Our Therapists

The therapists we employ are all certified, highly skilled professionals with at least 500+ hours of specialized training. Most have worked in other clinical settings such as chiropractic, PT, and acupuncture offices. You can be assured that each one brings to the table a large body of knowledge, a passion for their work, and exceptional professional qualifications. You’re in good hands!

Kayla Savage

Kayla’s interest in body science and her intuitive healing nature led her to the National Holistic Institute in San Jose, CA. There she received 1350 hours of intensive training and graduated as an Advanced Neuromuscular Therapist & Health Educator. She offers a more clinical approach to bodywork, taking the time to assess her clients before each session to ensure that their needs and expectations are fully met.

Although Kayla is trained in multiple therapeutic modalities, she specializes in the treatment of chronic pain and myofascial dysfunction. She also has training in injury prevention and rehabilitation, and she offers lymphatic facilitation for both pre- and post-operative injuries. This technique aides the body’s natural healing cycle, thereby helping to shorten recovery time. Her goal as a therapist is not only to help people find relief from their chronic pain and daily restrictions, but to promote a greater sense of well-being.

Available modalities: Essentia Signature, CBD Signature, Deep Tissue, Prenatal, The Five Senses

September Miller

September’s grounded, calming energy & mindful approach to bodywork allows for a more relaxing therapeutic session. After completing the 1350 hour program at the Emeryville campus of the National Holistic Institute in 2015, she began gaining experience in luxury day spas, private studios, chiropractic offices & wellness centers.

She specializes in Prenatal Massage including Birth Preparation, Swedish / Firm Swedish, Deep Tissue, Trigger Point Therapy & more. September loves being able to take her knowledge & skill sets & customize sessions for her client’s based on their needs in that moment.

Available modalities: Essentia Signature, CBD Signature, Deep Tissue, Prenatal, The Five Senses

Laura Craig

Laura Craig has been practicing massage therapy for nearly 20 years. She has worked in Nevada, Hawaii, and her home state of California. Her specialties include deep tissue and injury rehabilitation with a focus on therapeutic quality bodywork tailored to give each individual client exactly what they need. She has continued her education through the medical assisting program at Cabrillo college, where she recently graduated. She combines her passion for healing and knowledge of the human body to create a session where the client will feel peaceful, respected, and come away renewed and restored.

Available modalities: Essentia Signature, CBD Signature, Deep Tissue, Prenatal, The Five Senses

Jen Prebezac

Available modalities: Essentia Signature, CBD Signature, Deep Tissue, Prenatal, Thai Massage, The Five Senses

Lisa Lewis

I didn’t know at the time, but the Universe had definite plans in regards to my true calling. 

When the shift started, I already had a job I loved as an assistant discharge planner at a medical facility in Chico, Ca and I thought I would be there forever.

 It just so happened that I also loved to work out knots and ease tension in the necks and shoulders of the overworked nurses who worked on my unit. It got to be a habit that they would stop by my office on their breaks to get a little relief. Fast forward 12 years later, and here I am, still a full-time therapist, and I can’t imagine doing anything else.

From providing relaxation and comfort to those who merely want to unwind, to finding those hard-to-reach knots and honing in on those trigger points, I can honestly say that this is a job that is NOT a job - it is a joyful occupation in which I gain more knowledge each year.  

That said, I am truly honored to be a therapist, and it is a huge privilege to help those who come to see me. 

Available modalities: Essentia Signature, CBD Signature, Deep Tissue, Prenatal, The Five Senses

Amasa Southwick

Amasa is an experienced, well-rounded massage therapist who is passionate about providing her clients with the best care possible. She aims to meet whatever needs their body, mind and spirit may be having when they book their massage. She graduated from a 636 hour program at the Virginia school of massage in 2006 with a focus on Swedish, Deep Tissue, and Myofascial Release and has hundreds of hours of continuing education since then that informs her practice.  With over 15 years of hands on experience she is confident she can meet her clients needs, whether they are looking for relaxation or specific focused work on problem areas.  Amasa is passionate about bringing more healing into the world and is grateful for the opportunity to do so through her hands-on bodywork practice.  

Available modalities: Essentia Signature, CBD Signature, Deep Tissue, Prenatal, The Five Senses

Dan Perez

Since I was young, sports have always been a big part of my life. My love for sports led me to taking sports med and anatomy/physiology classes in high school. After touring the National Holistic Institute in San Jose I realized Massage Therapy combined my love for helping others and my love for kinesiology and body science. While completing the 900 hour program at NHI I was able to work with the San Jose Saber Cats arena football team and massage at events such as the San Francisco Giants Race and Olympic Rugby Qualifiers. This is where I found my love for sports massage and working with athletes to rehab and prevent injuries. Mixing eastern and western modalities in my approach to bodywork, I like to incorporate Swedish, shiatsu and sports massage techniques to create a relaxing experience that also effectively decreases tension and trigger points helping clients recover and ultimately prevent further imbalances within their musculature.

Available Modalities: Essentia Signature, CBD Signature, Deep Tissue, The Five Senses

Megan Saavedra

Free- spirited and ambulate in nature, I relocated to the area to pursue a life that offers the luxuries of year round gardening and the endless sound of the roaring ocean. Intrigued and driven to understand how the environment around us affects us; I studied Sociology at Sacramento State. After receiving my Bachelors of the Arts in 2016, took my newly harnessed education and love for science back to the classroom. I became a licensed massage therapist; obtained the title of Neuromuscular Massage Therapist and Health Educator through the National Holistic Institute College of Massage Therapy (1250 hour program) in 2018. Since diving into the bodywork world my appreciation for both medical and therapeutic massage has grown and I've added modalities such as dry cupping to my arsenal. I incorporate various modalities into each of my sessions to create a customized and effective massage plan for each client.

