Our Staff
Alex
Alex graduated from the New School for Massage in 2014. He specializes in Swedish/deep tissue relaxation massage; he uses a variation of techniques that include Thai –Shiatsu, sport massage, and myofascial techniques to cater to clients specific needs. Alex believes that health starts from the inside out and massage is a great step towards body awareness and becoming aware of our body’s needs. (IL License 227.018256)
Annie
Annie comes from a family of healers and believes in the profound positive impact of massage. She graduated from the New School for Massage and Bodywork in Chicago. She has her M.F.A. in poetry and is awed by the grace and mechanics of the human body. She uses a variety of techniques including Swedish, Deep Tissue, Trigger Point Therapy, Myofascial Release, and gentle stretching. Annie addresses the specific needs of her clients and provides a comfortable space to heal, whether they are looking to manage physical pain or relax and find relief from stress. Above all, Annie loves to help people remember that they can find comfort and healing power within their own bodies. (IL License 227019754)
Barb
Barb graduated from The New School for Massage in 2003. She customizes her massage sessions for wellness or pain relief by drawing on her years of clinical and spa experience, work with diverse populations and chronic conditions, and hundreds of continuing education hours in various modalities such as hand and foot reflexology, infant and pregnancy massage, acupressure, and indian head massage. She is available for soothing therapeutic massage, deep tissue, invigorating sports massage, or pregnancy massage. (IL License 227.003740)
Craig
Craig is a third-generation massage therapist, following in the footsteps of his mother and both grandparents. Massage and natural health were always a part of his childhood. Headaches were never treated with aspirin, but rather foot rubs! For the past 15 years he has been practicing and teaching various styles of massage, including: Swedish, Medical and Sports Massage, and Esalen, Shiatsu and Healing Touch. He recently returned from Asia where he studied Traditional Chinese Medicine. (IL License 227.019188)
Dino
Dino is a licensed massage therapist with 17 years experience. His style of massage focuses on a balance of clinical treatments and stress reduction/relaxation. Dino believes in working on a massage intensity/pressure scale that is comfortable while still being effective. He always expresses the importance of quality of touch and what it means to be fully connected and present during a massage treatment. His modalities include Swedish, deep tissue, sports, pre and post natal, trigger point therapy, and various types of stretching techniques. (IL License 227.005011)
Emmanuel
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Emmanuel B. has been licensed in the State of Illinois since 2005. He started his massage therapy path in the mid 1980s while at the same pursuing a parallel path that included electrical engineering, information sciences, teaching, and eventually business administration and entrepreneurship. After keeping the two paths separate for years, he brought his diverse skills together in early 2001 to develop The New School for Massage, Bodywork & Healing, a private vocational school specializing in massage therapy. In early 2011, Emmanuel created the River North Massage Therapy Center, to provide quality therapeutic massage at reasonable prices in a friendly and professional setting. Emmanuel's massage therapy style is a fusion of deep tissue, PNF stretching, sports massage, and craniosacral techniques and is best suitable for relaxation and pain relief. (IL License 227.001888)
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Hannah
Hannah is a graduate of the New School for Massage, Bodywork, and Healing in Chicago. She loves living out her commitment to addressing pain as a massage therapist. A session with Hannah consists of a blend of Swedish, deep tissue, myofascial release, trigger point therapy, and Thai techniques—adaptable to the needs that arise in each session. She draws on previous experience as a crisis intervention worker to create a treatment space that invites clients into deeper connection with their bodies and further progress on their relaxation, recovery, or wellness goals. (IL License 227020574)
Jaye
Jaye is a graduate from the New School for Massage & Bodywork and a certified yoga instructor. Teaching yoga since 2008, she has witnessed the strong connection between the mind and body and how decreasing stress positively affects an individual’s state of health and wellness. She has a deep respect for therapeutic massage and bodywork and how it promotes the body’s inherent healing abilities. Her specialties include Deep Tissue and Trigger Point therapy along with Swedish relaxation massage. Jaye’s intuitive touch and heartfelt presence enables her to customize the massage to your individual needs providing an overall restorative experience that helps your body and mind to relax and unwind. (IL Lic 227019920)
Jordan
Jordan is a graduate of The New School for Massage and Bodywork and has her Bachelor's degree in Kinesiology from the University of Illinois at Champaign. She tailors each session towards each clients individual needs and incorporates myofascial release, trigger point work and neuromuscular stretching techniques. Her goal is to help her clients move better and live their healthiest lives possible. Jordan enjoys working out, yoga, and traveling. (IL Lic 227020492)
Kassondra
Kassondra is a graduate of the New School for Massage. She specializes in relaxation, tension relief, prenatal, and postpartum massage. Coming from a long line of nurses, Kassondra believes the body deserves respect, and that massage is a powerful tool to help us reconnect to our bodies and practice self care and compassion. Kassondra is a birthworker as well as a massage therapist, and understands well the physical and emotional needs of new parents. She works often with her queer, transgender, and gender nonconforming community. Kassondra's clients love her firm yet gentle touch, which is best suited to deep relaxation and stress reduction as well as relief from everyday aches and pains. (IL Lic 227019826)
Lara
The bodywork Lara practices ranges from gentle to very firm/deep, working through fascia and muscle using a variety of methods that will leave you feeling 'more at home' in your own body and armed with ways to maintain that status until the next session. Certified for Prenatal massage and experienced with a variety of clients and conditions - each session with her is entirely client-focused, and she'll assess and investigate soft tissue issues throughout the body while helping you to achieve relaxation and/or improved function. A current member of the AMBP, Lara is also a graduate from the New School for Massage, Bodywork and Healing. (IL License 227.017960)
