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Instructors

Instructors

At SFSM, we are fortunate to have educators who are among the best in their field. As successful practicing clinicians, these individuals bring extensive massage and bodywork knowledge along with practical experience to the classroom. In addition to their diverse accomplishments, our instructors are passionate, dynamic and strive to make learning fun.

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Karen Gramberg

CMT

  • Graduate of SFSM’s Fundamentals, Advanced, and Bodywork Therapist programs
  • In private practice since 2003
  • Several years assisting Art Riggs in teaching his Deep Tissue classes
  • Instructor in SFSM’s Fundamentals ongoing/intensive course and Director of the Advanced Massage Program
  • Karen’s bodywork focus is Structural Integrative body work, using a combination of Deep Tissue & Myofascial release, Trigger point and Cranio-sacral skills.
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Lilli Ann Papaloukas

CMT

  • SFSM graduate, Fundamentals, Zen Shiatsu, and Bodywork Therapist programs
  • Training at SFSM in Thai Massage, Deep Tissue, Trigger Point, Lymphatic Massage, Sports, Pregnancy Massage, Reflexology, Ortho-Bionomy, Cranial Sacral, and Dynamic Stretching
  • Additional certifications in Hot Stone Therapy and Applied Anatomy
  • Reiki Practitioner
  • Lilli Ann maintains a successful integrated bodywork therapy practice in San Francisco specializing in personalized sessions combining Hot Stone Massage with a blend of Swedish, Deep Tissue, Shiatsu and Thai Massage techniques.
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Jim Berns

Advanced Ortho-Bionomist

  • Practicing for over 20 years
  • Registered Advanced Ortho-Bionomy© Instructor
  • Learned Ortho-Bionomy© from it’s founder, British Osteopath, Dr. Arthur Lincoln Pauls
  • Co-Author of the book Ortho-Bionomy© A Practical Manual with Katy Kain
  • Jim has lectured to and trained thousands of health professionals throughout the United States
  • Jim has been teaching and assisting the development of SFSM’s Swedish Massage Intensives over 15 years.
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Bob Gazso

MS, CMT

  • Graduated Magna Cum Laude in Rehabilitation Science Masters Level Program California University of Pennsylvania as well as extensive Exercise Physiology Masters level coursework
  • Over 4500 of training in massage and related coursework including Advanced level training in Active Release Techniques, NeuroKinetic Therapy and Proprioceptive Deep Tendon Reflex Technique
  • 20 years of experience in massage and bodywork
  • Over 1000 hours of teaching experience including Sports Injury and Chronic Pain and Functional Anatomy courses
  • Specializes in working with injuries and in post surgical rehabilitation

Morgan Rudluff

CMT

  • Graduate of SFSM’s 600-hr Massage Therapy program
  • In private practice since 2018
  • Three year SFSM Teaching Assistant for Karen Gramberg
  • Additional training in Modern Therapeutic Cupping, Manual Lymphatic Drainage, and functional anatomy study
  • Prior to massage therapy Morgan had a career in the arts working primarily as a large-scale sand sculptor.  She considers all her years as a sand sculptor to have been instrumental in how she approaches bodywork: “Both of my careers have been equal parts art, design, science, composition, education, adaptability, attention to detail, creativity, intuition, and an absolute love for what I am doing.”

Tim Cowen

CMT

  • Graduate of the San Francisco School of Massage & Bodywork 600-hour Massage Therapist Program
  • Graduate of the Kripalu Yoga Institute
  • University of Massachusetts at Amherst
  • Tim is a lifelong student of the body and brings more than 25 years of education and experience to his sessions

Helen Hickman

CMT

  • Baltimore School of Massage – 500 hour Massage Therapist
    Program
  • Towson State University, Baltimore, Maryland
  • Practicing Massage Therapist for over 25 years
  • Private practice in the Bay Area started in 2004
  • Primary focus on Neuromuscular, Structural Integration, Myoskeletal Alignment
    Technique (MAT), prenatal and postpartum massage, labor massage

Niki Howell

CMT

  • Certified Massage Therapist, graduate of SFSM’s Fundamentals of Massage Program
  • Advanced Massage Therapy training at SFSM in Deep Tissue,
    Trigger Point, and Lymphatic Massage
  • Additional Training in Prenatal and Postnatal Massage
  • Niki has built her experience through work at both spa and
    wellness centers and in her successful private practice

