Allissa Haines

Allissa Haines is a massage therapist with a full practice in Massachusetts. Her clients include desk jockeys, high school athletes, weekend warriors, and kids on the autistim spectrum. She is a member of both the ABMP and AMTA.

Allissa’s blog for massage therapists discussing marketing, business skills and all-around awesomeness in the field of massage can be found at writingabluestreak.com. She’s also a contributor at The Massage Learning Network, a private marketing consultant, and a future ukulele recording artist.

James Waslaski

James Waslaski worked 20 years as a paramedic, and in a trauma center, while teaching emergency medical courses. James served as Professional Relations Chair for Florida and received the 1998 FSMTA outstanding state service award. He also served as AMTA Sports Massage Education Council Chair from 1993-1997 receiving the AMTA National Officer Award. James was the 1999 recipient of the FSMTA International Achievement Award.

As author and international lecturer he has pioneered deep pain free orthopedic massage, pain management, sports injury, and sports enhancement treatments. His unique structural and multidisciplinary bodywork approach has been taught in over a dozen countries.

James has worked with collegiate, professional and Olympic athletes, including the 1996 Olympic Games and the New York Yankees. He has published articles, books, manuals, and a series of DVDs on sports injuries, chronic pain, and complicated orthopedic conditions. James has also produced a motivational audio series, highlighting success strategies of leaders in the wellness industry to help guide massage therapists to their true spiritual blueprint for success. James has been working with a major publishing company to publish Advanced Clinical Massage Therapy: A Structural Approach to Pain Management with hopes to bridge the gap between all health care providers throughout the world.

Jeff Mahadeen

Since 1998, Jeff Mahadeen has been teaching hands-on massage techniques including Myofascial Release, Neuromuscular Therapy (NMT), Assessment and related sciences in schools throughout the USA. Jeff has also written school curriculum with topics ranging from Anatomy and Physiology to comprehensive therapeutic hands-on techniques.  He is a Structural Integrator and the Owner of the Muscular Wellness Institute Educational and Treatment Center in New Hampshire which offers over 250 CE hours in advanced therapeutic modalities.

Jeff has worked for the following schools: The Somerset School of Massage Therapy (presently Cortiva Institute), Academy of Massage Therapy, Hesser College and the Swedish Institute. At each school, Jeff has taken a leadership role with curriculum writing and course development.

Recognized as one of the nation's leading educators, Jeff has been asked to sit on a Job Task Analysis and Exam Committee for the Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards for the creation of a new federal massage licensing exam known as the MBLEx. The MBLEx is now known as one of the gold standards for massage examination. Jeff has also worked with the ABMP in practice exam development and was asked to sit on the NCBTMB's Advanced Certification Commitee.

Rhonda Funes

A graduate of American Academy of Reflexology in 1988, Rhonda Funes was one of the first to study Integrated Reflexology.  As a Charter Member of the newly formed Reflexology Association of California, she was responsible for defining “Reflexology” and the scope of practice for reflexologists in the State of California.
A State Certified Instructor of Reflexology since 1994, Rhonda has held teaching positions at the following institutions: American Academy of Reflexology, The California Shiatsu School of Massage, The Massage School of Santa Monica, Emperor’s College of Traditional Oriental Medicine and IPSB. Ms. Funes served as President of the Reflexology Association of California from 2010-2012.
Certified by The American Reflexology Certification Board, Rhonda serves as private practitioner and tutor and works in close association with chiropractors, acupuncturists, podiatrists and holistic medical practitioners.  Rhonda Funes Professional Reflexology welcomes clients of all ages with a wide array of conditions to her lovely office just blocks from the ocean and beautiful Palisades Park in downtown Santa Monica.

Click here to learn more about her DVD instructional programs, Reflexology, Vol. 1: The Feet and Reflexology, Vol. 2: Hands and Ears. Click here to read How I Left Corporate America for Reflexology by Rhonda Funes at the Tools for Touch™ blog.

Teresa Matthews

Teresa Matthews holds a B.S. in Health Sciences, is a Licensed Massage Therapist, Certified Personal Trainer, nationally recognized CE provider and a world champion athlete.  Ms. Matthews specializes in deep tissue and sports massage and rehabilitative massage and bodywork through extensive knowledge of kinesiology, strength training and stretching.  In 2009, she was awarded Sports Massage Therapist of the year by the Florida State Massage Therapy Association and in 2010 Florida Chiropractic Association recognized her as their Massage Therapist of the Year. After owning and operating a Massage and Personal Training School for 18 years, Teresa now delivers this specialized combination of bodywork to her clients at Health, Wellness & Fitness Professionals in Jacksonville, FL. 

Val Guin

Val Guin is recognized as a leader and innovator in the massage industry, through the creation of her best-selling DVD series, Val Guin's Forearm Dance™ Massage, Original and Essentials. She has been an instructor and a therapeutic body worker for almost three decades, focusing her private practice of 8 to 10 people a day on creating better posture and structural function, which creates more mobility and less pain within her students and clients. A popular seminar presenter nationwide, Guin also conducts educational seminars locally at her studio in Santa Monica.  Val is a frequent presenter at AMTA conferences and she is an approved provider for the NCBTMB for continuing education hours.

"Val Guin is well-known and respected in the massage profession for her dedication to pain relief, for both massage therapists and clients. Her Forearm Dance Technique is a proven method of addressing client tightness and pain, while at the same time it alleviates the stress that a massage therapist's body can experience from doing multiple sessions in a day. Val's contribution to the massage profession is an important one."

—Karen Menehan, Editor in Chief, MASSAGE Magazine

Click here to Discover everyday joy: 10 self-care practices by Val Guin at the Tools for Touch™ blog. Take advantage of SPECIAL OFFERS on Val's popular Forearm Dance™ Massage DVD programs.