ASIS instructors engage with their students because they believe in the importance of this work. We offer a diverse group of qualified practitioners, who believe in high standards, kindness, and generosity.  With excitement for their respective fields and commitment to a collaborative educational process, our teachers choose to teach because they believe in the possibilities of their students, and massage therapy as a profession.

Instructors

Kelli Boening, LMT
Kelli has been a surgical nurse for over 20 years and a massage therapist for 13. She brings her practical anatomical experience as a surgical assistant into the ASIS classroom at Rock Valley College. Kelli teaches A&P the same way she lives her life, with enthusiasm, quality and joy. She has been in massage education since 1995, and is a graduate of Capri College in Madison WI. She is the owner of Kneaded Relief in Rockford,IL.

Laura Rose Boyle
Getting knots out of friends and family member’s shoulders and backs was a favorite past time for Laura while she was growing up in Chicago.  Upon moving to New Mexico to study art, Laura met massage therapists through the natural health community and was inspired by their understanding of health and body-awareness, and their faith in the body’s ability to heal itself.  From this inspiration, Laura decided massage was one of her passions and attended the New Mexico School of Natural Therapeutics and then traveled to Thailand to study Thai massage.  In 2002, she relocated back to Chicago in order to pursue massage full time. Laura was inspired by a client and physician at Mercy Hospital to bring massage to breast cancer survivors.  Through this program, Laura has since pursued further education in Oncology Massage, Manual Lymph Drainage, and Breast Cancer. Laura recently became a Certified Breema Practitioner. She has a never-ending appetite for learning new massage modalities, and plans on continuing to expand her skills so that she can effectively serve the mind, body and spirit of the people who visit her.

Robin Debenedetto, LMT
Robin worked in the banking industry from 1980-2001 starting as a teller and worked herself up to a manager position. She left the industry in for a more rewarding career which helps individuals feel good about their well-being. Robin is a graduate of the Therapeutic Massage program at Kishwaukee College. Robin teaches Swedish Massage, and deep tissue at ASIS Massage, Rock Valley campus. She also works at Swedish American Hospital providing massage therapy for their inpatients. She is active in the community with Chair Massage Events and is a member of the American Massage Therapy Association. Robin faces each day excited to learn and grow. She has advance trainings in Spa Treatments, Facial Toning and Anatomy Trains.

Jamie DiMaria, LCMT
http://www.bcraftmassage.com/contact.html
Jamie is an alumni of the Wellness & Massage Training Institute located in Woodridge, IL.  She is licensed in the State of Illinois, Nationally Certified by the NCBTMB, and a member of the ABMP. Jamie is the owner and founder of Bodycraft Massage PC located in Rockford and Downers Grove, Illinois.  Her craft specialized in Swedish, Deep Tissue, Pre Natal, Sports, Esalen, Hot Stone, Reiki, and Cranial Sacral Therapy. Jamie studied Cranial Sacral Therapy at the Sacred Journey Institute, under Don Massat who teaches a shamanic approach to CST, and teaches Miasm Release Therapy. Through her journey, Jamie has recognized her passions for Cranial Sacral Therapy and it has guided her towards working with not only people with a variety of different ailments, but most specifically with children.  Jamie teaches Cranial Sacral Therapy, as well as Kinesiology & Palpation for ASIS  at Rock Valley College. Outside of her career, Jamie enjoys horse back riding, outdoor sports, traveling, and camping.

RD Hunting, BA, LMT
R.D. Hunting is a graduate of the Chicago College of Healing Arts with certifications in Massage Therapy and Structural Therapy. He completed his certification in KMI Structural Integration in 2005. He has also trained in Shiatsu, Psychophysical Reeducation (movement therapy to increase body awareness and flexibility), Hakomi (a form of body-centered psychotherapy), Neuromuscular Therapy and various healthy movement practices. He is the founder of Standing Wave Bodyworks, with practices in Chicago and Rockford, Illinois.
R.D. came to his bodywork practice after 20 years in the book printing and publishing industry in Minneapolis, New York and Chicago. The stress of corporate life lodged in his lower back, expressing itself as chronic pain that finally released after receiving Structural Integration. Not only did the physical pain retreat, but through Structural Integration R.D. re-discovered a spiritual inclination that he continues to nurture through a maturing dialogue with his body. Now practicing KMI, Tom Myers’s approach to Structural Integration, R.D. is deeply committed to helping his clients toward a fuller and healthier experience of themselves. He teaches Connective Tissue Therapy at ASIS Massage.