Available Modalities: Essentia Signature, CBD Signature, Deep Tissue, Prenatal, The Five Senses

Hilary Ballou

Hilary is a massage therapist, neuromuscular therapist and health educator. Having studied at the Redding campus of the National Holistic Institute, she also tutored many of her classmates. She continued on to complete NHI’s Advanced Neuromuscular Therapy program at the Sacramento campus for a total of 1250 hours of training. She is an avid learner & seeks out as many continuing education courses as she can fit into her schedule to keep learning, broadening her skill set, and finding new inspiration from a variety of modalities.

Hilary found massage after exploring many other career and educational pathways. She blends Eastern and Western massage techniques and applies wisdom and experience gained from a background in healthcare and hospitality to create her own holistic and science-based approach to body therapy with the goal of facilitating both relaxation and healing. She often incorporates advanced assessments, chronic pain management, lymphatic facilitation, injury prevention, and injury management, as well as neuromuscular and myofascial techniques, into treatments where applicable.

Available modalities: Essentia Signature, CBD Signature, Deep Tissue, Prenatal, YoMassage

Julissa Garcia

As a graduate of the National Holistic Institute in San Jose, with over 600 hours of training, I have been providing massage therapy to the community since the beginning of 2022. Coming from a background of helping others, community service & wellness; I like to combine both Eastern & Western Modalities along with Breath Work to help connect the Mind & Body in relaxation. I intuitively blend Swedish, Deep Tissue, Acupressure, Myofascial Therapy & Shiatsu into each of my sessions. I believe in being comfortable in your own body and my number one priority is YOU when you're on my table

Available modalities: Essentia Signature, CBD Signature, Deep Tissue

Poppy Wildey

How far can a gift of Empathy, feeling someone else's emotions, be taken? Poppy knew she had a gift when she could feel the distresses of her friends as her own from a young age.

In 2012, she began to experience the coming and going of pains and aches in mirror sensation and location of the people around her; this is where her curiosity started to blossom. Could she help? Intuitively, she started practicing energy work on anyone willing and open to receiving it. In 2021 she started receiving Massage, and by the end of the year was enrolled at National Holistic Institute of San Jose. Now, she specializes in open flow massage. She uses touch sense and the biomagnetic energy flow of the body to guide her to and through the held tension that can cause limited movement, discomfort and pain in the body. She utilizes therapeutic techniques such as light to deep pressure, breath work, trigger point release, and a variety of stretches to manipulate the soft tissue to get the best long lasting results for her clients.

Available Modalities: Essentia Signature, CBD Signature, Deep Tissue, Prenatal

Bri Padilla

Bri is a passionate and dedicated certified massage therapist specializing in therapeutic and relaxation massage. Originating from San Jose, California, Bri grew up with a love for basketball and taekwondo, fostering her kinesthetic abilities from an early age. In 2018, she began her academic journey with Kinesiology at Cal Poly Humboldt, later transferring to Ohlone College in 2020. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Bri discovered her true calling in massage therapy, recognizing the opportunity to apply her innate understanding of the body's mechanics. This invaluable experience inspired her to further her education, leading her to enroll in Cypress Health Institute, in Santa Cruz. Brianna's mission is to optimize her clients' bodies' ability to recover and recuperate. Whether it's relieving tension, enhancing mobility, or promoting overall well-being, Bri is committed to providing exceptional care and support.

Available modalities: Essentia Signature, CBD Signature, Deep Tissue

Romano Cattaneo

"In 2017 I studied and graduated from the California Holistic Institute in San Luis Obispo, obtaining my CA Massage Therapy license by completing over 700 hours of training. I specialize in Sports Massage, Deep Tissue, Shiatsu, Zen Thai, Swedish, Aquatic Integration, Watsu Level 1, and many other modalities. Additionally, in 2017 I studied at the school of Health Sciences at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester Minnesota and earned my certification in Hospital Based Massage Therapy. This training focused on advancing healing through touch therapies and on reducing pain without medication. Every bodywork session is tailored to meet each individuals' unique needs. I often incorporate Passive Stretching Techniques, commonly found in modalities such as Thai and Zen Thai Touch Bodywork.

Available modalities: Essentia Signature, CBD Signature, Deep Tissue

Rosy Beltran

Rosy grew up in the heart of the Salinas Valley in Monterey County. Throughout the years she has served in the US Navy, graduated from Hartnell Community College and CSU Monterey Bay. She has earned an Associate of Arts degree in General Studies from Hartnell Community College and a Bachelor's of Science degree in Kinesiology from CSU Monterey Bay. Taking her studies even further, she completed over 600 hours of training for a certificate in Massage Therapy from the Monterey Peninsula Community College. Maintaining an active certification with the California Massage Therapy Council, Rosy is experienced in several massage modalities that include Esalen Massage, Deep Tissue, Clinical Massage, Neuromuscular Cupping and more. During the course of her massage career so far, Rosy has worked at several spas in the Monterey, Salinas and Los Angeles areas including the Portola Plaza Spa, Vista Blue, Burke Williams and Massage Revolution. She likes to customize each massage session to meet the needs of her clients while providing clinical-level bodywork in a tranquil spa setting.

Available Modalities: Essentia Signature, CBD Signature, Deep Tissue, Prenatal