faculty
Director of Education - Christa Forsythe B.A., RMT
Christa attended Washington University as a dance and pre-med major then transferred to Naropa University and received a combined degree in Eastern/Western Psychology and Movement Studies. She originally came to bodywork as a professional modern dancer, dancing in companies in San Francisco and Hawaii. She attended The Massage Institute in San Francisco and, while in Hawaii, had the good fortune to study with Auntie Margaret Machado, a master of Lomi-Lomi massage, folk medicine and herbal remedies. Ten years later, she came to Boulder to study at BCMT and graduated in 1986. She has been a practicing bodyworker for over 33 years and specializes in both Integrative Therapeutic Massage and a synthesis of Zen and Quantum Shiatsu. As a teacher, professional dancer, and student of meditation, Christa brings insight, compassion and the wisdom of experience to her work. She currently teaches Zen Shiatsu in the massage certificate program.
Todd Ackerman, BS, RMT, NCTMB
Todd received his BS in Ecology from the University of Georgia and graduate from BCMT in 2006. He currently works in a physical therapy environment, while maintaining a private practice, often working with postural dysfunction, injury/surgery rehabilitation, overuse injuries, and chronic pain issues. His clientele ranges from professional athletes and computer geeks, to grandmothers. Using a skill set that focuses on myofascial release and neuromuscular therapy, his problem-solving approach helps to treat his clients through deep tissue and sports massage. As an instructor, he finds it important to bring a blend of critical thinking and compassion to the classroom. He is constantly in awe of the effect that massage can have on people's lives, including his own.
Caroline Adamson Adrian, MS, PT
Caroline (Carrie) received her BS in Biology in 1994 from Allegheny College and gained animal experience working in veterinary hospitals since 1990. She received her MS in Physical Therapy from North Georgia College in 1999. She lectures nationally and internationally on the topic of veterinary rehabilitation, and is a contributor to Canine Rehabilitation & Physical Therapy and Veterinary Clinics of North America. She presently serves as VP for the Animal Special Interest Group within the APTA, and directs the Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation Department at VCA Alameda East Veterinary Hospital in Denver. Her department serves as one of the few nationally approved clinical practicum sites for the first formal animal rehabilitation training program offered in the country.
Shelly Barnard, RMT
Shelly graduated from Kenyon College in 1991 with a BA in English Literature and minors in both psychology and vocal music. She graduated from BCMT in 1998, and then earned additional certification in prenatal, labor and postpartum massage from Carole Osborne-Sheets in 2002. Shelly has a part-time private practice and works for Longmont United Hospital, where she provides massage at the Health Center of Integrated Therapies, teaches ‘Massage for the Expectant Mother’ community classes, and is part of the BirthPlace Massage Therapy team. She is constantly learning more about the life cycle as both a labor support person and a volunteer massage therapist for HospiceCare. Shelly has been a member of the AMTA since 1998.
Sherry Bauer, BS, RMT
Sherry received her BS in Education from Miami University in 1991 and completed the diploma program at BCMT in 1995. For the last 11 years she has studied and practiced eastern healing arts in the form of Zen Shiatsu, Quantum Shiatsu and Chi Kung Healing. Sherry has been training at the Chi Kung School at the Body Energy Center since 1996 and has completed three Medical Chi Kung Trainings in China. Since 2000, she has taught vibrational medicine and Chi Kung, and worked with western medical clinics incorporating Chi Kung. She has a private practice in Boulder.
Jill Brekken, RMT
Jill graduated from BCMT in 1994. It is her love for the massage therapy profession and her drive for professionalism that brings her back to BCMT as a Career instructor. Jill brings over 24 years of combined experience in all aspects of personnel management, customer service, employee management and business ownership. She has had a varied 13-yr practice/business that has ranged from a single therapist office to a multi-discipline Wellness Center. The core of Jill’s clientele receive pain-reduction, rehabilitation massage. She also has a passion for prenatal and maintenance massage. Prior to joining the massage profession Jill studied Management/Training at Parks College and was an Area Training Manager in San Francisco for several years. She returned to the Rocky Mountains to raise her kids, and also found a wonderful new career.
