Our faculty is composed of experienced, caring massage therapists who are devoted to sharing their knowledge and skills with students in a holistic educational setting. They bring a rich diversity of backgrounds to their classrooms.

Highlighting some of our Instructors:

• Bissen, Evi LMT
• Brei, Angela LMT
• Byrnes, Shelly LMT
• Davis, Patrick LMT
• Garrisi, Gabriella LMT
• Geyer, Maryk M. ND
• Gomillion, Edward LMT
• Katz, David DPM, BS
• Lessard, Grant RMT
• Miller, Don LMT
• Perkovich, Sophia LMT
• Venezia, Maria LMT, NCTMB
• Warner, Nicholas DC, CMT
• Watt, Brian

Evi Bissen, LMT
Evi Bissen has been a licensed massage therapist since 2000. She graduated from Phoenix Therapeutic Massage College that same year. She has worked in Chiropractic offices, hospitals and massage schools in addition to her onsite massage practice with loyal customers. Evi has a specialty in energy work  (Reiki II) and uses it intuitively with her eclectic style of massage. She incorporates various styles such as trigger point , Swedish, Reflexology , Lymphatic and Thai massage creatively for each of her clients which is a main reason for their loyalty.

Angela Brei, LMT
Angela Brei is a graduate from the Chicago School of Massage Therapy, and has practiced professionally since 1994, as well as instructed for Cortiva Institute in Chicago. Before relocating to Arizona she owned a spa and a private practice offering clinical massage therapy to those suffering from chronic discomfort or pain. She is proficient in myofascial Release, trigger point therapy, sports massage and pregnancy massage as well as a blend of many other modalities. Angela is certified with the National Certification Board of Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork and a member of the American Massage Therapy Association. Her teaching style is innovative and inspiring while creating a safe and healthy environment for acquiring knowledge and comprehension.

Shelly Byrnes, LMT
Shelley Byrnes has a BA in English and an AAS in Therapeutic Massage. She received her Associates degree in Therapeutic Massage with special emphasis in Craniosacral Therapy and Eastern Therapies in 2003. She has worked as a Licensed Massage Therapist in various venues including: a massage clinic, a chiropractic office, and a private resort club while building her own outcall business.

Patrick Davis, LMT
Patrick Davis holds a degree in clinical massage therapy and has been a Licensed Massage Therapist for over ten years. Patrick has taught for 8 years and has served as a Clinic Supervisor, Departmental Chair and Clinic Director. His focus is on Neuromuscular Therapy , Deep Tissue, and Sports Massage. His private practice includes a history of physical therapy, rehabilitation, and amateur and professional sporting teams.

Gabriella Garrisi, LMT
Gabriella graduated with honors from Utah College of Massage Therapy Family of Schools. Just after her graduation in 2004 she was asked to join their teaching team in as a teaching assistant, which she did for an additional three terms. She opened a private massage therapy practice in 2005 after working in a Chiropractic Clinic for a short time and has had a full practice since 2004. She specializes in pain relief and performance massage, working with people in chronic and acute pain and athletes, specifically runners, cyclist and swimmers. Neuromuscular Therapy, Trigger Point Therapy, Sports Massage and Structural Integration (Rolfing) are the basis of each massage she provides. She is also certified in Ashiatsu Oriental Bar Therapy and has additional
training in Hot Stone Therapy, Prenatal Massage, Cranial Sacral Therapy, and Acupressure.

Maryk M. Geyer, ND
Dr. Geyer earned her doctorate in Naturopathic Medicine from Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine , where she focused her training on working with underserved populations. Prior to medical school, she graduated with Honors from the State University of New York at New Paltz with a Bachelor of science degree in Organismal/Environmental Biology with concomitant focuses in Chemistry and English.
Dr. Geyer is a board certified Family Practice Physician, along with training in Prenatal Counseling and Natural Pediatrics. She completed a post-graduate preceptorship focused in obstetrics and pediatrics with Dr. Farra Swan, ND before undergoing her family practice residency at Southwest Naturopathic Medical Center . Dr. Geyer teaches Pathology, Nutrition, Anatomy, Physiology, and Hydrotherapy.

