Pamela Balanag

Pamela Balanag, born in St. Louis, Mo, has been a Santa Fe resident and massage therapist for the past 16 years. After her studies at the New Mexico Academy of Healing Arts, she has worked at Ojo Caliente, The Life Healing Center and 10,000 Waves. Pamela has been at 10,000 Waves for the past thirteen years, and is still with them.

She has undertaken additional studies in Reiki III, at the Healing the Light Body School (4 Winds Society) and in Shamanism/Energy Medicine.

Pamela loves that she gets to work with people on such an individualized basis, "dancing outside of time, assisting in and witnessing transformation."

When not at work, Pamela enjoys being in nature, walking, gardening, camping and travel. She also loves the sanctuary of home, good movies, food, books, music, pets & people, yoga, movement arts and the fine arts.

Aloka Costello

Aloka moved to Santa Fe in 2008 from South Florida. She has been a massage therapist since 1989, giving her just over 20 years of experience. Her comprehensive background includes private practice, medical massage and five star resorts. These top spas include the Fairmont Willowsteam Spas, Ritz Carlton Spas and Rosewood Resorts.

Aloka was trained at the Euroskill Therapeutic Training Center in Boca Raton, Florida. Further studies included Ayurveda and Panch Karma Therapy & Ayurvedic Massage in Kerala, India at PVA School of Ayurveda & Pancha Karma Therapy. "I have a passion for the eastern modalities", says Aloka. "I have also studied Medical Qigong Therapy, Tuina, Shiatsu, Reiki, Thai Yoga Massage and Reflexology." Along with being an Ayurvedic & Spa Educator, she is also certified as a hypnotherapist and Kundalini Yoga Instructor.

Aloka's specialties are deep tissue, reflexology, Asian fusion and pregnancy massage. Her outside interests are the study of eastern philosophy, mysticism and Ayurveda. She loves to combine travel and study in these areas.

Susan Hoffman

Susan came to Santa Fe from New York and has been practicing massage for the past 18 years. She received her training at the New Mexico School of Natural Therapeutics in Albuquerque, NM and has done further training in Lomi Lomi, La Stone and foot reflexology. She also has a BS in Biology from the U. of New Mexico. In addition to a successful private practice, Susan has worked at the El Gancho Fitness Club and the Eldorado Acupuncture and Wellness Center. She joined Absolute Nirvana when the spa opened in July of 2005. Her specialties are deep tissue work and La Stone. For Susan, being a therapist gives her the opportunity to help people in a very deep and focused manner. She enjoys using her academic skills, knowing the muscles and their functions, with her intuitive abilities. Her outside interests include hiking, running, dancing, gardening and cooking.

Karin Holzscheiter

Karin comes to us all the way from Germany, though she has been a Santa Fe resident since 1985. She has been a massage therapist since 1992, having practiced privately for 14 years and worked at Santa Fe Spa Services for 5 years. Karin studied initially at the Rolf Institute and Guild for Structural Integration in Boulder, CO and has done additional studies in Structural Integration and Craniosacral Therapy. Her particular specialty is deep tissue. "What I like most about being a therapist is that I can positively affect the lives of my clients. Whether this happens by aiding in stress reduction, recovery from an injury or an illness, or simply by stimulating healing potentials - there is nothing more rewarding than helping a human being feel better and more relaxed through my work.

Her outside interests are being in nature, hiking, running and bicycling. She also loves studying nutrition and helping her husband in cancer research. Karin also enjoys photography and making jewelry.

Lauren Janson

Lauren has been a massage therapist for 22 years, having run her own health center, The Rising Moon Center for Healing in Pennsylvania and creating a successful private practice for 18 years. She has studied at Massage Acts and Science in Philadelphia as well as the Scherer Institute in Santa Fe. In addition, Lauren brings to Absolute Nirvana her specialized training in Thai Massage, La Stone Hot Stone and Reflexology. While adept in all modalities, her notable offerings are a Thai/Shiatsu combination treatment involving stretching and resistance training along with hot stone and deep tissue work. For Lauren, seeing results, being present with her client in the moment and seeing clients transform positively makes massage therapy a very rewarding career. Her hobbies are photography, hiking, mountain biking, being with her dogs, and helping out the ones she loves. Lauren has worked at Absolute Nirvana since its inception in July of 2005.

Keith Murray

Keith moved to Santa Fe from New York where he trained at the Swedish Institute. He has been a massage therapist for the past 17 years, working at the Paul Labrecque Salon & Spa in New York City for thirteen of those years. Keith is also a massage therapist at the USTA Tennis Championships and has been asked back every year since 1996. His particular areas of concentration are in sports therapy, reflexology, La Stone (hot stone), and core myofascial work. His preferred modality is deep tissue and sports massage, and he enjoys the fact that his work helps to make people feel good. Along with being a massage therapist, Keith is also an accomplished artist.

Linda Paine

Linda Paine has been a resident of Santa Fe for the past 21 years, practicing massage therapy for 19 of those years. Along with a steady private practice, she has worked at 10,000 Waves and various local hotels before joining Absolute Nirvana. Linda studied at the Jay Scherer Academy of Natural Healing and is both a licensed esthetician and massage therapist. In addition to these studies, she has also trained in Lomi Lomi, Thai Massage, Reiki, La Stone, Pre-Natal, Accupressure and Trager. Linda gives a thorough and integrative massage and loves the one-to-one contact, healing aspect and personal fulfillment she receives from her work. She loves the outdoors, skiing, biking, hiking as well as reading and hanging out at home.

Lowry Sands

Lowry Sands moved to Santa Fe six years ago and has been practicing massage therapy for over 20 years. She has been a therapist at Absolute Nirvana Spa for two years, and before that had her own private practice. Her formal training was at the New Mexico School of Natural Therapeutics in Albuquerque, NM and she has continued her studies with additional courses on Shiatsu, Myofascial release, Yoga and Shamanic Studies. Her preferred modality is deep tissue work. Lowry loves her work as it allows her to help people feel better and get more in touch with themselves.

Kelleen Theis

Kelleen moved to Santa Fe 20 years ago from the Virgin Islands, where she managed health food stores, raced bicycles, sailed and competed in running and swimming. She graduated from the New Mexico Academy of Massage and Healing Arts in 1992 and has been practicing massage for the past 17 years. Aside from a private practice, Kelleen spent ten years working at the El Gancho Health Club in Santa Fe before joining Absolute Nirvana when it opened in the summer of 2005. She is also in charge of training all of the spa's new therapists in the detailed and highly complex deluxe treatments.

Kelleen's extensive background in sports and natural healing arts gives her a broad basis for her approach to a thorough full body deep massage. Her emphasis is on lymph, joint, and muscle release techniques, bringing length and circulation to muscles to relieve joints, ligaments and tendons. Hers is a unique blend of strength and nurturing. Along with her continued interest in biking and swimming, she has been a long time student of yoga and pilates. She loves to garden, parent and create good food.