Laurie Boyer, BA, RMT, NCTMB, ICCE, CD
Laurie attended Humboldt State University, receiving a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology in 1984. In 2004, she graduated with honors from BCMT. Laurie has a part-time private practice as well as providing therapy for patients, employees and community members at Exempla’s Health and Healing Center. Laurie has shared her passion and support for birth with families since 1987. She is certified as a childbirth educator with The International Childbirth Education Association (ICEA) and as a labor doula with Doulas of North America (DONA). As an educator, she teaches childbirth and parenting classes for Boulder Community Hospital and Exempla Good Samaritan Medical Center. As a doula, she has attended over 350 births at various locations in Boulder and Denver county.
Stephanie Brooks, MA, RMT
Stephanie earned her MA in Transpersonal Counseling Psychology at Naropa University. She attended the Finger Lakes School of Massage Therapy in New York, where she is a licensed massage therapist. She has worked as a counselor with children, individuals and families in Colorado, New York and Vermont. The ability to learn about oneself through compassionate therapeutic touch, be inspired to move towards personal exploration and cultivate self-care is what makes her passionate about bodywork. Currently, she is in private practice.
Nathan Butryn, RMT
Nate attended the University of Albany in New York studying kinesiology and athletic training. He graduated from BCMT in 1998 and completed the Orthopedic and Sports Massage Certificate in 2000. In his private practice, Nate specializes in orthopedic and sports massage, treating chronic pain, whiplash, postural dysfunction, and other injuries. He works with athletes and has worked with multiple Olympic athletes, professional runners/triathletes and football players.
Stacey Bronson Gilbert BFA, RMT
Stacey received a BFA in Dance from the University of Colorado in 1989. Upon graduating she moved to Seattle where she had a professional dance company for several years. In 1994, she graduated from the Brian Utting School of Massage in Seattle. She is a Certified Instructor in Infant Massage and received additional certification in prenatal, labor and postpartum massage. Since then she has found that supporting women through the miraculous journey of motherhood to be inspirational. Stacey works for Longmont United Hospital at the Health Center of Integrated Therapies, at The Birthplace and teaches infant massage in the community classes.
Elaine Calenda, AOS, RMT, NCTMB
Elaine graduated from the Swedish Institute in 1979 and gained clinical work experience at the Center of Osteopathic Sports Medicine in NYC. Elaine was an instructor at the Swedish Institute for six years and has taught at BCMT since 1992. She has participated in curriculum development in BCMT’s Massage Therapy Certificate and AOS Degree program. She has also contributed to several BCMT-led research projects including: “The Effects of Massage for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome” and “Chronic Tension Headache.” Elaine writes for massage and CAM publications and participates in a number of committees dedicated to the advancement of the profession. She is a contributing author to the textbook Teaching Massage.
Melissa Carey, RMT
Melissa has been a practitioner of yoga for over ten years, and graduated from Boulder College of Massage Therapy in 2005. In school Melissa developed a passion for Thai Massage and furthered her studies at Cortiva Institute and the Thai Massage School in Chaing Mai. Her passion for the practice shows through in her teaching and her drive to make Thai Massage a more well known bodywork style.
Louis Carlino, MA, RYT
Louis holds an MA degree in Somatic Counseling Psychotherapy from Naropa University, and is a certified yoga instructor with 1000 hours of training and 10 years of teaching experience. For 5 years he lived and served at Satchidananda Ashram-Yogaville® where he led yoga teacher trainings as a main trainer. He also has led numerous workshops on the relationship between yoga and psychological well-being. Louis currently is a practicing psychotherapist integrating the ancient wisdom of yoga within a contemporary psychotherapeutic setting. He is passionate about increasing well-being and making optimal life-style choices in his own life. He has kept up a steady yoga and meditation practice for over 30 years, and loves sharing his experience with others.
