Deanna Sylvester
Campus Director
& co Director of Student Services
Deanna Sylvester received her Massage Therapy and Zen Shiatsu certifications from the Desert Institute of the Healing Arts in 2003, and began practicing bodywork professionally in 2004. In 2005, she found her true calling when
she began teaching science to future bodyworkers at the Desert Institute.
Deanna has participated in massage and bodywork education, program
administration, and curriculum development ever since. She believes that
the more we can learn about how our bodies work internally, and how to
create internal balance, the closer we can come to true health and well
being. Deanna owns Bodhi Work Touch Therapy in Tucson, Arizona, is a member
of the Alliance for Massage Therapy Education, and is proud to have recently
joined the ASIS management team.
Margaret Avery Moon, BA, LMT
Margaret has had a massage practice since 1979. Her back ground includes supervision of Canyon Ranch Massage department from 1982 – 1985, co-founder of the Desert Institute of the Healing Arts in 1982, a dually accredited, state licensed massage and shiatsu school, and co-founded The Right Touch Massage Therapy in 1984. In addition, she also started the massage department at Loews Ventana Canyon in Tucson in 1983. All businesses are currently open and doing well. She was a founding member on the board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork and has volunteered in many capacities for the profession. She has been an entrepreneur since 1982 and brings to her classroom a variety of experiences starting and managing businesses. She teaches Business and Communication Skills in Tucson, and is the assistant campus director .
Jeanine Jenkins, MA, LMT
Jeanine is a graduate of the Arizona School of Integrative Studies massage therapy and teacher training programs and has been a massage therapist for the past 10 years. She teaches Swedish massage and an Introduction to Ayurveda class. For many years, while she was raising her children, she had her hands in soil as a sustainable gardener, nurturing and tending her plants. She also kept her hands busy as a fiber artist with spinning and weaving. Her journey into bodywork and the healing arts began with Reflexology, but her love of dance and movement inspired her to put her hands to whole body massage. Jeanine now practices integrative massage, drawing from her knowledge of Swedish, Ayurveda, lymphatic drainage, nutrition, alternative healing, movement, connective tissue, cranio-sacral and polarity energy work. She is passionate about bodywork, dancing, yoga and being a mother.
Lecia Novack L.Ac. LMT
Lecia is nationally certified in both massage and acupuncture. She graduated from A.S.I.S. Clarkdale in 2001, as well as the teacher training from A.S.I.S the same year. She received her Masters Degree in Acupuncture in 2007 from the Arizona School of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine which included a two year training in Tuina, or Chinese Medical Massage. She currently practices a unique blend of results-oriented massage and acupuncture in her Tucson and Yuma clinics. Lecia believes deeply in natural healing with no side effects, the art created within the science of bodywork and that great passion for learning can start with a single spark. She teaches Injury Rehabilitation, Sports Massage, Acupressure and Therapeutic Process.
Beryl A. Varno, A.A., LMT 
Beryl started her massage career in Vermont in 1989. She chose to further her education by attending Desert Institute Of The Healing Arts in 1996 with the intention of returning to Vermont afterwards. She never left the desert southwest after experiencing her first snow-free winter.
In 2002 she began her teaching career at D.I.H.A. and continued to teach until 2010. After a two year hiatus she is excited to get back in the classroom. Ironically, A.S.I.S Tucson occupies the same building where she began her teaching career. Now in her twenty-fifth year as a bodyworker, she remains as excited and committed to teaching others in the profession and art of massage
Heidi Wilson, BA, ABOT
Heidi Wilson has had a private practice of craniosacral and shiatsu therapies since 1994. She is certified in Visionary Craniosacral Work by the Milne Institute and in Shiatsu by the Desert Institute for the Healing Arts. She has developed a continuing education workshop series called “Riding the Wave, Touching Stillness: Craniosacral Work with a Biodynamic Perspective.” She also teaches tai chi, qi gong, and Qi Dance (her own creative movement class offering). She is an expressive saxophone player and enjoys playing in Baba Marimba, a world music performing group based in Tucson. Her background in music and dance support her in bringing a creative and flexible appraoch to her teaching. Heidi is passionate about helping people to celebrate the amazing experience of being present and embodied in human form.
Gale Frances, Structural Intergrationist
Gale has been providing massage and more specialized bodywork since her original training during the 70s in Berkeley. She is enthusiastic about teaching Connective Tissue Massage and other supportive classes with ASIS. Through her journey over the last 30+ years, she has come to believe we each have within ourselves the power to heal and transform. Touch has the potential to guide us to that transformative state.
