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Eloise Albrecht
Eloise has been rubbing people the right
way since 1975. She went to school for massage in Gainesville, Florida in 1994,
and has been working steadily as a massage therapist ever since. She has
trained in many different modalities - NMT, Shiatsu, Reflexology, Trager,
Deep Tissue, Reiki, etc. - but most enjoys her own style: 'sneaky deep
tissue'. "Deep tissue massage does not have to be painful - in fact,
when you actually get to the level of sensation that is pain, you are doing
more injury than good," says Eloise. "What I laughingly refer to as
'sneaky deep tissue' refers to the idea that the muscles let go at their own
pace, and when the therapist follows the muscles 'lead', instead of forcing
them, deep work can happen that will hold longer and bring about true
transformation." Eloise was
involved in the formation of our school 10 years ago, and was one of the
first teachers here. She went back to the East Coast and became a New York
State acupuncturist, but we are thrilled to have her back teaching her
“sneaky deep tissue” once again! Elyse Briggs, RYT,
LMT. NCTMB, RTT Elyse is a Registered Yoga Teacher, Nationally Certified in
Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork, a Licensed Massage Therapist and teacher
with a private practice in Glendale, CA, holding certificates in Medical Technology, Massage
Therapy and has received her teaching certificate in Thai Massage from Thai
Masters while studying for many years in Thailand. She travels yearly to
Thailand with students of Thai Massage providing opportunity to study as she
continues her own studies with the Masters. Elyse was on the faculty of the
Massage School of Santa Monica since 1996 until it’s closing and is the owner of Yoga at the Village in Glendale. Dan Cohen, LMT
Dan has had a long-term interest in
bodywork for health. His first
massage class was in Hawaii over thirty years ago. In 1999 he finally got
certification from Touch Therapy Institute.
Since then he has been working professionally and continuing his
studies. This study has taken him to
places as diverse as Sedona, AZ, Japan & China. He is presently studying Myofascial Release here at Hands on
Healing Institute. Dan has developed
the “Touch of Jade” lymphatic treatment using traditional Chinese rollers
combined with Western lymphatic drainage techniques. He enjoys the healing
arts, finding great reward in helping others to improve their quality of life
through bodywork. Gloria Flores CST-D, HHP Gloria received her massage certification
from HHI. She has a private practice in Montrose, CA specializing in
CranioSacral Therapy. She is certified by the Upledger Institute as both a
Techniques and Diplomate level CranioSacral Therapist. She is also an
Upledger approved Study Group Leader, and an Upledger Workshop Speaker and
Presenter. Gloria is board certified as a Holistic Health Practitioner by the
American Association of Drugless Practitioners; she is a certified
Quantum-Touch Practitioner and a licensed Spiritual Health Coach. As an
Alternative Medicine author, Gloria has had several articles published on the
benefits of CranioSacral Therapy. Robert Garza, LMT
Robert has lived in Hawaiian Islands for
most of his life. He graduated from
the University of Hawaii with a degree in Liberal Studies in 1995. He continued his education at the Maui
School of Therapeutic Massage in 1997.
After massage school, he had the unique opportunity to study with
practitioners of Hawaiian Medicine (Kahun La’qu lapa’av). Lomilomi is the bodywork of the Hawaiian
people. Robert has taught Lomilomi
and Hawaiian Hot Stone Therapy in California for 6 years. Tom Hambright
Tom was drawn to Hands on Healing for his
initial Certified Massage Therapist education, after years in the
corporate/computer world. He followed a calling reinforced by many
friends throughout the years who commenting on his gifted touch. After
graduating in March 2005,
he then pursued Myofascial Release & Myofascial Trigger Points as his preferred
modalities. Tom has taken many John F. Barnes MFR seminars since then, and
has been working at a physical therapy office
providing MFR for more than 4 years. Tom teaches the Trigger Point
classes at Hands on Healing, as well as the Myofascial Therapeutic Stretching
class. K. John McEnany, H.H.P
John offers a blending of: Neuro-Muscular, Myofascial Release, Sports
Injury Recovery, Reflexology, Trigger Point Therapy, Touch For Health, Reiki,
Acupressure, Craniosacral & more. Graduating from the Utah College of
Massage Therapy in 1997 with 1,100 hous of training John started with a
Chiropractor in Burbank & worked in office for five years along with a
private practice and added to his knowledge of bodywork with continued
education courses. Former Officer of the A.M.T.A. Vice Pres. of Education
(L.A. chapter). His focus is chronic
pain reduction & improved range of motion. John works with athletes & performers (cast of Riverdance,
singers, dancers, martial artist, and marathon runners) helping improve
performance & endurance. Specialized work for the elderly offered; and
stroke/brain injury recovery, Pregnancy massage, delivery assistance, infant
massage classes and Reiki Attunements. Sharon Munatones, CMT
Sharon graduated from the Hands on Healing
Institute's CMT Program in 2006 and continued to study while building her
private practice and completing the HHI Teacher’s Training Program. Sharon
loves the mind, body, spirit concept, nature and massage. With 18 years of
counseling experience working in the mental health field as a behavioral
counselor, with children’s programs for the YMCA and for Nino’s Earth Centro,
an environmental awareness program, she has a realistic understanding of the
issues that affect our mind/body/spirit connection in today’s world. Along
with teaching classes and providing massage sessions, Sharon is also
currently running The Health and Wellness Program for Community Care Center,
an IMD hospital in Duarte, California. “With appreciation and gratitude I
continue to develop my skills as a massage therapist while sharing with
students and clients what my learning experiences have taught me,” says
Sharon. Sharon holds certifications for various modalities such as:
Aromatherapy, Gemstone Therapy, Crystal Therapy, Energy Healing, Reflexology,
Vibration/Sound Therapy, Heated Stone Massage, Chair Massage, Thai Massage,
and many more. Frances Nicolais, LMT
Frances is our Director of Education and
one of our original instructors.
