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"One of my greatest joys in life is helping people feel better. From gross to subtle, stress to relaxation, injury to health, I deeply value the connections and journeys I take with my clients. Thank you all for the trust you place in me to serve your needs." -Angelica Martinez
Angelica Martinez, LMT is nationally certified in therapeutic massage and brings to Spa Velia over nine years of hands-on experience in the field. She approaches body therapy from the perspective of developing lasting relationships with her clients and is able to incorporate a variety of skills in her sessions. She addresses the needs of her clients as her top priority, and seeks to provide a deeply relaxing, nurturing and unforgettable experience.
After graduating from Mueller College of Holistic Studies here in San Diego, she continued her education with Hugh Milne, founder of "Visionary" Craniosacral therapy, a deeply meditative and restorative modality. At a local Medical Spa, Angel acquired specialized training in lymphatic drainage techniques that were applied to pre- and post-operative plastic surgery patients. Angelica has recently become a national educator on the benefits of massage therapy for those suffering with autoimmune disorders. She teaches massage therapists across the country in collaboration with Cross Country Education.
Angelica has also spent the last four years sharing her passion for massage therapy with local students at Maric College San Diego, Mueller College of Holistic Studies, and the School of Healing Arts in Pacific Beach. As an educator, her mission is to help students develop their own meaningful relationship with this profession and its many benefits.
"Life is people, not places." -J. Steinbeck
My name is Buckshot Grayhall, I am 29 years old, I was born and raised in the Last Frontier of Fairbanks, Alaska. I have been practicing massage since 1999 after graduating from Heartwood Institute in Garberville, CA with a certificate in massage therapy. I am skilled in Swedish, Deep tissue, Lymphatic, Pre-natal and some Thai massage. I have been providing massage in our fair city of San Diego since 2002 and I couldn't imagine a better place with better people.
As far back as I can remember my parents were always helping people. Living in a place like Alaska it's almost impossible to go for any extended period of time without either asking for or being asked to help someone with something. I guess I was raised to think that helping one another was the best way to help yourself; it's the Golden Rule in action. I also can't remember a time in my life as a child when my parents weren't teaching me about how to live a holistic life. All before the age of ten I had learned about diet, exercise, meditation, stretching, and massage. I was unknowingly groomed to be a massage therapist for many years and finally, one day about 10 years ago, everything just clicked and I had started the journey that has brought me to where I am today. And I couldn't be happier.
I have been touched by the arts. At different in my life times I have been an actor, a musician, a poet, a painter, a sculptor, a photographer, a writer, and a teacher (teaching is an art form). But most recently I have been a student at SDSU. I have been hooked on higher education since I discovered it a few years ago and I am more engaged in my graduate studies in Sociology than I have been in anything since my time at massage school ten years back. I plan on going for as long as they let me, and then maybe for a little longer after that.
"Happiness is not a destination. It is a method of life." -Burton Hills
Hello. My name is Elizabeth Monfort and I am one of the rare few who grew up in sunny San Diego. About 6 years ago I decided to follow a path that lead me to where I am today with Spa Velia. I went to school at International Professional School of Bodywork, which was then located in Pacific Beach. Through my training I discovered my love for Deep Tissue and Neuromuscular Therapy.
From when I was fairly young my mother tried to lead me to this field, I resisted, a lot. It took me working in what were considered more traditional fields to help me understand that I wanted something much more fulfilling. Something where I felt helpful to people and somewhere I felt like I was not only part of a team, but part of a team of people who felt the same way about helping and healing. For me massage is not only about helping muscles relax and hoping that tension will be forgotten, it’s about creating awareness between someone and their body.
I chose this profession so that I may be a helping hand in someone’s journey to knowing themselves, also cause encouraging someone to relaxing along the way is not a bad days work.
As I have mentioned it seemed like my mom knew where I was destined to go before I did. She, being the amazing woman that she is, encouraged both my sister and I to follow our hearts. I have to say that, doing that isn’t always as easy as it sounds. I’m reminded of a quote that has become more and more popular of late, it’s by Marianne Williamson and it goes "Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure….We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be?"
