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.
“A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops.”
– Henry Brooks Adams
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.
Anne Conway, BA Ed., LMT
Anne received her teaching degree from ASU and has taught elementary education for 24 years. She was also a volunteer EMT for the Sedona Fire District for several years. After adopting three children, night ambulance runs became too much, so she began teaching first aid and CPR. For the past 14 years she has taught adults and children these life saving skills. She is also the faculty coordinator of prevention programs for Clarkdale-Jerome School. In this capacity, she coordinates K-8th graders age appropriate HIV-AIDS instruction.
John Conway, LMT, NCTMB
John is a graduate of the Arizona School of Integrative Studies. John also has a digital recording studio where he does voice-overs, narrating commercials and videos. Prior to going into business for himself, John spent twenty years with the Sedona Fire District (SFD). As a part of that career, he wrote a textbook, taught in the fire service and was responsible for the district’s public education efforts. John retired in 1999 as the Assistant Fire Chief. John’s connection to healing and helping goes back farther than his involvement with Emergency Medical Services. His father was an osteopathic surgeon and his mother’s motto was “Whom can we help today?”. Massage has become a natural path for John, who continues to practice the beliefs instilled in him by his parents.
Tanya Downey, LMT, B.S.
Tanya is a graduate of ASIS, where she teaches Swedish Massage 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.
MiraBai 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 with 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.www.movewithease.massagetherapy.com
Sara Freeman, BA, CMT
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.
Kelly Grey, LMT
Kelly (Kirati) has been teaching and studying Yoga and Ayurveda for over 15 years. She is a Master Teacher of Wise Earth Ayurveda, carefully trained by Sri Swamini Mayatitananda. She is an advanced teacher in Sivananda Vedanta, a Phoenix Rising Yoga Therapist and a Reiki Master. She is a certified Ayurvedic Massage practitioner through Dr. Negundi in Kerala, India and just recently finished her massage training at the Arizona School of Integrative Studies. Kirati’s main focus is in Wise Earth Ayurveda, with its grassroots origin in Sadhana. These profound teachings focus on our relationship to nature and to the cultivation of inner awareness and harmonious lifestyle practices.
Erin Koenig
Erin discovered her calling at the tender age of 8 years old, when her 3rd grade teacher had a student massage her shoulders at the end of the day while she read a book to the class. She is a graduate of National Holistic Institute in Emeryville, CA, and after graduation, she stayed on as a Teaching Assistant. She has been the therapist for the US Open Track and Field Championships, and became the Official Massage Therapist for the Cesar Gracie Fight Team out of Concord, CA.
After teaching at several massage schools, she is excited to be part of the team at ASIS where she can work with people who are walking the path of healing and personal growth. Erin has a husband and is a mother of a lovely young daughter.
Sybil Larney, B.A.,M.A., AOBTA C.P.
www.zenshiatsu.biz
Sybil’s 15 years of study in the Ancient Chinese Five Element Theory facilitates communication and understanding of the bridge between Western and Eastern thought on energy work and self healing. Her experience as both student and teacher coupled with her keen sensitivity and perception supports her skills in sharing the philosophy and techniques of Shiatsu with others. Sybil has studied with Sensei Waturo Ohashi, founder of the Ohashi Institute, and Diane Connelly, author of “The Law of the Five Elements” and Matthew Sweigart author of “Touching Chi”. Sybil is a graduate of the Ohashi Institute. Sybil’s rich variety of life experience in Education, Fine Arts, Reiki, Jin Shin Jytsu and meditation enhances her work on the creative level. She believes understanding the concept that “the giver is the first receiver” is a corner stone to effective bodywork. Her Shiatsu classes are taught on a futon on the floor and increase the giver’s strength and personal movement, opening and stretching all the pathways (meridians) of energy. The receiver experiences a rejuvenating sense of balance and a restorative experience thus supporting self-healing. Using the Five Element Theory as a guide to self awareness and personal growth is of glorious benefit when working with another human being. Originally from Evanston IL, she now lives in Sedona AZ with her husband.
