Founder

Saya is no longer giving massages

Saya graduated from the Potomac Massage Training Institute in Washington, D.C. in 2000 and has been practicing ever since. Her passion and love for massage therapy has grown more every passing year. She has continued her education over the years by studying prenatal massage, trigger-point therapy, deep tissue massage and isolated stretching techniques and more.

Saya offers an integrative style of bodywork, specifically focusing on the clients’ individual needs. She has worked with many athletes, elders, terminally ill patients, survivors, children, expectant mothers and many more. She has been a participant in AVON’s Three-Day Breast Cancer Walks and she has donated her time with the Montgomery County Infants and Toddlers Program.

Saya is now teaching infant massage to parents. She studied under infant massage USA and is passionate about helping families understand the benefits of massage and loving touch. She teaches a course where in the end you will feel confident and empowered as a parent not only with massage technique but also understanding your baby’s individual needs.

She feels passionate that massage therapy is not just a treat but a necessity for everybody! She has seen the incredible outcome with so many including her own daughter and she knows, first hand, the power of massage.

Saya's Story

Warning: This post contains sensitive content, trigger words, and experiences. 

When you first meet Saya Barkdoll, you’re a bit confused. She’s a petite blonde bombshell, attractive in all the standard societal ways, soft-spoken, with a million-watt smile. But, she’s also heavily tattooed, pierced, and moves through the world with an atmospheric kindness and unyielding strength all wrapped up in a tiny package.

Read more of Saya’s Story HERE.

Massage and Reiki Practitioner and Energy/Healing Intuitive

Eva Lazo is a Registered Massage Practitioner, Level 2 Reiki Practitioner, and energy/healing intuitive. Since her graduation from Potomac Massage Training Institute (PMTI) in February 2013, Eva has been practicing Swedish and Deep Tissue massage, aromatherapy, and has completed a certification in Structural Myofascial technique. She is dedicated to providing an open environment for healing and awareness while integrating mind, body, and spiritual techniques to all of her clients.

Eva’s passion for massage began as an adolescent and throughout her journey/training at PMTI she expanded on this passion to help others by addressing healing in all aspects of their physical, intellectual and spiritual bodies. Eva provides client-centered massage by truly listening with her heart and allowing the client space to express what it is they are looking for in their session. Her intuition then guides her on how to best care for the client and which techniques would be most helpful in the healing process, i.e. swedish, deep tissue, myofascial, aromatherapy, reiki, or a combination of all.

One of Eva’s lifelong goals is to guide others in the healing process, share awareness, and to help individuals transform on all levels of their life.

Eva’s intention and approach to massage can be summarized by the following quote: “When our eyes see our hands doing the work of our hearts, the circle of creation is completed inside us; the doors of our souls fly open and love steps forth to heal everything in sight.” – Michael Bridge

What You Can Expect from Eva

I’ve come to expect Eva Lazo’s smiling face over the years at Ohana Wellness. It’s become my second home and sanctuary, and it is individuals like Eva that bring an important element to the atmosphere at Ohana Wellness: a feeling of ease.

My most recent massage was on Eva’s table. I had just returned from being cramped like a sardine in what felt like a tiny toy airplane, culminating in over 10 hours of flights, working 12-hour days, overstimulated by too many people, my body and mind tense, exhausted, and needing some care. Las Vegas sure is the city of bright lights but can often feel like an overstimulation marathon to #anxietywarriors. I had 60 minutes scheduled with Eva, and I was curious to see if we could undo a week’s worth of damage. Well, I’m happy to report – she did. 

After our time together, I felt all the benefits from a great massage: deep relaxation, an overwhelming sense of peace, less tension physically, etc. But, Eva’s massage technique is unique and I find that there’s really only one way to describe how Eva goes about her work: there is musicality in her touch. 

She begins (similarly to other practitioners at Ohana) by setting intention while you are laying on the table. This feels like her walking her hand gently down from the crown of her head down the length of your body to meet at your feet. She’ll touch your feet, lightly squeeze your ankles and calves before she begins the therapeutic bodywork. This intention setting signals to your body, loudly and clearly: “you are cared for now – let go, be present, and breathe.”   

