Sarah began her journey into the world of bodywork and massage when she attended the Kootenay School of Rebalancing in Costa Rica in 1996. She practiced massage in many different settings - in a seaside cottage on Pender Island, at Assiniboine Lodge in the Rocky Mountains, and mobile on the North Shore in Vancouver, but gained most of her experience working in the spa industry, primarily at the Spa at the Chateau Whistler (now Vida Wellness Spa). Sarah's entrepreneurial spirit later led her to start a mobile massage business in partnership with a girlfriend. Alpeny En Suite Massage was one of the first en-suite services in Whistler and it operated for several years.

Sarah's passion for bodywork stems from a general interest in the healing arts and alternative/complementary medicine and lifestyles. As a Certified Permaculture Designer and urban farmer, she also dabbles in herbology, is madly in love with all things botanical, and tries her best to respect all living things by treading lightly on this planet.

In 2002, while attending BCIT, she began to develop a vision that would combine her business savvy with her massage background and her passion for health and wellness. She recognized the need for a top-quality massage and bodywork program with a more holistic approach than what was then available. The Vancouver School of Bodywork & Massage is the proud embodiment of Sarah's vision.

As Managing Director and President, Sarah has retained ultimate responsibility for all facets of Vancouver School of Bodywork and Massage Ltd.

As Associate Director, Nicole’s role at VSBM is multi-facetted: administrator, office/studio manager and head of Admissions. Nicole acts as liaison between instructors, students, and management, she has her finger on the pulse of all VSBM undertakings. She works in conjunction with Val Gardner, Administrative Assistant, to ensure the smooth operation of the school and office.

As a graduate of VSBM, Nicole brings an intimate knowledge of the Spa Therapy Program with her as well as years of invaluable experience running her own businesses. Since graduation, Nicole has been operating her own successful home-based massage studio in Deep Cove, North Vancouver and continues to do so, on a part time basis, while working at VSBM.

Before entering the world of massage, Nicole was a fashion designer, creating one-of-a-kind garments for local stores and custom clients. She made the radical career switch because of a desire to embrace a healthy, holistic based profession.

As the newest member of the VSBM team, Val supports the overall office administration under the direction of Nicole.

Being a graduate of the full-time Spa Therapy Program, Val has in-depth personal knowledge of the programs offered at VSBM, and is a valuable resource to the students and instructors.

After many years of running her own office services business, doing volunteer work and raising a family, Val opted for a more active career in bodywork and massage. She spent a summer season working in a Tofino day spa, and has now embarked on establishing her own private practice in Vancouver.

Kirsten first fell in love with the art of massage during a year-long adventure in Asia, where, despite language and cultural barriers, she encountered the universally profound language of massage. This experience inspired Kirsten to begin a newfound inner journey through the healing arts.

Kirsten is a certified Thai Massage practitioner through the Lotus Palm School in Montreal and a 2004 graduate of the Spa Therapy Program at VSBM. She has deepened her skills in bodywork and massage and solidified a love for teaching as a teaching assistant in Deep Tissue Massage, Joint Release, and lead instructor in Body Mind Integration and Deep Flow Massage at VSBM.

Kirsten currently practices bodywork and massage at her private practice in the West End, at the Vida Wellness Spa at the Wall Center Hotel, and the Wedgewood Hotel Spa. She also teaches Physical Wellness at Rhodes Wellness College.

Her clients and colleagues have enriched her life deeply, and her work continues to stimulate further growth within the unbounded field of the Healing Arts.

Raminder has been in full-time practice in Vancouver since graduating from the Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College in Toronto with clinic and academic honours in 1997. He also has advanced training in gait analysis and foot orthotic therapy. Presently Raminder is the Director at the Downtown Wellness Centre in Vancouver.

As a Chiropractor, Raminder specializes in the treatment of acute and chronic neuromusculoskeletal injuries. Through the use of well-rounded treatment protocols that include chiropractic adjustments, soft tissue techniques, exercise/stretch prescription, nutritional/lifestyle counselling, postural assessment, foot orthotic therapy, and education, each patient is assessed and treated from a holistic perspective. Raminder strongly believes that his role is to facilitate optimal body function without pain or limitation on a daily basis on the road to total wellness.

Aaron completed his undergraduate degree in Biomedical Toxicology from the University of Guelph and his Naturopathic Diploma from the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine in Toronto.

Believing in the body's own ability to heal itself, he strives to remove any obstacles to this healing process. Through the use of nutritional supplements, botanical formulations, lifestyle changes and physical therapies, he believes this goal can be achieved.

Currently, Aaron works in private practice at the Downtown Wellness Centre and teaches at Boucher Institute of Naturopathic Medicine as well as the Vancouver School of Bodywork & Massage.

