OUR
TEAM
Estheticians Team:
Asia Thorpe
Asia received her esthetician training at
Miss Marty’s
Esthetic Institute in San Francisco, CA. She has been in the
skincare industry for over ten years, five of which were spent
formulating organic aromatherapy products for a private label
company.
Asia’s passions include the science of skincare from
active ingredients in nature to the latest breakthroughs in research
and development. She has become skilled in every aspect of esthetics
from advanced peels and anti-aging treatments to extensive product
knowledge. She uses this knowledge to educate her clients and
help them achieve their skincare goals. Asia is also known for
her nurturing touch, gentle extractions and a meticulous attention
to detail. With her dedication to excellence Asia can help bring
out the best in her clients with a mineral makeup lesson, beautiful
brows and glowing, healthy skin. She also enjoys writing skincare
tips for the EVO newsletter and managing the Esthetics department.
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Keren Espinoza
Keren graduated from the Atlanta
Institute of Esthetics in Atlanta, GA in 2005 and began her career
working in a Georgian Day Spa. Upon moving to California in 2008,
she started working here at Evo Day Spa. Karen enjoys all aspects
of being an esthetician, from waxing and facials, to specialized
treatments such as the L.E.D., Microdermabrasion, Oxygen Treatments,
and especially working with clients who have acne.
Karen’s deepest satisfaction comes from pampering her
clients while thoroughly taking care of their skin with the utmost
attention to detail. She enjoys making the atmosphere inviting
and attending to her clients’ individual needs so that
when they leave they feel relaxed and rejuvenated.
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Karin Lieberman
Karin graduated from Dominican University
with a BA in studio arts. For all of her life she has loved working
with her hands. She still continues to sculpt and draw in her
free time.
Karin graduated from Esthetics school in San Rafael
in 2000. Karin views esthetics as a celebration of self and what
she enjoys most about working in the field is helping her clients
to feel better about their skin and ultimately themselves. She
works hard to help her clients look and feel their best, either
with a facial, a brow wax or with product recommendations. Karin
has been with EVO spa since they opened 7 years ago. Since then
Karin has learned a lot about nutrition and holistic health and
how it directly affects the skin. Evo offers so many different
avenues for the skin’s improvement both inside and out and
Karin can help navigate and direct you towards achieving your personal
goals.
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Amber Bishop
Amber is a graduate of Miss Marty’s
Esthetics Institute in San Francisco in 2005 and has been working
with Evo Spa ever since. She supports using natural and organic
skincare lines and ingredients in order to achieve corrective,
replenishing and protective results for beautiful healthy skin.
Amber also believes in the importance of antioxidants, minerals
and vitamins in order to achieve and maintain the beauty and
suppleness of skin throughout all stages of life.
Amber’s
specialty is the ritual of a deeply cleansing, relaxing and healing
facial. She loves participating in hands-on treatments and connecting
with her clients during their sessions; making sure that they
get the most out of their time together. Her favorite facials
involve deep pore-cleansing, working with acneic skin, and anti-again
facials.
Amber particularly enjoys incorporating massage techniques,
to both face and body, in order to promote a stress-free environment
and ensure a great level of relaxation, while working towards
visible results.
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Elizabeth Markoff
Elizabeth is an experienced esthetician
who is attentive to your specific skincare needs. Six years after
training at Miss Marty’s in San Francisco, and with many
talents at her disposal, Elizabeth has decided to specialize
in facials, along with Brazilian and eyebrow waxing and is eager
to pass her talents on to you.
Elizabeth is a kind, motivated and honest individual whose
attention to the details of skincare extends beyond the treatment
room. Elizabeth will teach you about the function of skincare,
and how to benefit best from her philosophies to incorporate
them into your daily skincare routine.
Elizabeth’s goal
is to show you how to maintain healthy skin, so that you can
have the best skin for the rest of your life.
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Michelle Smith
Michelle has been educated in esthetics at Zenzis Beauty College,
Pacifica Institute of Aromatherapy and the Dyana Center and
School of Ayurveda. She has over 20 years experience in the
beauty industry, 15 of which have been working as an esthetician
in numerous spas and as a makeup artist for weddings, special
occasions and on location for the TV series Conan the Barbarian.