Lyazid
Lyazid is a graduate of the New School for Massage and Bodywork in Chicago. He has a background in the hospitality industry, so he is accustomed to delivering exceptional customer service. Whether you are looking to relax, reduce stress, recover from injury, or increase sports performance, Lyazid will help you achieve your optimum level of health. He combines techniques from Swedish relaxation and deep tissue massage, sports massage, and shiatsu to help people achieve their personal wellness goals. In his spare time, he is a long distance runner. (IL License 227.015343)
Marlin
Marlin is a graduate of the New School for Massage. She was introduced to Massage Therapy after experiencing the healing effects of massage in her own life. She specializes in Swedish, Deep Tissue, Trigger Point Therapy, Sports Massage and Myofascial Release. Marlin loves being an LMT because she gets the chance to help people get rid of pain through therapeutic touch. In her spare time, Marlin likes to dance, meditate, and go on bike rides. (IL Lic 227.019707)
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. (IL License 227.017947)
Riki
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Riki is a graduate of New School for Massage, Bodywork & Healing and The University of Iowa. Once plagued with chronic lower back pain, she was able to find relief through manual therapy and massage; benefits she now aspires to share with her clients. Riki provides individualized treatments focused to treat the entire issue – not just the current pain – to provide therapy that outlasts the treatment session. (IL License 227.015675)
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Rebekah
Rebekah is a graduate of The New School for Massage. Along with being a Licensed Massage Therapist, Rebekah is 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. (IL License 227020109)
Ron
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Ron is a graduate of the New School for Massage, Bodywork and Healing. He employs a wide range of techniques to achieve the greatest benefit for his clients including: Swedish relaxation, deep tissue, trigger point, myofascial release, and others. Ron is an instructor and student of body-mind disciplines including Aikido, meditation, TRE (Trauma Releasing Exercises), and other transformational practices for over 20 years. He is a 4th degree black belt in Aikido, a Certified Level 2 TRE Practitioner and he holds a Bachelors of Science Degree from the University of Illinois at Chicago. Ron brings a unique understanding of center and energy to his work. He enjoys working with others to move past limitations and gain a greater realization of what is possible for them. (IL License 227.018491)
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Russ
After majoring in Kinesiology with a concentration in Sports Medicine at James Madison University (VA), Russ continued in his career path of finding ways to help relieve pain, which led him to massage therapy. A massage therapist since 2006, Russ approaches massage by looking at the entire body for the source of discomfort, not just the location of pain, in order to truly help his clients long-term. He also incorporates his knowledge of sports medicine and Kinesiology to help recommend stretches and changes in everyday life to help clients maintain a more pain free lifestyle. Russ specializes in Swedish, deep tissue and trigger point massage. (IL License 227.017712)
Sage
A graduate of The New School for Massage, Sage draws on her experience as a competitive swimmer to gain a unique understanding of the human body and the anatomy of movement. Having left the office life behind, she is able to personally relate to the stress, wear, and tear a 9-5 can bring to the body, and encourages a holistic focus by getting in tune with oneself and nature. Sage specializes in deep tissue, triggerpoint, and sports massage (IL Lic. 227020449)
Sharon
Sharon is a 2015 graduate of The New School for Massage. She believes that by taking the time to reset and restore our systems, we are able to live a more full and balanced life. As a Massage Therapist, she hopes to create an environment for wellness that is not only rejuvenating but also adaptable. Inspired by both Eastern and Western points of view, she utilizes a variety of techniques, including swedish massage, myofascial trigger point therapy, and craniosacral holds. Her intention is to provide clear and focused treatment with a holistic approach in order to empower well-being. (IL License 227.018456)
Tara
Tara is a licensed massage therapist, musician, dancer, artist and graduate of The New School for Massage. A daughter of doctors, she grew up fascinated with bodies and the world of healing. As a performer, she developed a deep understanding of the body and the energy that runs through all of us. She firmly believes that awareness and respect for the body, even in the face of stress, injury and illness, can open a window to healing, wholeness and some much deserved inner peace. She will tailor your massage to address your unique physical needs and create a space of acceptance. She is a great listener and intuitive practitioner. Her sessions can include Swedish, Deep Tissue, Myofascial, Trigger Point and gentle stretching/mobilizations. (IL Lic. 227019675)
Tom
Tom is a 2006 graduate of the New School for Massage, Bodywork & Healing, where he is currently a lead instructor. His continuing education has been in Table Thai Massage, and Shiatsu focused on back, neck, and shoulder problems. His sessions are a fusion of those eastern modalities and Swedish, deep tissue work, neuromuscular therapy, including trigger point work and PNF style stretches and elements of craniosacral therapy. A sense of spirituality and meditation practice keeps his sessions centered and client-focused. In addition to the River North Massage Therapy Center, Tom also works at the YMCA. (IL License 227.007582)
Virginia
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Virginia studied at the New School of Massage after she decided on a career change from teaching art in the Chicago Public Schools. Massage has always been a positive part of Virginia’s life. Having grown up with many siblings in a very physically active household, they enjoyed sharing massages at young age. Now she continues to honor massage for its benefits in mind, body and spirit as well as in preventative care.Virginia feels fortunate to spend her days spreading the joy of massage to others. She works with her clients to achieve their goals for the session, and help them feel more refreshed, both physically and mentally.
In her spare time, Virginia enjoys running and biking along the Lake Shore Path. She compliments it with regular stretching and strengthening through Pilates & Yoga. (IL License 227.016633) |