With Eva, there is something novel about her approach. As she moves across your body, you’ll notice that she’s seemingly creating a symphony of healing. Her fingers create the musical notes, her palms combine them together, the pressure of her whole hand put it all into song, and so on and so forth.

Eva uses slow, extended, and sustained pressure that made me feel longer and taller (and I’m already 5’9!). It felt as if my muscles were stretching without being pulled taut or tight. She’s a tiny powerhouse (surprisingly strong) of gentle but firm care. She will repeatedly do a sweeping movement of her hands as she silently signals to your body that she’s about to start work on a particular limb or part. As if saying, “okay, it’s your turn now, come with me.” When she finishes working on that part, she repeats the movement – as if thanking and honoring your body part for allowing her to work on it.

Eva did not get me at my best – I was feeling about as beat up as a person can be after extended periods of travel and stress. But, that’s the beauty of getting therapeutic bodywork at Ohana Wellness – you are encouraged and welcomed to come as you are. Eva was continuously in tune with what she felt within my body and knew when to do intense, deep pressure, or more circular sweeping motions to wake my tired little body up.

It is obvious that the ease I mentioned in the beginning of this post is what makes Eva so brilliant at her job. She is confident and at ease in her ability to know what her client needs—more importantly—what her client’s body needs. But, because of her ability to create a holistic experience of healing on your body, she accelerated my healing and got me back to the path of my best self.

Eva’s massage/symphony sounds like the 5th Symphony of Holistic Healing.

Massage Therapist, BAC, LMT - State of FL, RMP- State of MD

Brigitte Hart began practicing massage in 2011 after her training at Florida College of Natural Health in Orlando. She developed an interest in the practice while working in Ohio as an assistant to a trigger point therapist in 2007. Her curiosity grew deeper and she decided to further her studies and begin a career in bodywork. Her fascination with massage therapy continues to grow exponentially as she continues learning and working in this field.

Brigitte graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Communications from Bowling Green State University in 2010. She was board certified and licensed in the state of Florida in March of 2011. Brigitte has since become registered in the state of Maryland and has certifications in Thai Yoga Massage and QiGong Massage.

Skilled in many modalities and specializing in trigger point therapy, deep tissue, Thai yoga, and structural integration, Brigitte brings an elemental appreciation of human bio-mechanical systems and anatomy along to the table to offer treatment that is as healing to her as it is to her clients. She thrives on learning from every being she works with and is constantly honored to be able facilitate the human healing process in her practice each day.

Brigitte's Story

Brigitte Hart is a power house. I had the pleasure of getting to know Brigitte before she shared this story with me. We bonded physically, emotionally, and spiritually through the very powerful act of Thai Massage. But, I wanted to know more about how she came to Ohana Wellness and how she came to be in bodywork. Much like the other practitioners at Ohana, Brigitte is a jack(ie) of all trades—she is talented, gregarious, and a true power house physically and emotionally.

Her journey to massage and bodywork was long, winding, and at times difficult. But, like all great healers, they get there through the journey of their own healing. Brigitte is no exception to that rule. A bright girl, with a mouth like a sailor (only when appropriate!), a tender heart, and that California surfer-bro attitude you never thought you’d meet in the affluent neighborhoods of Bethesda, she is a down-home chick in the truest sense of the word. You’d never guess she grew up in a rural setting of Ohio in a fairly traditional household, but here she is, being who she is as she is and always allowing her clients to do the same.

When I asked her to share with me her defining moment of when she knew she wanted to do therapeutic bodywork, she was able to point very candidly about her experience in college with ADHD and being on meds. The meds allowed her to focus, to excel, and finally start to unlock all the potential of her brain, turning a mediocre student into a great one. But, she was suffering from incessant headaches, laid up in the dark, eyes closed, pounding behind her eyes until she could barely breathe.

