Ace Of Cups | Massage Therapists
Samantha Goldberg Blackthorn
Samantha is a musician, massage therapist, Iyengar yoga teacher, anatomy teacher, tarotlogist, mystic and herbalist. She founded Ace of Cups as a dream to build a center to serve her east Austin community which she moved in 2001 to raise her two daughters. She has a degree from CSU in biological science with an emphasis on anatomy and physiology as well as extensive studies in botanical sciences.
She is has been in practice as a massage therapist since 2003 with over 2000 hours of training and a focus on pain management, myofascial trigger point release, structural integration, profession specific and sports massage. Samantha has extensive experience working with acute injury and chronic pain. She works in clinics, massage schools, wellness center and onsite in high intensity locations such as large art installations and on job sites. She teaches anatomy, kinesiology, and massage technique at massage schools and clinics in the states and abroad.
Samantha studied herbalism from Dr. William A Weber in her undergranduate studies. She moved to New Mexico and studied with Dr. Tieronna Lowdog and worked making herbal formulas with Bert Norgorden. She also provides private Iyengar yoga sessions, herbal consultations, tarot card readings, classes in mystic arts, meditation, herbal and mystic classes.
Katie Russ
Katie comes to us from the world of sports and kinesiology. Her passion is all things to do with the optimal performance of the body. She completed her bachelors in kinesiology at Cal State Northridge while playing soccer on the universities team. She attended massage school at National Holistic Institute where she learned advanced modalities. She started her career working as the massage therapist for UCLA football team, a very reputable chiropractor, as well as at a holistic physical therapy clinic, and has gained knowledge in those settings for therapeutic massage. Deep tissue, sports massage, pain management, myofascial release, clinical and structural/postural correction are some of her specialties that can aid in performance and everyday life! Katie has a detailed approach and is able to apply advanced techniques and create the perfect session for your individual needs. Katie is also available for personal training and stretching sessions.
Russ Ritter
Russ is an artistic and thoughtful therapist who is trained in advanced modalities, reiki and hatha yoga. He is excellent at deep tissue and can get to those stubborn areas that cause discomfort and release them. He is experienced with sports massage, clinical and deep tissue work. On his free time Russ can be found studying mystic arts and riding his motorcycle.
Jessie Purdom
Jessie is a massage therapist, ashiatsu practitioner and esthetician at Ace of Cups. She is passionate about learning new modalities in massage and keeping up with the newest skin care research. She loves ashiatsu (barefoot massage) and has a passion for using this technique to get those knots out and help you relax. Book a massage facial combination with Jessie and be in complete awe of her skills. She offers skin care, ashiatsu, cupping therapy and relaxation massage at Ace of cups.
Natasha Hornedo
Natasha Hornedo is a Licensed Massage Therapist, Mystic, Womb Priestess, Tantrika, Educator, Healer, Coach and embodiment guide based in Austin, TX. Her passion is supporting others in connecting, actualizing and embodying their Highest Self Potential. She is especially passionate in supporting those who identify as highly sensitive, Neurodivergent womxn in reconnecting to their source of power. Natasha has been a devoted and dedicated student of all things mystical, shamanic and tantric since 2011 when she received her first certification of 200 hour Yoga Training in New York. She has since continued her professional studies through the physiological lens as an licensed massage therapist with over 2000 hours of educational courses and advanced training. Natasha's massage work is geared toward deep trauma release and integration and has a highly somatic breathwork and energetic focus mixed with advanced structural deep tissue. She supports her clients in balancing the energetic and physiological systems of the body and teaches them how to activate their own healing capabilities.
Tooki Pradidpoka
Tooki comes from Thailand. As a child in Thailand she learned traditional Thai Massage. She enjoyed helping her family members feel better by providing Thai massage on a daily basis to relieve fatigue and pain. Thai massage or Thai yoga massage is a traditional therapy combining acupressure, Indian Ayurvedic principles, and assisted yoga postures. She offers it at Ace of cups on the mat and the table. Eventually she decided to move to the United States where she studied formal table massage training at Lauderstein Conway to be able to practice in this country. Tooki is passionate about helping clients to achieve their wellness goals. She provides the best-in-class client experience, with treatment that cares for body, mind and and spirit. Tooki believes that good massage therapist must have a love of service and and devotion to reaching their clients needs and she excels in this area. Tooki is great with deep tissue, traditional Thai massage, table Thai, and can also provide an incredibly relaxing session when the client prefers that.
Tooki looks forward to helping you achieve a better state of wellness!
