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1-808-575-9267 or 1-800-347-6449
Maui Esthetician and Massage School
Contact us, 1-808-575-9267 or 1-800-347-6449
Staff Information
Samana Benedetti
- School Director and Primary Esthetician Instructor
Samana is the sole owner and Principal of Spa Luna Holistic School for Estheticians and Massage Therapists and has been licensed since 1982. She has a license in California and Hawaii in Esthetics and as a Cosmetology Instructor. She has also been trained extensively on advanced equipment in Europe and the U.S.A. She is a distributor and trainer of a variety of esthetician machines. Samana has over 14 years experience teaching the Esthetician programs. Samana states,'Spa Luna basically birthed itself and I am just a facilitator, directing and always adapting to the needs of the students, clients and the community as it evolves from program to program. Spa Luna sets a foundation of a healing, holistic approach to cosmetology. Cosmetology was originally taught in Europe in the Universities, as a medical course. Spa Luna is bringing it back to its original intention. Samana created the facial style that sets Spa Luna graduates apart from any other Esthetician school in the world. Samana later created the Massage Therapy Program to supplement the success of the Esthetician Program.
Bob Benedetti
- General Manager
- Bob has been involved with the school since its inception. He oversees all contracts, policies, management issues, staff and instructors. He administers the website and marketing.
Fern Findeisen
- Office Manager
- Fern was born in Kailua, Oahu and moved to Maui in 1997. She attended the Spa Luna Massage Therapy Program in 2004 and has worked at Spa Luna since graduation as a massage therapist and recently became the office manager.
Daniel Fowler
- LMT, MAT, MAE Lomilomi Massage Instructor
- Daniel has been teaching continuing education Lomilomi classes on Maui since 1991 and has developed a series of courses designed to bridge the gap between the Western mind and Hawaiian thought. Daniel offers his students and clients a full experience in Hawaiian healing massage honoring body, mind and spirit.
Margo Gal
- Guest Lecturer:
| Margo Gal was certified in Ayurveda by Dr. Vasant Lad in 1987 and by Dr. Sunil Joshi in 2003 while in India. Margo had been a practitioner and teacher of Ayurvedic massage for the past 22 years since her training in India. She presently practices in Haiku, Maui where she offers diet and lifestyle consultations and authentic Ayurvedic treatments. |
Robin Garrison
- Massage Instructor
- Robin is an aspiring Midwife, Massage Therapist and Childbirth Educator. She began studying massage in Hawaii when she was pregnant and instantly learned pre-natal massage from her many teachers. After having her second home birth, the women of Maui started asking Robin to attend their home births. Assisting a senior midwife with 30+ years experience in both massage and midwifery and learning massage techniques from all over the world (including China, Tibet, Indonesia and Thailand) gives Robin a solid base for teaching. Robin shares her knowledge teaching Pre-Natal and Hot Stone Massage at Spa Luna. Robin has had 2 articles published by Midwifery Today's Birthkit, (The Road to Guanzhou and A Day in the life of an Aspiring Midwife). Robin lives with her husband Charles and their 4 children in Huelo, Maui.
Martha (Cotten) Hottenstein
- Esthetician Instructor
- Martha (Cotten) Hottenstein is an Esthetician at the Grand Wailea Resort and the Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua. She is a Spa Luna graduate, and also holds a Masters of Education, with honors, from Rollins College, Winter Park, Florida. She is currently a Bikram Yoga, Pilates (working on ITT certifications, San Francisco), and Spa Luna Holistic School Instructor. Martha has passions for skin care, education, wellness, and movement arts, with a focus on total integration through holistic and natural methodology.
Veetkaya K Kueppershaus
- Massage Instructor
- Veetkaya is a student of the healing arts and has been involved in body work for 18 years starting out with an intensive 620 hour training in Rebalancing (consisting of Rolfing, Traeger, Polarity and Cranio-Sacral work). Also for the last 10 years she has been studying Homoeopathy intensively.
