Our Staff
Professional Clinic
Alex
His passion lies in aiding clients through bodywork, offering relief from pain and discomfort while fostering moments of comfort and relaxation. Alex's approach to massage involves attentive listening to his clients' concerns, observing their reactions, and adapting accordingly. He specializes in relaxation, deep tissue, trigger point, sports, and myofascial massages. In his leisure time, Alex enjoys long walks with his dog, exploring new places, and occasionally indulges in binge-watching favorite shows.
Andrea
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Andrea's inspiration stemmed from her family's struggles with chronic pain. Starting her journey in pharmacy, she transitioned to massage therapy for a more hands-on and holistic healing approach. Her joy comes from positively impacting her clients' health by creating unique massage experiences that alleviate pain and induce mental and physical relaxation. Andrea specializes in Swedish, deep tissue, and trigger point massage therapies. Outside work, she relishes time with family, friends, her cat, going on walks, and runs.
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Chelsea
Chelsea is a proud graduate of the New School of Massage. She is a performer and dancer which sparked her interest for massage and allows her to understand anatomy and awareness of the body.
Her techniques from Swedish, myofascial, deep tissue, and sports massage allows her to help each clients needs and to build a plan. She has a passion for helping clients through health and healing. In her spare time she loves spending time with her daughter and fiancé, as well as traveling.
Her techniques from Swedish, myofascial, deep tissue, and sports massage allows her to help each clients needs and to build a plan. She has a passion for helping clients through health and healing. In her spare time she loves spending time with her daughter and fiancé, as well as traveling.
Cristina
Cristina came to her work as a massage therapist out of her lengthy experience as a performer, an athlete, and an avid practitioner of holistic wellness. A proud graduate of the New School for Massage, Cristina draws on techniques from Swedish, deep tissue, trigger point therapy, myofascial release, prenatal, stretching and mobilization, and Thai-Shiatsu to build customized sessions to support each client’s individual needs. Her background as a performer, runner, and cyclist have gifted her an acute awareness of the body, a great respect for pain, and a deep appreciation of healthy and nourishing indulgence. Her approach is equal parts practical and intuitive and always centered around each client’s unique needs on any given day.
Jade
Jade is a Licensed Massage Therapist with a strong background in physical and sports therapy in Europe, where she practiced as a licensed physical therapist in France. Specializing in body sculpting, lymphatic drainage, and athletic recovery, Jade blends her expertise in sports rehabilitation with therapeutic massage techniques to help clients achieve optimal performance and well-being.
Lupe
Lupe's path into massage therapy began after witnessing her father's successful rehabilitation from a severe stroke/brain injury. Inspired to improve people's lives, she approaches massage from both a clinical/therapeutic and relaxation perspective. Lupe excels in sports, lymphatic, trigger point, and deep tissue massage, alongside myofascial release. In her leisure, she enjoys family time, music, dance, and fitness.
Marlin
Marlin's journey into massage began during her tenure at massage therapy school. Finding joy in relieving others' physical and mental pain, she adopts a flexible approach, combining various modalities, notably myofascial and deep tissue, customized to clients' familiarity and specific needs. Proficient in lymphatic drainage, trigger point, myofascial, and deep tissue massages, Marlin also holds training in assisted stretching therapy, pregnancy, myofascial cupping, and sports massages. Outside her practice, she engages in painting, drawing, videography, photography, dancing, acting, and event participation.
Michelle
Michelle is a graduate of The New School for Massage. She believes that compassionate touch can help relieve stress of everyday life. She uses Swedish, Deep Tissue, and stretching techniques to target specific muscles that need attention or to promote overall relaxation.
Nicole
With over seven years of experience in top Miami Beach spas, Nicole blends expert technique with an intuitive touch to deliver meaningful results. As a former Deep Tissue Specialist for WSOP athletes and a leader of massage teams at Exhale and The Edition Spa, Nicole brings advanced skill and presence to every session. Specializing in deep tissue, sports, and prenatal therapy, she creates tailored treatments that help clients feel lighter, more aligned, and deeply restored.
Rebekah
Rebekah is a graduate of The New School for Massage. Along with being a Licensed Massage Therapist, Rebekah is currently a professional dancer in Chicago. She uses her unique knowledge of muscles and movement to create treatment plans that are both clinical and relaxing. Rebekah’s style incorporates Swedish, deep and soft tissue manipulation to assist clients in achieving and maintaining their pain management and wellness goals.
Rose
If not by the bright pink hair, you’ll recognize Rose by their effervescence even on the gloomiest days! A graduate of New School for Massage, and a current student of acupuncture, Rose is a polymath of sorts; and has acquired degrees in business, accounting, art, early childhood education, and now Chinese medicine. From gentle to deep, they offer numerous modalities including (but not limited to) myofascial, trigger point, deep tissue, and cupping. Sessions are tailored to the client to help build bodily awareness, and collaborate towards building long-term, improved health. In the hours they aren’t working or studying, Rose likes to engage in the movement arts, and is a medal-awarded pole competitor.