She met a trigger point therapist through a mutual friend, agreed to help him drum up some business and also act as one of his “bodies,” for him to build up his practice. She quickly told him what she was dealing with: the 5-days a week headaches, ever-present, that were impeding on her young life in more ways than one. He gave her a pain map and said, “color the areas where you feel the pain.” Brigitte says to me in that moment, when she sat with the pain map in front of her, the light-bulb didn’t go off, but, the sun came out. She finally started to reflect on what she was contributing to trigger these mind-bending headaches. Within a few weeks she was retraining herself how to sleep and how to sit at her computer. This sparked a thirst that remains to this day for the knowledge to learn more about the mechanics of our bodies and the influence of the mind-body connection.

She moved to Florida because she was “tired of being cold,” got licensed, worked at a chiropractor’s office, worked at a resort in Disney World, then worked at a Farmer’s Market giving massages. She then made the move to the DMV and when she started to seriously consider transferring her license here, Ohana Wellness was the only place she applied to.

I asked her, why?

She begins to tell me that Ohana Wellness just kept popping up in her search. She was encouraged by the fact that the word “wellness” was part of the name, it felt, in a world where this work can be clinical, sterile, and about the negative (like pain management), it was refreshing for her to see an institution lead with being well. She quickly saw the way they seemed to practice what they preach and that it was an environment where she could continue to nurture that thirst for knowledge and continuous learning. It’s what made (and continues to make) Ohana Wellness so unique and special to Brigitte.

Brigitte is unapologetically herself, though fluid in her personality. She’s able to be the best girlfriend who you can be real with and the silent healer who knows how to undo the tensions in the tenderest of areas. To me, she embodies the “and” statement. She is tough AND tender. She is experienced AND still learning. She is strong AND gentle. And she will always be the first person to tell you how much she is still learning and how that is what keeps her showing up, day in and day out.

Brigitte has an incredible gift of receiving her clients in any shape or form that you decide to show up – because that is how she moves through her life, with true authenticity. She reminds me that you’re allowed to have fun while you heal, that she herself has lived and healed through many traumas, has learned how to let go of her pain, and that she learned that things don’t have to be so dang heavy.

And, because, we ended our conversation on the most authentic statement that embodies Brigitte, she reminded that at the end of the day: relaxing shouldn’t be so damn hard.

Massage Therapist, LMT, NCMTB

Meghan O. Bowen loves learning and growing and found her purpose in life when she graduated from the Baltimore School of Massage. Her naturally positive, compassionate personality led her to massage therapy and the many benefits it provides. Meghan is very passionate about improving the quality of people’s lives and her energy about the positive effects of massage is infectious. Meghan strives to see the strengths in every human body and focuses to allow each individual to align their mind, body and soul. Her own history of injuries makes her very empathetic, thereby having a deeper understanding for the benefits of massage therapy. Meghan specializes in Swedish, Deep Tissue and Trigger Point Therapy and employs these with various techniques based on each client’s individual needs.

What You Can Expect From Meghan

There’s a lot you need to know about Meghan and we’ll get to all of it. But, none is more important than the fact that I affectionately (and accurately) refer to her as hot-hands-Meghan.

This woman.
Has the hottest hands.
On the planet.

It’s like being massaged by someone who’s got Hand Warmers built-in to their hands. It’s heavenly.

When I got onto Meghan’s table, it had been a pretty substantial period of time since I had been anywhere near a massage table. Life, life, and life got in the way and before I knew it, it had been several months before I had paid any attention to how my body was feeling (or screaming). We started by catching up and Meghan’s warmth extends far beyond her hands – she’s got the most delicious energy, where you feel like you can tell her the most awkward feelings you have in that moment or all the crazy sh*t you’ve been trying to cope with in your life. A fellow Sagittarius, we bonded over our absolute lack of prioritization of ourselves (though to be fair, I’d venture to say all zodiac signs suffer from this) and she reminded me of the importance of being intentional of putting myself first. She reminded me in the best big sister way possible: what do the flight attendants tell you when they’re going through the safety measures? “please place the mask over your own mouth and nose before assisting others.” So, here I was about to get replenished on my very own low oxygen levels.

And, only appropriate that we started with deep, cleansing breaths while Meghan swept her hands in big, giant sweeping motions with arms and hands as if reminding your body to breathe it all in and then breathe it all out. There is something incredibly grounding about a sweeping motion like Meghan does, it sends all kinds of mindful signals to your body that include:

“ahhhhhh”
“holy hell that’s so relaxing,”
“why did I wait so long to do this?” and last but not least:
“this is in-cre-dible!”