"Worry is a misuse of the imagination"
I am a Nationally Certified Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork therapist as well as member of The American Massage Therapy Association since 2005. I studied locally and graduated from Mueller College of Holistic Studies, where I received my Holistic Health Practitioner in Integrated Bodywork degree.
Originally from Texas I relocated California in 1992. Having no plans to return, as San Diego is now my home.
I am a huge animal lover. When I’m not doing massage I enjoy riding my bike, doing Pilates, spending time at the beach with my daughter and continuing my education. To continue learning is truly a passion of mine. While I am knowledgeable in many modalities, my favorite treatment to give is the deep tissue massage. I get great satisfaction when I feel the tight and contracted muscles releasing for my clients.
My favorite treatment to receive is the hot stones massage; the heat from the rocks just relaxes me more than anything else.
I believe the secret to a great massage is communication.
"Perhaps travel cannot prevent bigotry, but by demonstrating that all peoples cry, laugh, eat, worry and die, it can introduce the idea that if we try and understand each other, we may even become friends." -Maya Angelou
Jennifer loves people and has a way of making others feel comfortable in her presence. Her hospitable nature led her to study hotel management in Switzerland. Upon graduation, she worked in the hotel industry for five years in Europe and the United States.
In 1998 she decided to travel the world and her six month trip turned into a five-year world expedition!
Jennifer visited many countries including Mauritius, Egypt and Thailand. During this time, she ended up living on a small island in Thailand for a year where she worked as a scuba diving instructor. She received regular Thai massage and found relief from chronic neck and shoulder pain. This aroused her interest in the field of massage therapy and she began studying Thai massage in Thailand. Upon her return to the United States she enrolled at the International Professional School of Bodywork in San Diego and is now a licensed Massage Therapist. She enjoys blending eastern and western styles, creating eclectic, individualized massages for her clients.
"A journey of a thousand miles starts with one step"
Welcome, my name is Joel Uranga; I was born and raised in the "biggest little city in the world", Reno Nevada.
I relocated to California to be closer to my family. Once in California I studied and graduated from Northwestern College in 2005 then headed south to sunny San Diego! Over the years I have been told and have come to realize I am a true "people person" who sincerely receives joy in helping others. Working as a massage therapist I am fortunate to be able to not only be around other loving and caring people I am also able to help and have a positive affect on others lives.
When I am not massaging, I am either spending time with my dog Ella, my nephew Marley, or simply enjoying my family and friends. I take pleasure in reading, learning, and looking forward to a bright future!
"Let the beauty we love be what we do. There are hundreds of ways to kneel and kiss the ground." -Jalaluddin Rumi
Kristi Vanderstock is a native Californian, originally from Los Angeles, who relocated to San Diego 6 years ago to study Shiatsu and teach yoga. Kristi began her massage training at the School of Healing Arts and transferred to Pacific College of Oriental Medicine, earning certificates as an Asian Body Therapist and a licensed Holistic Health Practitioner. She has earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Health Science, and is currently pursuing her Masters Degree in Traditional Chinese Medicine. Kristi is also a Shiatsu instructor and has led classes and workshops in San Diego, Los Angeles and Maui, Hawaii.
Kristi enjoys meeting and working with people, but her best gift is witnessing her clients' physical and energetic changes after receiving bodywork. Knowing that massage is a powerful tool, Kristi assesses each client individually and tailors each session to the clients’ particular needs of the moment, resulting in satisfaction for both client and practitioner. When not studying Chinese Medicine, Kristi enjoys time with her friends, travel, dancing, listening to music, reading, cooking, hiking, laughing, dogs, dreaming, yoga, sunsets, red wine, dark chocolate and her garden. Kristi finds inspiration in everything that life brings before her and aspires to make a difference as to how the world is viewed through the eyes of mankind.
Monica de Leon was born and raised in San Diego, California. Growing up, she considered herself shy and took time getting to know people. After meeting her best friend in the fourth grade, she was introduced to dance.
