Spa Staff
IO CERTIFIED MASSAGE THERAPISTS
Ashley Burnett has a deep understanding and love for the human body. She believes that in order for us to function at our peak efficiency and live healthy lives, we must keep our bodies “toned and tuned” by giving ourselves the appropriate attention we deserve. The healing and relaxing qualities of massage help us to achieve these goals. Specializing in Deep Tissue, Swedish and Shiatsu modalities, she also focuses on breath awareness as well as grounding and centering energy during her sessions. In addition to practicing massage, Ashley is a professional modern dancer in SF, and holds a BFA in Dance Performance. Influenced by movement, she brings to her practice a strong kinetic awareness, which allows her to customize the massage to each clients specific needs.
Maeanna Glenn brings a joyful and nurturing presence to her bodywork. Trained as a massage therapist at the Institute for Conscious Body Work in Corte Madera, Maeanna utilizes the philosophies of Swedish, reflexology, deep tissue and polarity energy work into each of her sessions. She is a trained Doula (birth assistant) and is currently pursuing higher education to become a nurse-midwife. Maeanna creates a compassionate and warm healing space for her clients to experience a state of truly being cared for. She has a deep, yet soothing touch, and encourages her clients to utilize their own power of breath to maximize their treatments. She has been drawn to noninvasive and alternative modalities of healing since early childhood, and pulls from the calming and restorative energies of the natural world throughout her work. Maeanna is also an endurance athlete, finding much of her own healing through running, cycling, swimming and a dedicated yoga practice.
Brian Kerley graduated from massage school on the Big Island of Hawaii in 2003 and has been creatively combining massage techniques with energetic awareness ever since. A student of Jin Shin Tara (a Japanese form of energy medicine) for several years, he has developed highly tuned listening skills to hone in on areas of resistance in his clients. Blending traditional Swedish, Hawaiian Lomi Lomi, Deep Tissue and CranioSacral Therapies, Brian is able to create a truly unique experience based on his clients’ needs. As a black-belt in Aikido (a peaceful martial art) and dancer of Argentine Tango, Brian understands the subtleties of movement and is mindful of body alignment. Truly passionate about his work and sharing it with others, his awareness is evident.
Byron Lerner is a classically trained musician with a degree in music theory and performance. His massage journey began through his attempts to confront the years of suffering from chronic wrist, neck, shoulder and low back pain due to repetitive stress injuries – a common complaint among musicians. Focusing on health and healing turned his life around as he successfully ridded his body of chronic pain. His own process for recovery empowered him with the tools and prompted him to help others work through physical pain and bodily injuries. Working with people’s bodies is something that may be in the genes for Byron as his immediate family consists of two physicians, two acupuncturists and a chiropractor. His study of and practice with the human body is informed by this family influence and attention to healing. His training includes, Tui Na, Zen Shiatsu, Thai massage, Jin Shin Acupressure, and Neuro-Muscular technique.
Nathan Lupo became inspired to practice massage professionally after participating in a yoga teacher training a few years ago. During his training, he realized that well-being was contingent upon the health of body, mind and spirit. Encouraged by his experience, Nathan went on to study with Fred and Cheryl Mitouer at the Pacific School of Massage. He believes in the body’s capacity to heal itself, and hopes to encourage each body along its own path. Toward that end he incorporates Deep Tissue therapy, Acupressure, stretching and breath work into his Swedish-style massage. In addition to practicing massage, Nathan is also a psychotherapist in training at the California Institute of Integral Studies.
Karl Reed takes a grounding and nurturing approach to massage therapy. A native of San Francisco, he studied massage at the National Holistic Institute and has been a certified therapist since 2003. Karl believes in taking a personal approach to the art of massage, and sculps each session to fit each client’s individual needs. He incorporates a variety of massage styles, including Swedish, Deep Tissue, Shiatsu, and Anma, a massage which focuses on the balance and movement of energy in the body. Karl’s journey into the world of healing began after a life-threatening injury, when he realized the divine connection between the body and the spirit. In his spare time, Karl enjoys cooking and playing his drums.
Lisa Souza has dedicated her life to facilitate others in their health and wellbeing. Helping people as a whole; Body, Mind, and Spirit. She has chosen Massage Therapy as a tool in hopes to reach out to all who need assistance in healing. Lisa has been energetically drawn to alternative therapies since she was a child, though her massage journey began in 2002. Since then it has blossomed into a full time passion, leading her to study other avenues of holistic health care such as healing through nutrition, aromatherapy, yoga, and herbal and homeopathic remedies. Lisa tends to her own garden of medicinal herbs, and seasonal vegetables, where she makes a variety herbal tinctures, salves, and flower essences. Lisa combines Reiki, Deep Tissue, Acupressure, and Stretching into her sessions and she is also trained in Bowen Pain Relief Therapy, and BodyTalk Therapy.