Aside from her signature oven tempered hands, Meghan also does a lot of stretches in the arm, neck, and shoulder area that are divine. She will start with your arm hanging lifeless off the table and will sweep through pressure points above and underneath the armpit and down. As if sending all that tension that we all experience in that area of our bodies down into the floor. She’ll repeat this over, and over, and over again. And, just when you think she’s done with that spot, she’ll do it one more time to fully integrate that noodle-like feeling in your arm. It’s an area that can never get enough love and attention and needs that repetitive motion to really fully, deeply relax.

Like all practitioners at Ohana Wellness, Meghan takes her time. She will not leave an area before she feels like your body has relaxed underneath her capable hands. There is no rushing, there is no hurriedness, there is only responding and pacing accordingly to what your body needs. It’s what makes so many of the practitioners so good at their craft at Ohana – they are patient souls in an incredibly impatient world.

I find that it takes a lot of trust to allow a practitioner to stretch my neck, head, face, and/or ear area. It’s a rather vulnerable area and doesn’t often get touched by other people.

But, Meghan is both confident and cautious in her manipulation of this tender area that carries all of our hopes, dreams, fears, and thoughts. She allows you to put all of the weight of your heavy head into her hands. Then, turning it gently, slowly, and separating the shoulder from the neck with a deliberate stretch that just allows your shoulders to finally fall away from your ears. And, she sweeps up and down, over and out, through and fully, once again reminding your body to let go and trust in its ability to heal itself.

If I had to describe my time with Meghan in one word it would be: rejuvenating.

We often ascribe getting a massage as being relaxing, but it can also be (re)energizing and those 30/60/90 minutes are our body’s way of a going deep into a state that allows for maximum healing. Now, don’t we all need some more of that in our lives?

Massage Therapist, LMT

Carole Dean is a native Washingtonian and graduate of the Potomac Massage Training Institute in Washington, D.C., with over a decade of experience in the field of massage therapy.

She has over five years experience practicing in a chiropractic, medical massage environment; working in conjunction with chiropractors and physical therapists in treating patients with acute and chronic physical pain, trauma and dysfunction. Carole spent six years in a holistic wellness clinic where she specialized in helping clients with chronic health conditions, detoxification and oncology related support, work and stress related physiological and emotional tension. She worked closely with other integrative health practitioners to create bodywork protocols that supported her clients overall wellness and needs.

Carole combines a variety of modalities in her bodywork to relieve muscle tension, stimulate circulation, improve flexibility, promote relaxation and reduce stress. Carole has extensive training in Swedish, deep tissue, trigger point, medical and prenatal massage. She is also experienced in oncology massage, craniosacral therapy (CST), shiatsu, manual lymphatic drainage (MLD) and reflexology.

Prior to becoming a massage therapist, Carole worked for Marriott International Headquarters in Bethesda for 15 years as a systems administrator and administrative assistant. Additionally, she spent several years working for federal, city and state governments in an administrative capacity. Carole is very family oriented and enjoys spending her downtime with family and friends, or curled up with a good book and a glass of wine.

Massage Therapist

Wendy is a Licensed Massage Therapist in Maryland and completed her massage training at Potomac Massage Training Institute. She has her Bachelor of Science in Recreation with a Concentration in Health Promotion. She has a holistic approach in her massage therapy practice, assessing the whole person on an individual basis, learning and investing in their personal wellness journey.

Always having an appreciation for movement and how the body is ever-changing, Wendy started off her career in the fitness and wellness field as a personal trainer and fitness instructor and has enjoyed learning how dynamic each individual is. As she realized even just a few of the many ways body work can positively impact a person’s lifestyle, she was happy to embrace it into her work. She welcomes everyone that wants to enhance their wellness journey through massage therapy.

Outside of work Wendy is happy spending time connecting with her husband, two kids, family, friends and community. She enjoys being active, creative, traveling, and slowing down to enjoy some laughs and good vibes.