Through dance she discovered that though she may not have been best at expressing herself through words, she was able to communicate through movement. After high school, she focused on dance and continued to dance at Grossmont College. After completing the dance program, she decided to try something new where she could help others. Massage seemed like the right direction to take - she could help others through massage, movement, and education of health and wellness.
Monica received her Massage Therapy education at Remington College and received her national certification through the National Certification of Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork. She thenmoved to San Jose, California to try a new environment and to continue her education and experience in massage. Finally, she decided that San Diego was where she needed to be and so moved back. Soon after, she became part of the family at Spa Velia!
Massage and bodywork have allowed her to combine the things she loves: helping others and communicating without words. She hopes to continue her education in massage and gain more experience in all the different modalities. When Monica is not massaging or dancing, she loves to travel to tropical places, and hopes to try different countries and continents in the near future!
"The body is movement. Breath is life. And the base of our being is the support of others."
-Harold Dull
"Let your soul stand cool and composed before a million universes." -Walt Whitman, Song of Myself
With experience in both medical and luxury spa settings, Pamela Hartwell-Beal brings a unique mixture of therapy and pampering to her massage. Pamela was trained at San Diego’s Mueller College of Holistic Studies in both western massage and Asian bodywork traditions. She uses a combination of many different styles and techniques in her work. The result is a treatment that is both restorative and relaxing, balancing the body, mind, and spirit even while addressing specific issues or complaints.
Pamela believes that taking the time to relax and rebalance can have profound implications in a person’s overall health and well-being. Therapeutic touch is one of the best ways to achieve a restful state that allows one to simply "be present". She believes that the role of a compassionate therapist is to understand in each and every session what the client needs and wants that day and to help them achieve that balance themselves through gently guiding change and reconnection of the mind and the body
"Living is easy with eyes closed, misunderstanding all you see" –John Lennon
I was born and raised in the San Diego area. I have moved around the area quite a bit from North County to Eastlake, and many places in between. Growing up, I spent my years in Coronado which is right over the bridge from downtown San Diego. It is a beautiful place to be and put me very close to the beach. I received my massage training at The School of Healing Arts in Pacific Beach. I am certified both nationally and in the city of San Diego.
I have loved the idea of massage from a very young age. I would hear about it from my older sisters and thought it was very intriguing. 4 years ago I found myself in a position to start training, and once I did I felt right at home. It made sense to me, and I latched on to it immediately. I am amazed at how powerful touch can be, and it really is an art form. Every therapist incorporates their own style into each session to create a unique and personal touch. Being very involved in music gives me a background that embraces that freedom of expression and unique, individual approach to each treatment.
As mentioned above, I am also a professional musician. I perform regularly around San Diego every week, and teach private guitar lessons. In addition to performance I do recording engineering and live sound reproduction for many corporate sound companies in San Diego. I love the arts. I enjoy being outside in the great weather. I love to facilitate others in healing themselves through massage and bodywork.
"I long to accomplish a great and noble task, but it is my chief duty to accomplish small tasks as if they were great and noble." -Helen Keller
Originally from Maryland, Rebecca is one of the many happy transplants to discover beautiful and welcoming San Diego. Receiving her training from the Baltimore School of Massage, she is grateful and blessed to have been doing massage since 2004. Trained in a variety of modalities including Swedish, Deep Tissue, Sports, Trigger Point, Seated Chair massage as well as Asian Fire Cupping and Moxabustion, she is enthusiastic about her work to say the least.
Starting with a fascination and respect for Anatomy and Physiology, she always knew a career in some sort of health care was on the horizon. When Massage Therapy came into her field of vision, it was a perfect match. The challenging and always changing cases that are encountered on a daily basis are just a few of the reasons she loves this profession so much. The opportunity to interact and make a difference in someone's daily life is a major draw for her.
On her time off, she enjoys photography, making pottery, (very) amateur surfing and living a relaxed life by the beach. As one who spent most of her life on the east coast, she not only appreciates everything San Diego has to offer, she embraces it. Favorite authors include Hunter Thompson, C.K. Chesterton and Vladimir Nobakov. Life is good.
