Improving Your Health With Healing Modalities.

Aeryn Merced

CAMTC # 76779

Aeryn’s approach to bodywork is focused on creating space for each client’s innate healing abilities to shine through. Her sessions are a nurturing blend of Esalen massage, deep tissue and Eastern-influenced meridian work.

Combining her experience teaching restorative yoga with her massage education from Mckinnon Institute in Oakland, Aeryn has developed a working physiological knowledge of the body and a deep reverence for the energetic composition of the body and mind. Utilizing her studies in various modalities, Aeryn works with you to bring you back to a relaxed, balanced state.

Dustin Zacharias

CAMTC # 71999

Dustin believes that the body is sacred and should be treated as such. As someone who regularly surfs and plays soccer, he also knows the importance of maintaining a healthy mind, body, and spirit for optimal performance.

He derives his inspiration from his travels to Indonesia where he was introduced to Balinese massage. Dustin continued his studies at the National Holistic Institute of Massage where he completed 900 hours of training. His background in early childhood education fostered his calming and patient energy, which is a nice compliment to his work as a massage practitioner.

Whether the focus is on relaxing after a long week of work, or recovering from a long hike or sporting event, Dustin uses the regenerative powers of massage to help others continue doing what they love most.

Carolyn Letherland

CAMTC #24127

Carolyn believes in the healing power of massage and provides her expertise to assist in the process. Drawing from her extensive training through the National Holistic Institute, her unique style blends various modalities to create each hypnotic and restorative session. As a therapist, her goals are to provide relaxation, decrease pain and support body awareness and self-care for each client.

She brings to her craft a wealth of life experiences including a background in Montessori education and the completion of a yoga teacher training. Outside of her working life, Carolyn enjoys traveling to far away destinations but loves to call California home.

Liz Williams

CAPT 32437

Liz Williams offers physical therapy, pelvic floor rehabilitation, and diagnostic bodywork. She brings to the practice an integrated approach that combines manual therapy, mindfulness, and exercise to facilitate health & well-being. Her goal: to help clients find their way to a healthy and balanced body that moves well in their every day lives.

Liz has worked extensively in orthopedic and neurologic rehabilitation since attaining her master’s degree in Physical Therapy from UCSF/SFSU in 2005. For a complete listing of all of her continuing education coursework, follow this link. In addition to her work as a PT Liz has been a certified massage therapist since 2000. She has studied meditation and yoga extensively since the late nineties, and completed over 500 hours of training in yoga therapy. All of this to say – Liz is committed to the study of the mind-body connection and brings this wisdom into her clinical practice.

Outside of her life as a clinician, Liz teaches and trains in partner acrobatics. When not balancing on her hands, she can be found riding bikes, exploring the Sierras, or enjoying delicious cuisine with her family and friends. Liz is a bit of an activity nut, and has a fairly in-depth movement history to draw upon when working with clients.

Please note: equal care will be provided for all clients regardless of race, ethnicity, age, gender identity/ expression, or sexual orientation. All folks are welcome here.

Zoe Burton

CAMTC #46636

Zoe loves practicing massage as a way to facilitate well-being. Her work is therapeutic in nature, drawing on advanced techniques including deep tissue, neuromuscular therapy, myofascial release, Swedish, sports, Somatics, and prenatal massage. Zoe loves supporting release of scar tissue and related symptoms as a practitioner of the incredibly effective McLoughlin Scar Tissue Release.

Zoe incorporates specific work within nurturing full-body sessions, which allows for deep relaxation. Her breathwork practice supports clarity, grounding, and intuition in her bodywork.

Her work is informed by over 900 hours of education at the San Francisco School of Massage and Bodywork and at NHI's Advanced Neuromuscular Therapy Program. A lifelong learner exploring the body, mind, and spirit, Zoe supports clients as a fellow traveler on the path to better self-care, healing, and a thriving body.

Ximena Arestizabal

CAMTC # 85177

Ximena Arestizabal is a native of El Salvador who grew up in the East Bay. Since graduating from the National Holistic Institute in 2000, she has worked in many settings ranging from physical therapy and chiropractic offices to luxury resort spas. She has recently returned from living in Hawai’i where she studied lomi lomi massage.

Ximena’s work strikes a perfect balance between intuition and skilled therapeutic intervention. As influenced by lomi lomi, each session is soothing, and flowing –leaving her clients with a sense of balance and wellbeing. Ximena is excited to be back in the bay area to continue practicing and learning with each client.

Gianluca Ciulla

CAMTC # 41069

Gianluca approaches bodywork with a sense of fascination in how things work, and problem solving on how to fix things when they go wrong. His diverse training background lends towards a holistic, therapeutic flow during each session.