Nate Cuddihy-Garner, BA, RMT, NASM-CPT
Nate earned a BA in History/Liberal Arts at the College of Wooster, his CMT from the Brenneke School of Massage in Seattle, and is currently pursuing a Master's degree in Human Movement Science through the Arizona School of Health Sciences. Additionally, he is a Certified Personal Trainer with the National Academy of Sports Medicine, and a certified 2nd degree black belt/instructor with the Kajukenbo Association of America. In his private practice, Nate specializes in identifying and addressing muscle imbalance patterns that can cause pain, hinder performance and lead to injury. In addition, common soft tissue injuries are addressed with an emphasis on decreasing recovery time and maximizing restoration of optimal function.
Sara Cunningham, RMT, NCTMB
Sara is a graduate of the Universal Center of Healing Arts in Omaha, Nebraska. She has been practicing massage therapy since 2000, working in spas since 2002 as a lead therapist helping to create spa treatments and develop protocols. She has a deep connection with stones and had been working with them before she became a massage therapist.
Beth Hoffman, DC
Beth earned her BA in Kinesiology from CU-Boulder and then her Doctor of Chiropractic degree from Northwestern Health Sciences University. Beth has a thriving chiropractic practice in South Denver. She currently teaches in the Human Sciences department in Anatomy and Physiology.
Michelle Howard, AOS, RMT, NCTMB
Michelle is a nationally certified massage therapist with over ten years experience helping people understand and befriend their bodies. She is an associate faculty member in the Human Science department where she teaches Kinesthetic Anatomy using the Anatomy in Clay® System. Michelle has mentored with Dr. Kenneth R. Morgareidge and Mr. Jon Zahourek.
Christa Forsythe, BA, RMT
Christa attended Washington University as a dance and pre-med major, and then transferred to Naropa University and received a combined degree in Eastern/Western Psychology and Movement Studies. She came to bodywork as a professional modern dancer, dancing in companies in San Francisco and Hawaii. She attended The Massage Institute in San Francisco and, while in Hawaii, had the good fortune to study with Auntie Margaret Machado, a master of Lomi-Lomi massage, folk medicine and herbal remedies. Ten years later, she came to Boulder to study at BCMT, graduating in 1986. She has been a practicing bodyworker for over 33 years and specializes in both Integrative Therapeutic Massage and a synthesis of Zen and Quantum Shiatsu. As a teacher, professional dancer, and student of meditation, Christa brings insight, compassion and the wisdom of experience to her work. Her private practice is at the Heart Fire Healing Center.
Doug Jones, RCST, APP, RMT
Doug is certified in craniosacral therapy, massage therapy, polarity therapy, and corrective tissue biomechanics. He maintains a private practice specializing in clinical cranial therapy, energy development and management skills.
Iris Lee Klapper, RMT, CIMI, NCTMB
Iris is a 1987 graduate of the Swedish Institute. She is certified by the International Association of Infant Massage and is a graduate of the Skilled Touch Institute as a certified seated massage instructor. Iris began teaching at BCMT over a decade ago, and has since served as the director of Dream Catcher Learning Centers.
Marcia Klump, MA, RCST, CSTA/NA
Marcia attended the Institute of Transpersonal Psychology and graduated with a MA in Transpersonal Studies/Psychology. She went on to study craniosacral therapy and is a registered crraniosacral therapist. Marcia is also a Somatic Experiencing® Practitioner and works with a short-term naturalistic approach to the resolution and healing of trauma.
Barbara Maciejewski, RMT, CCMT
Barbara is a graduate of BCMT and completed the Canine Massage Certificate Program. Barbara’s love of dogs and her passion to improve their quality of life were the driving forces that led her to specialize in canine massage. The same benefits of improved health and well-being achieved through massage for humans can be a reality for canines as well. Her human and canine private practice, Balancing Touch, incorporates many of the techniques from the modalities of Swedish and deep tissue massage, neuromuscular treatment, t-touch, reflexology, acupressure and polarity therapy. Each session is designed to address the specific needs of her human or canine client. In addition to her private practice, Barbara is a certified Red Cross instructor of First Aid for Small Animals.