"Always aim at complete harmony of thought and word and deed. Always aim at purifying your thoughts and everything will be well." -Mahatma Ghandi.
I am fortunate to say "I am a native San Diegan". I attended San Diego City College majoring in music and technical theatre productions. Shortly after finishing my schooling, I happened to explore the holistic field through a friend and mentor while attending a Holistic Living Expo fair. After that experience, I was not only intrigued but also led to discover my life’s purpose as a healer. I am a proud graduate of Mueller College of Holistic Studies.
Over the years I have gained experience in bodywork and am diverse in Eastern and Western modalities of massage. My Western specialties include; Deep Tissue/ Sports, and Pregnancy massage. My many Eastern styles are: Acupressure, Shiatsu, and Asian Fire Cupping. I am also a certified Reki practitioner.
"Success if never final, and failure is never fatal, it’s courage that counts. Courage is the willingness to attempt what can be imagined." My first week of High School I walked into Spanish class and the teacher had written this quote on the board. I don’t know who said it, but it immediately struck me as a very profound statement. I must have thought it would be of importance to me because I fervently wrote it in a notebook and 15 years later, I still have it.
My name is Sarah and I am 29 years old. I was born in Hickory Hills, IL on the South Side of Chicago, and have lived in San Diego for 4 years. My Mother is a beautician and salon owner; my Father is a retired Bricklayer. I was very eager to start my massage therapy training, but was equally eager to move to San Diego. I was living in Wrigleyville at the time, (Go Cubbies!!) and had begun taking classes at Pacific College of Oriental Medicine. The reason I chose PCOM was because of its sister campus in San Diego, so after eight months of school, and having proved I was serious about it (school), I moved to San Diego. I completed my courses in April of 2005, and took my National Certification in August that same year. Next month, September, I will celebrate one year at Spa Velia.
My mother was, and is, definitely my motivation for working in this industry. She has always encouraged my ability to heal with my hands. Since I was very young I have always had a very relaxing touch. Having been the salon shampoo girl for most of my life, that was probably where I got my first, and most experience with massage. I enjoy helping people relax, and helping to create a link between the mind and body.
I enjoy reading, and will read anything that anyone will give to me. I absolutely love horses. For me, horseback riding is therapy, mentally and physically. Mentally because you are forced to be in the now, you are forced to be aware and on your toes, it is exhilarating. I cannot think of anything I would rather do, no matter the mood, than to take a long dusty trail ride. It doesn’t even have to relaxing, in fact the more exciting the better! I would like return to school, and I do believe that nursing is something I would enjoy.
"Don't forget to breathe"
I am originally from Washington DC, where culture and diversity can be experienced within the food, music, and lifestyle. I was fortunate to receive my massage training from a well rounded group of individuals at Potomac Massage Training Institute, one of the best in the Metropolitan area. My training included an in depth focus on anatomy/body functions, how to perform client centered work, and the tools of Swedish/ deep tissue work.
My desire to become a massage therapist stemmed from working with athletes during my undergraduate program at George Washington University. I studied Athletic Training, and used massage as a modality in the rehabilitation protocol. The athletes that I worked with responded positively to the massage treatments, so I decided to go into massage therapy. I enjoy what I do because of the healing aspect that it invokes on the mental, spiritual, and physical plains. Since I have a background in working with athletes I would like to continue my path with body work by enhancing skills by working with a professional volleyball team or gymnastics. Body mechanics are a part of everyday life, but when your passion is to use your body in such a way that your lively hood depends on it, inspires me. Thus my desire to continually gain knowledge in how to perform pain free, confirms why I do what I do!
Secretly, my fantasy career is to be a competitive dancer in all facets of the skill. When I dance I feel completely free, weightless, and boundless. Such is life with its many twist and turns as well as ups and downs so my way of coping with it is to dance, dance, dance. Many say that massage is a dance so I'd like to think that my current profession falls in line with my secretly desired profession.
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