Damon Fazio ND RPE LMT
Damon is the founder and director of Earthwise Polarity Programs. Earthwise conducts Associate and Registered Polarity Practitioner programs in several states including Illinois and New Mexico. His programs are Registered and approved by the American Polarity Therapy Association. Since 1982 he maintains a private practice as a Naturopathic Physician employing many holistic modalities including Homeopathy, Botanical Medicine, Polarity Therapy, and Cranial work. He teaches Polarity Therapy at Oakton and CLC, as well as Pathology, Physiology, and Ethics for numerous Massage and Bodywork programs across the country. His personal interests an activities range from Meditation to Marshal Arts and Music. He is currently the President of the American Polarity Therapy Association.

James Frazier MA
http://www.jamesfrazier.com
James is a personal development consultant with a private practice in Rockford, Illinois. James has been involved in counseling, experiential psychotherapy, personal development consulting, and coaching. Since 1985, he has conducted training seminars and experiential workshops throughout the United States, Canada, and in Europe. He is a level two cranial sacral therapist, has held an AODA certification with the State of Illinois. In addition, he was in the first group of practitioners certified by Dr. Stanislav Grof in Holotropic Breathwork. James holds a Masters from Bath Spa University, Bath, England.

Jackie Lander LMT
Jackie graduated from Kishwaukee Community College in Malta, Illinois and began her professional career as a Certified Massage Therapist in October of 2000. She has been a member of ABMP since 2000 and have further enhanced her massage techniues & skills through education, instruction and experience. Jackie has built her proactice in Rockford based on her reputation for outstanding client service and satisfaction. Her objective is to provide a service so personalized and unique that it exceeds the client’s expectations. In addition to Swedish Massage, Jackie offers a relaxing combination of techniques such as Indian Scalp Massage, Hot Rock massage, and Aromatherapy.
She is one of the clinical massage instructors for ASIS at Rock Valley College at Bell School. Through patience, commitment and dedication Jackie endeavors to pass along her knowledge and skills with the conviction and belief that these students will honor the profession and be the best they can.

Ernie Love, BS, BMus, MA, CMT
Ernie has had a wide variety of life experiences to include professional music and theater performance, puppeteering, storytelling, and 31 years as an elementary school teacher. Following his retirement from public school teaching, he realized a long-time dream of learning Massage. Ernie’s fascination of the body, love for bodywork, and strong belief in the conjunction of mind-body-spirit are linked to his involvements in gymnastics, theater and music. He has been receiving bodywork regularly, for over 25 years. Ernie’s past experience with his own injury and the need for rehabilitation and pain management grounds him in his awe for the power of healing energies. Ernie has been happily married to Louise for 30 years, and he is an empty-nester with two grown daughters and two granddaughters. He enjoys biking, singing, playing guitar and violin, and taking naps on any weekday around 1:30. Ernie teaches Kinesiology & Palpation for ASIS at Oakton Community College.

Joe McCue, BS, LMT
www.anothergloriousday.com
Joe received his initial massage training at Heartwood Institute in Northern California. He has become certified in a wide variety of bodywork modalities including Zen Shiatsu, Craniosacral Therapy, Somato-Emotional Release, Reiki and Medical Massage for Cancer Patients. Joe holds a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering and although seemingly unrelated, Joe couples his knowledge of structural mechanics with his knowledge of anatomy & kinesiology to effectively visualize and resolve musculoskeletal dysfunctions. Joe has survived cancer twice in the past nine years and both experiences were powerful and positive life changing events for him. One result was that he received three certifications from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in Manhattan in ³Medical Massage for Cancer Patients. He also volunteers his time to leading cancer patients & survivors in Qi Gong classes at Gild’s Club Chicago. He is also a trained Life Coach and enjoys helping people lead fulfilling, balanced lives.

