Ace Of Cups | Massage Therapists
Samantha Saladino
Samantha received her degree from Colorado State University in biological science with an emphasis on anatomy and physiology in 1997, she has been in practice as a massage therapist since 2003 with over 2000 hours of training and a focus on pain management, neuromuscular therapy, 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, construction sites, and onsite in high intensity locations such as sports events, large art installations and on job sites. She has a deep pressure to get right to those problem areas and works with her clients to help their body reduce pain and improve posture while still providing a safe and effective massage. She teaches anatomy, kinesiology, pathology and massage technique at massage schools and clinics in the states and abroad. Samantha opened Ace of Cups wellness center to provide a high quality of care for the community and a positive work environment for practitioners. She specializes in pain management sessions at Ace of Cups and can help you formulate an effective self care plan. If you do not see her on the schedule email us and we will help you book a session.
Dominique Pundsack
Natalia Macias
Natalia is an experienced and attentive massage therapist who is an expert at customizing the perfect session for pain and stress relief. Healing an injury with alternative modalities led her to the world of holistic healing, in particular massage. She received her certification in massage at the Muscular Therapy Institute, studying the Ben Benjamin style of Muscular Therapy, in Boston, MA. She has worked at a variety of health and wellness clinics, alongside western and holistic medical practitioners, with athletes, artists, computer engineers and loves each and every client and the challenge of providing them with an amazing massage. Natalia studied at Lesley University completing a degree in Holistic Psychology, which helps fuel her understanding of how our mind and emotions play a huge part in their effect on our bodies. Learning about nutritional needs, psychosomatic studies, and yoga all help play a part in Natalia’s sessions.
Jen Jacob
Licensed Massage Therapist
Jen’s passion is to provide healing services to others, which prompted her first career as a teacher and behavior therapist to individuals on the autism spectrum. She absolutely loved to witness the transformation of meaningful growth and change in her client's lives. Jen graduated from the Lauterstien-Conway Massage School in Austin, TX. What excites her the most about massage therapy is serving her clients in self-healing. She is passionate about exploring the mind-body-spirit connection. She also likes to laugh.
Sarah Emily
Sarah has a lifelong passion for artful expression and finds joy in empowering others to be free in their bodies. She is skilled at finding grace in painful, challenging moments of life which inspired her healing journey, ultimately leading to massage therapy. She utilizes her sensitivity and technical knowledge to provide customized, thoughtful sessions. Sarah truly values diversity of life and the details that make us unique. She graduated from The Lauterstein Conway School of Massage in January 2018 and is excited to expand her abilities and share her skills with the world.
Manda Levy
Manda, a native Texan and a former dancer, began her career as a MT 20 years ago. She was first drawn to the healing arts by understanding the pain and rehabilitation experiences of performing artists and a desire to help others. After massage school and passing her board exam she was offered a job working for the then #10 destination spa in the world, right here in Austin.
Over the years she’s worked in both destination resort and clinical/therapeutic environments. Today she is focused on treating both the physical and emotional body with a keen understanding of functional anatomy as well as the importance of a calm mind. She’s had specialized training in treating the low back and hip dysfunction (piriformis syndrome, sciatica) and head neck and shoulder issues. Today, her style is deep, therapeutic and often sedative. She prefers that her client leave feeling freer in the body and quieter in the mind.
Amy Nester, M.Ed, ATC, LAT, LMT
Amy specializes in Craniosacral Therapy and Somatic Emotional Release and enjoys facilitating healing through these modalities, along with Reiki, massage and cupping. She also indulges in tarot, astrology, meditation, and crystals (which you will see in her room for your appointment). Amy is a life long learner, honing in on where emotions/memories are stored in the body and Eastern Medicine to add to her background in Sports Medicine/Athletic Training. She has extensive experience with athletes from high school through Pro/elite and is able to get deep into stubborn muscles to get you back to to doing what you do. Amy has a Master's degree in Education, Bachelor's Degree in Sports Medicine and certifications in massage therapy and Athletic Training.
Elana Chavez
Elena has been practicing massage therapy for more than 5 years, she deeply enjoys her work and is always learning more fascinating things about the way each body functions. She is trained in working with lingering muscular issues, deep relaxation, reflexology, polarity therapy, cupping, and is always open and humbled by the amazing dynamics of the body. She deeply enjoys holding space for people, having grown up in a big family where one on one attention was few and far between. With her caring, nurturing, and present touch she intuitively sees the emotions and burdens that reside in the body and intentionally helps move them through, without judgement or expectation. Allowing each client to be met where they are and be guided to where they mostly deeply want to be.
Dee Richards
Dee is a passionate empath with a love for healing others through the power of intuitive yet clinical touch. Her soothing energy will help put you into a relaxing state of mind taking you away from hectic day to day of life in the city. She graduated from A New Beginning School of Massage in Austin and can deliver a one of a kind massage experience by combining her knowledge of Swedish and Deep Tissue techniques that are based on her client's wants and needs. Her journey as a LMT is young but anyone who knows her or has had a massage from her will tell you that she has found her calling in life. When she is not massaging or learning new modalities you can find her having a craft beer with loved ones or enjoying nature with her dog.
Kelly Marshall
Kelly Marshall has worked in varying capacities as a massage therapist; clinically alongside chiropractors and physical therapists as well as in various spa environments. They are also a certified yoga therapist (C-IAYT), yoga teacher (RYT-500) and a Reiki Master/Teacher. Therefore, they utilize a diverse array of techniques to tailor each session to the individual’s needs and wants.
Additionally, each session incorporates emphasis on tapping into the nervous system of each person via verbal breathing and embodiment cues (as in Yoga) as well as energetic awareness of the whole body. As an openly transgender and non-binary practitioner, they facilitate a safe space for clients from all walks of life to reconnect with their bodies and drop into a deeper state of rest in order to heal. What they offer is unique and unlike most other massage experiences.
In their free time, Kelly enjoys writing young adult fiction, journalism, and poetry. They love the occult and art in all its forms, building conscious communities, occasionally performing onstage, frolicking outdoors, and various other hippie activities.
Kyra Rodgers
Kyra Rodgers has been a Reiki practitioner since 2007 and a massage therapist since 2011. Shortly after graduating at The Lauterstein-Conway Massage school, she moved to Houston to pursue a clinical focus in Post Surgery, inspiring her to open a private practice for 5 years focusing on working with post operative care and professional opera/classical singers. Since then, she had to come back to Austin to be closer to her family. She took multiple Myofascial Release, Pain Management, and complementary courses all across Texas during this time, and continues to do so.
In her free time, she spends a lot of her energy working on her body of watercolor paintings, increasing her repertoire on the violin and cello, and working with activism for the transgender and LGBT community.
Brenda Lee Villarreal
I have been a massage therapist for over 15 years, managed and owned my own massage establishments and have thousands of hours of experience doing the hands on work. My grandmother was herbalist and my father a healer, which inspired me to go into the healing arts. My gift is in the therapeutics of touch, healing touch and therapeutic bodywork. My work isn’t a job to me, it is my passion, my gift that I share with others to facilitate and support their goals to live a fuller and more joyful life and be pain free. I have an intuitive sense about my sessions and how I chose to sequence them, as well as a deep pressure that really gets into those knots and helps you to relieve pain and stress. Each session is individualized to the clients needs.
