Our Awesome Team!
Massage & Bodywork
Spencer Walden
Pronouns: He/Him
NC LMBT #23258
Spencer’s path into bodywork began with a near-death industrial accident that left him with chronic injuries. During recovery, skilled touch showed him that true healing creates reconnection, not just temporary relief. This led him to the Southwest Institute of Healing Arts, where he graduated with training in therapeutic massage, Ayurveda, and holistic practices.He continues to deepen his work through ongoing study and personal practice of yoga and energy work. Spencer pays particular attention to supporting cerebrospinal fluid circulation and lymphatic flow, recognizing their importance for nervous system regulation, mental clarity, and the body’s subtle energetic balance. He also holds a strong appreciation for the role of fascia as a continuous web that influences posture, movement, and ease throughout the body. His sessions blend smooth Swedish flow and targeted deep tissue with myofascial release, lymphatic techniques, PNF stretching, and select CranioSacral approaches, along with Reiki when supportive. Having lived with chronic injuries himself, he understands the need for both immediate relief and lasting resilience. Spencer’s intention is simple: help you slow down, release what your body is holding, and leave feeling more present, clear, and at home in yourself.
Sarah Gay
Pronouns: She/Her
NC LMBT #20000
Certified Manual Lymph Drainage Therapist (CMLDT)
Sarah came to massage out of desperation, looking for a solution to chronic migraines. It provided one of the first experiences of relief from years of pain that she thought could possibly never be overcome. After realizing what a powerful resource massage is, she went on to study at the Center for Massage and Natural health in Asheville. While attending school she was able to fulfill her deep curiosity about the function of the human body and when it goes awry. Her goal in practicing massage is to be part of a network of health resources for her community. She believes that when a community network is strong, healthy, and supported it will thrive-- much in the same way the network of the human body thrives when it is given the resources it needs. Sarah's massage approach is to create an environment of deep relaxation and healing through slow, intentional, integrated massage, and deep breathing. She enjoys working on shoulder and upper back tension and always works to keep her clients direct goals and needs a highlight of the session.
Mary Shamburger
Pronouns: She/Her
NC LMBT #21202
After years of raising her four children and working in the world of corporate America, Mary was ready for a change. She followed her belief in the healing power of touch to massage school. Her greatest desire is to make a positive impact on the overall mind, body, and spirit of people in need. She loves customizing sessions and meeting people where they are. Upon graduation from the Center for Massage & Natural Health, she gained additional experience in Neuromuscular Therapy and Trigger Point Release techniques which she enjoys integrating into her sessions. She comes to BMMW offering her knowledge and skills to help provide healing.
Lizzy Turner
Pronouns: She/Her
NC LMBT #20692
Lizzy was drawn to the healing arts as a teenager, setting her on a path of self discovery that landed her at the Center for Massage and Natural Health to study massage. She believes in whole body health and going within to heal. Her own experiences of receiving relief from physical discomfort and pain inform her practice and are part of what drew her to supporting others on their journey for answers and a better understanding of their body. In her sessions, she enjoys offering a space for all her clients to let go and receive. She loves incorporating deeper therapeutic work with Swedish massage foundations and is always looking to bring new tools and techniques to her practice.
