Practitioners

Welcome to our community!  Meet some of our participants in previous 6 month workshop series.  They have completed all requirements and are currently practicing Thai Bodywork.

Registered Thai Therapists (RTT)

John Loft, 2008

312-208-9933
jdloft@comcast.net

John Loft is a former participant of the Chicago School of Thai Massage's workshop series and a member of the Thai Healing Alliance International (THAI). He has studied eastern philosophies and practiced yoga for 20 years. He believes that health is spiritual fulfillment, mental serenity, and absence of physical ailment and discomfort.

Constantina Ntanos, 2008

BS, LMT, NCTMB, ISBE Certification
CSTM Anatomy Teacher, CSTM Community Service Coordinator

708-846-1028
cntanos@sbcglobal.net

Tina received her Bachelor’s degree from the University of Illinois at Chicago. She studied Massage Therapy at Cortiva Institute-Chicago School of Massage Therapy, where she worked as an instructor after graduation. She is a former participant of the Chicago School of Thai Massage’s first series class, Summer/Fall 2008. Tina has a private practice in the southwest suburbs and counts herself blessed to be doing what she loves.

Carole Caplan, 2008

web: www.livebychoice.com
email: carolecaplan@livebychoice.com

Carole Caplan is a certified E-RYT500 meditation and yoga instructor teaching to both children and adults in the Chicagoland area. Through classes and private instruction students learn to weave ancient wisdom into a daily practice relevant to their modern lives. As an Anusara-Inspired teacher, Carole looks to help students open their hearts to the great joy of being alive. Carole is certified in Thai Yoga Bodywork and offers private sessions with herbal compresses to assist in healing and stress release. Sessions are available in Highland Park.

Working Toward RTT Status

Monica J. Brown, 2008

phone: 773.710.7690
email: yogimoni1@yahoo.com

RYT Hatha Yoga Instructor, Thai Yoga Therapist - Group, Private and Workplace Yoga instruction - Thai Yoga Therapy sessions (60, 90 or 120 minutes)

Monica attended the Chicago School of Thai Massage and received her certification under the instruction of Paul Fowler and Paul Weitz. She is a registered member of THAI (Thai Healing Alliance International). For Monica, Thai Bodywork came as a natural outgrowth of her yoga practice. She sees it as a moving meditation. "Coming to Thai bodywork with eight years of experience as a yoga instructor helps give me insight into the ways in which people hold stress and tension in their bodies; it also helps me to offer suggestions for ways in which to release some of that tension daily with yoga postures."

Monica practices Thai bodywork at three convenient locations in Bucktown, Downtown, and Lincoln Park.

Tina Campbell, 2008

Graduate Resources Director,
Chicago School of Thai Massage

sunnymonday@me.com
312-933-1378

Thai Bodywork is meditation in motion, a dance between two bodies. Tina brings a lifetime of dance experience and a deep knowledge of Pilates and body mechanics to the thai mat. It is with a compassionate heart of loving kindness that she offers her support. Sessions are available in West Town, River North, Evanston, and in the Loop. Call or email to schedule an appointment.

Lauren Daniel, Winter 2009

Thai Yoga Therapist, RYT Kundalini Yoga Instructor

773.953.8537
thewintersun@ymail.com

Lauren is a registered member of the Thai Healing Alliance International (THAI) and Yoga Alliance (YA) and is delighted to have attended the Chicago School of Thai Massage for certification. After a decade of practicing Sahaj Marg (Raja yoga) interest in teaching yoga and studying the practice of Thai Yoga Therapy have emerged. Private Thai Yoga sessions are available. Lauren has taught Kundalini yoga since 2006 and is currently studying Level II yoga training materials. She continues to explore healing modalities and ayurvedic studies.

Mark Fletter, 2008

LMT, NCTM, ISBE

773-983-5981
markfletter@gmail.com

Mark has been a practicing Massage Therapist for seven years. In the physical therapy setting, Mark has been able to bring his advanced training in neuromuscular and myofascial therapies to the rehabilitating community. Mark has apprenticed in Peru, studying Andean forms of indigenous healing work. Locally, Mark has trained in the Lakota and Arapahoe traditions of North America. Mark is currently an Illinois State Board of Education approved instructor at his alma mater, the Chicago School of Massage Therapy, Cortiva Institute, where he supports the next generation of body workers.

Ana Gonzalez, 2010

708-359-8775
email: ana@atmanthai.com

Ana currently practices at “Chocolate for Your Body” at 1743 S. Halsted, Tuesdays and Thursdays. Appointments at Chocolate for Your Body can be scheduled through them directly via phone at 312-226-0777. For sessions at client’s home, appointments can be scheduled with Ana directly by phone or email.

Jacob Greathouse, Winter 2009

BA, MDiv, NASM-CPT

773.960.7772
jacobgreathouse@yahoo.com

As a certified personal trainer (National Academy of Sports Medicine, Aerobics and Fitness Association of America), Yoga teacher (Temple of Kriya Yoga), pilates instructor, minister (St. John UCC), and recent participant of Chicago School of Thai Massage workshop series; Jacob incorporates multiple modalities to provide holistic care for his clients. Jacob's practice focuses on rehabilitative care and preventative maintenance promoting a healthy balanced lifestyle.

