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Information about our Massage Therapy Instructors

NEHA CURTISS is also a licensed Holistic Health Practitioner and Founding Co-Director of Healing Hands School of Holistic Health. Neha’s life-long examination of the human condition led him to explore the realm of the Healing Arts, including Native American healing traditions, East Indian techniques, Western systems of structurally balancing the body, and the exploration of compassionate communication skills. Neha has both witnessed and experienced for himself the awesome power of physical and emotional awareness gained through bodywork therapy. As a bodywork practitioner, he is dedicated to bringing his healing touch to integrate the physical, emotional, and spiritual selves of the whole person. As a teacher, he brings this same whole person dedication to every class.

PAULA CURTISS is a licensed Holistic Health Practitioner and Founding Co- Director of Healing Hands School of Holistic Health. Since 1978, Paula has been studying the human being’s power to heal itself, including work in the fields of anatomy, yoga, nutrition, meditation, visualization, and Oriental healing techniques. Paula brings to her practice and her classes a keen interest in the body and a fascination with the incredible resiliency of the human spirit. She sees her role as a Holistic Health Practitioner as helping to provide the missing link in her client’s own self-healing process. In teaching others how to provide this link, Paula feels that she is able to contribute to the increased well-being of all mankind. Paula and Neha have taught locally since 1988. They have led the Massage Technician Training Programs at Mira Costa Community College, Irvine Valley Community College and Healing Hands School of Holistic Health. Paula and Neha see the need for healing in all levels of our society. The Healing Hands School grew out of their dedication to make healing arts available and affordable in a hands-on, practical skills approach. The school is easily accessible to members of the North County and South Orange communities. Their classes offer well-rounded, professional training in a unique atmosphere of warmth and caring, which they believe is integral to the healing process.

SHAUNNA AVILA-McClure, Staff Instructor
Tenure: Length of Service 4 Months (Part-time)
Shauna is a Licensed Massage Therapist, and a graduate of the Healing Hands Massage Therapist Program. She has been a Massage Therapist since 2000. Shauna began studying massage in 1996 and has had 10 working years experience in different venues with an emphasis on facilitating clients to integrate their experience with massage to help themselves to heal and grow. SHANNON BAILEY, Staff Instructor
Tenure: Length of Service: 8 Months (Part-time)
Shannon is a graduate of the Healing Hands Holistic Health Practitioner program, and is also Certified Energy Practitioner. She is passionate about sharing her knowledge on how to live life from a heartful place through more self-awareness. She offers her knowledge on energy work and strives to create a safe and compassionate atmosphere. She currently maintains a private energetic bodywork practice, loves gardening and the solitude of country living. Shannon teaches courses in Tui Na Acupressure, and Energetic Bodywork.

PILAR CHANDLER, Staff Instructor
Tenure: Length of Service: 5 Years 3 Months (Part-time)
Pilar is a Licensed Massage Therapist, and has been studying natural medicine, herbal healing, movement and meditation for over 10 years. She is a graduate from the Healing Hands Holistic Health Practitioner Program. Her path has allowed for the opportunity to study shamanic and intuitive healing, yogic practice, spiritual, vibrational and energetic healing. These experiences have provided an in-depth understanding of the energetic landscape of the body. This coupled with 5 years of clinical work, and academic study of the deep tissue and structural elements of the body, provide a well-rounded view of the massage profession. With compassionate communication, she guides her classes to a joyful state of learning and loving the art of bodywork. Pilar teaches courses in Advanced Circulatory and Sports Massage.

SANDRA CHRISTIE, Program Director/ Staff Instructor
Tenure: Length of Service: 5 Years 10 Months (Part-time)
Sandra finished her Holistic Health Practitioner training in 2001 at Healing Hands, and is a Licensed Holistic Health Practitioner. Her educational background includes a Masters Degree in Education from California State University San Bernardino, California; Bachelor of Arts Degree in Art, from Ricker College; and, a California Teaching Certificate in Art. She brings her love of communication and teaching to the Massage Technician Training program. A yoga enthusiast, Sandra is a student of the Yoga Instructor Training, bringing balance of the physical and spiritual into her massage work and classes. Sandra teaches courses in Massage Technician and Hatha Yoga.

RAINA COLVIN, Staff Instructor
Tenure: Length of Service: 12 years 10 months (Part-time)
Raina is a Fine Artist as well as a Holistic Health Practitioner (HHP), having received a Certificate in the HHP Program from Healing Hands. Raina is a Licensed Holistic Health Practitioner. She also has Blending insightful observation and hands-on work, Raina maintains a renewed wonder of the human form and all its possibilities. Seeing bodywork as a gateway for growth and nurturing, Raina brings the joy of doing to Healing Hands. Raina teaches courses in Chair Massage, Tui Na Acupressure, Shiatsu, Massage Technician, Advanced Circulatory, and Sports Massage.

DANIELLE FRAGER, Staff Instructor,
Tenure: Length of Service: 3 Years 4 Months (Part-time)
Danielle is a Licensed Massage Therapist, and a graduate of Healing Hands Holistic Health Practitioner Program, with experience in chiropractics and physical therapy. Her love of bodywork and a healthy, active lifestyle creates a passionate environment. She hopes to pass on her genuine concern to help people heal to all her students. She strives to stimulate a positive and accepting atmosphere.

DENISE FULTZ, Staff Instructor
Tenure: Length of Service: 11 Years 2 Months (Part-time)
Denise is a graduate of Healing Hands, where she received a Certificate as a Holistic Health Practitioner and a license in Therapeutics in the City of Vista. Denise has a strong background and interest in Homeopathy. Her many years as a volunteer in hospice patient care has led her to specialize in therapeutic massage for the elderly and terminally ill. Valued for her compassion and humor, she encourages her students to assimilate the therapeutic effects of massage at deeper levels. Denise teaches courses in Anatomy for Body workers, Geriatric Massage, Massage Technician, Reflexology, and Homeopathy.

KRYSLA GROTHE, Staff Instructor
Tenure: Length of Service: 3 Months (Part-time)
Krysla is a Licensed Massage Therapist with a love for all types of bodywork. She graduated from the Healing Hands Massage Therapist program and received her Certificate. She has experience in many settings including but not limited to doing bodywork in drug rehabilitation, corporate chair massage, spa, and private clientèle, and has benefited from the opportunity to work with and learn from a handful of very talented body workers. She brings a warm and energetic presence into class that can show that discovering these sacred techniques is as much innate as it is learned.

J.R. PRICE, Staff Instructor
Tenure: Length of Service: 1 Year 3 Months (Part-time)
J.R. is a San Diego native with a successful bodywork practice focusing on injury rehabilitation and chronic pain. His own personal experience with spinal injury led him away from custom-home construction, into the field of Holistic Health and more specifically, Deep Tissue/Myofascial Therapies. Working along side a local chiropractor, J.R. marveled at the amazing healing capacity of the human body and at the effectiveness of compassionate, intuitive bodywork. J.R. believes in uncovering the core dysfunctions in the body and not just addressing the more obvious symptoms. With reverence and awe for the profound mind/body connection, J.R. presents a compelling and dynamic approach to doing bodywork. An athlete all his life, J.R. is a record holder for several track events, an avid mountain biker and rock climber, and a practicing yogi. Through his athletic and bodywork experience, J.R. also teaches ways to become a balanced bodyworker. To ensure a long, productive career. J.R. believes in creating a sacred space in his classes where honesty and open communication prevail and where no one is left behind. J.R. teaches courses in Deep Tissue Manipulations, Advanced Circulatory and Sports Massage.