Russ
Russ majored in Kinesiology with a concentration in Sports Medicine at James Madison University (VA). He then graduated from the American Institute of Massage and has been licensed since 2006. His background in sports medicine motivated his quest to help people feel better and gain greater body awareness. While he prefers clients seeking relaxation over pain relief, he values the uniqueness of each individual he works with. Russ assesses pain areas comprehensively, focusing on relieving joint pressure by targeting associated muscles, enabling natural body movement. Proficient in Swedish, deep tissue, pregnancy, sports, and trigger point massages, Russ is passionate about teaching massage, anatomy, and related subjects to deepen his understanding of the body's mechanisms.
Suzanne
As a licensed therapist, Suzanne was drawn to massage due to its capacity to offer pain relief and stress reduction through positive touch. Her detailed approach provides muscular relief and deep relaxation while aiming to enhance clients' body awareness. Suzanne specializes in Swedish, relaxation, deep tissue, and pregnancy massages. Beyond her practice, she holds an acting degree and has extensive experience in fundraising. She enjoys live music, hiking, and spending time with her husband and cats.
Virginia
After graduating with a massage therapy license in 2013, Virginia's joy in receiving massages fueled her passion for giving massages. She values massage for its holistic healing benefits and focuses on collaborating with clients to achieve their session goals. Virginia customizes sessions based on client preferences, emphasizing pain prevention through posture, body mechanics, and ergonomics. Proficient in trigger point, myofascial, breathwork, meditation, and aromatherapy, her experience in teaching anatomy gives her a deep understanding of human anatomy and identifying clients' problematic areas.
Graduate Clinic
Ari
Ari is a Chicago-based massage therapist who helps clients experience lasting relief through a blend of myofascial release, trigger point therapy, and focused Swedish techniques. The work is designed to ease persistent tension, restore natural balance, and support fuller, more comfortable movement. Guided by intuitive awareness and Reiki I & II training, Ari creates a mindful, intentional touch experience that helps clients reconnect with their bodies and leave each session feeling grounded and renewed.
De'Eric
De’Eric is a licensed massage therapist who views the body as both a work of art and a complex system of science. He believes that every person’s physical potential is waiting to be unlocked, and he is dedicated to guiding clients toward that freedom.
In each session, De’Eric goes beyond traditional massage—he integrates his expertise as a massage therapist with his background as a certified stretch therapist and balance coach. By addressing the root causes of restriction, he works not only to relieve pain but also to empower clients to move with greater confidence, ease, and tranquility.
Committed to providing truly personalized care, De’Eric helps clients rediscover the grace, resilience, and vitality they were meant to enjoy.
In each session, De’Eric goes beyond traditional massage—he integrates his expertise as a massage therapist with his background as a certified stretch therapist and balance coach. By addressing the root causes of restriction, he works not only to relieve pain but also to empower clients to move with greater confidence, ease, and tranquility.
Committed to providing truly personalized care, De’Eric helps clients rediscover the grace, resilience, and vitality they were meant to enjoy.
Hannah
Hannah Huang comes to the massage and bodywork field from an extensive background of movement as a professional dancer who also dabbles in various acrobatics and aerial arts. Before studying massage, she took many classes in anatomy and kinesiology, gathering. knowledge from athletic trainers and physical therapists while earning a BFA in Ballet with a minor in Nutrition. As self-proclaimed body nerd and lifelong mover, Hannah approaches massage as a way to reduce pain and restore movement capability. Pairing deep intuition with open-ness and curiosity, Hannah's massage style is slow, intentional and always in conversation with your body's needs.
James
James comes to the massage world with a unique perspective from his background in aerial arts and performance training. He loves deep tissue and trigger point bodywork to promote recovery, relieve pain, and increase range of motion. James also believes that all bodies can benefit from therapeutic touch for relaxation and reducing stress. While massage for athletes and other high-performance individuals brought him to the world of bodywork, he enjoys working with clients of all backgrounds and helping them gain greater awareness of their bodies and the mind-muscle connections. Outside the clinic, James is continuing to study the techniques of Thai massage, and you may also spot him at area circus centers and at the lakefront flying trapeze rig in the summer.
Kasmer
Kasmer (they/them) blends an analytical approach with intuitive touch to create a massage experience shaped entirely around you, whether the focus of the session is deep relaxation or working through stubborn tension. Their work is trauma-informed and collaborative, integrating massage with your body’s own capacity for healing. A 2025 graduate of the New School for Massage, Kasmer is continuing their education in myofascial release after seeing positive results for a variety of clients. They come to massage therapy with a lifelong passion for massage and somatic practices and a decade-long career in data science (where they experienced firsthand the strains and stresses of a desk job). Outside the clinic, they are an avid bicyclist who can often be found enjoying the many parks in Chicago.
