Your Massage Therapists at Philly Power Yoga

Meagan Macklin
Meagan realized her true calling to bodywork and the health and wellness field while living in Southeast Asia teaching English to foreign learners. Teaching was the best job she had had up till that point and she wanted to continue on that path but with something more involved and palpable than the normal school subjects. Anatomic drawing was always a favorite of hers in art school, and it complimented her insatiable quest for the inner-workings of the human machine. Physical therapy, sports medicine and bodywork started to beckon to her. Upon her return to the U.S. a couple of years later she promptly enrolled in Lourdes Institute of Wholistic Sciences for Integrated Deep Tissue Therapy. Graduating in 2005 after two years of study she began work immediately in chiropractic/physical therapy and chronic pain clinics. It was here where she honed her skills and made time for more massage therapy/bodywork courses (including Orthopedic Massage and Active Isolated Stretching/Strengthening under Ben Benjamin PhD). She still works part time in a physical therapy/chiropractic clinic dealing with many serious soft tissue injuries from carpal tunnel to sciatica.
Meagan is certified in prenatal and postpartum massage also. Being a mother herself she realized how important prenatal massage was to keep aches and pains at bay. She also uses her understanding of anatomy and physiology to help women stretch and strengthen the muscles associated with childbirth and supporting the body during pregnancy. After the summer of 2010 she will be starting classes for doula certification to further enhance her knowledge of this miraculous time in a woman's life.
Meagan lives with her husband Chris, daughter Cat, and dog Roni in Philadelphia and is currently pursuing a degree in Health Sciences. She is slowly making her way towards becoming a doctor of Physical Therapy. On the web at MeaganQMacklin.com

Vanessa Hazzaerd-Tillman, CMT, Reiki II
Vanessa graduated from the 960 hour Advanced Massage Therapy Program at the Sanford Brown Institute in Trevose, PA in 2005.  There she was trained in Swedish, deep tissue, neuromuscular therapy and other forms of massage.  In June 2010, she will begin her Master/Teacher training in Usui Reiki Ryoho.

In 2008, Vanessa began training in the art of Thai Yoga Massage with Kevin Starbard, LMT.  She furthered her training in Thai massage  with Ana do Rosario Figueiredo, a student of Kira Balaskas and the late Asokananda.  Vanessa is co-founder of the Philadelphia Bodywork Collective, a group of certified holistic practitioners that offer their services in a community setting. As owner of NirvanaLand Essentials, natural artisan bodycare products she hand-craft salves, soaps, balms, herbal pillows, scrubs, and herb-infused oils to uplift the mind and spirit.  She is a student herbalist enrolled in the Art and Science of Herbalism. For booking information,www.nirvanalandwellness.com or 800-438-9040.

Heather Rice
The desire to study and learn how to guide the body/mind to optimal performance began at a very early age for Heather, growing up a competitive athlete and trained under the guidance of Olympic athletes and coaching staff. That training and dedication, along with a natural ability to teach, sparked a deeper desire to understand body awareness, as well as a passion for mastering how the body works. In 1996, Heather began her Biology studies at the Stockton College of NJ, and in 1998 she became a Licensed Massage Therapist ~ Specializing in Thai Yoga Massage, Deep Tissue Massage, Bio-energetics, and multiple healing systems and techniques. The healing massage that Heather delivers has served a wide array of clientele in their healing process. Throughout the years she has been an integral part of world-renowned spas, doctors’ offices, and most recently Nike World Headquarters’ employees and athletes. Her practice and teaching of yoga is weaved throughout this journey of study, completing her YA Certification this year. Her love for yoga and bodywork, both on and off the mat, compels her to continually deepen her knowledge of the human body, healing modalities, and spirituality. As she continues to excel and evolve, every client she works with is assisted in restoring optimal balance of the mind, body, and spirit.