Edward Gomillion, LMT
Edward Gomillion holds an AAS degree in Massage Therapy from Rainstar University in Scottsdale, AZ. Edward is certified as a Nutritional Microscopist by BioZyme Research and a Certified Qigong instructor. Edward teaches Anatomy, Physiology and Musculoskeletal Kinesiology as well as a number of continuing education workshops for Cortiva. He is owner of Zangfu Total Wellness n Scottsdale, Arizona where he has been helping clients since 2001.

David Katz, DPM, BS
David Katz is the program coordinator for the Arizona Council on Economic Education. A graduate of the University of Illinois in Education and Kinesiotherapy, he went on to teach science in his early years while attending the Chicago School of Massage Therapy . His continued education in Watsu and infant massage , he devoted extensive time with starting up a massage business in northern California. With a desire to bridge eastern and western medicine, he attended medical school in San Francisco and a residency in NY, has returned to the classroom to bridge the gap between classroom didactic studies and outside life applications. Dr. Katz has a consulting business in personal financial education and is involved in the online business course for Cortiva.

Grant Lessard, RMT
Grant is a graduate of Western College of Remedial Massage Therapies with over 3000 hours of clinical massage training based upon osteopathic soft tissue techniques. He has been practicing since 1989 in a variety of environments including holistic health care centers, medical facilitates while specializing in rehabilitative therapies. His professional studies include Craniosacral , Myofascial Release , Lymphatic Drainage, Muscle Energy Technique , Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation, Sports Massage, and Exercise Rehabilitation. Grant has been training students and instructors in massage modalities, sciences, exercise rehabilitation and others since 1995. Grant's teaching style is collaborative, interactive and dynamic.

Don Miller, LMT
Don makes massage training practical. His private practice specializes in clinical applications and rehabilitative treatments and he brings this experience to the classroom. With a longtime commitment to health and active living, Don has a Master's degree in Exercise Physiology as well as advanced massage training in neuromuscular , orthopedic, medical and sports massage. He is certified with the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCBTMB ) and a member of the US Medical Massage Association . He teaches a variety of science and massage classes at Cortiva Institute.

Sophia Perkovich, LMT
Sophia has over 14 years of experience in massage therapy and massage therapy education. As a former instructor, dean of education, campus director and consultant to the state of Arizona, Sophia has an extensive background in massage therapy. Her studies were conducted in Ontario, Canada, where she completed a 3,000-hour program in clinical massage therapy. To complement her knowledge of the body, she completed a year of gross anatomy. Prior to that she attended the University of Windsor, majoring in biological sciences.

Maria Venezia, LMT, NCTMB
Maria has been in the Massage Therapy & Health Education field for the last 10 years. She is a 1998 graduate of the National Holistic Institute in Emeryville, CA and has taught for almost 8 years in California, North Carolina and now here in Arizona. Her practice now and in the past have included Corporate on-site, Pre- and post-Natal Massage, MyoFascial Release, Reflexology and Shiatsu Massage. Her love of the sciences helps fuel her passion for teaching and helping students find work they love.

Nicholas Warner, DC, CMT
Dr. Nicholas Warner, CMT, DC., "Dr. Nick" , is a Certified Massage Therapist and Doctor of Chiropractic, who has been practicing the healing arts of massage since 1990 and Chiropractic since 1996, and has been instructing body work since 1993. His teaching philosophy is to help the therapist develop confidence in their anatriptic artisan skills in a fun and supportive environment.
Dr. Nick received is Bachelor's Degree in 1984 from San Diego State University ; Initial massage certifcation in 1990 from Santa Monica School of Massage Therapy; Doctor of Chiropractic dergee in 1996 from Los Angeles College of Chiropractic . He is advanced certified in Nimmo Receptor Tonus Technique . A sample of subject he has taught: Anatomy and Physiology, Facilitated Stretching, Basic Massage, Seated Massage, and Trigger Point Therapy (NMT).

Brian Watt
Brian is a native of Arizona he graduated with a Bachelors of Science degree in Communications with an emphasis in broadcasting and a minor in Business, and an Associates of Applied Science degree in Massage Therapy from Rainstar University . Brian has worked in both the chiropractic and spa environments. Brian own and operates Nirvana Bodyworks in Tempe, AZ where Brian now provides a variety of healing treatments. Brian has enjoys instructing Massage and Foundational Mechanics, courses as well as supervising the student clinic with Cortiva Institute.