Mieze Steinberg has an approach that can best be summarized by the phrase Open Heart Open Mind. She enters a session with no agenda, the issues that are discussed in the consultation may be different than what the body presents to her as what it needs. For Mieze, a good massage is a dance, an ebb and flow, a fine-tuning to what the energy of the body and breath are subtly broadcasting. Fluent and attuned to the body after seven years of study and practice she still honors the daily learning that takes place in each and every session. Prayer, including visualization and positive affirmation, plays a major role in helping focus her abilities on each person that climbs onto her table. In tailoring each massage to each person’s particular needs, Mieze’s offerings range from trigger point therapy, reiki, and injury massage to cranio-sacral, acupressure, yogic and thai stretching and beyond.
Carrie Stone began her massage practice in New Orleans in 2001. She returned to the Bay Area in 2006 bringing with her a blend of massage therapy that stays fresh and enlivened by her continuous study. Trained in many modalities, she utilizes Thai massage sequencing for tonification and flexibility, Reiki to promote energetic balancing, deep tissue to reduce scar tissue, Swedish for relaxation, and reflexology for rejuvenation. As a practitioner, it has been her intention to create a specialized therapeutic experience for her clients whom she hopes will leave the session educated and enlightened. Such an education will hopefully encourage each client to think of their endeavors towards equilibrium as an investment in their own longevity.
Caitlin Sweet approaches her bodywork with great love. She has great respect for each individual client and their unique experience with their own body. Caitlin combines rocking, compression, gentle stretching, therapeutic deep work, postural analysis, and relaxing light touch to tailor each session to the client’s needs. She graduated from East-West College of the Healing Arts in 2003 where she studied Swedish, Deep Tissue, and Energy Work. Besides being a Massage Therapist, Caitlin is a sculptor who uses the beauty of human anatomy as the basis for abstract installation work.
Christy Swenson was born and raised in beautiful Alaska. She has been blessed to learn Thai massage, Hot Stone Massage, Reflexology, Raindrop Therapy, Swedish, Deep Tissue, Aromatherapy, Hydrotherapy, Pre-Natal and an Ayurvedic philosophy that incorporates using your body type. Christy believes we can live in harmony with our bodies, we just have to listen. Her sessions are invigorating and thorough leaving you completely revived. She recently went to Yoga teacher training at New York’s Laughing Lotus and designs hand drawn and hand painted cards.
Joe Waterman is a Nationally Certified Massage Therapist, who recently relocated to the Bay Area. A native of the Midwest, he moved to Arizona in 2003 to enroll at the Phoenix Therapeutic Massage College. Upon completion he found immediate placement at the largest Health Spa/Fitness Center in the Scottsdale/Phoenix area. During his time at the spa, he provided personalized massage for a variety of sports injuries as well as body treatments. Joe has subsequently studied Traditional Thai Massage, which has had a profound impact on his approach to bodywork. Joe’s compassionate approach to bodywork is centered on creating space within the body. His sessions utilize slow, steady pressure to achieve total relaxation and stress reduction as an alternative to the fast-pace world we live and work in. Joe creates unique therapeutic experiences based upon your individual needs, incorporating Deep Tissue, Reflexology, Reiki, Trigger Point techniques and Thai Massage stretching.
Kala Wright combines Swedish and Vibrational Massage, with elements of Acupressure, Shiatsu, and Reflexology in order to address stress-relief, centering, integration, and soothing relaxation. Kala’s style is a nurturing Swedish. Her compassionate and caring nature, technical skill, and intuitive ability to pinpoint and release areas of stress all help to create an experience of deep healing and relaxation for every client. Kala was drawn to Massage Therapy during her own battle with cancer in 1999-2000. She began massage training in Hawaii and New York, and then came to study in California at The World School of Massage and Advanced Healing in San Francisco. She also spent time under the guidance of a talented chiropractor, providing pain relief/therapeutic massage. Kala’s goal is to assist and guide others on their journey towards wholeness, self-awareness, and vibrant, radiant health.
Ilya Yacobson has been on the quest for vibrant spiritual and physical health since 1992. His dream was to become a mystical shaman awakening the potential of each soul to thrive and celebrate their lives in harmony with their world, loved ones, and their path. Ilya has been strongly influenced by native healing modalities in the US and Russia. Meditation, healthy food and prayer are his foundations for balanced living. After finishing his pre-med Bachelors in Molecular and Cell biology at UC Berkeley, he proceeded to earn his Masters in Chinese Medicine and is practicing Acupuncture and Herbal Therapy at IO as well as massage. His passionate and playful yet deeply attentive and thorough style draws from his training in Acupressure, Shiatsu, Tui Na, Deep Tissue, Swedish, Breathwork, Cranial Sacral, and Chi Nei Tsang (visceral massage). His outgoing yet serene personality and penchant for the balanced structure and fluid movement of the body create relaxed yet invigorating massage with joint mobilizations, and yogic stretches, along with deep muscular relaxation.