Michelle’s
areas of special interest include health and wellness, Nutrition,
Aromatherapy, Ayurvedic practices, L.E.D. Light Therapy, Acupressure
Massage and Natural Makeup application.
Michelle’s
philosophy of skin care is to take a holistic approach, as your
skin is a reflection of your health. Beauty is achieved from
inside out, respecting the skin as an intelligent organ. People
are beautiful at every age and your skincare should support and
enhance that beauty.
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Sarah Ashton
Born and raised in Glen Ellen,Ca.
Sarah brings an effortless grace and a love of skincare to every
client and every facial. She attended Paris Beauty College in
Concord in 2004 after having returned to the Bay Area from southern
California where she had been pursuing a career in acting.
Sarah
practices deeply cleansing facials, L.E.D. treatment, microdermabrasions,
as well as precision waxing and tinting, and professional makeup
applications for weddings or photo shoots.
After receiving her
first facial, she loved the results and the lasting benefits
it gave to her skin, as well as the relaxed and nurturing hour
spent with that particular esthetician. The spa environment seemed
like a fitting place for her, given that she is an advocate for
alternative medicine, nutrition, and holistic health. She decided
that skincare would be a perfect avenue to follow to give back
and help people on so many levels. This passion and dedication
shows up in her relaxing, rejuvenating sessions with each client.
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Ruby Hackney
Ruby graduated from Le Melange Academy
of Skin and Hair in Napa, CA in 2000. Since then, she owned her
own skincare business for a year and has worked with over forty
different skincare lines over ten years and brings that wide
range of knowledge to bear in each of her sessions with clients
to offer them the most effective products for the needs of their
skin.
In her ten years as an esthetician, Ruby has developed highly
effective skills in all aspects of the facial industry including
facials, microdermabrasion, anti-aging peels as well as precision
waxing.
Ruby believes in nurturing the skin and in using a combination
of a holistic skincare approach as well as cosmeceutical lines
when called for to make certain that each clients’ skin
is cared for in the best way possible.
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Estheticians Team:
Nicole Mezzo
Born in Passaic, New Jersey, Nicole
comes to us by way of San Diego County where she grew up. In
her journey towards becoming a massage therapist she attended
a massage school connected with a yoga society in San Francisco.
Seeing the amazing results her clients had gained connected to
bodywork, Nicole went on to train as an acupuncturist at the
Pacific College of Oriental Medicine in San Diego. To further
round out her education, Nicole later studied and became an esthetician
at the San Francisco Institute of Esthetics and Cosmology.
Nicole
practices Deep Tissue and Therapeutic Massage as well as incorporating
both Eastern and Western bodywork modalities into every session
with her clients. She also brings this body knowledge to her
esthetician work; working with her clients to create an inner
and outer beauty that is reflected in the health of their skin.
In
all aspects of her practice, Nicole loves working with her hands;
beginning with art, then massage, acupuncture and finally with
skin care. She has a passion for all aspects of healthy living
and loves being able to offer all that she can to each client.
Incorporating her 12year studies of meditation, yoga, and qi gong
she brings this knowledge of the internal and external body into
each treatment helping people to rediscover balance, harmony and
relaxation in their lives.
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Brian Goodwin
Brian began studying massage and
bodywork in 1989 at the Body Tune Up School of Massage in Stockton,
California. He received a BA in Psychology in 1994 from Sonoma
State University. While at SSU, his studies included Athletic
Training (also known as Athletic Therapy). Brian has also trained
at the School of Shiatsu and Massage at Harbin Hot Springs, Alive
and Well; the Institute for Conscious Bodywork, the Institute
of Orthopedic Massage, the Acupressure Institute, the Upledger
Institute, and the Core Institute of Massage Therapy and Structural
Bodywork. Brian has also volunteered with the 2002 Winter Olympics
and Paralympics on the Massage Team as well as the 2002 Ironman
triathlon in Utah. In 2008 he worked as a volunteer at the Asian
Art Museum in San Francisco demonstrating traditional Asian healing
massage arts.