Frances is the owner of the KELA-Kneaded Experience LA, a professional
chair massage company in operation since 1995, staffed by many of our
talented alumni. She also is the
owner of the Myofascial Release Center in Montrose, where she and several
other MFR therapists share their love and respect for myofascial release with
any willing participant! Frances
developed the 230-hour Focus on Fascia (myofascial release/trigger point)
series at Hands on Healing and teaches them with as much passion and
enthusiasm as any one person can! Frances also developed and co-teaches with
Nora Stewart, the only 100-hour chair massage program in all Los Angeles. Stefanie Sabounchian, AAR &
ARCB Certified Reflexologist
Stefanie studied and practiced Reflexology
for many years in her home country of Germany before she came to the United
States in 2000. She earned her Professional Reflexology Certificate in
Integrated Foot Hand Ear Reflexology from the American Academy of Reflexology
in 2002 and is National Certified with the American Reflexology Certification
Board. Stefanie is on the Board of Directors of the Reflexology Association
of California and she has a thriving full time private Reflexology practice
in Southern California. Stefanie teaches Foot Hand Ear Reflexology at several
schools including the American Academy of Reflexology where her
professionalism, passion for helping others and her genuine sincerity has
endeared her to all of her students. Andrea Schally, Aromatherapist,
CMT
Andrea is Associate Director of HHI and a certified
Aromatherapist, practicing in the United States since 1994, and originally
from Austria. Andrea concentrates on healing with essential oils by revealing
and unblocking physical, emotional, spiritual and mental imbalances in order
to achieve homeostasis and restore the body's health. She had been studying
essential oils for over 20 years and her knowledge of essential oils and
their uses is extensive. Andrea runs
our Certified Massage Therapist programs and is the lead Swedish massage
instructor. She is also the head of the Aromatherapy Program and teaches
Crystal & Gemstone Therapy, as well as many other Swedish based classes. Nora Stewart, LMT
Nora was moved to go into massage during a
midlife time of transition. “It was a
calling!”, she says and she has never looked back. Once graduating from Hands on Healing, she was strongly pulled
towards Chair Massage and Myofascial Release, and spent several years as the
General Manager of the Kneaded Experience LA, experts in the Los Angeles
chair massage industry. Nora
currently supervises the massage department of Pro Fitness Network, a private
gym in Pasadena, as well as being their lead massage therapist. She is now sharing her extensive
experience in the chair massage field, as one the instructors of our 100-hour
structural chair massage program. Mary Frances Spencer, LMT
Mary Frances began practicing Yoga in the
early 1990's when she was experiencing high stress working as a designer in
the textile industry. She continued with her Yoga during the pregnancies and
after the birth of 2 children, and was certified to teach Hatha Yoga in 2001
by Naader Shagagi at Yoga Kingdom in Pasadena. Since then she has taught
Mommy’s Me, All-levels Adult, and Children's Yoga classes at various yoga
studios and schools in the LA/Pasadena area. In December 2004 she graduated
from Hands on Healing Institute as a Certified Massage Therapist. She holds
certifications in Thai Yoga massage, Kinesiology, Myofascial Release, Deep
Tissue, and Chair Massage. She is also teaches Breath Awareness, Restorative
Yoga and Expressive Movement at Hands on Healing. She seeks to encourage her
students to work at their own level to build strength, increase flexibility,
release blockages, and find peace and transformation. Heather White
Heather was the Associate Director of HHI
for many years, and delighted our students in teaching Swedish massage,
energy healing, hot stone and meditation.
She grew up in a family that was very active in holistic therapies
including energy medicine, which she has gone on to study and practice
throughout her life. She began her meditation practice at age eight and
traveled to Western Europe at age twelve teaching meditation for children.
Heather has a degree in Philosophy from UCLA and has been studying and
practicing the ways of the Tibetan Bön Buddhism tradition for the last
fourteen years. Heather and Andrea both developed the famous HHI style
Swedish massage, for which we are eternally grateful. Heather has moved out
of the area, but returns often to teach the energy program. For Calendar Click Here Hands on Healing Institute is approved by the Bureau of
Private Postsecondary Education for MT150, MT250, MT500 Massage Therapy
Programs and all continuing education courses. Provider Approved by MT150 & MT250 Programs are Approved for Veterans (Title
38). Aromatherapy Program
| Chair Massage Program | Deep Tissue Program
| Energy Program | Focus on Fascia Program Introduction &
Philosophy | Instructor
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