Gianluca graduated in 2006 from Arcata School of Massage with training in multiple modalities including Swedish, trigger point, myofascial, cranial sacral, and deep tissue. He recently completed a specialty in Oncology massage to complement his training in somatics and trauma work. Gianluca specializes in working with queer and trans folks.

BECKY BRYANT

CAMTC #31412

Becky has training in many modalities including Deep Tissue, Shiatsu, and Craniosacral, and has been practicing bodywork for 20+ years. She has extensive experience working with a wide array of conditions and injuries, as well as everyday aches and pains. Informed by her studies of various healing modalities since the mid-90s, including herbal medicine, and energetic healing, her work is deeply grounding, and nurturing.

Becky believes everyone has their own innate healing ability, and can create astounding changes and growth for themselves when given the necessary space, and support.
She is honored to be a facilitator in this process, and very much enjoys supporting people in finding their best healthy balance by creating a safe, grounded space.

An avid hiker, Becky enjoys time spent with trees, and can generally be found communing with Redwoods, or exploring new trails (the Sierras are a particular heart place).

Amy Cronkleton

CAMTC # 88298

Amy believes in using massage to facilitate healing in body, mind and spirit. She brings a calm and welcoming presence that allows for healing to begin within. Amy meets clients where they are, using her intuition and attention to create a unique session tailored to their needs.

With a background in the restaurant industry, Amy understands the impact of our work on our bodies, and the importance of tending to ourselves. As a graduate from McKinnon, Amy has studied Swedish, deep tissue, myofascial release and eastern modalities. She looks forward to working with you on your healing journey.

Resham MacFarlane

CAMTC # 73713

As a ceramics and figure drawing artist, Resham has always been fascinated by human anatomy. Her interest in therapeutic massage emerged naturally from her dedication to her craft. In her massage sessions, Resham draws from intuitive listening, yoga theory, trauma-sensitive healing, and her various therapeutic massage trainings. Clients describe her touch as investigative, sensitive, and knowing.

Resham’s offerings include a blend of modalities: myofascial release, trigger point therapy, deep tissue, Swedish, prenatal, and abdominal massage.

Outside of the clinic, Resham enjoys making art, being in nature, and working with young people as a preschool teacher.

Dana Jayne

CAMTC # 94158

Dana approaches every massage with curiosity, gentle humor, and non-judgment. She firmly believes that everybody/every body can benefit from compassionate touch and enjoys collaborating with clients to customize sessions that feel safe, affirming, and physically therapeutic.

Dana’s path to becoming a massage therapist began with her fascination with the human brain. While pursuing her degree in bioengineering, she found herself most interested in the way our brains and bodies work together to produce our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. This curiosity continued throughout her career as a teacher in Oakland, during which she observed the effects of chronic stress on her students and colleagues. As a doctoral student at UC Berkeley, Dana honed her understanding of the nervous system and researched strategies for preventing and managing the negative effects of stress. Three years into her studies, she experienced a lightning-bolt moment of clarity and decided to put her learning into practice… by dropping out of Cal and enrolling in a program for massage therapists.

Now, as a graduate of the San Francisco School of Massage & Bodywork, Dana blends relaxing, rhythmic Swedish techniques with slower, more deliberate work. She views every session as a learning opportunity, and is always refining her practice to better meet the unique needs (and nervous systems) of her clients.

Stan Barrett

CAMTC #27853

Stan is the humble owner of Synapse, who began his career in bodywork on the East Coast more than two decades ago. From 1998-2002 Stan lived out his dream of working in professional cycling with Mercury, an American team based in France. In the ensuing years he developed his expertise in sports massage by working with UMass Rowing and the University of Wisconsin swim team. Stan has also worked with elite runners, adventure racers, and triathletes over the years.

Fast forward to the early 2000’s – Stan landed in the Bay Area and worked at the Claremont Spa where his practice deepened in efforts to meet the expectations of the most discerning clients. The nuances of the spa experience, in combination with decades plus of skilled bodywork, are the foundation for the massage experience one can expect when coming in to Synapse.

In addition to creating a top-notch experience for clients of Synapse, Stan goes to great efforts to create a positive environment for the talented team of Synapse therapists. As a result, Synapse is known for its reliably outstanding bodywork in the East Bay, which is built upon a foundation of mutual respect. Stan is honored to be of service to you, your colleagues, and your loved ones.

Michelle Moeller

CAMTC # 73260

Michelle is a compassionate and seasoned practitioner who loves providing bodywork to help people to feel heard and well cared for. With a background as a composer and music teacher, she approaches massage as an art form, emphasizing creativity and a grounded presence in her practice. Assisting others to a greater ease in their bodies is her honor and joy.

