Our staff and instructors are dedicated to providing an environment conducive to learning. Class sizes are kept small to allow
for personal one-on-one time when necessary to ensure student comprehension.
for personal one-on-one time when necessary to ensure student comprehension.
Emily Cohen joined the CalCopa family as the school's Director in January 2006. She has more than twenty years experience in
management, training, organization and curriculum development. Under her guidance the school has refined its educational
criteria, added several new electives and enjoyed a 100% pass rate on the grueling NCTMB exam. At the same time, she
completed all of the classes comprising the Massage Practitioner Program, secured licensing in Torrance and Huntington Beach,
California and gathered some industry experience working for Burke-Williams Day Spa. She also teaches the Massage
Technician, Ethics and Business & Professionalism classes and occasionally volunteers as a CPR/First Aid instructor for the
American Red Cross.
For information about Emily and her practice, please visit www.SunsetSerenity.massagetherapy.com
management, training, organization and curriculum development. Under her guidance the school has refined its educational
criteria, added several new electives and enjoyed a 100% pass rate on the grueling NCTMB exam. At the same time, she
completed all of the classes comprising the Massage Practitioner Program, secured licensing in Torrance and Huntington Beach,
California and gathered some industry experience working for Burke-Williams Day Spa. She also teaches the Massage
Technician, Ethics and Business & Professionalism classes and occasionally volunteers as a CPR/First Aid instructor for the
American Red Cross.
For information about Emily and her practice, please visit www.SunsetSerenity.massagetherapy.com
Emily B. Cohen, BA, NCTMB, ABMP, LMT - Director
Michelle M. Mangano, BA, LMT, NCBTMB, ABMP - Associate Director, Dean of Teachers
With over 25 years of corporate experience, Michelle Mangano relies on her vast background to ensure a quality operation. She
has been involved in all business aspects from Human Resources, Management, Training & Development, Customer Service
and Operations. As Dean of Teachers and Associate Director, she and Emily Cohen focus on running the school with a high
level of Customer Service, while maintaining a family run environment.
Since stepping into her role as Dean of Teachers, Michelle continues to update the curriculum to reflect the evolving trends in the
massage industry and ensures every student has the knowledge and skills to have successful, lengthy careers as massage
therapists. This is reflected by the 100% pass rate of CalCopa students taking the NCTMB exam. Her teaching philosophy has
always been; make sure the students have the skills and knowledge required, but have fun during the learning process.
has been involved in all business aspects from Human Resources, Management, Training & Development, Customer Service
and Operations. As Dean of Teachers and Associate Director, she and Emily Cohen focus on running the school with a high
level of Customer Service, while maintaining a family run environment.
Since stepping into her role as Dean of Teachers, Michelle continues to update the curriculum to reflect the evolving trends in the
massage industry and ensures every student has the knowledge and skills to have successful, lengthy careers as massage
therapists. This is reflected by the 100% pass rate of CalCopa students taking the NCTMB exam. Her teaching philosophy has
always been; make sure the students have the skills and knowledge required, but have fun during the learning process.
| CalCopa Instructors |
Celina Reynolds, NCBTMB, ABMP - Senior Instructor; Core Classes and Electives
Celina graduated from CalCopa as a Holistic Health Practitioner. She is currently working towards her Bachelor’s Degree in
Human Services. She has her own private practice to maintain her massage therapy skills.
Celina loves teaching using techniques for visual, auditory and kinesthetic learning. Her goal is to have students leave her
classes prepared for the next level of education. Ultimately, she hopes our students leave CalCopa with the confidence and
knowledge to pass the National Certification exam, or any city tests required for licensing; all this to help students fulfill their
personal career goals. In addition to teaching both full-time and part-time classes, Celina helps out in the office whenever
necessary.
Classes: All Core Classes, Acupressure, Animal Massage, Curriculum Review, Geriatric Massage, Hot Stone Massage,
Pregnancy I & II, Reflexology I & II, Shiatsu, Tuina
Human Services. She has her own private practice to maintain her massage therapy skills.
Celina loves teaching using techniques for visual, auditory and kinesthetic learning. Her goal is to have students leave her
classes prepared for the next level of education. Ultimately, she hopes our students leave CalCopa with the confidence and
knowledge to pass the National Certification exam, or any city tests required for licensing; all this to help students fulfill their
personal career goals. In addition to teaching both full-time and part-time classes, Celina helps out in the office whenever
necessary.