Kylee Nitschke
Kylee is a deep tissue specialist practitioner with 10 years of specialized experience in “true deep” tissue massage, trigger point, myofascial release and corrective massage therapy. Her sessions are normally slow, deep and specific, aiming for deep mental and physical relaxation. Kylee knows how to get to those knots and release them. She is thoughtful and deliberate with her body work. You will leave feeling like a different and better person.
Michelle Grazier
Michelle took up the healing art of massage out of a passion to help people feel better. She graduated from Lauterstein Conway school of massage. Immediately after she took advanced training in cupping therapy. Michelle bases her sessions on the specific needs of the clients using a rhythmic flow to help relax the client and muscles. Michelle excels in intuitively listening,and coming up with a treatment plan to accomplish the best massage for the individual. Michelle uses many modalities. Cups to relieve tension and to promote blood flow, deep tissue/Ashiatsu to push metabolic waste out of inflamed areas, Swedish to promote blood flow and relaxation, and she designs the session for your optimal well-being. MIchelle is a compassionate therapist that is not afraid to get deep into your tensions, find the spots and release them. Michelle's biggest passion is Ashiatsu, barefoot massage. She has advanced training in this modality and excels in this technique. Michelle believes that with Ashiastsu she can get deeper and help the client experience an even deeper relief. She believes the results are longer lasting and a profound effect on any size client.
Kira Sinclair
Since natural healing has been my lifelong passion, I decided to become a massage therapist. I attended Body Mechanics School of Myotherapy and Massage to learn techniques designed for healing injuries. I specialize in injury treatment and sports massage. I am certified in deep tissue, myofascial release, prenatal, lymph drainage, lomi lomi, Swedish, trigger point and more. In my personal experience as a massage therapist, I practice listening and focusing on my clients’ needs in order to really resolve what the client is struggling with and restore balance.
Kathryn Adcox
Kathryn graduated from The Lauterstein-Conway Massage School in April 2021. She is new to massage but not to the healing arts world. Prior to choosing massage as a career path, she focused primarily on teaching yoga. She started her yoga journey in 2007 and has been teaching since 2014, so she has an understanding of the body and its movements. She takes an intuitive approach to massage while blending in her knowledge and passion for all things wellness. Kathryn has an a magical way of knowing exactly what the body needs and is calming and nurturing.
Jennifer Schaffer
Jennifer is an intuitive therapist who draws from both eastern and western modalities, customizing your session to release stress and guide the body, mind, and heart towards peace and well-being. Jennifer employs Poly-vagal informed manual therapy techniques to encourage the autonomic nervous system (ANS) to relax into a state of social engagement and release stuck patterns of fight/flight/freeze. She specializes in shiatsu, deep tissue, pain management, prenatal, and relaxation therapies with the intent of optimizing physical and emotional health by balancing and unblocking energy flow.
Jennifer attended massage school at The Lauterstein-Conway Massage School and Clinic, and continues to study Thai/Zen Shiatsu, acupressure, anatomy, breath-work, and the mind-body connection. In her free time, Jennifer can be found riding her bike, doing yoga, gardening, beekeeping, and working with healing plants.
Aimee Clement
Aimee has had a 20 year career as a massage therapist starting in 2000 in Dallas, TX. She graduated from Texas Massage Institute. She has worked in all varieties of massage establishments from high end spas to chiropractic clinics, with a focus on helping people free themselves from chronic pain. Years of experience working on every body type has honed her touch and healing intuition. She has training in Myofascial Release from John Barnes. She also incorporates Neuromuscular therapy, trigger point, Myoflexxion stretching, and acupressure techniques synergistically to release chronic pain patterns.
In addition to her many massage certifications, she also completed the 3 month ”Work as Meditation” program at the Osho center in Pune, India. There she learned to focus all of her attention on you in the present moment to help you relax and heal.
Annemarie Liberati
Annemarie Liberati is an amazing massage therapist trained in many advanced modalities. She was first introduced to the world of massage while taking classes on a trip to India. Upon her return, she immediately enrolled in the Lauterstein-Conway massage school here in Austin and graduated in 2012. She has since expanded her knowledge of the healing world to include craniosacral, cupping and reiki. Annamarie is also a metalsmith and jewelry designer and can be found at pop up markets around town selling her wares. Having a natural love and affinity to service, she excels at creating the perfect session just for you.
All of our therapists
Each one is unique, highly trained and hand picked. They all are slightly different and each have a special skill or gift. We recommend trying a few different therapists and working with a variety of them to accomplish different goals.