Massage Therapist

Devin Alexander has been doing hand and back massages on friends and family members for as long as she can remember. Massaging has always come naturally to her, however she did not initially think to make a career out of it. In the past, she was going to college with the intention of majoring in art when she was lead to realize that the typical college plan just was not for her. The same semester that she decided to leave college, she noticed a massage school booth at a festival, signed up shortly thereafter, and she has not looked back! Making people feel happy, relaxed, and comfortable with themselves has always been a passion throughout her years of dancing, drawing and, more recently, bodywork.

Devin graduated from Central Maryland School of Massage and has now been practicing for a decade, her style of massage could be categorized as firm to deep pressure, but she loves customizing her massages to fit each person’s needs and wants for each session.

Massage Therapist

Diana Parra has always been interested in physical rehabilitation and health care. After obtaining her bachelor’s degree in physical therapy in her native country Colombia, she moved to the United States to continue practicing in the medical field. Soon after her arrival, she got interested in the different modalities that manual manipulation can provide, and she decided to focus her career in Massage Therapy. Diana attended Northern Virginia School of Therapeutic Massage in 2013 and since then she has been practicing it full time. Diana’s areas of expertise are therapeutic/medical massage where she incorporates deep tissue, trigger point therapy and stretches. She also very much enjoys the use of aromatherapy, and other tools such as hot stones, and cupping as complements for her services. In her long run as a massage therapist, Diana has worked for high end spas, physical therapy offices, and gyms, and has been trained in Prenatal massage, reflexology, and scalp treatments.

Diana is passionate about caring for people and currently is attending Frederick Community College to obtain her associates degree in Medical Assistant. She wants to incorporate all kinds of help from the medical perspective to provide healing to people.

In her spare time, Diana enjoys spending time outside with her daughter, going hiking, exploring new places around town, and a good cup of coffee.

Acupuncturist

Malka Widofsky is a licensed acupuncturist in the state of Maryland. She attended Pacific College of Oriental Medicine in New York, where she studied Massage Therapy, Acupuncture, and Chinese Herbal Medicine. Malka graduated with an Associates in Massage Therapy, and Master’s degree in Traditional Oriental Medicine (MSTOM). Malka is Board Certified in Acupuncture by the NCCAOM.

Since graduating Malka has studied under world-renowned acupuncturist and naturopath Dr. Andy Rosenfarb, and is trained in his Micro Acupuncture 48 system. Malka considers herself a general practitioner who loves to treat through an integrative approach. Her areas of interest include, pre and postnatal care, women’s health, and aesthetic acupuncture.

Malka is drawn to Acupuncture and Chinese medicine for its holistic approach. She loves the way that the medicine looks at the body as a whole, and a sum of all its parts. She is captivated at how the whole body is connected and how many seemingly different ailments could all stem from a common root. Malka has taken this approach coupled with a strong background in Western medicine to help treat her patients in the most well rounded holistic care available.

Massage Therapist

Debi Roemer's love for massage and bodywork began as a child in her home. She could be seen frequently giving neck and shoulder massages to friends and family at the Roemer kitchen table; her mother was her first client. After graduating from the Potomac Massage Training Institute in 1997 and moving to Los Angeles in 2001, Debi’s interest in the mind/body connection brought her to Visionary Craniosacral Work with the Milne Institute. Her studies carried her to Switzerland, Italy, Berkeley, and Big Sur.

Debi’s work is client and heart centered while also focusing on the connection between muscle, bone, fascia and fluid. She incorporates craniosacral work, deep focused work, yoga, breathing and meditation; all of this with a craniosacral intention. Meaning, focusing on the place inside of us that is “powerful beyond measure” (Marianne Williamson), where the mysterious dance resides and where some of our deepest healing may occur. Her experience has shown her that sometimes we may need movement and sometimes stillness. We get there by getting quiet and listening.

In addition to bodywork, Debi’s spirit is fed by music, dance, community and yummy food. Debi is a preschool music leader and can also be found on the 5 Rhythms dance floor. Her favorite thing in life is to snuggle her kids.