Gina Michelle, RMT
Gina is a 2000 graduate of BCMT. Her professional experience ranges from private practice to working in various spa settings as well as with chiropractors. In 2003, she began organizing and conducting weekend workshops for Hawaiian Temple Lomi Lomi. She has also taught several subjects for Denver School of Massage Therapy including Swedish massage and Pathology. Gina’s commitment to teaching involves integrity, respect, and the challenge to facilitate professional growth to students. Her current practice focuses on Hawaiian Temple Lomi Lomi, prenatal, and integrative massage. She trains for triathlons and Middle Eastern dance to de-stress, stay fit and further understand flow and movement. Gina enjoys life with her partner, Brian, and her children Oscar and Sofia.
Natalie W Morgan, BS, RMT
In 1993, earned a BS in Marketing from the University of Alabama. In 2000, she graduated with honors from BCMT. She has a private practice in Boulder, and teaches courses internationally. She is committed to continuing education and teaching from a holistic view of the body. Natalie studies multiple modalities with her current focus being visceral and nerve manipulation. Her yoga and Pilates practice along with Ultimate Frisbee playing deepens her understanding of the body. She believes passionately in helping people awaken and enliven their connection with their body through education.
Dee Dee Roberts, BA, RMT
Dee Dee graduated from the University of Northern Colorado with a BA in Secondary Education. In 1985, she graduated from BCMT and became certified in Reflexology from the International Institute of Reflexology. After 20 years of experience with her private practice, she began training in energetic healing, healing touch, and psychological kinesiology. She loves getting her feet rubbed and loves to teach others how to effectively give a foot reflexology session. Currently she offers reflexology at Longmont United Hospital, as well as maintains a private practice in reflexology, massage and energetic healing. Dee Dee has been a member of the AMTA since 1985.
Mary Kathleen Rose, BA, RMT
Mary Kathleen graduated from BCMT in 1985 and has a BA in Integrative Healing (minor in Art) from Metropolitan State College of Denver. She supervises the massage program at HospiceCare of Boulder and Broomfield Counties, and developed Comfort Touch®. She is a nationally known consultant for massage research and training in medical settings, including work with people with spinal cord injuries, cancer, diabetes and hospice/palliative care. She is the author of the textbook Comfort Touch: Massage for the Elderly and the Ill (LWW, 2010), and producer of the internationally recognized video of the same title. With many published magazine articles to her credit, she is also a contributing author for the textbook Teaching Massage.
Jeffrey Kiker, N.D., RMT
Melanie Russell, RMT
Melanie attended the University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh as a psychology major and art minor. She is an RMT with additional certification in geriatric massage. Melanie also has training in: chakra and trauma training, children and spirituality, Arnold Mindell and Jungian dreamwork, Life Design for women in prison, Spiritual Reality and Spiritual Ritual, body energetics, and body/mind/spirit Reichian. Her professional experience is based on self-selected health choices clients make to find healing, balance, growth or relaxation within a body/mind/spirit framework. When a client is aware of body-related information (a dream, pain, energy, emotion) that invites them to move toward health and wholeness, then supportive bodywork can complete the movement. Melanie cherishes the opportunity to be a part of that process.
Kala Spangler, BA, RMT, CIMI
Kala received her BA in Religion from the University of the South in 1988. She has had extensive training in massage for medically fragile infants, and is a Certified Infant Massage Instructor Infant Massage. Additionally, she’s completed certificates in prenatal and postpartum massage, and Neuromuscular Therapy (NMT). Kala has been a massage therapist since 1997 and specializes in massage for the growing family. Prior to becoming a massage therapist, she worked in the private and nonprofit sectors.
Beck Stephens, BA, RMT, CI, AOBTA
Beck began practicing bodywork in 1982, studying Zen Shiatsu privately and attending the Swedish Institute. She studied with Pauline Sasaki and Nelita Po’Okui Anderson Cook and built her work on two systems of energy medicine: Shiatsu and Mana O’Hana, the healing art form based in traditional Hawaiian Medicine. In 1997, she co-founded Digital Press Publishing and produced two anatomical charts of the Loving Anatomy Series to help instructors and practitioners teach about the human body. In 2003, she began studies with Dr. Gregory Antyuhin, a medical intuitive from Russia who has practiced medicine as a psychiatric doctor and shamanic healer. Beck’s passion and life work is to help people find their way to a positive outlook and a sense of wellbeing and passion and for life to be lived with love, gratitude, consciousness and kindness. She has a private practice in Boulder with Heart Fire Healing Center.
