Massage Therapy Certificate Program Faculty
Susan Myers, LMT#2180
Coordinator of Integrative Massage Therapy Certification Program/Faculty Member
“Finding freedom of movement through the release of Myofascial Pain.”
Entering the Massage Therapy Field in her 30’s, Susan worked on building understanding of the deeper concepts of manual touch by attending the St. John’s and the North American Method of Neuromuscular Therapy, Myofascial Release with John Barns, and Acutonics Sound Technology training.
Susan Myers, LMT#2180, CNMT, has specialized in Pain Management for 28 years working with impact injury individuals.
Susan has made her adult home of more than 36 years in beautiful Northern Taos County, New Mexico.
Living the rugged dream - with husband, dogs, Alpacas, goats, hummingbirds, forests, and rainwater catchment.
Contact her at myers77@unm.edu
Kirstie Bender Segarra, LMT#4888
Program Coordinator of Structural Integration; Lecturer II
Dr. Kirstie Segarra (they/she/doctor) began studying yoga and Balinese Traditional Massage in 1996 in Bali, Indonesia while completing their Master’s Degree in Whole Systems Design, in the field of second-order biological systems. They are a lead instructor for the 200-Hour Yoga Teacher Training Program at UMM Taos, which was founded in 2010, and for the Medical Massage Program, which was founded in 2007.
Dr. Kirstie, who teaches courses for Holistic Helath and Healing Arts including Myofascial Yoga and Anatomy Trains, is a leading expert in fascial health and the author of Myofascial Yoga: A Movement and Yoga Therapist’s Guide to Asana. They are nationally and internationally recognized for their research in fascial health and fibromyalgia. Their teachings in yogasana blend structural bodywork, specifically myofascial meridians, with modified ashtanga, Iyengar, restorative and vinyasa practices. Additionally, they incorporate energy work, Tantra, traditional Chinese medicine, and Buddhist traditions. Dr. Kirstie emphasizes anatomical structure and function of postures in order to prevent injury and to help us examine our conditioned patterns of posture and movement. They believe that increasing stability and flexibility can help us heal and ground us in healthier ways of living.
Dr. Kirstie brings their experience as a practicing structural integrator into the medical massage program, where they teach ethics, anatomy and physiology, kinesiology, oriental medicine and advanced techniques in medical massage. They incorporate their knowledge of Eastern techniques with myofascial and structural bodywork. They are intentional in their integration of both philosophies and feel strongly that a great bodyworker should have a strong understanding not only of anatomy, but also of energetics.
Fun facts: Dr. Kirstie was born in Honolulu, Hawaii and grew up in Mons, Belgium and Seattle, Washington. Their first Zen sport was basketball. They play the electric cello and regularly ride a mountain bike. Dr. Kirstie was named one of the “Remarkable Women of Taos” (www.taos.org ). More information and her blog can be found at drkirstie.com.
Contact them at ksegarra@unm.edu
Tony Quintana, LMT#4973
Lead Faculty – A&P, Exercise Physiology, Deep Tissue, Myofascial/Myoskeletal
Tony Quintana LMT, has been practicing massage for over 20 years and teaching since 2009. His massage practice is based on body alignment through soft tissue techniques, including deep tissue, myofascial, myoskeletal, neuromuscular, trigger point, craniosacral and structural integration. He sees his massage practice as a place of continual learning, as he work with each client to bring balance into their body for pain free living. Tony is inspired to deepen his knowledge and research new techniques. He greatly enjoys teaching, sharing his enthusiasm for massage, and knowledge gained over many years of practice and study.
Contact them at aquint02@unm.edu
Robyn O’Boyle, LMT#8709
Lead Faculty – Massage I, II, III
Robyn O’Boyle (CH, LMT, RRMT, SF, TH) believes in healing through integrated modalities learned from over four decades of multicultural training, and she thrives by sharing these tools with her clients and students. Robyn has served as an instructor and professor for many of the major massage institutions in the Louisiana/Mississippi area. She teaches various private courses in holistic & Earth Based medicine practices, and hosts customized private healing retreats at her home in the Taos New Mexico area. She is a dynamic speaker, educator, and healing presence, and is passionate about her calling in holistic health. Robyn has diversified her knowledge of indigenous and alternative healing paths to always deepen her understanding of wellness.
She is a seasoned Earth Based Medicine practitioner, Vibrational Medicine Specialist, Sound Healing Practitioner, Advanced Cranial Sacral Therapist, licensed massage therapist, Reiki Master Teacher certified in three disciplines of Reiki – Usui, Shinpiden, and Karuna, a Classical Homeopath, Traditional Herbalist, Reflexologist, Ceremonialist, and Shamanic Facilitator. Thanks to her years of training, Robyn is ready to meet you, as a student of healing or a person in need of care. Feel free to visit Robyn’s website https://www.empoweringalchemy.com/
Contact them at roboyle@unm.edu
Tamara Fraser, LMT#8845
Lead Faculty – Eastern Modalities – Thai Massage
Tamara is a 2017 graduate of UNM-Taos. At UNM, she obtained her certificate in Yoga Teacher Training, a certificate in Holistic Health and Healing Arts, and her certificate in Integrative Massage Therapy. She has continued her education studying Asian Modalities and Thai Massage at the Costa Rica School of Massage and attended the Sunshine School of Massage in Chiang Mai, Thailand. She has worked the last 6 years at Las Vegas Body Works as a licensed massage therapist, employing her skills in a therapeutic environment. She is currently at Buena Vida Physical Therapy focusing on the benefits of Thai Yoga Therapy for her clients.
Tamara’s specialty and passion is Thai Yoga Therapy, aka Thai Massage or “Lazy Man’s Yoga”. Traditional Thai Massage is viewed as a whole-body modality in Thailand, it works primarily with the human energy body as well as the physical and emotional bodies. Tamara’s goal and dream is to continue studying Traditional Thai Yoga Massage and Medicine in Chiang Mai, Thailand, to incorporate this amazing holistic health system into her client’s personal treatments. Tamara feels this form of massage is invaluable for aiding health and well-being.
Tamara is a certified yoga instructor as well as a licensed massage therapist. She has taught classes at the Pendaries Community Center, Las Vegas Body Works, and Buena Vida Physical Therapy. She has been teaching yoga since 2014.
Contact Tamara at tschildan1@unm.edu
Alexandra Augustine, LMT#9691
Faculty Assistant
Alexandra graduated from UNM-Taos IMT program in 2017. She also completed the 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training with UNM-Taos. Her passions include Myofascial Release and Wholistic Energetic Neurological Regulation. She moved to New Mexico to work with Imus Ranch, specializing in supporting children with cancer. Using food as medicine – Alexandra was involved in nutritional planning as head chef and farmer’s assistant. She also worked as Vipassana Retreat Manager at Vallecitos Mountain Center. Alexandra is a Certified Grief Councilor – Southwestern College, currently working with Golden Willow Retreat as core staff.
Contact Alexandra at aaugustine@unm.edu
