Prescott AZ Massage School
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 jobs as a profession.
“The main part of intellectual education is not the acquisition of facts but learning how to make facts live.”
– Oliver Wendell Holmes
ASIS Massage Founders
Joseph and Jamie Rongo
Joseph and Jamie are co-founders, curriculum directors, and directors of teacher training for the Arizona School of Integrative Studies (now ASIS ). Their energetic and creative style of living is reflected throughout their work in both the classroom and the business world. Together, and in partnership with all the ASIS staff, they envision massage therapy education and practice to be concrete steps toward self-empowerment and world peace. Joseph and Jamie are parents to three wonderful, individual children, and as a family they live in their hand-built home overlooking the Verde River in Clarkdale, Arizona.
Prescott Massage School Directors
Sara Freeman, BA, LMT
Sara is the administrator and director of ASIS in Prescott. She is a graduate of Southwestern University with a BA in Biology and holds advance certifications in NMT, Teacher Training, and Sports Massage. Ten years of a massage practice in Texas and Arizona helped her discover a way of seeing through her fingertips. Her love for the human form and feel has influenced her as an artist. Currently, she creates figurative and abstract sculpture, with an emphasis on human form, as well as functional pottery commissions. With enthusiastic energy, good-will, active outdoor pursuits, and great quality of life, Sara brings an exciting learning experience to NMT and Therapeutic Processes.
Greta Stromberg, MS, LISAC, LMT
Greta holds a Masters of Science in Health and Human Services, is a Licensed Independent Substance Abuse Counselor (LISAC), a Licensed Massage Therapist and a certified holotropic breathwork practitioner. Greta owns and operates a private practice in Prescott, where she utilizes a holistic approach to healing. She conducts counseling sessions, bodywork, breathwork and lectures at local treatment centers. On the Prescott campus of ASIS , Greta teaches personal growth, communications, problem-solving and overall being human courses. Her passions are her family, friends, and her dog Bailey. She loves the outdoors, hiking, biking and swimming.
Massage Instructors
Layna Cirelli, BA, LMT
Layna is a Certified KMI Structural Integrator, Myofascial Therapist and Movement Educator. She has been in private practice since receiving her Certificate in Therapeutic Massage from the Massage Institute of New England, Cambridge, Massachusetts in 1995, specializing in Structural Integration and Deep Tissue Myofascial Techniques. Layna received her Certificate in Kinesis Myofascial Integration from Tom Myers, The Kinesis Institute. Layna has also undertaken additional training through The St. John Neuromuscular Institute, The Upledger Institute and Judith Aston Therapeutics. In addition, Layna has 30+ years of professional training in ballet, modern and contemporary dance, as well as a lifetime study of yoga, pilates and martial arts.
Tanya Downey, LMT, B.S.
Tanya is a graduate of ASIS, where she teaches Swedish Massage, Polarity Therapy and Herbal Hydrotherapy classes. She is an herbalist, a lover of animals and children, music, dance, and diversity. A long-time facilitator of dance, martial arts, and movement therapies, she brings a strongly kinesthetic approach to her engagement with the learning process. As a bodywork practitioner, she incorporates therapeutic herbal remedies with deep tissue and connective tissue therapy, craniosacral therapy, and energy work. In the classroom, she brings poetry and movement to integrate a deeper awareness of our selves, our environment and community, with an unconditionally loving approach to relations with all life. It is by far her favorite job.
Mira Bai Fairlight 
MiraBai received massage therapy training at the NM Academy of Healing Arts in Santa Fe, NM in 2001. Since then she has focused on strengthening her skillset in Sports Massage through continuing education in myofascial release and active isolated stretching, the Mattes Method, During an internship with a Sedona Chiropractor, MiraBai has gained much knowledge in the field of injury rehabilitation and has used that knowledge as a volunteer for the Sedona Marathon and local athletes, cyclists, and triathletes to identify and resolve chronic injuries and pain patterns. Through her current work in Ashiatsu Oriental Bar Therapy (barefoot massage) she has been able to effectively reduce low back pain and fascial adhesions. She teaches Sports Massage at ASIS. In addition, MiraBai is an Ashiatsu Oriental Bar Therapist. www.movewithease.massagetherapy.com
Kelly Grey, LMT
Kelly (Kirati) completed the 650 hour massage program at ASIS in Prescott and also teaches Ayurvedic Massage, Reiki & Yoga Therapy for their program. She received Advanced Certification in Hatha Yoga at Sivananda Vedanta and received Master Teacher certification from the Wise Earth School of Ayurveda, having over 1000 hours of training. She has studied Ayurvedic Massage and Astanga Yoga extensively throughout India and received certification in Pancha Karma and Ayurvedic Massage from Dr Nedungadi ~ with a special emphasis on Ayurvedic Treatments from Kerala, India. She has been a teacher for almost 20 years offering regular classes and teacher trainings and has been the creator of many of the Yoga & Ayurveda programs in Prescott today, including Yoga Shala, ASIS and Yavapai College. Her passion is the earth and reclaiming balance within.