Justin was born and raised in Fernie, BC and attended post-secondary in Calgary and Victoria in the fields of Linguistics and Business before he was drawn into the world of alternative medicine. Justin studied at the West Coast College of Massage Therapy in Victoria and then moved to Vancouver to begin his massage career at the Absolute Spa in the Hotel Vancouver. Shortly after completing the RMT Board Examinations he joined the team at the Downtown Wellness Centre and opened his own practice.

Amaro has worked for thirty years with individuals and groups in the field of bodywork. His qualifications include certifications in Rolfing®, The Trager® Approach and the Dorn® Chiropractic Method as well as a diploma in Naturopathy. He is the co-founder of the "European School of Bodywork" and has developed a two year training program in deep tissue bodywork. He has taught Joint Release Workshops to various professional groups including naturopaths, midwives and massage therapists.

Amaro relocated from Hamburg, Germany to Vancouver seven years ago. He maintains a private practice as a therapist in both of these locations.

Paula is a Registered Massage Therapist and is a member of the College of Massage Therapists of BC, the Massage Therapy Association of BC, Doulas of North America, and Doula Services Association of BC. Paula received her diploma from the West Coast College of Massage Therapy in 1996, and has been teaching at the College since 1999. She has focused on teaching manual skills, clinical assessment, pregnancy, labour and pediatric massage. She has been invited to appear as a guest speaker at a variety of conferences about women's health. Paula also has a private practice in Vancouver.

Ben attended the University College of the Fraser Valley majoring in Kinesiology and then went on to receive his massage training at the West Coast College of Massage Therapy graduating in July 2002. Over the years he has worked in both clinical and spa settings and now limits his private practice to Studio Health - Chiroworks in Vancouver.

At present Ben’s main focus is teaching – in addition to teaching deep tissue massage at VSBM, Ben is one of the lead instructors at the Utopia Academy where he is developing curricula and instructing various courses including orthopedic treatment, joint mobilization and therapeutic exercise classes. When not in the classroom Ben is on the stage as he is a passionate dancer and performer. Ben has been in many local productions, but has also performed internationally. He performed at the 2006 Olympic Closing Ceremonies in Torino, Italy, as well as in China for the International Tourism Festival. Combining his dance training and massage education, Ben has gained a better understanding of the body in motion, sport related injuries, and sport rehabilitation. As such Ben’s technique has evolved into a fusion of rehabilitative healing and holistic integration.

Mylène completed her 1000-hour massage therapy certification in 1999 with the New Mexico Academy of Healing Arts in Santa Fe. She immediately submerged herself in the field and began practicing in some of B.C.'s most pristine heli-ski lodges. Her work adventures also include treating surfer's injuries with a chiropractor in Hawaii, offering stretch and wellness workshops for Volcom, a surf company in California, and assisting the Canadian national and junior cross-country ski teams as a therapist and physical counselor.

Mylène's experiences as an world-traveler and avid surfer have led her to develop a unique therapeutic approach to bodywork, which emphasizes and promotes physical alignment through postural, spiritual and emotional awareness. She is currently involved in teaching the physical wellness component of Rhodes Wellness College in Vancouver, and maintains a private practice in both Vancouver and Tofino, B.C.

Mylene has become a central figure at VSBM. She teaches Body-Mind Integration, Swedish, and Deep Flow, supervises Student Clinic, and acts as a program advisor.

Shortly after moving from France in 1985, Anne began her studies at the Massage School of Santa Monica in California. She then studied Shiatsu at The Tao Healing Art Center in Santa Monica. In 1988 Anne started working at Burke Williams Day Spa, one of the first high-end day spas in the U.S. where she became the Director of the Massage Department and for over 10 years managed and trained 200+ massage therapists at four Burke Williams spas. Over the years she studied and practiced many different modalities and refined her knowledge of different spa therapies.

In the late 90’s Anne moved to New York where she maintained a part-time private practice and started a family. Her massage style, which can combine many techniques, is flowing but also goal specific. After many years working at and visiting spas, Anne always tries to create a nurturing spa/massage experience within her therapeutic work.

Anne recently relocated from New York to Vancouver with her husband and two children.

Natalie has been studying Reflexology since she stumbled upon it on a kibbutz in Israel in 1989. Since then she has studied in Israel, Holland and Canada, and received her certification from the Wild Rose College in Vancouver in 1993. She has explored feet all over the globe, working on a wide variety of people and places, from the South Pacific to Whistler, BC. Since moving to Salt Spring Island, she has given workshops, classes and talks about Reflexology, Yoga & Meditation. Her current collaboration with Salt Spring Island dentist Dr. Richard Hayden combines Reflexology and dental work to create a deeply relaxing environment in what could be considered a less than optimal position. Natalie is committed to exploring all avenues of healing and teaching.