“We have come to be danced
not the hold our breath and wallow in the shallow end of the floor dance
but the meeting of the trinity: the body, breath and beat dance
the shout hallelujah from the top of our thighs dance
the mother may I?
yes you may take 10 giant leaps dance
the Olly Olly Oxen Free Free Free dance
the everyone can come to our heaven dance”
(Jewel Mathieson)

Massage Therapist

Noi is trained in the full range of massage therapy after years of studying energy healing as a Reiki master. In addition she is a foot reflexology practitioner and a student of modern cupping therapy related to lymphatic drainage.

Growing up in Thailand Noi would frequently receive Thai massage from the local practitioners as she worked to overcome her own chronic back pain. Over the years she has received countless massage sessions from many practitioners and modalities including acupuncture and chiropractic. After benefitting so greatly from bodywork, Noi decided she wanted to pursue her own journey as a healer and to help others as she had been helped. Sensitivity is a gift that helps her to understand what her clients need and how to best take care of them. It is this sensitivity that led her to become a Reiki master and to continue to learn and grow as a healer.

With her Thai heritage Noi enjoys cooking Thai cuisine and feeding people around her. Anyone who knows Noi associates her with food and looks forward to her delicious creations. She feels that food is medicine if we know how to use it.

Noi was born a Buddhist and has continued to develop her spirituality and to practice meditation with various groups over the years. She loves to go on retreat whenever she can, always volunteering to cook meals to the delight of the other retreatants!

Noi is also a jewelry maker and has had her own business inspired by her work with Sotheby’s in Thailand. She loves all kinds of stones and has a strong connection to the renowned Hill Tribe silver producers in northern Thailand. Noi believes that we can use the beauty and power of gemstones for healing and for happiness.

Massage Therapist, RMP, MD; LMT, DC

Greta Wolf is a Registered Massage Practitioner in Maryland and a Licensed Massage Therapist in DC. She graduated from the Potomac Massage Training Institute in 2018. Prior to becoming a massage therapist, she studied fine arts at the Pennsylvania College of Art and Design. Greta has enjoyed travel in the US, Europe, and Ecuador, particularly the American Southwest and Hawaii. The Summer in New Mexico that Greta spent studying Curanderismo, the Art of Healing of Mexico, inspired her to learn even more about the healing arts, eventually focusing on massage therapy. Her greatest strengths in Swedish and deep tissue massage help fulfill her desire for compassionate service to others. In addition to travel, Greta enjoys African Dance, yoga, hiking, music, creative writing, and cooking.

Never judge a book by its cover. Have you ever met someone who surprises you? Surprises you in a way that challenges assumptions, makes you think twice, or checks that unconscious bias at the door?

I’d like to tell you a little bit about Greta Wolf.

Now, as a patron of Ohana Wellness for over a decade (!), I believe that every single person that is employed at Ohana has a special gift. They are, after all, handpicked by Saya as healers, as experts in their practice, and as part of something greater that she tirelessly works to create. Each practitioner is unique and powerful in their own right.

Recently, I had the privilege of being on Greta’s table. In my first passing interactions with her, I noted her quiet, reserved, and even deeply shy composure. However, I had a feeling it hid a deep intensity in ensuring that she curates the most healing experience for her clients. Leaving them feeling noticeably better than when they walked through the doors a mere hour ago.

Luckily, I was right.

Greta, gave me by far, some of the best back and shoulder work that I’ve had in my lifetime. I’m nearing thousands of massages at this point in my life as someone who is either perpetually tense; perpetually injured; or perpetually anxious. Like most of us, I spend the bulk of my days in a contorted version of a posture, gremlin-like, furiously typing away my “very important/high urgency” emails, rounding my shoulders and hiking them up so far up to my ears it’s a miracle I even have a neck anymore.

Greta’s approach, in a nutshell, is deep and intentional.

After being on her table, I did some research to learn a little bit more about Greta. It wasn’t surprising to me that she spent a summer in New Mexico studying Curanderismo, a traditional Mexican American healing system that holistically treats disorders through religious, spiritual, and health-related means. Greta’s greatest strengths are in Swedish and deep tissue massage with an intentionality of compassionate service to others.