During his sessions Brian brings his wide range
of talents together to practice Sacred Hot Stone, Therapeutic
Massage, Deep Tissue/Sports Massage, Mother-to-Be, Reflexology,
and the Raindrop Ritual. He believes that the best massage
is based on establishing harmony, communication between the
therapist and the client, and being grateful.
“I like to listen, I have learned a great deal from listening
carefully”. -E. Hemingway.
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Donna Scippa
Already a licensed and practicing
Registered Nurse, Donna discovered the alternative medicine field
of holistic health and realized that she could expand her knowledge
and love of healing through this new path. She decided to attend
the North American College of Natural Health Sciences in Mill
Valley, CA where she studied massage, kinesiology & women's
nutrition in 1978. As she began incorporating massage into her
life, she started a natural “goodies” bakery ultimately
going back to school again to become a Nurse Practitioner in
Women’s Health with an emphasis on gynecology. Later Donna
was certified as a thermography technician and also a biofeedback
specialist (the SCIO machine here at Evo).
Donna’s specialties
include Deep Tissue, Therapeutic, Integrated massage, Pre-Natal
and the Scio among her many other talents.
What Donna loves most
about massage is that it brings her back to the ultimate healing
modality: touch. She finds it extremely easy to get into a deep
meditative space while giving a massage; the opportunity to be
transformed is there in every moment, not only for the recipient,
but also the practitioner.
"Remember, love is real therapy, everything else is secondary." Osho
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Donna Spitzer
Donna studied massage at both the Rocky
Mountain Healing Arts Institute as well as the Lomi School of
Mind/Body Integration Therapy. She has been a practicing massage
therapist for over 28 years, and her modalities include Swedish,
Deep Tissue and Reichian Therapy.
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Gitama Huckgrass
Gitama brings to EVO clients a wealth
of knowledge and experience.
She began her massage education at
the Acupressure Institute, in Berkeley,CA in1986. Her lifelong
interest began in 1987 with the study of Jin Shin Jyutsu at
the Jin Shin Jyutsu Inc., in Scottsdale, AZ where she received
a certificate as a JSJ practioner and self-help instructor.
During
each session, Gitama blends her massage specialties including Swedish,
Jin Shin Jyutsu, Acupressure, Shiatsu, and Reflexology, into a
healing and rejuvenating experience. In addition, she specializes
in working with injuries and chronic conditions. Last year she
volunteered at Sutter Health in Santa Rosa, CA offering the healing
art of Jin Shin Jyutsu to women with cancer.
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Jennifer Rae
Educated at National Holistic Institute,
Emeryville, Ca, 720 hours
Trained in: Deep Tissue, Sports, Swedish,
Shiatsu, Polarity Therapy, Reflexology, Thai massage, and Hot Stone.
Has also completed various workshops related to Matrix Energetics,
Energy Clearing & Energy Healing at the
Foundation for Spiritual Development, and Reiki. Specializing
in Releasing energy blockages.
I have been practicing massage since
2003, my style is a combination of Swedish, deep tissue/sports,
shiatsu, reflexology and energy work. I am very influenced by rhythm
and flow and I naturally incorporate that energy into the session.
I see the session as a gradual unfolding process and I deeply use
my intuition to guide me to what the person needs for the greatest
healing to occur.
My favorite part of being a massage therapist
is that I get to help people have a deeper experience of life and
of themselves. Sometimes people will come in feeling dull and disconnected
and after the massage they are open to life again. This is why
I do what I do. Working with the body transforms the mind and when
the mind is transformed the whole life is transformed.
Massage
Therapy was an inspiration that I had. I have always had an intuitive
connection to the body and have always been drawn to healing and
transformational work so it felt like the right path to take.
Working
with clients and Feeling the Light inside of them brighten is
the best part of being a Massage Therapist. When I have worked
with someone and they tell me that they went to a beautiful or
amazing place in themselves, it inspires me. I want everyone
to experience that beauty and being able to help be a channel
for that to occur gives me joy.