Christina Cunningham
Pronouns: She/Her
NC LMBT #19869
Christina Cunningham is the creator of Feel Free, an online ecosystem for highly sensitive humans, and a body-based practitioner with over 25 years of experience supporting nervous system balance, embodied awareness, and vitality through gentle, relational touch and alchemical coaching. Her work is deeply informed by a 14-year apprenticeship with Wassim and Elisabeth Nehme at Green Mountain Shen, where she received extensive Bioenergetic-Shen work and later served as a teacher within the school. Christina went on to achieve Master Level certification in Bioenergetic-Shen Sensitivity Training, studying directly with Dr. Pino Ferroni, the originator of Bioenergetic-Shen Treatment®, during advanced training in Italy. Christina’s approach reflects the core principles of this lineage: rootedness in reality, cultivation of awareness, and respect for the body’s innate vital intelligence. She emphasizes slow, attentive, and intuitive touch - often referred to as the Shen Touch - which supports the system in unwinding from patterns of stress, vigilance, and energetic depletion. Her work is especially supportive for individuals who are highly sensitive, emotionally taxed, or experiencing chronic stress, anxiety, or a sense of disconnection from their body. Clients often describe feeling deeply settled, clearer, and more present after sessions, with a renewed sense of vitality and inner stability. Christina is known for creating a calm, grounded therapeutic environment where the body is invited - rather than directed - to restore balance. Her practice honors the understanding that cultivating the Shen is not only a path toward well-being, but a foundation for living a creative, conscious, and embodied life. She also practices through a trauma-sensitive perspective.
Emily Fink-Hanks
Pronouns: She/Her
NC LMBT #21416
Emily studied at the Center for Massage and Natural Health in Asheville, and is excited to re-join the BMMW team after a few years out of the area following Helene. She believes movement is a key part of health and vitality. She has an integrative approach to massage utilizing Swedish and deep tissue as her foundational modalities. Emily specializes in firm pressure relaxation and loves working with hot stones and cupping to gain further access to those deeper muscle fibers. Emily is also passionate about offering a nurturing experience for women during prenatal and postpartum seasons. She has undergone specialty training and is a certified prenatal and postpartum practitioner, working to hold space and honor this sacred passage. No matter the season you’re currently in, Emily will take a holistic, detailed process to balance and refresh your system.
Katie Johnson
Pronouns: She/Her
NC LMBT #22555
Katie was born and raised here in the heart of the Appalachian Mountains and feels a deep connection with this land and its natural rhythms. The mountains have and will continue to shape her path. A graduate of the Center for Massage and Natural Health, her work is rooted in the belief that healing happens through presence, intention, and a deep respect for the body’s wisdom. In addition to more traditional full-body treatments, she also enjoys helping clients with a specific focal issue, injury or problem area. Before becoming a licensed massage therapist, Katie spent years in the service industry, nurturing others through food and hospitality. This experience shaped her understanding of how we connect, comfort, and nourish each other in both subtle and powerful ways. She is committed to offering a safe, inclusive space for everybody, where clients can reconnect with themselves and the wisdom of their own bodies.
Rachel Lynes
Pronouns: She/Her
NCLMBT #22612
Being raised by a mother who practiced massage for many years, Rachel grew up understanding its ability to heal and bring presence to the body. A graduate of the Center for Massage & Natural Health, her massage style incorporates elements of rhythmic flow and deep, slow work that is tailored to meet the unique needs of each client. Rachel views her work as a collaboration, encouraging open communication and utilizing intuitive feedback from the breath and body to guide each session. Some tools in her toolbox include Swedish, deep tissue, trigger point therapy, and myofascial release (MFR). When she isn't massaging, she is either teaching yoga around town, reading a fantasy novel, or snuggling with her beloved cats, Ari and Coconut. She is deeply honored to offer support along your healing journey.
Kiber Selig
Pronouns: She/Her
NCLMBT #22613
In 2017, Kiber was pulled out of the corporate, office life and into the world of deep spiritual and energy connection through a personal awakening via healing with nutrition and other alternative approaches to health. Through this transformation, Kiber found herself seeking a career purpose in the healing arts and was drawn to massage school. She is a graduate of Center for Massage & Natural Health and desires to share with others the experience of trust and comfort that alternative healthcare has offered to her own wellness journey. Massage has - and will continue to - help Kiber heal her own body and she loves working with others in a holistic, integrated way to improve their quality of life. She enjoys incorporating deep work into her integrated sessions as well as long connected strokes and a fully integrated approach. Her main focuses are therapeutic massage, with an emphasis on deep tissue and trigger point therapy, as well as prenatal/postpartum massage. She is certified in Claire Marie Miller’s Nurturing The Mother treatments - specializing in side-lying that keeps pressure off the mother-baby dyad and massage techniques and stretching that really increase circulation, lymph flow, muscle tension release and overall relaxation and loves working with women through all phases of the birthing process. Kiber lives in Black Mountain with her partner and child and fills her free time up with a variety of passions ranging from screen printing, upcycling old clothes, music, singing, connecting deeply with others, being outside, truth seeking, being barefoot, and sinking her feet into wet grass. She looks forward to working with you!