Steven Miller, LMT, NTCMB
As both a graduate of and a certified teacher at the Arizona School of Integrative Studies (ASIS), Steven delivers a balance of dedication, discipline and wellness to the classes he teaches. His background includes a distinguished military career, renewable energy systems and a leader of personal growth retreats. As an instructor in the military, he taught many community awareness programs and a variety of technical studies. For many years Steven has dedicated his time to various groups working with men and teenage boys, and teaching tools to aid in personal growth and awareness. Steven’s life philosophy includes giving back to the community, sustainable living, recognizing the relationship to all living things and living life in the present moment. As a massage therapist and teacher he brings love, compassion, poetry and humor to all he does. He teaches Communications, Therapeutic Process, Thai Massage and supervises student clinics.
I Shall Not Live In Vain by Emily Dickinson
I shall not live in vain
If I can stop one heart from breaking, I shall not live in vain.
If I can ease one life the aching, Or cool one pain; Or held a fainting robin unto his nest again,
John Morris, M.div.
John has a multifaceted career in educational and therapeutic settings. His compassionate approach is reflected in his personal commitment to take responsibility for his own life and learning. John is committed to his work in promoting positive change in his role as Drug Court Coordinator, working with a team of professionals to offer hope and healing. He is also an instructor at the Probation Officer’s Academy of the Arizona Supreme Court and a certified instructor for Yavapai College. John is married to Greta Stromberg and has two daughters and two grandchildren, all of whom he is exceedingly proud. He also enjoys hiking, reading, writing, laughter, and the preparation and taste of good food.
Michele Munday, LMT, NCTMB
Michele Rose Munday is the Administrator and Clinic Supervisor at ASIS Massage School in Prescott, AZ as well as a practicing Massage Therapist. She joined ASIS after completing our Massage Therapy Training in Prescott,. Michele became an employee at ASIS with life experience as an entrepreneur and a member of local networking groups and community organizations. She works with a desire to help others achieve their goals and meet their desires to learn more of the human body, mind and spirit. Michele is a wife and a mother as well as a therapist. She enjoys time with her family and nature, drawing and painting, sports and is a collector of comic books and comic memorabilia.
Alina Pellicer – B.A., LMT, NCTMB
Alina received her training from the Swedish Institute of Massage Therapy in NYC and has been in private practice since arriving in Prescott in 2005. Prior to her massage practice, Alina was an art historian, working in museums and art galleries in NYC. In addition to being a licensed massage therapist, Alina is an ARCB Board Certified Reflexologist. She teaches Reflexology and Essential Oils at ASIS/Prescott.
Neil Pinholster, R.C.S.T
Neil Pinholster has studied and practiced energy medicine since 1976. Initially he focused his studies on Polarity Therapy and held the position of Teaching Department Head at the Polarity Health Institute. He first studied Craniosacral Therapy through the Upledger Institute, completing the Advanced Craniosacral Therapy level. He has been studying since 1997 with the International School for Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapy with an added focus on non cathartic shock and trauma release with Peter Levine’s trauma resolution work. He has studied and taught in Peru with Don Theo Peredez. Neil maintains a private clinical practice and teaches in Prescott, Arizona.
Melita Scwartz, BA LMT
Melita Schwartz holds a Bachelor’s in Spanish from Earlham College. She is a Licensed Massage Therapist and is additionally certified in Pre and Post-Natal Massage. She owns her own business, Catalyst Healthy Solutions, LLC and specializes in working with clients with chronic pain and chronic conditions. She previously taught at the Cortiva Institute-Tucson. Here at ASIS in Prescott, she is excited to join the team and teach Anatomy and Physiology. She is a self-professed “science nerd” and loves to talk about how the body works and how what we do as massage therapists helps it work more efficiently.
Sally Stone, LMT, NCTMB 
Sally is a business owner in Lake Havasu City. She enjoys helping her clients feel better on a daily basis. She began her studies in Chakras, Aura and Healing Energy with Roselyn Bruyere. Sally integrates energy healing with massage in order to reach and help her clients. Sally’s special interest has been Energy healing, or hands on healing, along with Thai Yoga & massage cupping, Five Element Shiatsu & La Stone Therapy. She is also certified in La Stone Therapy. Sally is a graduate of ASIS, and currently teaches Five Element Shiatsu.
“I have never let my schooling interfere with my education.”
– Mark Twain
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.
In a safe, supportive, yet evocative setting, we wish to prepare students to meet the challenges they will face as contributing members of the health care system.