Ines Manteuffel, RPP, RMT, RCST
Ines graduated from BCMT in 1994 and since then has explored energy-based bodywork. She is a registered polarity practitioner and a registered craniosacral therapist. She has also trained in trauma work (Somatic Experiencing© and Hakomi). In addition to supporting clients through massage and bodywork, she is passionate about practicing and teaching yoga. Her love of yoga and energy traditions stems from the recognition and emphasis of life force inherent in those traditions which, for her, are the most interesting and profound ways to explore the mystery of life.
Brigitte Mars, AHG, MT
Brigitte Mars is an herbalist with over 35 years experience in natural medicine. She is a professional member of The American Herbalist Guild, and the author of Addiction Free Naturally, Sex, Love and Health, The HempNut Cookbook, Rawsome!, and Healing Herbal Teas. Brigitte is a professional member of The American Herbalist Guild. She also teaches at Naropa University, Esalen Institute, Kripalu, and Seven Bowls Nutrition School, and maintains a nutritional and herbal private practice. She works as a practitioner for Pharmaca and has a local weekly radio show, Naturally. Brigitte has been happily married for thirty years to human design analyst, Tom Pfeiffer with whom she teaches raw food workshops, and she is the mother of Sunflower Sparkle Mars, with whom she leads Herb Camp for Kids, and Rainbeau Harmony Mars.
Erik Schirmer, BS, RMT
Erik earned a BS in Psychology from Portland State University. He graduated from the Oregon School of Massage and the Berkeley Acupressure Institute. He has worked in spas, fitness clubs, chiropractic offices and private practice during his fifteen years as a massage therapist. He currently has a private practice in Boulder, CO. Focusing on blending ontological coaching, somatic awareness training and transformational bodywork. Erik is a contributing author to Teaching Massage.
Louise Sexton, BFA, MS, RMT, NCTMB
Before discovering her passion for massage therapy, Louise earned her BFA in Scientific Illustration from the University of Georgia and her MS in Medical Illustration from the Medical College of Georgia. She was a practicing medical illustrator for a number of years and continues to apply her anatomical and artistic background to her massage practice and other creative ventures. Louise graduated from BCMT in 2002 and since then has worked in private practice, medical clinics and health spas. Currently, she is continuing in private practice and also works at an integrative medicine clinic that offers osteopathic and natural medicine, acupuncture, psychotherapy and massage therapy.
Aspen L. Sullivan, RMT
Aspen graduated from the Omaha School of Massage Therapy in 1995 and began working as a massage therapist in a chiropractic office. She has been practicing in Colorado since 2000 and started teaching at BCMT in 2004. Aspen also holds a certificate in Spiritual Science. Aspen has been the Public Relations Chair for the Colorado-Chapter of the American Massage Therapy Association.
Jack Vandenberg, BA, Ed S RMT, AOS, NCTMB
Jack earned a BA in Education from Biola University and his Education Specialist in Curriculum, Administration, and Supervision degree from the University of Colorado at Denver. He is a graduate of both BCMT’s Certificate and AOS Degree in Massage Therapy programs. In 2005, he began his private massage practice using a combination of modalities to treat the whole person. He has also completed additional training in sports and orthopedic massage, and has worked in a neuromuscular massage clinic.
Laura Yasuda, MA, RMT, NCTMB
Laura is a 2003 graduate of BCMT and the Institute for Thai Massage in Thailand. She has a BA in Cultural Anthropology from the UC at Santa Barbara and a MA in Education from San Jose State University. She is also a registered yoga instructor. Before finding a passion for massage therapy, Laura taught English in companies throughout Tokyo, and worked in California for a high tech corporation, an internet start-up company, and a non-profit organization.