Having a deep respect for both Eastern and Western modalities, her work integrates clinical deep tissue techniques with the restorative qualities of shiatsu and Swedish massage. She received training from the Esalen Institute, San Francisco School of Massage and Bodywork, and McKinnon Body Therapy Center.

Anna Cousin

CAMTC # 65949

Anna was drawn to massage by her fascination with the mind-body connection, and has a passion for holistic well-being. With over a decade of experience in the profession, she is well-versed in a variety of modalities, and is dedicated to encouraging the benefits of healthy touch and promoting self care.

Anna trained at McKinnon in Oakland, specializing in Swedish, Deep Tissue, Prenatal and Lymphatic Drainage. She has worked to treat injuries, address chronic pain, care for pregnant people and post surgical clients. Anna customizes a productive and deeply relaxing experience for every session; she will address your physical concerns while fostering a more balanced and integrated sense of wellbeing.

What Anna loves most about being a massage therapist is the satisfaction derived from witnessing the positive transformations in her clients' well-being.

Yolanda Cazares

CAMTC # 88467

Yolanda’s approach to bodywork is driven by a deep curiosity for how mindful touch can facilitate internal change, helping the body reorganize and return to balance. Pulling from a decade of study that began with Traditional Thai Massage in Thailand, she blends Eastern and Western modalities to meet each client's unique needs. Her extensive training spans Swedish, Deep Tissue, Myofascial Release, Craniosacral therapy, Lymphatic Drainage, and Prenatal massage.

Certified by McKinnon BTC with a focus on Clinical Deep Tissue, Yolanda has continued her advanced education at the San Francisco School of Massage and the Esalen Institute. With a calm, deeply attuned presence, her sessions are designed to alleviate muscle tension, reduce stress, and ease inflammation. Guided by her own practices in yoga, qigong, and running—alongside a creative background in photography and book publishing—she brings meticulous attention to detail and a holistic understanding of movement to every session.

Ezra

Ezra works with a slow, calming approach that allows the nervous system to settle and the body to unwind. They bring a deep reverence for every body and every experience on the table, creating sessions that feel grounded, attentive, and thoughtfully paced.

Their work blends Swedish and deep tissue techniques with myofascial work, trigger point therapy, and integrated stretching and mobilization. Ezra’s touch is confident and firm; they are especially skilled at maintaining steady, consistent pressure throughout the session. Clients appreciate Ezra’s clear communication, calm presence, and the sense of trust they establish in the intake process.

Bodywork has been a cornerstone of Ezra’s life path from the beginning - their parents were practitioners of mind body centering and would often massage Ezra as a care taking practice throughout their childhood. Ezra completed a 600-hour professional massage program at the San Francisco School of Massage, where they trained in multiple modalities.

Ezra’s goal is for every client to leave feeling acknowledged, honored, and more at home in their body.

Nicole Phillips

CAMTC # 77241

Nicole believes massage brings one into deeper connection with the community of the body. She is continually inspired by the body’s remarkable ability to heal when given the right support and thoughtful care. With more than 17 years of experience, Nicole blends deep tissue, craniosacral therapy, and relaxation techniques to create sessions that are both therapeutic and restorative. Through skilled, intentional massage, she aims to calm the nervous system, restore balance, and help clients move through life with greater ease and comfort. Whether someone is seeking relief from chronic tension, recovering from injury, or simply looking to slow down and recharge, her goal is for every client to leave feeling more connected, balanced, and at ease.

Nicole completed her training at the World School of Massage and Holistic Healing Arts in 2009 and has continued to expand her expertise through advanced study, including Hugh Milne’s Craniosacral Therapy C1 course in 2024. Her background in dance, along with studies in yoga and the Alexander Technique, gives her a deep appreciation for how the body moves, adapts, and recovers. She is currently completing the Balanced Body teacher training program to become a Certified Pilates Instructor. When she’s not massaging or teaching, you’ll find Nicole hiking through the forest or exploring the coastline.

Anna Seva

CAMTC # 14217

Anna has been a bodyworker since 2005, combining deep tissue, trigger point, injury work, and trauma-informed intuitive touch in her sessions.

She sees the body as a gateway to clarity and wisdom, and seeks to affirm its innate capacity for healing and thriving. Anna is an advocate for the body’s ability to organically realign and reorganize toward greater health and well-being. She believes that a happy and resourceful nervous system is the basis of a happy and resourceful life.

Anna grew up in Northern Finland. She holds a master’s degree in somatic psychology and has a background in floral design, hospice work, daily dancing, movement-based art therapy, and home staging/organizing.