How does she create compassionate service? She does this on the table by first producing circulation in the area she’s going to work on – moving her hands quickly over your muscles, generating heat, prepping your muscles for the work she’s about to embark on. Her hands are confident, deliberate, communicating to your body--to your muscles--to trust her and let go. She is self-assured, in tune with you and your needs, moving deeper into what she notices and feels throughout her time with you.

She has an uncanny way of finding areas of tension you didn’t realize were tight – hello armpits, bottom ribs, that tiny spot in the mid-back! She moves slowly within those areas, taking her time, coaxing your tired and tense muscles to let loose just a little bit.

Greta leaves everything on the table when she works on you. She puts her whole body into the experience, her energy, her hard work, her commitment to you in that time frame is palpable. What more can you ask for when you need someone else to take care of you for a little while?

And that’s what you can expect from Greta. To feel cared for, to feel better when you leave, to feel as if you were her sole and entire focus for the whole time you spent on her table.

Massage Therapist

Jenny Kuenz believes that massage therapy helps humans thrive and stay grounded in this chaotic world. She hopes that by receiving massage, her clients will have less anxiety and stress, realize the potential for easeful movement and decreased discomfort, and feel cared for. She has personally experienced and has observed for others that massage strengthens the mind-body-spirit connection and encourages all these aspects of self to heal.

Jenny takes an intuitive, creative and nurturing approach to Swedish and Deep Tissue massage. She offers cupping, hot stones, and aromatherapy as supplements to her clients’ sessions. She graduated from Potomac Massage Training Institute in Silver Spring and has done additional trainings in Zen Shiatsu massage and Modern Cupping Therapy.

Massage Therapist

Stacey Asberry graduated from the Central Maryland School of Massage in Frederick, Maryland in 2016. She has been following her passion since then.  She has enjoyed working in the Spa setting and progressed to working in a wellness center as well as for a Chiropractor. By doing so she believed that she could have a more therapeutic approach in helping people to heal.

Stacey has also enjoyed the privilege of teaching massage. She has worked as an instructor teaching others about the Anatomy of the body, Kinesiology, Physiology, and much more. She has found it a joy to help others start their journey as massage therapist so they too can help facilitate the healing process for individuals out there.

As a therapist it’s really important to her to focus on the client’s needs. She wants to make sure she provides a high quality massage to all of her clients to ensure that they are receiving the best care. As a person who has a spinal condition (scoliosis), she loves to focus on the back as a whole including the head, neck, and shoulders providing needed relief.

She is also continuing her interest in medical massage for spinal dysfunctions.

Nicole Brown graduated from Potomac Massage Training Institute in Silver Spring, MD in 2021. Massage therapy was a natural step in Nicole’s lifelong quest to help others heal. She cares deeply about the physical, mental and emotional needs of others, and seeks to maximize wellness with each massage. Listening to her clients’ individual needs and customizing each experience is vital to her helping promote self-care. She has a profound respect for the body’s ability to heal and return to wellness. Nicole specializes in Prenatal, Swedish, and Deep Tissue massage.

Throughout her life, Nicole has been active in both organized and recreational sports. She loves spending time with her family, laughing with her friends, and connecting with new experiences.

Massage Therapist

Alain Achiet has been active in the world of wellness for the last 30 years in one capacity or another. He became interested in the healing arts through his practice of traditional Chinese martial arts and Daoist energy and spiritual practices. An accomplished practitioner of Taijiquan, Qigong, and other related internal arts, Alain, as of late, has turned his attention to massage therapy as a direct way to help people deal with the aches, injuries, and traumas they may be experiencing in their lives.

Alain graduated from the Potomac Massage Training Institute (PMTI) in Silver Spring, MD in 2020, becoming an enthusiastic practitioner of Swedish and Deep Tissue therapy. He has since worked in different settings, including a non-profit clinic, private massage therapy studios, and franchised spas. This combined experience has exposed Alain to a wide range of clients with widely differing needs, ranging from injury recovery to wellness maintenance and relaxation.

Alain brings his understanding of meditation to every session providing his clients with a grounding and therapeutic experience whose effects often linger a long time after the session has ended. Alain deeply listens to his clients and intuitively integrates the spoken and the unspoken into a specially tailored and customized treatment plan. Alain believes that regular massage should ideally be integrated into everyone’s wellness plan, irrespective of current age and health condition, to achieve optimal health. The best days have yet to come, and massage can help you get there!