Colleen began her studies of massage therapy in 1984. She also studied pranic healing and ayurvedic herbal therapies and nutrition. This led Colleen to continue her studies in the United States with world-renowned ayurvedic physicians Dr. Vasant Lad and Dr. Deepak Chopra.

As a registered massage therapist and co-founder of Vida Wellness Spa, formerly known as The Spa at Chateau Whistler, she has been practicing and teaching massage therapy in the Whistler area since 1985. Under Colleen's leadership, The Spa at Chateau Whistler now offers a variety of cleansing massage therapy treatments based on the simple ayurvedic principles of balance.

Her teaching style brings a calm presence, firmly rooted in mindfulness while she strives to adapt ayurveda into our western culture, psychology and environment.

She has a joy for the healing arts that is the propelling force behind her success and in her own process of self-discovery. She has a vibrant passion for her spa work.

Fernando is a Registered Shiatsu Therapist and has been practicing Zen Shiatsu (Masunga style) scince 1992 and is a member of the Shiatsu Therapy Association of B.C. He has taught Shiatsu Therapy for the student training program with Langara College and now leads his own Shiatsu Workshops.

Fernando's unique style also combines techniques drawn from traditional Thai Massage and Chi Nei Tsang (international organ massage).

Founder, The Mystic Masala Ayurvedic Aromatherapy and Thousand Petal Lotus Indian Head Massage

Glynnis was born in South Africa and moved to New York in her 20’s as an Art Director. Glynnis was strongly drawn to the wellness path and shares a diverse 15 year background in Ayurveda, specializing in nutrition and aromatherapy. With travel to India and Nepal Glynnis has enriched and integrated her study of Ayurveda. Glynnis graduated as an Ayurvedic practitioner from Bastyr University in 2002, and studied food practices at The Wise Earth School of Ayurveda. She has taught engaging and practical aromatherapy and self-care workshops, sharing the art of creating healing blends for daily practice. Glynnis founded The Mystic Masala in 2003 to create and share her unique Ayurvedic aromatherapy products. She now lives in Vancouver, BC where she has deepened her studies incorporating Indian Head Massage into her practice.

Glynnis has been mixing up spice blends, potions and lotions in her kitchen apothecary from a very young age and she loves to work with the wisdom of the herbs, spices and flowers where beauty and balance in nature are a guide and an inspiration for her.

Lydia has a strong business background in the spa industry. Along with being a public relations and marketing consultant, she worked as the manager of the Ancient Cedars Spa at the world class Wickaninnish Inn located in Tofino. With her solid experience in the spa industry, her training gives focus to preparing individuals to be successful in their career choice of massage and bodywork. She truly knows what it takes to get hired at some of the best spas and shares strategic ways of developing a career in bodywork and spa therapy. As a graduate of VSBM, Lydia runs her own successful massage practise, Body Wisdom Massage, in Kitsilano.

Kirsten was a member of the Canadian Olympic Rowing Team and competed in two Olympic Games, Seoul in 1988 and Barcelona in 1992. Following a World Championship win in both the coxless four and eight in 1991, she won two gold medals at the Barcelona Games in 1992.

Kirsten received a PhD in Sport Psychology from Bristol University in 1998. As an applied sport psychologist she has worked with a number of teams and individuals to develop awareness, understanding and effective use of sport psychology in daily training and competition. Since 1997, Kirsten has worked with Lane4 delivering leadership development, mental toughness, and team development programs to the executives and managers of a broad range of corporations. Kirsten brings a deep understanding of high performance from her experience as an athlete and her work as mental coach in sport and business.

After more than 13 years in the UK, Kirsten has moved back to Vancouver with her husband Terry Dillon and together they have established Lane4 Canada.

Kirsten first fell in love with the art of massage during a year-long adventure in Asia, where, despite language and cultural barriers, she encountered the universally profound language of massage. This experience inspired Kirsten to begin a newfound inner journey through the healing arts.

Kirsten is a certified Thai Massage practitioner through the Lotus Palm School in Montreal and a 2004 graduate of the Spa Therapy Program at VSBM. She has deepened her skills in bodywork and massage and solidified a love for teaching as a teaching assistant in Deep Tissue Massage, Joint Release, and lead instructor in Body Mind Integration and Deep Flow Massage at VSBM.

Kirsten currently practices bodywork and massage at her private practice in the West End, at the Vida Wellness Spa at the Wall Center Hotel, and the Wedgewood Hotel Spa. She also teaches Physical Wellness at Rhodes Wellness College.

Her clients and colleagues have enriched her life deeply, and her work continues to stimulate further growth within the unbounded field of the Healing Arts.