Faculty - Federal Way
Our dedicated faculty teach massage therapy with the confidence and passion that comes from a well-developed expertise and a love for their work. As professional practitioners in their respective fields, teachers of our massage school in Federal Way bring a practical understanding of the subject matter; one that they delight to share with their students. They work closely with students, recognizing diverse learning styles and developing a supportive classroom environment for adults. Respect for each individual, reverence for the human body, enthusiasm for the healing potential of massage, and commitment to the learning process are hallmarks of the Cortiva Institute - Federal Way approach.
Leanne Dowd, LMP, BA
Leanne graduated from the Brian Utting School of Massage in 1993 after receiving her BA in Comparative Literature from the University of California, Santa Cruz. She teaches a variety of courses at Cortiva, including Anatomy, Business, Foundational Massage, Myofascial work, Ethics and Communication Skills. Leanne loves how massage and massage education help people find a deeper sense of them selves and meaningful work. She is a member of AMTA and maintains a private practice in Seattle.
Chris Kagen, LMP, BA
Chris has been teaching for 30 years, beginning with adult education classes in reading and comprehension, then designing educational and reference materials, and, finally, in the world of massage. A graduate of the Brian Utting School of Massage in Seattle (later known as Cortiva Institute - Seattle), he teaches a variety of courses from clinical massage to anatomy. Chris participates in the AMTA and NCTMB. His home practice in Kirkland, WA, focuses on injury treatment and rehabilitation. With a BA in English from Pomona College, Chris enjoys reading in his leisure time, but makes room for bicycling, camping, travel, and family time with his three kids. When he thinks no one is watching, he rearranges the dry-erase markers in the classrooms to be in spectrographic order in the white-board tray.
