Directors, Faculty, and Staff
The School of Massage Therapy is owned by Texas Healing Arts Institute, Inc. and is co-managed and co-directed by Eri Weinstein, PhD, MTI, and Kirsten Kern, PhD, MTI.
At THAI we are proud of our instructors and staff. They keep the school and office running with their administrative competence, dedication to teaching, love of massage, and excellent senses of humor.
Our staff is encouraged to take part in local, national, and international continuing education seminars and workshops. These seminars provide a means for our teachers to broaden their knowledge of massage and bodywork techniques, to enhance their teaching methods, to establish professional contacts, and to maintain awareness of current innovations in the massage and bodywork field.
Directors
Eri Weinstein, PhD, LMTI, School Co-Director
CMT Instructor
Dr. Weinstein holds a degree in anthropology with a background in archaeology, physical anthropology, biology and botany. He taught at the University of Texas at Austin and Texas A&M University and was a private archaeological consultant for many years. Dr. Weinstein specializes in chronic and acute pain of the low back, hips, and legs. At THAI, he co-instructs the Clinical Massage Therapy Program, and teaches anatomy and physiology and continuing education courses in myofascial release, trigger point release, and advanced techniques for the low back.
Kirsten Kern, PhD, LMTI, School Co-Director
CMT Instructor
Dr. Kern is an interminable student and educator. She has taught at The University of Texas at Austin, Texas, Southwestern University in Georgetown, Texas, and Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey. During college, Dr. Kern studied biological sciences and worked with marine mammals in Newfoundland and Alaska. Dr. Kern has studied advanced courses in Arvigo Maya Abdominal Massage, CranioSacral therapy, myofascial release and trigger point therapy, and Zen Shiatsu. She specializes in neck, shoulder, and abdominal massage. As a member of community theatre, she has studied movement and bodywork for over 20 years. At the massage school in Austin, she co-instructs the Clinical Massage Therapy Program, and teaches anatomy and physiology and continuing education workshops in advanced techniques.
Faculty & Staff
Wendy Powell, BS, LMT
Administrator of Student Affairs
Wendy is a graduate of Chapman University of Orange, CA with a major in Business Management. She also is a graduate of the Swedish massage program at THAI. Wendy has obtained certifications in Traditional Thai massage, advanced Thai Therapeutic massage, and Thai foot massage from the world-renowned Wat Pho temple in Bangkok, Thailand. She is also planning to continue enhancing her skills with further studies in clinical massage therapy and Asian bodywork.
Katherine Brady, LMTI
Director of Admissions
Business Practices and Ethics Instructor
Katherine left the high tech world after more than ten years to pursue a career in bodywork. She graduated from the Swedish massage program at THAI and currently teaches the Business Practices and Ethics classes for the 500 hour program. Her practice centers around the needs of pregnant and new mothers. Being a mom of identical twin boys, Katherine knows and understands a mother's special needs. Katherine plans on continuing her education by attending workshops in Arvigo Maya Abdominal Massage and completing Doula training by the Summer of 2008. When not massaging, Katherine is attending various elementary school functions and youth sporting events.
MeriJayd O'Connor, BA, LMTI
Swedish Instructor
MeriJayd O'Connor is a full time massage therapist and practitioner of advanced adult and pediatric CranioSacral Therapy. She received her training at Texas Healing Arts and The Upledger Institute. MeriJayd received a Bachelor of Arts in Drama from University of Texas at Austin. She was a dance educator for 9 years teaching curriculum-based creative movement in AISD and at Ballet Austin. Her massage practice includes a private practice at Remedy Center for Healing Arts, chair massage at the Department of Agriculture and General Land Office, and The Heart Hospital of Austin. She also volunteers with Lifeworks teaching infant massage to teen parents. In addition, she teaches community massage classes and presents for the Upledger Institute. MeriJayd performs regularly and keeps herself grounded with yoga, gardening, qigong and mountain biking. At THAI, she teaches Swedish Massage, Health and Hygiene, and CEU classes on spa treatments, Homemade Lotions, and Massage for the Older Population.