IO LICENSED ESTHETICIANS
Kristen Fumia has always been passionate about leading a healthy lifestyle and taking care of her body. For her, skin care is one important piece of the wellness puzzle. Kristen believes that her job is never done with skin care and healthy living so she continues to enrich her talents by keeping up to date with new techniques and information, focusing on advanced massage techniques, anti-aging and acne treatment. Kristen became interested in skin care while attending University of Oregon where she waxed her friends’ eyebrows, applied masks and massaged them during finals (lucky friends!). After graduating with a degree in Educational Studies, Kristen went on to study skin care at the reputed San Francisco Institute of Esthetics where she was licensed. Kristen blends both of her scholastic degrees to teach her clients about health and skin care. Clients leave her treatments relaxed, informed, and glowing. Ultimately, Kristen loves helping people whether it be improving their skin, giving a pampering massage or simply being a good listener.
Jennifer Gallegos is a perceptive and skilled Esthetician offering thorough skin treatment with a warm and relaxing style. She enjoys providing in depth information about client’s skin and home care recommendations to help keep it looking its best. Jennifer also includes an extensive, tension-relieving massage in her facials to help her clients feel their best. Jennifer’s well-known waxing technique is gentle and meticulous. Many happy clients of Jennifer’s recommend ending any facial treatment with a brow shaping for the perfect brows. Trained and licensed in Esthetics in San Francisco, and continuing to update her education with advanced courses, Jennifer has been providing excellent skin care in San Francisco since 2001.
Jennie Hooker has been an Esthetician since 2000, balancing the art of pampering as well as striving to see amazing skin care results in her clients. Jennie is also a certified massage therapist and enhances her facial work with her lavish massage technique, helping make the client experience even more soothing and enjoyable. With her attention to detail, love for extractions and making clients feel at ease, Jennie is dedicated to working alongside clients and zeroing in on their skin care needs. Jennie has been the Esthetics Manager at IO since its inception and continues to happily build and grow her team and clientele.
Abbie Lewis has been a certified clinical Esthetician in the Bay Area since 1999. She has a true passion for her work and is skilled in every aspect of esthetics, from clinical-level treatments and pampering spa facials to precise and gentle waxing. Abbie’s nurturing and warm bedside manner, as well as her attention to detail and excellent listening skills, make her treatments truly exceptional. A Bay Area native, she has extensive experience with a number of skin care lines and has a love for customizing home care regimens and educating her clients. Abbie is also known for her thorough yet painless extractions, as well as her highly-regarded talent for shaping and perfecting even the most unruly eyebrows.
Alicia Moody has been a Licensed Esthetician since 1997 and began lecturing to junior and senior high school students on skin care hygiene and self-esteem issues on a weekly basis in 2001. A recent transplant to San Francisco from Los Angeles, Alicia has worked in various aspects of the spa industry and hospitality for nearly 12 years. Alicia believes in total body and mind wellness where skin care is one important part of the puzzle. She is a great listener, a positive person and is also specifically talented with problem skin, having had her own bouts with acne as a young adult. Alicia is an enthusiastic newcomer to the Bay Area and to IO. She intends to stay involved in the spa culture for many years to come.
Yolanda Porrata creates an unforgettable spa experience with passion, creativity and a love for all things beautiful. She is an experienced esthetician with an exceptional gift for cultivating genuine relationships with her clients. Listening carefully to their needs and concerns, she is able to make well-informed recommendations and provide outstanding service. Yolanda thrives on providing the appropriate atmosphere, from the quiet and grounded facial to the great sense of humor and confidence during waxing. She’ll make you feel safe and at ease even while receiving her highly reputed Brazilian bikini wax. Growing up in the beautiful wilds of West Marin, Yolanda’s appreciation for the natural world has given her a holistic approach to skin care. She believes that the health of this planet depends on each and every one of us. These core beliefs and her commitment to educating her clients on their best choices in skincare are evident from the beginning and keep loyal client’s coming back for more.
Catherine Wargo has a passion for skin care that has guided her developing role at IO. During her work here as Senior Client Services Coordinator, she excelled in spot-on product recommendations and on-the-floor skin care troubleshooting. Finding this her favorite part of the job, she attended the reputed San Francisco Institute of Esthetics and Cosmetology. Since achieving her Esthetics Licensing, Catherine has taken every advanced education opportunity, most notably working towards her certification as a Swedish Massage Therapist. She has also trained in reflexology and acneic skin care, and has attended advanced seminars on product ingredients and FDA approvals. A fitness enthusiast and whole foods consumer, Catherine includes all of these elements in her treatments. Known for making clients feel at ease, she uses her massage certification and skin care knowledge to make facials relaxing and informative. She is proud to have trained extensively at IO and continues to learn from her talented colleagues on a daily basis.