Classes: All Core Classes, Acupressure, Animal Massage, Curriculum Review, Geriatric Massage, Hot Stone Massage,
Pregnancy I & II, Reflexology I & II, Shiatsu, Tuina
Grant Nichol, - H.H.P. Thai Instructor
Rhonda has been attuning Reiki Practitioners for several years. In addition to her successful Costa Mesa business
as a healer using nutrition and balancing, she completed two degrees; a B.H.S. in Health Sciences and Nutrition
and a Bachelors of Metaphysical Sciences. She brings her vast knowledge and healing abilities to CalCopa as our
Reiki Master and Nutrition Specialist.
Classes: Reiki I, Reiki II, Reiki III (Reiki Master), Reiki Instructor, Feng Shui
as a healer using nutrition and balancing, she completed two degrees; a B.H.S. in Health Sciences and Nutrition
and a Bachelors of Metaphysical Sciences. She brings her vast knowledge and healing abilities to CalCopa as our
Reiki Master and Nutrition Specialist.
Classes: Reiki I, Reiki II, Reiki III (Reiki Master), Reiki Instructor, Feng Shui
Dr. Rhonda Donahue, CNM, BNsc, MMsc ,Reiki Master - Reiki Instructor
Grant is a CalCopa alumni who continues to grow as a Holistic Health Practitioner. After taking Thai classes
at CalCopa, he went to Thailand to further his knowledge in the art of Thai Massage. He brings this
knowledge back to the school to pass on to our students for a more complete knowledge of Thai Massage.
For information about Grant and his practice, please visit http://www.holisticbodywork.net.
Classes: Thai, Table Thai, Thai II
at CalCopa, he went to Thailand to further his knowledge in the art of Thai Massage. He brings this
knowledge back to the school to pass on to our students for a more complete knowledge of Thai Massage.
For information about Grant and his practice, please visit http://www.holisticbodywork.net.
Classes: Thai, Table Thai, Thai II
Carri was born in Honolulu, Hawaii, she started her training in Lomi Lomi when she was 11 years old, she studied
with her Auntie. Carri is also a CalCopa alumna and has taught massage courses at CalCopa and various
other schools for about sixteen years. She teaches our Hawaiian Lomi Lomi massage and Crystal Drum Healing
Classes. She has a successful massage private practice in Northern California and is building a place in the woods
to have nature and massage retreats. You can learn more about Carri at her websites: www.panthermoon.org and
www.carrithomas.com.
Classes: Animal Massage, Crystal & Drum Healing, Hawaiian LomiLomi I & II, Pregnancy I & II
with her Auntie. Carri is also a CalCopa alumna and has taught massage courses at CalCopa and various
other schools for about sixteen years. She teaches our Hawaiian Lomi Lomi massage and Crystal Drum Healing
Classes. She has a successful massage private practice in Northern California and is building a place in the woods
to have nature and massage retreats. You can learn more about Carri at her websites: www.panthermoon.org and
www.carrithomas.com.
Classes: Animal Massage, Crystal & Drum Healing, Hawaiian LomiLomi I & II, Pregnancy I & II
Carri Thomas, B.S., M.A. Herbologist - Instructor
About Our Staff and Instructors
Sara Lerner, B.A. magna Cum Laude, LMT, CAK - Instructor; Core Classes and Electives
Sara has been a Massage Therapist and Applied Kinesiologist for over 12 years. As an instructor, her goal is to help people
to start a fulfilling career they will love. She focuses on helping students master technical skills and proper body mechanics
while maintaining emotional and spiritual grounding to sustain a long a fruitful healing massage practice. She has dedicated
her life full time to the healing arts, both as an instructor at CalCopa and as a massage therapist in a variety of settings
including private practice, spas and corporate/on-site events.
Classes: Massage Technician, Massage Therapist I & II, Deep Tissue
to start a fulfilling career they will love. She focuses on helping students master technical skills and proper body mechanics
while maintaining emotional and spiritual grounding to sustain a long a fruitful healing massage practice. She has dedicated
her life full time to the healing arts, both as an instructor at CalCopa and as a massage therapist in a variety of settings
including private practice, spas and corporate/on-site events.
Classes: Massage Technician, Massage Therapist I & II, Deep Tissue
Alicia Barrera-Warwick, CMT, HHP, RMT, NCBTMB, ABMP, Reiki Master, Esthetician, Author, Spa Instructor
Alicia Barrera-Warwick,is the author of Keep It Simple Spa: Showerless Body Spa
Treatments and Add-on's for Your Session Room. She is the owner of Art Face Beauty
Productions where she offers services in skin, makeup, massage and reiki; as well as
specialty workshops for the beauty and spa industry. For more information about Alicia,
please visit: www.MassageAndFacials.com. Or email her at SpaVixen@msn.com
Classes: Spa Services I and II
Treatments and Add-on's for Your Session Room. She is the owner of Art Face Beauty
Productions where she offers services in skin, makeup, massage and reiki; as well as
specialty workshops for the beauty and spa industry. For more information about Alicia,
please visit: www.MassageAndFacials.com. Or email her at SpaVixen@msn.com
Classes: Spa Services I and II
Born and raised in California, TJ joined the army at 18 and served until his 21st birthday. Upon re-enlisting as a
permanent party "civilian" he decided alleviating pain made better use of his hands than creating it, so he began
massage school. His passion for health, healing and the exchange of knowledge drives him. As a graduate from
Santa Barbara Body Therapy Institute, his skills include: Trigger Point Therapy, Sports Massage, Deep Tissue,
Barefoot Compression, Manual Lymphatic Drainage, Visceral Lymphatic Drainage, Cranial Sacral Therapy,
Reflexology and Tuina.