Gale feels most in her element in the classroom and is always inspired when students expand their power of touch. Her experience includes years of working with Oncologist, providing bodywork and as a liaison between patients and their care providers. She is certified as a Rolf Guild Structural Integrator, was director of a therapeutic spa, and has maintained a private practice throughout her career.
Gale creates mixed media sculpture focusing on the human form, is a certified Interior Designer in Heath Care Design and Feng Shui consultant. Every class she teaches or session she offers as a therapist, she sees as “entering the mystery” and honoring the process that unfolds as students and clients open to their own intuitive awareness.
Tomi Murphy, LMT
Tomi is an Administrator and Faculty member with ASIS Massage School in Tucson Arizona and a practicing Massage Therapist of 22 years. She graduated from the Desert Institute of Healing Arts 1000 hr. massage program and has studied extensively since graduation in 1990. She joined ASIS in the spring and brings with her a love of teaching, a background in travel, finance and entrepreneurship. Her therapy passions are Hot Stone and Aquatic massage, combining her love of Mother Earth and water. Tomi is a mother as well as a therapist. She enjoys time in nature, playing with her daughters and animals, and is a lover of learning.
Kris Schaefer, CMT
Kris has practiced Zen Shiatsu since graduating from the Chicago School of Massage Therapy in 1987. She has been fortunate to train with practitioner-teachers Geoffrey Beach, Mathew Sweigart, Rosa Schnyer, Leslie McGee, Lindy Ferringno, Ping Lee, Patricia Singer and Yoshi Nakano. For the first few years of her practice, Kris lived and taught simple yogic breath awareness and whole foods cooking at the Himalayan Institute of Yoga Science and Philosophy in Glenview. Illinois.
In 1994 she began coordinating the 500 hour Shiatsu Training Program for The Desert Institute of the Healing Arts in Tucson, helping bring it to a 750 hour program by 1999. Kris has always maintained a private clinical practice. Her vision for life as a practitioner is shaped by natural rhythms of self-care, working, playing, resting, reflecting, and nourishing, along with an ever-deepening personal healing practice. To her delight, Kris has discovered through clinical practice and the study of classical Chinese medical theory, that her life’s expression of inner truth reveals and proves itself over and over again.
Lori Coletta, BA, LMT
Lori is the Clinic Director for ASIS Tucson Campus and she teaches Prenatal Massage. Her education has been concentrated in health care for many years. She graduated Desert Institute of the Healing Arts in 1991 in Massage Therapy and she holds a certificate in Oriental Body Therapy from the Ohashiatsu Institute in NY.
Lori has a BA in Human Development and Holistic Health from Prescott College and is currently working toward her MA in Global Health & Development in the college of Public Health from the U of A. Her style of teaching is to coach students to challenge themselves both professionally and personally while they further develop their massage skills. She provides new perspectives to assist students with providing their clients with quality care while honing high standards of professionalism. As a mother, she knows the importance of prenatal massage and is able to provide that personal experience in the classroom. Lori is committed to volunteering in her community, in an attempt to increase the quality of life for the less fortunate members of Tucson.
Todd Edwards, LMT
Todd was born in California and raised in Tucson along with six siblings. Todd spent years as a copper miner before he found his calling of massage therapy, graduating from the Desert Institute of the Healing Arts in 2001. Shortly thereafter he found his second calling of massage education and has been teaching ever since. Todd currently is the kinesiology instructor at ASIS Tucson.
In his personal time Todd enjoys staying healthy through weight training and participation in the annual el tour de Tucson cycling event benefitting a local charity. He is the father one beautiful daughter.
Dr. Larry Savage, DC
Larry trained as a massage therapist at the Desert Institute of the Healing Arts and worked in the field at several spas throughout Tucson. Succumbing to his desire to learn more, he was drawn to Chiropractic, since it addresses the cause of dis-ease. In 2002, he earned his Doctorate of Chiropractic from Parker College of Chiropractic in Texas.
Fitness and health has been a long time interest of Dr Savage. From 1997 to 2004, Larry was active in weight lifting and continues his strength training with Russian Kettle Bells. In addition, he is a certified instructor in I Liq Chuan Kung Fu. Larry rounds out the Chiropractic Assistant segment at ASIS Tucson.
