Massage Therapy School Instructors

Our core faculty of instructors each have decades of professional experience and are renowned in their field, bringing an inspiring sense of mastery to Diamond Light classes.

Vajra Matusow MA, CMT, CHT, founder, director and instructor, has a vast depth of experience and a rich and varied background in the healing arts. Practicing and teaching since 1975, her career as a professional Massage Therapist and instructor spans 5 decades and includes an extensive variety of massage, bodywork and healing modalities.
Her work with the body is enriched by a lifelong passion for spiritual awakening that has led her to study, practice and teach massage, meditation and healing throughout the world. Vajra has a Masters Degree in Somatic Counseling Psychology, is a Licensed Minister, a Certified Hypnotherapist and a Retreat Guide and Representative in the Sufi Order. Her teaching style blends a powerful combination of technical excellence, spiritual depth, responsive exploration & nurturing gentleness.

Bashir Kevin Cates LAc, is a Reiki teacher, licensed Acupuncturist and Sound Healer who blends 45 years of musical experience with ongoing exploration into the transformational potential of vocal and instrumental sound. A Reiki Master and teacher for over 25 years and a sound healer all his life, Bashir's specialty is in using Reiki, sound & subtle energy awareness to catalyze physical, emotional and spiritual expansion and healing.

Dana Rose Arevalo, MBW, CMP, is a third generation healer. Her grandmother was a massage therapist and infused in her a sense of trust and healing that sets the tone in her practice and her warm and supportive teaching style. Dana has studied and teaches a wide variety of modalities including Myofascial Release, NMR, Advanced Neck Work, Acupressure and more. She has been in private practice since 1987 and teaching since 1995.

Ruben Rocha, has provided on-site chair massage for corporate clients throughout Marin County and maintains a private massage practice. He managed the Chair Massage booth at Elephant Pharmacy, ran the massage clinic at BodyWise Massage and has been an associate of Corsano Family Chiropractic and Adams Family Acupuncture. He teaches Chair Massage, Table Thai, Deep Swedish, Lomi Lomi, Trauma Informed Bodywork and PreNatal Massage.

Trish Crawley is a certified massage therapist and life-long student of the human body. She combines intuition and deep anatomical knowledge to help clients release old, often life-long pain and holding patterns. In addition to many massage modalities, she is trained in Somatic Experiencing, Craniosacral therapy, and energy medicine. She specializes in helping people healing from trauma and teaches Working with Trauma at Diamond Light

Graham Quigley MS, L.AC, Dipl. O.M. has studied Chinese Medicine and Asian Bodywork since 2000. He received his Masters in Traditional Chinese Medicine from the Acamdemy of Chinese Culture & Health Sciences. Graham also teaches at the Acupuncture & Integrative Medicine College in Berkeley, at ACCHS in Oakland and at Five Branches University in San Jose. He maintains a private practice in Oakland where he offers Tui Na, Acupuncture and Herbology.

Irene Smith. A respected author and educator, Irene teaches body workers tactile support skills for caring for ill and dying patients. A massage therapist since 1974, Irene founded and currently directs Everflowing, an educational outreach program dedicated to teaching mindful touching as an integral component to end of life care. Irene has worked with hundreds of people in hospital, home, hospice, and skilled nursing environments.

Devon Wortz Carter CMT, has 35+ years experience in Mind/Body/Spirit integration as a teacher and in private practice. Devon has a BA in Dance and is a graduate of the Massage Institute, the Acupressure Institute, the Milne Institute, the Upledger Institute, the Deep Coaching Institute and the Leadership Embodiment Institute. Her vision is to encourage positive change through inspiring others to embody their souls purpose and manifest it in the world.

Larry Munn has practiced bodywork since 2001, with a private practice in Berkeley and San Rafael. Larry specializes in NeuroMuscular Reprogramming and Advanced Soft and Deep Tissue protocols in his private practice. He is a well known and sought after anatomy instructor in Northern California. Larry teaches a broad range of Anatomy, Physiologiy, Pathology, Palpation, Kinesiology, Assessment and Exam Prep classes.

Lara Stillo CMT has been certified and working as a massage therapist since 2001 and teaching since 2006. She is certified in Orthopedic Massage and specializes in Neuromuscular Therapy, Trigger Point Release, Deep Tissue Massage and Pain Management. She has created a comprehensive course in Neuromuscular Therapy, based on her extensive training and experience, which we are thrilled to have her teaching at Diamond Light.

Tim Holt, CMT Certified in massage since 1987, Tim teaches Deep Tissue, Shiatsu and Traditional Thai Massage and maintains a private bodywork practice that focuses on injury rehabilitation utilizing Deep Tissue techniques from orthopedic and sports modalities as well as Shiatsu and Thai Massage. He has lived, studied and practiced bodywork in Thailand and Japan. Tim is among the most experienced and respected massage instructors in the Bay Area.

Dan Gill, CMT has over 1500 hours of massage & bodywork education. The focus of his training has been Tui Na, Shiatsu, Acupressure and CranioSacral Therapy though he has studied and practices many other modalities including Thai, Reiki, Jin Shin Jyutsu, Lymph Drainage, Deep Tissue and Swedish Massage, believing that all bodywork study adds a depth and richness to his work. He teaches Acupressure and TuiNa and practices and teaches qigong.

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