Renee
Born and raised in the Boston area, Renée trained as a serious ballet dancer for eight years. During this time, she suffered various injuries that left her intrigued by the worlds of physical therapy and massage. This fascination with anatomy and the body continued through high school. In 2019, Renée moved to Chicago to earn her BFA in musical theater and dance. After graduating undergrad in 2023, she performed in a few shows around the city before being briefly sidelined by another injury. During this time, she reconnected with her interest in massage and decided to pursue licensure. A proud graduate of the New School for Massage, Renée received her license in early 2025. She is passionate about listening actively and attentively to her clients and their bodies in order to deliver care that will get them closer to their goals. Renée’s approach focuses on relieving patterns of restriction in the body, reducing stress and improving bodily functions through activation of the parasympathetic nervous system, and fostering a stronger mind-body connection.
Expert (Faculty) Clinic
Namiko
Namiko was introduced to a variety of bodywork practices growing up in Japan. In her 20s, she moved to Colorado, where she lived for over a decade and developed a passion for running, skiing, hiking, and cycling. She began her career in health and wellness as a Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT) through Yoga Alliance, specializing in Iyengar yoga. Namiko taught at Craig Hospital, a renowned rehabilitation center for brain and spinal cord injuries.
Inspired by her patients' dedication to healing and improving their health, she later pursued training in John F. Barnes’ Myofascial Release (MFR) therapy, a profound form of bodywork. She traveled across the U.S. to deepen her expertise and is now a certified Advanced MFR therapist. In addition, Namiko incorporates modern cupping, stretch therapy, lymphatic drainage, and Ashiatsu into her practice. Namiko is currently finishing up her Masters in Eastern Medicine at the Chicago College of Oriental Medicine.
Namiko holds certifications in the following modalities and may integrate them into your treatment based on your individual needs:
Myofascial Release Therapy (John F. Barnes MFR)
Manual Lymphatic Drainage Therapy (Vodder Technique)
Fascial Stretch Therapy
Vinyasa Yoga (RYT)
Dynamic Cupping Therapy (ICTA)
Personal Training (ACE)
Reiki (Usui Reiki, Japan)
Inspired by her patients' dedication to healing and improving their health, she later pursued training in John F. Barnes’ Myofascial Release (MFR) therapy, a profound form of bodywork. She traveled across the U.S. to deepen her expertise and is now a certified Advanced MFR therapist. In addition, Namiko incorporates modern cupping, stretch therapy, lymphatic drainage, and Ashiatsu into her practice. Namiko is currently finishing up her Masters in Eastern Medicine at the Chicago College of Oriental Medicine.
Namiko holds certifications in the following modalities and may integrate them into your treatment based on your individual needs:
Myofascial Release Therapy (John F. Barnes MFR)
Manual Lymphatic Drainage Therapy (Vodder Technique)
Fascial Stretch Therapy
Vinyasa Yoga (RYT)
Dynamic Cupping Therapy (ICTA)
Personal Training (ACE)
Reiki (Usui Reiki, Japan)
Robert
A graduate of Cortiva–Chicago School of Massage Therapy, I’ve been practicing massage for over 15 years and teaching since 2015. With 20 years of experience as a personal trainer, I bring a deep and practical understanding of the musculoskeletal system to every session. My work blends clinical knowledge with an intuitive touch, and I offer a wide variety of modalities tailored to your unique needs.
I’ve won several regional awards as Lead Therapist for Massage Envy and hold continuing education certifications in Cupping, Pregnancy Massage, and Neuromuscular Therapy. I’m also highly skilled in Trigger Point Therapy and Myofascial Release. While my practice primarily focuses on deep tissue and sports massage, I’m equally adept at providing deeply relaxing, stress-reducing treatments when that’s what your body needs most.
What sets my sessions apart is my intuitive, responsive approach—no two treatments are ever the same. I assess what’s going on in your body and customize your session in real-time, based on both your goals and my findings. I’ve worked with everyone from amateur athletes to healthcare professionals to desk-bound clients dealing with postural pain and tension.
In addition to my private practice, I’ve been an instructor at the New School for Massage since January 2024. My mission is to be fully present with each client and treat the whole person—not just their pain points. Whether you're here to manage stress, recover from injury, or simply feel better in your body, I’m here to help you find lasting relief and greater ease.
I’ve won several regional awards as Lead Therapist for Massage Envy and hold continuing education certifications in Cupping, Pregnancy Massage, and Neuromuscular Therapy. I’m also highly skilled in Trigger Point Therapy and Myofascial Release. While my practice primarily focuses on deep tissue and sports massage, I’m equally adept at providing deeply relaxing, stress-reducing treatments when that’s what your body needs most.
What sets my sessions apart is my intuitive, responsive approach—no two treatments are ever the same. I assess what’s going on in your body and customize your session in real-time, based on both your goals and my findings. I’ve worked with everyone from amateur athletes to healthcare professionals to desk-bound clients dealing with postural pain and tension.
In addition to my private practice, I’ve been an instructor at the New School for Massage since January 2024. My mission is to be fully present with each client and treat the whole person—not just their pain points. Whether you're here to manage stress, recover from injury, or simply feel better in your body, I’m here to help you find lasting relief and greater ease.