TOUCH FACTOR MASSAGE & BODYWORK
Our Full Time Instructors
Joe Lavin
LMT, CPT, CEIM, AOBT
I love teaching! You can read my full bio here, but let me tell you a little about my teaching for now.
I have been heavily involved in mentoring and teaching all of my adult life. I believe that an unexamined life is more than likely an under-lived life, so I constantly involve myself in the process of being educated and mentored as well as educating and mentoring others. My massage practices are built on these concepts, just as my school is. I have taught continuing education courses to well over 1,000 Licensed Massage Therapists from many different countries, and I have had over 5,000 couples attend one of my Couple’s Massage Workshops. I really love teaching!
I am an NCBTMB Nationally Approved Massage Instructor, Certified Reiki instructor, Certified Educator of Infant Massage, and a Certified Personal Trainer Educator. I am also a Certified International Teacher and an Educational Ambassador for the International Massage Association. I have also trained multiple State, Country, and World Massage Championship Medalists and won a couple of medals myself. I judge national and world massage competitions, and I also train others on how to be a judge at these same competitions. I am also a Member of the Massage Therapy Hall of Fame, which I attribute to my teaching and mentoring activities.
Wendy Lavin
PT, MPT, MOMT, FAAOMPT
Wendy Lavin is a Licensed Physical Therapist with over 20 years of professional experience. She graduated with a Bachelor’s of Science in Sports Medicine from Pennsylvania State University. She later obtained a Master’s in Physical Therapy from Hahnemann University, a Master’s in Orthopedic Manual Therapy from The Ola Grimsby Institute, and is a Ph.D. candidate (EBD) for a Doctorate in Manual Physical Therapy. She is also a Fellow of the American Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapists.
Wendy has extensive experience treating orthopedic injuries (musculoskeletal and neural), post-surgical rehabilitation, and pain management. She specializes in the pelvic health needs of women (including pre and postpartum therapy, pelvic pain, and incontinence) and TMJ disorders (restoring stability/or mobility of the jaw, decreasing muscle tone, and correcting jaw movement).
Wendy has conducted educational lectures and classes for physical therapists, massage therapists, athletic trainers, exercise physiologists, and personal trainers. Outside of work, Wendy enjoys running, cycling, and hiking.
Our Most Recent and Returning Guest Instructors
Tracey Windmill, LMT
Tracey Windmill is a Licensed Massage Therapist and has over 25 years of experience of working in the Massage Therapy field. She is a Certified Phenomenal Touch Master Practitioner® as well as a Certified Phenomenal Touch Instructor®. Tracey has also trained in Deep Lomi, Sarga Bodywork, Reiki, Prenatal, and Hot Stone Massage. Prior to coming to America to practice massage therapy, Tracey earned a Degree in Naturopathy in her homeland of Australia.
Tracey Windmill is an Accredited National Massage Educator with the NCBTMB as well as Certified International Teacher by the International Massage Association. She teaches her unique style of 3 Dimensional Massage all over the world.
In 2018 Tracey Won the Silver Medal in the Freestyle, Western Inspired, Division at the World Massage Championships in Copenhagen, Denmark, where around 150 Massage Therapists gathered together from around the world to showcase their work. Now Tracey judges at the World Massage Championship every year in addition to several national massage competitions.
Luisa Vargas, LMT
Luisa is a licensed massage therapist who graduated from the Spa Tech Institute and is a member of the Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals. She is trained in stretching Orthopedic massage, Acupressure, Deep Tissue, Fertility Massage, Sports Massage, Trigger Point, and Integrated Approaches using modalities and pressure suited to the client's needs. She is also an IMA Approved International Massage Teacher
Luisa has a degree in Clinical Psychology with a specialty in Art Therapy. She is a certified Life Coach and works as an ABA Therapist. She believes the body, mind, and emotions are connected and flow like water creating pure energy.
Luisa has created her own “LUVA LV7” massage style. It is inspired by a multicultural vision and ancient techniques combined with her passion for human anatomy and the synchronization of body and mind. Her Deep Tissue Massage combined with Energy Integration creates a perfect balance working strongly with your muscles and subtly with your mind and emotions.
In 2022 she won Silver at the World Championship in Massage in the Sports massage category, and she also won the International Massage Associations Best Massage Promotion Award.
Wassa Lakkham, LMT
Wassa is one of the most elegant, powerful, and as close to perfect therapists I have ever watched, competed against, judged, and received work from. She is a Thai Massage specialist that has a special way of interpreting complex Thai Massage techniques (stretches, compression, etc.) so you can immediately use them in your practice. She is one of the two or three top therapists in the world that I want to learn from right now.
Wassa is certified in advanced therapeutic medical massage therapy from Wat Pho Traditional Medicine and Massage Institute in Thailand. She also completed over 660 hours of massage therapy education from one of the nation’s leading schools, the Potomac Massage Training Institute in Maryland. In addition, Wassa traveled to India in order to complete a 500-hour yoga instructor certification. She also won the Bronze at the World Championship in Massage 2022 in the Freestyle Western Massage Category as well as three Gold Medals in the 2022 American Massage Championships, including being the overall winner of the American Massage Championship.
Her massage practice is based on the knowledge of anatomy, physiology, kinesiology, and pathology, and is a combination of Swedish and deep tissue massage. She also practices sports massage, myofascial release, biodynamic craniosacral therapy, active isolated stretching, and movement perspectives in bodywork.