Mary Griffin, 2008

LMT

312-714-2398
mellengriffin@gmail.com

Mary is a licensed massage therapist, artist and meditator of Gnu Gnostics. Her practice follows the path of surrender and the potential of human experience. She loves the dynamics of Thai Massage and is currently deepening her exploration of the breath within this powerful healing modality.

allyuspa.com
thousandwavesspa.com
private practice

Yuko Kajino, Winter 2009

312.203.3940
Kajino74@yahoo.com

Yuko Kajino jumped into the Chicago School of Thai Massage 2009 winter class without having any background of any other massage experience. She graduated from the 6 month workshop series that Chicago School of Thai Massage offers and started her journey to give compassion and warmth to people through touching. Yuko will be an assistant for the 2009 summer class in Chicago School of Thai Massage, enhancing her skill and understanding of Thai body work. Each session is minimum 60min. Please contact for more information!  

Lynett Koetz, Winter 2009

RTT Member of THAI Alliance International
CYT Hatha Yoga Instructor

312.953.7267
lkoetz@comcast.net

A graduate of the Chicago School of Thai Massage, Lynett continues to study with the talented Paul Fowler and Paul Weitz in the tradition of Pichet Boonthume. Her meditative approach to Thai Therapy seeks to restore balance, increasing energy and vitality within the body. She began her yoga training in the Iyengar tradition with master teacher Gabriel Halpern, whom she credits with providing the foundation of her yoga practice. After receiving her certification through Yogaview, she now teaches group and private instruction in Chicago.

Riley Koren, 2010

LMT

Contact: riley.koren@gmail.com
Website: www.rileykorenmassage.com

Before journeying through six months of Thai bodywork at the Chicago School of Thai Massage, Riley completed the diploma program at the New School for Massage, Bodywork, and Healing. She was drawn into the world of bodywork by her desire to know and care for her own body, which is built around a scoliotic curve in her spine. This work is teaching her to deepen her breath, to view each person she meets with compassion and love, and to create with her fellow humans that deep connection which arises out of a quiet listening.

Riley offers 60 and 90 minute sessions. Please e-mail her for more information.

Lisa Rodriguez, Winter 2009

RYT, LMT NCBTMB
lisa@onceuponamoon.com

Lisa is a Registered Yoga Teacher, Licensed Massage Therapist and Thai Yoga Massage Therapist. She completed the Temple of Kriya Yoga Teacher Program in 2002. With her increased interest in healing and alternative therapies, she was licensed as a Massage Therapist at The Chicago School of Massage Therapy in December 2004. And recently completed Thai Massage Certification at Chicago School of Thai Massage in June 2009. Lisa guides people to heal with movement, breath and meditation. She continues to be a student of life, love and healing.

Follow her in her own journey at www.onceuponamoon.com.

Michelle Tupko, Winter 2009

phone: 415-606-4153
email: mtupko@gmail.com

Michelle Tupko has practiced yoga for 18 years and Thai Bodywork for 7 years. Her work integrates these two practices to help students and clients find a holistic, healthy approach to their bodies, minds and spirits.

Michelle is certified through both Chuck Duff at Thai Bodywork and CSTM. These two trainings, with their different focuses, have given her a complex and subtle view of the body and how to work with it physically and energetically.

In 2009, after working for 2 years as an Assistant Teacher at CSTM, Michelle decided to travel to Thailand to meet Aajan Pichest Boonthumme, the teacher of her teachers.

Michelle has spent the past two years living, practicing and studying in Thailand and India. In many ways, she now considers this part of the world her home. In Thailand, she studies primarily under Master Pichest Boonthumme, and has also taken Advanced Trainings with Jack Chaiya, Sin Chai, Homprang, Mor Am Nuey, Mor Noi and other healers in the region of Northern Thailand.

In 2010, Michelle organized the Thai Adventure Study Trip for CSTM, bringing students from the USA to engage in in-depth studies of Thai bodywork, healing and culture. Michelle is currently starting a 6-month workshop series in Ann Arbor, Michigan with Paul Fowler, to begin in the Fall of 2011.

Terry Wohl, Winter 2009

phone:  773-255-2574
email:  terrywohl@gmail.com
websites:  www.shiatsu-thai.com & www.terrywohl.com

Terry has been involved in the healing arts since 1987. In her commitment to assist people in rebalancing their mind-body-emotion system, she has pursued extensive training and certification in Shiatsu (AOBTA certified practitioner), Thai Bodywork Yuen Energetics, MariEl Healing, Quantum Touch, and Hendricks Mind-Body-Vibrance Coaching, and attained a Doctorate in Divinity from AIHT. Her practice blends the body wisdom of Thai Yoga inspired deep stretches, the nourishing balancing effect of therapeutic meridians and acupressure points work and a variety of effective coaching modalities to help people access their internal resources, which then enables them to handle their past and every day stresses in new empowered ways.

CSTM Associates

Blake McLemore

773-732-7101
blakums@hotmail.com

Blake McLemore is a licensed Massage Therapist trained in Myofascial Release (John Barnes Technique), Deep Tissue, Watsu Water Therapies, Relaxation Therapies, and Integrative Thai-style Bodywork. He is currently a student of Anat Baniel in her Feldenkrais Method training, as well as a continuing student of Paul Fowler and Paul Weitz in Traditional Thai Massage. Blake blends clinical analysis and intuition to support his clients, and help them heal.

He has had consistent success treating clients with:

Chronic neck pain -digestive discomfort -chronic headaches -anxiety -lower back pain -upper and mid back pain -knee pain and weakness -high stress related symptoms -frozen shoulder among other symptoms.

Sessions are specific to clients' needs, and are offered at 1 hour, 90 minutes, and 2 hours. References available upon request.