Massage Therapist

Amy Young is a native of the DC metro area and a graduate of Potomac Massage Training Institute. She began her massage career in 2006 and practices the modalities of Swedish, deep tissue, hot stone and prenatal massage. She has a deep passion for providing the best possible care for each individual client based on their specific needs.

Massage Therapist

Maria graduated from the Northern Virginia School of Therapeutic Massage. She holds a licensed in the state of Maryland as a RMP and a LMT in Virginia. She is certified and specializes in Deep Tissue, Sports Massage, Prenatal Massage, Trigger Point Massage, Cupping Applications, Acupressure and Myofascial Release Massage, Upper Body and Hot/Salt Stone Massage. I also implement stretching during my sessions. Stretching has many benefits such as increased muscle blood flow and reducing muscular tension and enhance muscular relaxation.

I am currently attending Montgomery College to pursue a Nursing Degree. I believe it is crucial to understand the anatomy and physiology of the body in order to understand and analyze different needs of the clients. My goal is to combine my knowledge as a Nurse towards my massage career. I have a thriving interest in helping people reach their health and healing goals. I fully attend to each client's needs, and provide a professional massage service to assist in alleviating physical tensions in people's bodies.

Massage has always been a passion of mine. I began pursuing a Massage Therapist career while I was working in the Federal Government. While attending NVSTM, I made that leap of faith and quit my job to pursue a Massage Therapy career full time. I enjoy learning and continue to develop my skills to better help my clients.

I enjoy reading, ceramics, learning different languages, traveling, hiking, camping, mountain climbing, gardening, exercising, cooking and spending time with my family.

Massage Therapist

Gloria Quezada, RMT, is a registered massage therapist who brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to our group. She is experienced in deep tissue massage, swedish massage, hot stone massage, trigger point therapy and craniosacral therapy, as well as other healing disciplines and methods. She is also a practitioner of ayurvedia and reiki.

Gloria’s energy and ambition run deep. She has over 20 years of massage therapy experience and counting! She has worked one-on-one with professional athletes to help improve their range-of-motion, or in the case of injury, she has assisted in client’s rehabilitation. Gloria has helped many pre and post op patients and has also worked closely with oncology patients, those suffering from multiple sclerosis as well as clients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, (ALS or Lou Gehrigs disease). Gloria finds ways to better her clients’ lives by giving them comforting care and in some instances, has helped clients with end-of-life care.

Her newest passion is prenatal care, postnatal care, and pranayama (breath work). She has studied with world-renowned professors in the ancient healing medicine known as Ayurveda. Additionally, Gloria recently became a yoga and infant massage instructor and she is currently training to become a Doula.

Gloria is an avid believer in a holistic approach to life and believes that the “Earth has given us everything that we need to heal our bodies. It is merely up to us to be willing to listen and be open to make changes to better our life.” Her love of life and healing overflows into every aspect of her everyday work.

Massage Therapist

Sarah Lawson is trained in Swedish, deep tissue, and sports massage, myofacial release, active isolated stretching, and biodynamic craniosacral therapy. She also a laughter yoga instructor and recently became a certified BCST teacher. Her work and presence is intuitive, deep, gentle, and refreshing. All sessions are client centered using these tools to nurture your time. She is a skilled listener for the mind, body and soul. She is here to support and encourage you to health, rejuvenation and moving through your life’s journey.

While she loves working with performing artists and professional athletes, she is also passionate about the magical healing of craniosacral therapy. These sessions are mostly quiet, deeply relaxing, and the body is in a space and allowed the time it needs to heal itself.

Massage Therapist

Lili is a licensed Massage therapist and completed her massage training at Columbia College. She has 13 years of massage experience and specialized in intuitive bodywork and reflexology. Her therapeutic touch is deeply rooted in a great knowledge of the body. She has worked to help improve various aches and pains over the years including headaches, shoulder pain, back pain, improved range of motion and many other chronic discomforts. Li’s greatest goal is to help everyone get healthier and feel better through her touch.