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Mary Cosgrove
Mary’s massage career began
at the Institute of Conscious Bodywork; Alive and Well in San
Anselmo, CA and she has gone on to practice at the Rodriguez
Family Chiropractic office in addition to private employment
and her work with Evo Spa.
Mary’s skilled massage techniques
blend Swedish, Deep Tissue, Reiki, Hot Stone, Reflexology, and
Raindrop Therapy.
Massage
can achieve a wide variety of results including healing from
an injury or illness, relaxation, and stress reduction, and Mary
believes that massage is beneficial to almost anyone. She feels
that every physical body can benefit from regular touch and that
massage is a safe and healthy way to receive it.
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Raul Martinez
Raul was educated in massage at
the Institute for Conscious Bodywork, Alive and Well in San Anselmo,
CA in 2003. He has practiced at the Bernstein Institute, Sonoma
Coast Villa and Spa as well as Evo Spa.
Raul skillfully blends Deep
Tissue, Hot Stone, Swedish, Prenatal, Raindrop Therapy, Reflexology,
Myofascial Release Therapy and Sports massage into each customized
session and believes that massage is a vehicle for creating
and sustaining a compassionate world.
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Renee Ann Mahoney
Renee graduated from the Institute of Psycho-Structural
Balancing, in Santa Monica CA. The programs are uniquely designed
to combine sensory awareness, movement and body psychology. This
well-rounded approach focuses on the whole person recognizing
that through the body we touch the soul~therefore, approaching
life as a balance between the Body, Mind and Spirit. Renee continued
her research in Hawaii, where she discovered the science of Crystal
placement, Psycho-Somatic influence of Colour energy and the
ancient Hawaiian Art of Lomi~Lomi Massage.With this new found
knowledge she designed and implemented a colour meditation program
at the Pacific Buddhist Academy in Honolulu, where she became
a student advocate for high school students struggling with self-mastery.
An IPSB graduate is recognized as an innovator of holistic techniques,
through creativity, transforming basic techniques into an artistic
form which touches the lives of others. Her love for humanity
clearly translates through her cultivated touch communicating
beyond the physical contact alone. She offers a deeply relaxing
experience through the spiritual intention of Aloha,the ancient
art of Lomi~Lomi, tremendous energy flow~through Colour energy
and Crystal placement. Renee also calls upon the life force energy
of organic flowers, plants and herbs called Aromatherapy.
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Zenovia Limberakis
Training: Sonoma School of Holistic
Massage in California for general certification, with additional
certifications in: Vita-Flex Reflexology; Reike I & II;
Aromatherapy; Zen Shiatsu and Shamanic energy work. Additional
studies include: lymphatic massage; Trager bodywork, aromatherapy
Raindrop technique by Gary Young, hot stones, pregnancy massage
and other approaches both physical and energetic.
Zenovia believes that "we are
in a constant state of contraction and expansion as we experience
and respond to both external stimulation from the world; our
own internal landscape resulting from our conscious and subconscious
thinking and feeling from our emotional history; and our accumulated
bodily movement patterns over time. When we feel the discomfort
that leads us to seek bodywork assistance, we are often either
too contracted or stagnant or overly stimulated and stressed
and in need of help to bring all parts of us back into balance
and flow. Other times the symptoms can be the result of a trauma,
pregnancy, or illness of some sort. I believe that these symptoms
can successfully be addressed in a multi-layer approach by
utilizing a variety of modalities in order to allow the energy
to flow back into balance resulting in you feeling more comfortable
on all levels with a feeling of clarity of mind and relaxation
of the body. In other words, peaceful."
Zenovia brings to her sessions her experience
and sensitivity gained through many years of Tai Chi and Chi Gong
practice; Meditation; professional belly dance performance and
instruction; and experience as a medical assistant in the cancer
field. She sees clients for general rejuvenation and relaxaton,
injury, pregnancy, pre and post operative conditions and emotional
trauma. She is also an assemblage artist and resides in Marin County,
California.
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