Massage Therapy School Instructors
Our core faculty of instructors each have over 20 years 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 at Diamond Light School of Massage & Healing
Arts, has a vast depth of experience and a rich and varied
background in the healing arts. Practicing and teaching
since 1973, her career as a professional Massage Therapist
spans 4 decades and includes an extensive variety of massage
& bodywork 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. Her teaching style blends a powerful
combination of technical excellence, spiritual depth,
responsive exploration & nurturing gentleness.
Venus Marie Elyse L.Ac., MS, CMT, is a licensed acupuncturist and massage therapist. She teaches basic and advanced Anatomy, Acupressure, Blended Massage Modalities and Business Skills. She is committed to presenting the study of anatomy and business in a way that is painless, fascinating, fun and easy to integrate into your work. Students rave about Venus' teaching style and many say she is the best teacher they have ever had!
Holly Edson, RN., BRN, teaches CranioSacral Therapy in the Bay Area and works as a nurse in San Francisco, integrating western medicine with a holistic approach. Her interest in Craniopathy began at the age of nine and has deepened with over 1000 hours of training in massage modalities, studies at the Upledger and Milne Institutes and an apprenticeship with an osteopath. She has a thriving CranioSacral practice and volunteers at the Zen Hospice Project
Kevin
Bashir Cates, CMT, is a Reiki teacher, bodyworker
and Sound Healer who blends 35 years of musical experience
with ongoing exploration into the transformational potential
of vocal and instrumental sound. He has been a Reiki Master
and teacher for over 20 years and a sound healer all his life. His specialty is in using sound healing, Reiki and subtle energy awareness to catalyze physical, emotional and spiritual expansion and healing.
Heatherly Stankey, CMT, is a compassionate, inspiring instructor, bringing passion, skill, sensitivity and a wide range of teaching experience to her Hot Stone Massage classes. She specializes in accelerated learning techniques and uses visual, auditory and a hands on approach to help students integrate their learning. She encourages students to work smarter, not harder by using hot stones as massage tools. Her teaching style inspires confidence and fun.
Greg Lee, CMT, began his career as a Massage Therapist in 1979. In 1995, inspired by the transformative qualitites of Lomi Lomi Massage, he began studies with distinguised Hawaiian therapists Maka'ala Yates and Dane Silva. Greg is a Kumu Lomilomi, (teacher) certified to teach by the Hawaiian Healing Arts Institute, and a founding member of the Hawaiian Lomilomi Assosciation. He maintains a private Lomilomi practice in Nicasio California.
Ruben Rocha, CMT, has provided on-site chair massage for corporate clients throughout Marin County for many years and currently manages the Chair Massage booth at Elephant Pharmacy and maintains a private massage practice..
He runs the student and professional massage clinics at BodyWise Massage, in addition to being part of their professional massage team and mentoring students in our clinic at Bodywise.
Corinna Joy Kavanagh, CMT, has been a Massage Therapist since 1991. She is trained in various bodywork modalities as well as Movement Ergonomics through the Dynamic Health & Fitness Institute and she is a 3rd degree Reiki Master. Corinna teaches Massage Ergonomics as well as Business Practices and Ethics to Massage Therapists throughout the Bay Area. Corinna is the owner of Body Celebration Day Spa in San Rafael.
Prashanti De Jager, has spent 10 years sitting at the feet of many great Advaita Saints and Tibetan Lamas. He's studied and practiced various Vedic Sciences, worked for several years on the board of the CA Association of Ayurvedic Medicine and has taught numerous courses in all aspects of Ayurveda throughout the world. His books have been translated into 12 languages and he has published dozens of articles. He operates the Pacific Center of Ayurveda in San Francisco.
Dana Rose Arevalo, MBW, CMT, 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.
Tim Holt, CMT, became certified in massage in 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, sports and restorative massage modalities as well as a specializing in Shiatsu and Thai Massage. He has lived, studied and practiced bodywork in Thailand and Japan. Tim is among the most experienced and highly respected massage instructors in the Bay Area.