Classes: Barefoot Compression Massage and Lymphatic Drainage
permanent party "civilian" he decided alleviating pain made better use of his hands than creating it, so he began
massage school. His passion for health, healing and the exchange of knowledge drives him. As a graduate from
Santa Barbara Body Therapy Institute, his skills include: Trigger Point Therapy, Sports Massage, Deep Tissue,
Barefoot Compression, Manual Lymphatic Drainage, Visceral Lymphatic Drainage, Cranial Sacral Therapy,
Reflexology and Tuina.
Classes: Barefoot Compression Massage and Lymphatic Drainage
TJ Reynolds, Massage Therapist
Vidya Venkatesh, C.A.S., P.K.S.
Vidya is a Clinical Ayurvedic Specialist and Panchakarma Specialist who has been running her private practice,
Niroga Ayurveda, for the past year and serves on the faculty of California College of Ayurveda. Additionally, Vidya
has extensive experience blending Ayurvedic lifestyle and nutritional guidelines with personalized herbal
remedies, to assist her clients in achieving and maintaining healthy, satisfying, balanced lives. She studied yoga
and pranayama at the Patanjali Yoga Peet in Haridwar, India and is a student of Advaita Vedanta (Indian
philosophy describing the spiritual interpretations of the mind, body and spirit) at the Chinmaya Mission of Los
Angeles. Vidya is very pleased and excited to be a part of the teaching staff at CalCopa Massage School.
Classes: All Ayurveda Classes
Niroga Ayurveda, for the past year and serves on the faculty of California College of Ayurveda. Additionally, Vidya
has extensive experience blending Ayurvedic lifestyle and nutritional guidelines with personalized herbal
remedies, to assist her clients in achieving and maintaining healthy, satisfying, balanced lives. She studied yoga
and pranayama at the Patanjali Yoga Peet in Haridwar, India and is a student of Advaita Vedanta (Indian
philosophy describing the spiritual interpretations of the mind, body and spirit) at the Chinmaya Mission of Los
Angeles. Vidya is very pleased and excited to be a part of the teaching staff at CalCopa Massage School.
Classes: All Ayurveda Classes
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Patty Tahara Rassouli, Reiki Master, Yoga Teacher, Yoga Threapist RX I, B.A. English
Passionate about Reiki, Patty Tahara Rassouli's mission is to share her belief that Reiki is more than just a healing
modality, it is a lifestyle. By bringing Reiki into one's life, self-healing begins. From that launching point, everything in
life begins to work better because there is now the flow of Reiki. The beauty of Reiki is in its simplicity. Anyone can
learn it and everyone will benefit from it.
On her road to Reiki, Patty has had a wide and varied background from working at Dance, Vogue and Mademoiselle
Magazines in NYC; to the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising; to consulting work in ESL curriculum; to
teaching ESL and high school academics in adult education to writing. She is also certified as a yoga instructor from
Dancing Shiva in West Hollywood and as a yoga therapist from Loyola Marymount University's Yoga RX program. In
addition to her private practice in Long Beach, Patty teaches yoga/Reiki in South Gate weekly as It is her commitment to
bring healing arts to low income areas.
Classes: Reiki I, Reiki II, Reiki III and Reiki Master
modality, it is a lifestyle. By bringing Reiki into one's life, self-healing begins. From that launching point, everything in
life begins to work better because there is now the flow of Reiki. The beauty of Reiki is in its simplicity. Anyone can
learn it and everyone will benefit from it.
On her road to Reiki, Patty has had a wide and varied background from working at Dance, Vogue and Mademoiselle
Magazines in NYC; to the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising; to consulting work in ESL curriculum; to
teaching ESL and high school academics in adult education to writing. She is also certified as a yoga instructor from
Dancing Shiva in West Hollywood and as a yoga therapist from Loyola Marymount University's Yoga RX program. In
addition to her private practice in Long Beach, Patty teaches yoga/Reiki in South Gate weekly as It is her commitment to
bring healing arts to low income areas.
