Faculty
Mark and Niko are present to support and facilitate the entire journey of the Touchstone experience.
Niko Pruesse
Co-Founder-Director
Niko was born and raised around the Great Lakes in Ontario, Canada and graduated from the 2400 hour program at West Coast College of Massage Therapy in Vancouver, British Columbia. A massage therapist since 1987, originally licensed in B.C. Niko became nationally certified in 2000. She has worked in hotel spas, physiotherapy offices, and her own private practice.
In 1994, after some world travel and the birth of her first child, Niko was delighted to settle down in Vermont, home of the ‘sixth great lake’ where she, along with her partner Mark, established Touchstone Healing Arts in 1998.
Niko’s love of learning took her to Spirit of Learning at the Body Therapy Institute in North Carolina in 2001, a teacher training program for massage and body workers. In 2005 she attended a Vipassana meditation intensive training and continues to explore alternative bodywork modalities.
Since Spring 2007 she has been studying in-depth with her teacher, Richard Strozzi-Heckler and became a certified Somatic Coach in March 2008.
Presently, she and her family reside in Burlington where she enjoys gardening, reading, cooking, swimming in lake Champlain as well as her regular meditation practice and contemplating the stunning Adirondak mountains.
Mark Adams
Co-Founder- Director
Born in Zimbabwe and raised in England, Mark has been a massage practitioner since 1989. He is a graduate of The American Institute of Massage Therapy, Walnut Creek, California, and Threeways School of Massage, Norfolk, England.
Mark’s strong independent streak kept him busy in the early part of his career working a private practice in many settings. He took his on-site chair massage to trade shows, hospitals, schools and businesses, working outdoors in back alleys and in well appointed penthouse suites. His love of interacting with people has kept his work balanced between public settings and the private healing space of his massage office.
Having a deep yearning for self improvement and spiritual awakening Mark has spent many years questing and experiencing various cultures’ spiritual and healing practices. Since Spring 2007 he has been studying in-depth with his teacher, Richard Strozzi-Heckler and became a certified Somatic Coach in March 2008. In 2005 he took a 200 hour Shiatsu therapy training conducted at Touchstone with Scott Moylan. In 2004 he studied for a year with a druid and shamanic healer, Ivan Mac Beth. In 2001 he completed his 200 hour yoga teacher training at Kripalu Center in Lennox, MA and over the years he has been actively involved in men’s support group work adopting techniques from various traditions including western psychotherapy and Native American Indian rituals.
Mark’s deep wish is to touch and inspire as many people as possible, encouraging them to take responsibility for their own health and healing and, in so doing, bring healing to our planet. His role at Touchstone fulfills much of this vision as more and more people come to learn and experience the power of touch.
Jenn O’Connor
Anatomy, Physiology & Pathology
Jenn O’Connor is the owner of Sustainable Wellness Massage. She is a certified and licensed massage therapist with over ten years of experience. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Nutritional Science/Dietetics and a Master’s degree in Natural/Environmental Science. As well as teaching at Touchstone Jenn teaches Environmental Science at Champlain College. Additionally, she is a yoga instructor and outdoor enthusiast
Sami Pincus
Ethics and Professionalism, Business Practices, Body Mechanics for Massage Therapists
As a graduate of the Muscular Therapy Institute, Sami completed their teacher training program and joined the faculty. Over the past 20 years, she has taught variety of classes and workshops at The Muscular Therapy Institute, in Cambridge, Massachsetts, the Cascade Institute for Massage and Body Therapies in Eugene, Oregon, and, currently, at the Touchstone Healing Arts School of Massage. Sami is a certified teacher of the Alexander Technique and has a Master of Science in Counseling from the University of Vermont. She brings knowledge, experience, enthusiasm and curiosity to her teaching.
Guest Faculty
Annette Browne
Introduction to Traditional Oriental Medicine
Has been a healer for over 25 years, and now her vocation incorporates three forms of healing as a Registered Nurse,
Yoga Instructor, and Asian Body Work Therapist Originally from Zimbabwe, Annette has spent many cherished moments at Lake kariba in Zimbabwe, the beaches in Cape town, South Africa and Vermont’s lake Champlain.
Her massage and gentle personality resemble the flowing, rhythmic expansive nature of water. Annette studied Asian body Work obtaining her certification through Touch stone Healing Arts. She gives massage in two forms; Amma and Shiatsu.
Bill Eichorn
Sports Massage
Bill has specialized in Sports Massage since 1987 through his practice in Burlington, VT. Bill is a graduate of the Sports Massage Therapy Institute in California.
Stephen O’Dwyer
Advanced Bodywork Techniques
Stephen O’Dwyer, Certified Nuromuscular Therapist, has maintained a private practice in manual therapy since 1990. He has trained in a wide variety of disciplines including Neuromuscular Therapy, Myofascial Release, Deep Tissue massage, Somatic movement reeducation, and Craniosacral Therapy.