Opie Thomas
Pronouns: He/Him
NCLMBT #22686
Enthusiastic. Determined. Smiley. Time and time again these words have been used to describe this package we call “Opie.” From working in the grand cornfields across Iowa, to working in automotive collision repair, to now working in the massage therapy/bodywork field: Opie often tells people “I went from fixing cars to fixing bodies.” He is thrilled to work with clients that want to track & relieve pain - one of his favorite puzzles to piece together is that of the human body's musculoskeletal system. Opie's sessions often include lots of forearms, elbows, and thumbs practicing techniques like Trigger Point Therapy and Deep Tissue. He also practices muscle testing and posture assessment with his clients, to help identify what may be happening in their musculoskeletal system, so he can begin to find out which muscles and muscle groups want to be targeted. He'd be stoked to find out how you and he (as a team) can create more space in your body so you can continue to use it doing the things you love!
Alanna Shivone
Pronouns: She/Her
NCLMBT #20099
Alanna was drawn to massage as a way to cultivate meaningful connection and a deeper understanding of the body. A graduate of the Center for Massage & Natural Health, Alanna’s massage style blends deep, focused therapeutic work for pain relief with gentle, restorative relaxation, always meeting you exactly where you are. She believes massage is experienced uniquely by every person, and she creates a safe, open space for you to feel comfortable and supported. When she’s not in the studio, you might find her working in home care at a retirement community, walking in the woods, or making up silly songs with friends. And yes, you may remember her as one of the original members of our massage team! After time spent traveling, living in new places, practicing massage across different settings, and completing a yoga teacher training in Peru… she’s back and looks forward to working with you.
Tori Theisen
Pronouns: She/Her
NCLMBT #22899
Tori found her passion for massage therapy while working in healthcare, where she witnessed how true healing comes from caring for both the body and the mind. This experience inspired her to create a massage practice that encourages deep relaxation and helps clients feel more connected to themselves. She is a graduate of Bodymechanics School of Myotherapy and Massage, where she trained in a wide range of therapeutic techniques. Tori’s style is nurturing and intuitive, blending soothing Swedish-inspired massage with injury treatment work when needed. Her goal is to provide a calming space where each client can let go of stress, restore balance, and leave feeling renewed.
Kevin Jackson
Pronouns: He/Him
NC LMBT #23270
After years in the service industry, Kevin understands firsthand the physical demands of long shifts, constant movement, and hard work. This experience inspired his transition to massage therapy, where he now specializes in thoughtful, therapeutic approaches to help clients feel better, move easier, and continue doing what they love. A graduate of the Center for Massage & Natural Health, Kevin tends toward deeper pressure and problem-solving techniques, driven by a passion for the science of the body and optimizing its function. He particularly enjoys working with servers, bartenders, chefs, artists, and others whose bodies bear the weight of their labor, offering targeted relief to support their active lifestyles. When Kevin isn’t at work, you might find him spending time with his two young sons, fermenting vegetables, or listening to/making music.