Donny Lobree

CMT

  • Graduate of the San Francisco School of Massage & Bodywork – Fundamentals, Bodywork Therapist, Advanced Massage
  • San Jose State University – BA Spanish
  • Maintains a thriving private massage practice since 2014
  • Specializes in couple’s massage, deep tissue massage, sports massage therapy, and Reiki

Emily Haltom

MA, CMT

  • Graduate of the 500 hour program at SF School of Massage and Bodywork
  • Additional training in Deep Tissue, Thai massage, dynamic stretching, and Reiki
  • Professional massage experience in both spa and clinical settings since 2015
  • Emily holds a Master of Arts in teaching from the University of San Francisco where she studied curricular development in the context of social justice and urban education.
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Art Riggs

Certified Advanced Rolfer

  • Certified Advanced Rolfer
  • Eighteen years of experience teaching Deep Tissue for physical therapists, health spas and massage schools
  • Published author of Deep Tissue Massage: A Visual Guide to Techniques and creator of Deep Tissue Massage & Myofascial Release video
  • Specializing in athletic injuries Art has work with many professional athletes including massage for California’s Golden State Warriors
  • Art manages a successful private practice in Oakland.

Nicole Cavanaugh

CMT

  • Certified Massage Therapist ~ 1995 Graduate of the San Francisco School of Massage & Bodywork
  • Certified Shiatsu Practitioner ~ The Shiatsu Institute
  • BS, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa
  • Additional study in Deep Tissue Techniques, Reiki, Reflexology, Pregnancy massage & other advanced massage techniques
  • Over 20 years experience in the massage industry includes maintaining a private practice in SF, as well as finding her niche in the spa environment, in both practitioner and management capacities
  • In the classroom, Nicole’s emphasis is on the ultimate safety and endurance of the practitioner through proper body mechanics, self-maintenance, and mindfulness.

Maury Argento

CMT

  • Practicing Certified Sports Massage Therapist
  • Graduate of the San Francisco School of Massage & Bodywork
  • Bachelors of Science in Biology and Psychology from Washington University
  • Certified in CAST (clinical surgical robotics procedures) from Intuitive Surgical
  • Over a decade working in the medical device industry
  • College and US Army Athlete
  • Facilitator for US Army Injury Training
  • Additional training in Deep Tissue Massage, Sports Massage, Trigger Point Therapy, Peri-Natal Massage
  • Maury owns and operates Maury’s Massage and Body Health Practice, working to help athletes achieve their full potential

Tracy Rescigno

BSBA, NMT, CMT

  • 1999 Graduate of Sarasota School of Massage Therapy
  • 1999 Certified in Neuromuscular Therapy
  • 1994 Certified Reiki Master
  • 20+ years of providing Neuromuscular and massage services her own east coast company and for local Chiropractic offices, Health Spas, and 5-star retreat centers, hotels and Inns
  • Spa knowledge and training in hot stone, mud and herbal therapy wraps and scrubs
  • Traveled extensively and training in ayurvedic massage and other indigenous massage and healing techniques from cultures around the globe
  • Studied the science of healing therapies
  • Health and Wellness and Life Coach.
  • Functional Medicine Health Coach, September 2019
  • Meditation and Mindfulness teacher in local Buddhist centers, corporations and business locally and the continental US
  • Licensed Outdoor Adventure Guide since 1995

Jeff Ford

CMP

  • Graduate of SFSM’s Fundamentals and Advanced Massage Therapist programs
  • Advanced studies in Craniosacral Therapy, Trigger Point, Stretching & Mobilizations, Lymphatic Massage, Chair Massage, Thai Massage and Deep Tissue & Myofascial Release
  • Jeff has served as the SF School of Massage & Bodywork Student Clinic Manager since 2014
  • Has maintained a thriving private practice in San Francisco since 2014
  • Instructor of SFSM’s extremely popular Massage for Couples workshop
  • Jeff hopes to bring partners closer together by teaching couples how to safely massage each other for fun, relaxation and intimacy
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Sarah Partos

CMT

  • Bay Area native having received her training from the San Francisco School of Massage & Bodywork
  • Practicing Massage Therapist since 2011
  • Sarah utilizes a blend of modalities to provide relief from stress, discomfort and dysfunction
  • Her personal goal in teaching her Couple’s Massage workshop is to provide a fun, bonding experience and to increase the ability for couples to share and connect through non-verbal communication.

San Francisco School of Massage & Bodywork

School Campus
475 Valencia Street – 3rd Floor
San Francisco, CA 94103
415-474-4600
Student Clinic
– Located at the 16th Street Campus
2973 16th St., Ste 100 – Ground Floor
San Francisco, CA 94103
415-660-7729