Jeff Masters
Jeff Masters LMT, CYI, CPT, MPCT, Msc. (Hon.), has been researching the human energy field and consciousness for over 30 years. He has studied with some of the most luminous minds in the fields of mind/body science including Marcel Vogel (IBM & Psychic Research Inc.), Paul St. John (St. John’s Neuromuscular Therapy),Rama Jyoti Vernon (International Yoga College) and Dr. Vasant Lad (The Ayurvedic Institute).
He graduated from the Southwest Institute of Healing Arts, the National Academy of Sports Medicine and is being awarded an honorary masters degree in Anatomy and Physiology from the Open International University for Complimentary Medicine.
Jeff’s deep and varied background creates a rich and accessible learning environment for his students. From hands on bodywork to classroom based lecture and instruction, Jeff’s students share one thing in common: his unwavering commitment to their journey along the path of self-discovery and personal transformation.
In 2001 Jeff founded Thunder Mountain Wellness, a Sedona based facility dedicated to vibrant health, wellness and the realization of the fully actualized human potential. www.tmwc.org
Olga M. Morris, RN, FNP, NCTMB
www.healingartscenteraz.com
Olga is a Family Nurse Practitioner and Certified Massage Therapist in a family practice office. She integrates massage modalities in a nurturing and supportive manner and has introduced Infant Massage through the local hospital services. Olga brings over twenty years of clinical medical practice and application, as well as an enthusiasm and honor for the process of relating the structure and function of the human body to the practice of massage. She is currently facilitating the Pregnancy, Infant and Elder experiences at ASIS. She is an instructor through Infant Massage USA. www.infantmassageusa.org
Heidi Nobantu Saul, MA, LMT
Heidi has an MA in Human Resource Management and a BA in Business Administration. She has many years of experience in the Human Resource Development field in the resort industry. Heidi has also applied her skills in other less conventional venues with equal enjoyment and challenge. She believes this ability to cross between two seemingly different worlds affords her the opportunity to learn from and contribute to both; and to participate in the creation of a bridge of tolerance and understanding. At ASIS , Heidi teaches business and management class.
Sally Stone, LMT, NCTMB
Sal 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, Sedona/Verde Campus and currently teaches Five Element Shiatsu.
Susan Stratton, ND
Dr. Susan Stratton is a licensed naturopathic physician and lives with her sweet family in Sedona, Arizona. After seven years of clinical practice, Dr. Stratton has embarked upon sabbatical, working as a consulting physician for Herbal Vitality, Inc., researching and teaching. Susan earned her B.S. from Willamette University in Salem, Oregon in 1991. She graduated with a Doctorate of Naturopathic Medicine from Bastyr University in Kenmore, Washington in 1998, where she received honors in counseling and also completed a post-doctorate clinical residency. Susan’s continuing education emphasis is in women’s health, endocrinology, pharmacology, and botanical medicine. Dr. Stratton continues to explore integration of mind-body-spirit and connection with nature and divine as fundamental aspects of health and medicine. Susan teaches Anatomy and Physiology at ASIS Massage.
Kyle James Weir, M.DIV., LMT
Kyle graduated from the Arizona School of Integrative Studies in 2003. He was the ASIS workshop coordinator, and now is the school’s clinic Coordinator, and holds an honorary roll of spiritual guide. In 2005, Kyle took a sabbatical as a Presbyterian Minister. In his private practice in massage therapy, he pursues his passion of assisting people to reconnect to themselves within their body, mind and spirit. You can contact Kyle http://www.healing-places.com/
Steven Miller, LMT, NTCMB Director of Student & Career Services
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.
Aaron Wilson, BA, LMT
Aaron left his home in the southern Appalachian Mountains to follow his path in the healing arts profession at ASIS. Studying yoga in ashrams, living in eco villages learning about plant medicine and permaculture for the past 6 years; Aaron embodies the essence of experiential learning! Aaron believes he can best facilitate his passion to help support people in their path to wellbeing, through education, compassion, and awareness. It is his great honor and joy to shine his light in the classroom teaching. Aaron has his own private massage practice, in Flagstaff, where he drawls upon many massage modalities, integrating them to fit the individual client needs.
“Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world.”
– Albert Einstein