Acupuncture
Dr. Gena Cohen DAHM, L.Ac
Pronouns: She/Her
LAC-2290
Dr. Cohen, DAHM, L.Ac is a Licensed Acupuncturist, Doctor of Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine, and nationally certified Diplomate of Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM). She earned her Master’s and Doctorate from Daoist Traditions College of Chinese Medical Arts, where she also studied with Master Jeffrey Yuen, an 88th-generation Daoist priest. Gena’s path into East Asian Medicine began when her mother finally found lasting relief through acupuncture for chronic migraines that no doctor or medication had been able to relieve. Later, through her own healing, she personally experienced the transformative power of acupuncture and felt called to walk the path of a healer. Dr. Cohen blends the ancient wisdom of East Asian Medicine with her intuitive abilities as a psychic medium. For over 17 years she has cultivated her gifts of spirit connection - channeling guidance from ancestors, loved ones, and angels and weaves this intuitive side into clinical practice. Her practice is rooted in a heart-centered approach that honors the physical, emotional, energetic, and spiritual dimensions of wellness. She believes true healing begins within and unfolds across all levels—body, mind, spirit, and energy—guiding each person toward deeper alignment and transformation. Each session is uniquely guided, blending acupuncture, crystals, and essential oils to support harmony on every level.
Annie Spindler, L.Ac
Pronouns: She/Her
LAC-1063
Annie is a Nationally Board Certified and North Carolina State Licensed Acupuncturist and Professional Birth Doula. She practices Worsley style Five Element Acupuncture and studied at Wu Hsing Tao School in Seattle, WA. Her passion for Acupuncture came from receiving treatment for stress while in school at Bastyr University. She immediately felt a connection with the ancient wisdom and healing power of this medicine. With over 13 years of experience, Annie specializes in women’s health, fertility, and integrative wellness. Drawing on the wisdom of Five Element theory, she addresses the root of imbalance to nurture mind, body, and spirit—supporting not only reproductive wellness but also energy, resilience, and overall vitality for every stage of life. Annie lives here in Black Mountain with her two daughters and their cat, Petunia.
Reiki
Amanda Bedard
Pronouns: She/Her
Certified Reiki Master & Coach
With a background in the corporate world, Amanda first started exploring energy work as a way to help alleviate stress, manage chronic pain and heal unwanted patterns stemming from trauma. The healing she encountered was life changing and opened up a deep calling inside her to change careers and help others in the same way. She is a certified Reiki Master Teacher, Psychic Medium, and Professional Life Coach with multiple sub-set certifications in coaching and psychology. Amanda uses her training in a multitude of modalities to help her clients with stress, anxiety, pain management and challenges related to trauma. Her goal is to facilitate a safe space where she is able to support her clients healing from the inside out.
Administration
Martha Hansen - Owner
Pronouns: She/Her
NC LMBT #10157
An Idaho native, Martha Hansen found her way to the Appalachians in 2009 for her initial training in massage therapy at the Center for Massage & Natural Health—and never looked back. With a career spanning health, wellness, and human development, her background includes administration, teaching, coaching, and hands-on work. Holding a BA in Sociology, she’s long been fascinated by how people thrive in groups and is committed to creating sustainable communities and systems that operate with a win-win-win mindset. Now retired from hands-on client work, Martha proudly leads Black Mountain Massage & Wellness, a woman-owned, community-oriented, therapist-centered, and client-first establishment. At its core, the business operates on a simple but powerful belief: If you take care of your people, the rest will follow. This philosophy guides her as she fosters a collaborative, supportive environment where her team can thrive—knowing their success allows them to help clients thrive, which in turn creates ripples of wellness throughout the community. When she’s not at the helm of the business, you might find her reading, relaxing by the pool, cuddling with her three cats, or reflecting on life’s mysteries. A firm believer in collaboration over competition, Martha loves connecting with like-minded business owners and individuals who share her vision for a sustainable future where all members of the community thrive.
Amanda Bedard - Practice Manager
Pronouns: She/Her
In addition to offering Reiki Energy healing, Amanda serves as our Practice Manager where she gets to blend her corporate background with her expertise as a healer and coach. She skillfully supports the administrative and operational aspects of the practice - for team members and clients alike. She is often the kind voice on the other end of a text or call and provides some of the important glue that holds us all together.