Susan Peterson, BA, LMT, RPT
www.Massage-PolarityTherapy.com
Susan is a Registered Polarity Therapist and a Licensed Massage Therapist. After her massage training in North Carolina she continued her studies at The Polarity Center in Michigan. After many years in the medical field and the past eleven years in private practice, Susan continues to enjoy providing complimentary ways to help her clients bring harmony, balance and healing into their lives. A long with her practice in Crystal Lake she is an advocate for sharing the work of polarity within the community. Susan teaches Polarity Therapy, Communications, Ethics and Business for ASIS Massage Education at Rock Valley Community College. She enjoys quilting, reading, yoga and spending time in the outdoors.

Sandy Reavis LMT
Sandy is a graduate of Capri College in Madison WI, and is a co-owner of the Stress Relief Center of Rockford. She holds both a WI and IL license. She has cultivated a rapport with her client base through her unique style of massage and pain management where she has incorporated the teachings of Judith Delany, Bob King and Ruth Werner into her techniques. She has recently been certified in Fijian massage. She is the co-director of the ASIS Student Massage Clinic at Rock Valley College, and also teaches in the rehabilitation massage segment of the program. Her unique, inspired, and dynamic teaching style demands her students attention and creates a positive learning experience. Sandy’s passion is traveling through out the States and Europe. She enjoys her dog, cats and ferrets.

Jodi Steiner, BS, PTA
In addition to teaching Kinesiology & Palpation at ASIS at the College of Lake County, Jodi is single mother, and is the manager of the therapy department at three skilled nursing facilities. Her outgoing, energetic way keeps class interesting, and fun, while the stories of her experience keeps the learning real. Jodi is a graduate of National Louis University, and has published “The Effects of Managed Care on Neuro-Rehabilitation”. She likes hiking, & traveling, and she loves music.

B. Tony Zayner MSEd., MSOM, CMT, CH
Tony lived and worked n China for 12 years where he studied Mandarin, Tai Chi, Thai massage, Chinese Medicine, painting, and calligraphy.  He was the undefeated 1988/89 National Tai Chi Push Hands Champion and was a 3 time US Team member to the Tai Chi Internationals in China.  Tony graduated from the Soma Institute for clinical massage in 2001 and from the Midwest College of Oriental Medicine in 2005.  Besides Thai, Tui Na, and Swedish massage, he has also explored Shiatsu, Reflexology, Okazaki Method, and Hodo  Taiso.  He is currently enrolled at the National College of Naprapathy in preparation for a doctor’s license in Naprapathic Medicine.  He teaches Asian therapies at Pacific College of Oriental Medicine and was the Asian Studies director at New School for Massage in Chicago, as well as lectures at conferences on Taoist philosophy, Kinesiology, Thai Massage, Tui Na, Hypnosis, and Tai Chi.  Tony teaches Kinesiology & Palpation and injury rehabilitation for ASIS at Triton College.

Sarah Zender BA, LMT, MCM
www.wholehealthprograms.com
Massage Therapy started a journey for Sarah that has opened many doors since 2002. After completing a 750 hour certificate in therapeutic massage therapy Sarah continued on at the Temple of Kriya Yoga where she earned a 200 hour certificate in Hatha Yoga teacher training. From here, Sarah transitioned to the Midwest College of Oriental Medicine graduating cum laude with a BS in Nutrition and MS in Oriental Medicine. Sarah also holds an advanced 108 hour certificate in Acupuncture from the Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Guangzhou, China.
Sarah teaches communications and ethics as well as Swedish Massage at ASIS Massage. The rest of her time is devoted to her private practice: Whole Health Acupuncture, community building and having as much fun as possible every day. Sarah loves being a massage and acupuncture practioner because it allows her the oppurtunity to help others learn how to have a better quality of life.

We explore human anatomy and physiology, personal awareness and communications skills, along with  a wide variety of massage modalities, all while heightening our sensitivity to the human soul.

Each of us organizes to meet the world in our own way. Like wind chimes in the breeze, the sounds evoked tell more about the instrument than the wind. Evoked experiences are more about ourselves than the conditions that evoke them. — Ron Kurtz

HOME