Brennan





Magdelyn Brennan has been practicing massage since she attended the New Mexico Academy of Healing Arts in 1988, here in Santa Fe. One thing she loved about her education there was that it emphasized being present in oneself and trusting one's intuition. She came away with the belief that the foundation for a good massage is making conscious contact with the person on the table more than any particular technique. The wide variety of modalities she learned there and in the ensuing years also support her free-style, creative approach to each client, with their differing needs and preferences. Her work incorporates Swedish Massage, intuitive and energy work, Reflexology, Penetrating Massage and Deep Tissue Massage. She is also trained in Prenatal Massage.

Magdelyn has been happily working at High Desert Healthcare and Massage since 1997 and has enjoyed the opportunity to work with both her own clients and those just passing through from near and far. She works at both of High Desert's locations, downtown and Eldorado.




Maya Yu



Dr. Maya Yu has been in the field of Acupuncture for over 10 years. Her interest in Asian medicine was sparked by her undergraduate studies of cultural and medical anthropology at New York University. She practices both Chinese and Japanese styles of acupuncture with an emphasis on abdominal and pulse balancing. Maya incorporates non-insertive needling, moxibustion therapy along with lifestyle counseling based on five element theory. Having been exposed to Chinese herbs early on, she considers Chinese herbal prescriptions and diet counseling to also play an important role in maintaining health.

As a faculty member of Southwest Acupuncture College, she has taught classes in Herbal Materia Medica, Chinese Medical Theory and Chinese Medical Diagnosis. Maya is also currently the academic dean of the Santa Fe campus and supervisor of the student clinic.




Melanie Stillion





Melanie Stillion was certified as a massage therapist in 2003 by the Heartwood Institute in Garberville, California. She has since become a certified practitioner of Rolfing® Structural Integration and certified Rolf Movement® practitioner.

She specializes in Myofascial Release and Deep Tissue Massage and has received additional training in Swedish Massage, Zen Shiatsu, Nutritional Counseling, Reiki, and Cranial Sacral Therapy. A background in Tai Chi and Triyoga ® brings fluidity to her practice.

Melanie says, "Whether a client comes in for support, pain relief, or relaxation, I always appreciate being invited into their experience."

In her free time, Melanie enjoys hiking with her dog, experimenting in the garden and creating natural body butters and salves.


"Melanie totally rocks! It's like the massage I would give myself if I could."
-A. C., massage therapist, Santa Fe, NM




Nancy Miller





Nancy Miller has been practicing massage since she graduated from The Massage Institute of New England, in Cambridge Massachusetts, in 1995. After working in Chiropractic as well as Spa settings in the Boston area, she relocated to Santa Fe in 2000.

Nancy has an intuitive, compassionate touch. Her training was primarily in Swedish Massage, and she has been influenced by a range of techniques and styles, including Thai Massage, Reiki, Cranial Sacral Therapy and La Stone Therapy.

Nancy believes that true healing occurs when the body reaches a state a deep relaxation, and she strives to assist her clients in reaching that state.




Richelle Herzig



In the healthcare field since 1980 as a nurse, Richelle Herzig began her holistic health practitioner training in 1991 with IPSB in San Diego, CA. She has been doing bodywork in private practice and clinical settings since then, specializing in pain management, injury recovery and body/mind awareness. She integrates modalities such as Neuromuscular Massage, Myofascial Release, Passive Joint Movement, Swedish Massage, Deep Tissue Massage, Cranial Sacral Therapy, Reflexology, Acupressure, Prenatal Massage, energy work and oriental techniques to personalize health treatments to each client's needs.

Richelle's priority is to be sensitive to what the client can receive in order to allow the healing process to happen at his/her own personal pace. She loves her work and respects its limits as well as its probabilities!

Articles by Richelle Herzig: Neuromuscular Massage




Susan Meyers



Susan Meyers has been practicing massage since 1992. She offers Swedish and Deep Tissue Massage, Trigger Point Therapy and Shiatsu. She can also incorporate Myofascial Release, Foot Reflexology and Cranial Sacral Therapy into her sessions as appropriate.

Susan has been certified in Zen Body Therapy since 1994 and in Rolfing® Structural Integration since 1994.




"Professional, caring, reliable."
-L.M., Santa Fe, NM