 The diversity of our faculty offers the student a vast variety of approaches to touch communication. Our instructors collectively have over 409 years experience in the massage therapy field and over
264 years experience teaching massage therapy. Highly educated, the faculty collectively
hold 19 Bachelor's Degrees, 12 Master's Degrees, 2 law Degrees and 3 Ph.D.'s.
They present the student with a broad range of therapeutic methods from energy-based to deep tissue, from a relaxation focus to specific clinical work and from eclectic to focused specialty practices.
 |  | Iris Burman, Director, L.M.T., N.M.T.
Iris is a co-founder of Educating Hands and has been practicing Massage Therapy since 1976. She has attained certifications in Swedish Massage, Sports Massage, Milton's Psychophysical Integration, Neuromuscular Therapy and has studied numerous other Modalities. Iris's background includes Gestalt Therapy and Psychology. She has, over the years, taught every element of the program. Currently, Iris concentrates on curriculum development and teaching Massage and Business. She is co-author of TouchAbilities®, our core massage text. |
| Brian Coniglio*, L.M.T.
Brian has taught courses in Anatomy and Physiology, Kinesiology and Palpation, and Massage at Educating Hands since 1989. He holds a B.A. in education from Lehman College, N.Y.C. Brian manages our Student Services Department and practices mainly Deep Tissue Massage and Neuromuscular Therapy. |  |  |
| Sarianna Elo* Ph.D., P.T., L.M.T., N.C.T.M.B.
Sarianna, a native of Helsinki, Finland, graduated from Helsinki IV College for Health Care Professionals
with a degree in Physical Therapy and Massage Therapy. She holds a B.S. in Professional Sciences with a
major in Education from St. Joseph's College of Maine, and a M.S. and Ph.D. with a major
in Psychology from California Coast University. Sarianna comes to Educating Hands with over 25 years experience in the field.
Her integrated approach draws from her experiences in a diverse array of work and educational settings.
Currently, Sarianna teaches various science and massage classes. | |  |
 | | Sandy Friedland*, L.M.T.
Sandy's approach; Multi Dimensional Movement Arts® (MDMA) is spiritual, Holistic & eclectic with a special focus on energetic flow, vibratory frequency & dynamic balancing. She 'plays' holographically at a table... on the floor... in the water using sound, light, oil, color, crystals, essences, magnets, intention, movement, verbalization, visualization. Her work/teaching explores the mystery of the 'body' & reflects a background in anthropology, philosophy, psychology with the wisdom of Craniosacral Therapy, Connective Tissue Unwinding, Polarity, Reflexology, Shiatsu, Milton's Psychophysical Integration & Oriental Medicine. She is co-author of TouchAbilities®, our core massage text. For more on Sandy check out www.SandyFriedland.com. |
| Paula Garcia Di Niro*, L.M.T.
Born and raised in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Paula earned a Master's Degree in Public Relations from Universidad Argentina de la Empresa. She taught English for over 12 years. Since graduating from Educating Hands in 2005, Paula has worked as a Licensed Massage Therapist maintaining a private practice mainly focused on Swedish Massage, Neuromuscular Therapy and Reiki healing. She teaches Kinesiology and Palpation, Commonly Encountered Conditions, Anatomy and Physiology and some massage classes. | |  |
| Richard Schekter*, L.M.T., N.C.T.M.B.
Richard comes to Educating Hands with a background as a scientist - a Marine Biologist and Biological Oceanographer at the University of Miami. As a Licensed Massage Therapist, Richard maintains a private practice, works in a prestigious hotel spa and is one of the core therapists at Educating Hands Professional Massage Therapy Clinic. Richard teaches several classes at Educating Hands, mainly in Anatomy and Physiology, Commonly Encountered Conditions and Massage. | |  |
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Aimee Rado Bertsch*, L.M.T.
Aimee is from Indonesian ancestry, raised in The Netherlands. Educating Hands was and is the obvious choice to study and to teach the continuum of her own process as a LMT.
She has taught in private and public schools since 1987, ranging from Pre-k to 8th grade. "A grounded, inquisitive and playful blend", best describes her teaching style
integrating a safe pathway to discovery through personal development and supporting the innate skills of artistic curiosity in bodywork. She has pursued studies in
Medical Qi Gong, Doaism, Cranial Sacral Therapy, Bodytalk, Barbara Brennan School of Healing, Shamanic Reiki & Shamanic studies and Intuition development.
Creator of: Infinite Pathways; a course designed to take bodywork into the energy medicine paradigm for professionals. In addition to teaching classes in TouchAbilities®,
Inspiring Intuition, Full Body Integration and more she teaches group instruction in Yoga Movement and Qi -Gong at a longevity center and has a healing clientele base in Miami.
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Gilad Schafman*, L.M.T.
Gilad Schafman is an experienced international teacher, educator and therapist since 1990. He comes with over 20 years of teaching experience and was Director of the Massage department at Medika College for complementary medicine in Cfar-Saba Israel. There he was in charge of the massage program and curriculums as well as being a lead teacher. Gilad is originally from Tel-Aviv Israel and has been residing in Miami since 2011.
In 1992 he founded the Israeli Massage and Bodywork Association and was the president until 1999(7 years). His work is multidimensional; combining massage therapy and spiritual growth. He holds a Doctorate in Metaphysical Studies through the University of Metaphysics L.A., Ca.
Dr. Schafman trained or studied with Leonard Orr, Avi Yasur, Ed Maupin, Carol Osborne, Peter Malcior, Neil Powers and more. He is certified in Structural Integration (Also known as Rolfing), therapeutic massage (pain management, injury and rehabilitation), Development and function with the Neuro Developmental Functional Approach Therapy and emotional release bodywork.
Currently he is practicing at Miami Beach Pediatrics Center for Integrative Medicine and teaching at Educating Hands School of Massage as well as providing trainings and practicing in California, Germany, and in Israel.
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| Ed Wilson*, Ph.D., L.M.T.
Ed comes with 20 years teaching experience in the university system at Syracuse University, Virginia Tech and Florida State University, where he specialized in teaching courses in the field of marriage, family relations and family therapies. Since joining the bodywork community, he has accumulated 26 years worth of experience in Swedish Massage, Reflexology and Neuromuscular Therapy. Ed has developed a certification program in Reflexology, which he teaches in our continuing education offerings. He also teaches massage, Florida Law and History.
Contact Ed
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 | | Tracy Wright*, L.M.T., N.C.T.M.B.
Tracy has been affiliated with Educating Hands since 1996, first as a student and now as a teacher of Hydrotherapy. She does bodywork in local spas as well as privately and although people are her main clientele, her specialty and true love is animal massage. She uses her 20+ years of animal husbandry and education to promote this unique genre of massage. Contact Tracy |
Administrative Staff
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Owner & Director:
Iris Burman
L.M.T.
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Admissions & Marketing Director
Antonio Serrano
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Student Services:
Brian Coniglio*
L.M.T.
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Administrator
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Director Continuing Education*
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 Receptionist:
Maria Teresa Victoriano* L.M.T.
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 Life Coach:
Crystal Loiacono*
L.M.T.
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 Dir.Feng Shui:
Mercedes Ortega
"La Tia"
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Bookstore Staff
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| Bookstore Manager:
Leticia Velasquez
L.M.T., Skin Care Specialist
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L.M.T. - Licensed Massage Therapist
* - Graduate of Educating Hands
N.C.T.M.B. - Nationally Certified in Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork
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