Classes: Reiki I, Reiki II, Reiki III and Reiki Master
Jennifer Ervin, B.A. LMT - Instructor; Core Classes and Electives
Jennifer has been a Massage Therapist for 10 years and is a graduate from CalCopa. During that time she has worked in
several environments ranging from high end spas to medical/chiropractic settings as well as working on her private clients.
As the mother of two, Kyra and Kylie, Jennifer finds herself quite busy. Whether she's organizing fund raising events, planning
for PTA Meetings, or just helping the girls with homework, Jennifer still finds time to keep her successful private massage
practice running and teaching classes at CalCopa. She is trained in many modalities including Thai Massage, Acupressure,
Oriental Health Systems and Lomi Lomi.
Classes: Massage Technician, Massage Therapist I, Advanced Curriculum and Chair Massage
several environments ranging from high end spas to medical/chiropractic settings as well as working on her private clients.
As the mother of two, Kyra and Kylie, Jennifer finds herself quite busy. Whether she's organizing fund raising events, planning
for PTA Meetings, or just helping the girls with homework, Jennifer still finds time to keep her successful private massage
practice running and teaching classes at CalCopa. She is trained in many modalities including Thai Massage, Acupressure,
Oriental Health Systems and Lomi Lomi.
Classes: Massage Technician, Massage Therapist I, Advanced Curriculum and Chair Massage
April Statum, LMT, HHP
Ms. Statum brings over a dozen years experience teaching and providing a wide variety of massage and
bodywork modalities. April is passionate about education and each individuals healing process. She has
seen extraordinary healing results by specializing in profound light touch therapies.
Cranial Sacral work is definitely one of her favorites. This light touch is not taxing on the therapist by using the
body's natural healing powers and self-correcting abilities to address the core of the client.
Classes: Crainal-Sacral Therapy, Lymphatic Drainage
bodywork modalities. April is passionate about education and each individuals healing process. She has
seen extraordinary healing results by specializing in profound light touch therapies.
Cranial Sacral work is definitely one of her favorites. This light touch is not taxing on the therapist by using the
body's natural healing powers and self-correcting abilities to address the core of the client.
Classes: Crainal-Sacral Therapy, Lymphatic Drainage
Amy Jones, RPP, LMT
Amy Jones has been facilitating transformational Body and Energy work for over seven years. Utilizing the
principles of Polarity as the foundation of her teachings, Amy offers classes on Meditation, Energy Medicine,
Self-Care and Communication for the Body Worker, as well as workshops on the 5 Sacred Elements. She is a
member of the Associated Bodywork and Massage Professionals and can be reached at
wolvesamongus@gmail.com, or "Ecstatic Equilibrium" on Facebook.
Classes: The Foundations of Energy Medicine
principles of Polarity as the foundation of her teachings, Amy offers classes on Meditation, Energy Medicine,
Self-Care and Communication for the Body Worker, as well as workshops on the 5 Sacred Elements. She is a
member of the Associated Bodywork and Massage Professionals and can be reached at
wolvesamongus@gmail.com, or "Ecstatic Equilibrium" on Facebook.
Classes: The Foundations of Energy Medicine
Jolie Hindman, LMT, NCBTMB, ABMP, Reiki Master, Personal Chef
In 2002, Jolie Hindman opened her restaurant in Long Beach, Kiwe Cafe, Vibrant Happy Foods. Her menu
featured "healthy eats and vegan treats." Since then, Jolie has operated a successful catering business with the
emphasis on energetically infused, beautiful cuisine. She shares her knowledge of the dynamics of food
preparation by teaching cooking classes to small groups or individuals. It was her love of cooking that led her to
take a Thai cooking class during her visit to Thailand. In addition to her cooking class, she enrolled in
Shivagakomarpaj: The Old Medicine Hospital School of Thai Massage, where she studied Thai Foot Massage For
Health. CalCopa is excited to have her as an instructor, sharing her knowledge of food preparation and diet, as well
as the Thai Foot Reflexology treatment.
Classes: Thai Foot Reflexology, Energy of Food
featured "healthy eats and vegan treats." Since then, Jolie has operated a successful catering business with the
emphasis on energetically infused, beautiful cuisine. She shares her knowledge of the dynamics of food
preparation by teaching cooking classes to small groups or individuals. It was her love of cooking that led her to
take a Thai cooking class during her visit to Thailand. In addition to her cooking class, she enrolled in
Shivagakomarpaj: The Old Medicine Hospital School of Thai Massage, where she studied Thai Foot Massage For
Health. CalCopa is excited to have her as an instructor, sharing her knowledge of food preparation and diet, as well
as the Thai Foot Reflexology treatment.
Classes: Thai Foot Reflexology, Energy of Food