Susanne C. Loutsis
- Esthetician Instructor
- Susanne is a graduate of Spa Luna with five years experience in the field of aesthetics. She is the primary theory instructor in the Esthetician program, enjoys working with private clients in the day spa, and also works upstairs as an administrative assistant.
Gil McCrary
- MAT, Massage Instructor
Gil has a BS in Biochemistry. He is also a graduate from the Barbara Brennan School of Healing in New York. His specialty is in Anatomy and Physiology for massage therapists, which he has taught in Maui since 2000. Gil is truly an excellent resource for all students striving to learn about the human body.
Cathy Miller
- BA, LMT, Massage Instructor Neuromuscular Therapy, Clinical Pathology
| Cathy (Cate) has been a therapist in the massage profession since 1982 and a teacher since 1986. Her specialty combines Neuromuscular Therapy with communication and perceptual awareness skills. She encourages her students to excel in both technical and intuitive aspects of bodywork. Cate lives on a 20 acre ranch where she facilitates groups and individuals to develop leadership and teamwork skills through the Challenge of Excellence ropes course. She travels throughout the United States offering advanced training workshops for massage professionals. |
Kranto Murphy
- LMT, Cranio-sacral Therapist, Instructor of Cranio-sacral
- Kranto began her bodywork training in 1969 learning Polarity and Reflexology. In 1985 she went to Italy and did her 620 hour Rebalancing Training. In 1989 she went to India and did a 6 week cranio-sacral training. In 1991 and 1993 she did advance work with Dr. Upledger in Italy and Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. She also worked in his clinic for 6 weeks in 1990 and 1991. She opened the first cranio-sacral school in Italy in 1991. In 2005 she retired turning her school over to her Italian colleagues. She continues to work there as a consultant and occasional teacher. Kranto joined Spa Luna and brings a refreshing exuberance to the spa.
Penny Nichols-Grossman
- Admissions/Esthetician instructor
- Penny was born in Texas and raised in Southern Ca. She moved to Maui two years ago with her husband and two children. Penny graduated from Spa Luna and is an esthetician instructor trainee. She is passionate about skin care and enjoys working with her clients in the day spa.
Jonath Padilla, L.M.T.
- Massage Instructor
- Jonath graduated from M.I.T. in 1993 with a bachelor`s degree in Brain and Cognitive Sciences and has since been facilitating movement and embodiment professionally. He has completed over 1,500 hrs. of massage and somatic training and over 20 years of mixed martial arts, movement, and yoga training. Jonath is currently teaching hands-on bodywork in Spa Luna`s 700 hr massage program and has a private practice in Maui.
Gerusa Picoli
- Admissions
- Born in Brazil, raised in California and moved to Maui 3 years ago. She took the Spa Luna Esthetician course and graduated in December of 2005. She started working as the Admissions Director in March of 2007 and is also an instructor assistant. Gerusa is passionate about the holistic arts and excited to be part of the growing skin care industry.
Jeff Sims
- Instructor
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Structural Kinesiology, Pathology, and Neuromuscular Therapy Jeff is a 2002 graduate. Since then, Jeff worked in five star hotels on Maui and Lanai and when not teaching or surfing has been practicing orthopedic massage for acute and chronic injuries in a multi-disciplinary clinic. Using orthopedic assessment skills, he integrates a variety of manual techniques in his practice including Neuromuscular Therapy, Muscle Energy Technique, Structural Bodywork, Cranio-sacral Therapy, and Lymphatic Drainage Therapy along with techniques for ongoing stretching and flexibility, care and prevention of injuries, and optimal athletic performance.
Jeff has worked with world class professional and amateur athletes. He also works with those who want to regain the quality of life compromised by postural distortions and overuse injuries and he wants to share his knowledge and experience and train Spa Luna therapists in developing their skills and career paths as professional massage therapists. In a previous life, Jeff was a mainland software consultant.
Therapy, Muscle Energy Technique, Structural Bodywork, Cranio-sacral Therapy, and Lymphatic Drainage Therapy along with techniques for ongoing stretching and flexibility, care and prevention of injuries, and optimal athletic performance.