Andrea Starick, LMTI
Swedish Instructor
Andrea is a graduate of the Swedish massage program and the Qigong massage program at THAI. She maintains a private practice in which she blends corrective massage techniques with Chinese Accupressure and Reiki. At THAI, Andrea teaches Swedish massage and continuing education classes in spa therapy treatments for massage therapists. She loves to travel, meditate, and practice internal martial arts such as QiGong, and Yiquan. Andrea is interested in furthering her studies in hypnotherapy and the native Hawaiian healing method, Ho'oponopono.
Annie Hudson, BS, LMT
Swedish Instructor
Annie Hudson graduated from Texas State University in San Marcos with a Bachelor of Science degree in Dance with a minor in Theatre. Annie works as the Movement Instructor/Choreographer for the Round Rock High School Colorguard. She also enjoys doing various performance/choreography projects in the area, and is hopeful to attend a Master of Fine Art's program sometime in the near future for Dance Pedagogy. Annie graduated from the Swedish and the Clinical massage therapy programs at THAI where she now practices massage therapy specializing in Swedish relaxation, deep tissue, as well as trigger point and myofascial release for pain relief. She is also a Massage Therapy Instructor at THAI. Annie's first passion has always been discovering new ideas with the body through movement as well as body work and healing modalities.
Melinda Thoms, BJ, LMTI
Hydrotherapy Instructor
Health Instructor
Melinda comes to us from the natural health products industry where she served as an executive officer, trainer, educator and consultant to several global nutritional supplement and organic personal care companies for many years. She is a graduate of the THAI Swedish massage program and holds a degree from the The University of Texas in Photojournalism. Currently she is a therapist at The Spa at THAI where she enjoys practicing focused deep tissue massage, Reiki and specialty spa treatments. She is also a hydrotherapy instructor at THAI. Melinda studies yoga, Tai Chi Chuan and Yiquan and is interested in expanding her practice to include more clinical and energetic therapies.
Maris Krisananuwatara, BS, LMT
Anatomy and Physiology Instructor
Marisa graduated from the University of Texas with a BS in Kinesiology. After graduating from UT and from the Swedish and Clinical massage therapy programs at THAI, she began to teach anatomy and physiology at THAI. Marisa does deep tissue work for a local chiropractor and also operates her private practice in downtown Austin. For fun she enjoys any kind of outdoor recreation, mainly basketball and ultimate frisbee, but she will do anything that catches her eye. Marisa's other hobby is photography, and with her sister, she has started to photograph weddings.
Paul Keltner, BS, LP, LMTI
Anatomy and Physiology Instructor
CMT Instructor
Paul graduated Texas A&M University after earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Community Health. He has been a Licensed Paramedic since 1993 and has served as both an emergency medical responder and educator. Paul is a former faculty member of the University of Texas Health Science Center-San Antonio (Department of Emergency Medical Technology. Paul has taught at Heartwood Institute in Califonia. He has completed several programs at THAI, where he currently teaches Anatomy & Physiology, Clinical Massage Therapy and various continuing education courses. Paul also maintains a professional practice on THAI campus. Paul continues to enhance his understanding of the human body via the study of classical martial arts, qigong, and yoga.
Charlotte Westbrook, BS, LMT
Pain Relief, Deep Tissue, Reiki, Arvigo Maya Abdominal Massage
Charlotte holds a BS in Psychology from UT at Austin and she continued her studies in German and Psychology at the Universität Würzburg, Germany. Charlotte is a graduate of THAI's Clinical Massage Program and is an instructor in THAI's Clinical Massage Therapy Program. She is a certified Reiki Master under the Usui Shiki Reiki Ryoho System and is a practitioner of Arvigo Maya Abdominal Massage.