As successful professionals representing a variety of backgrounds, experiences, and teaching styles, Sage School of Massage instructors are united in our commitment to helping each student master the knowledge and skills necessary to be a competent massage therapist. We recognize that students have diverse learning styles and our goal is to work with each student in a supportive learning environment.
Respect for each individual, reverence for the human body and a commitment to the learning process are hallmarks of our approach.
Our faculty works as a team to integrate scientific foundations with massage techniques so student learning is complementary and interwoven from subject to subject. Sage School of Massage believes learning progresses from basic to more advanced levels of information.
Students will learn basic knowledge and skills in term one and increase their levels of learning in each of the following terms.
Due to the importance of integrating curriculum, we have chosen a small faculty , who are able to accomplish this level of teamwork.
A.J. Buehler, LMT
After 22 years of teaching the Martial Arts, AJ Buehler fulfilled his dream of becoming a Massage Therapist. AJ brings 13 years of experience as a Licensed Massage Therapist and is continuing another dream: his love of teaching. AJ feels that by teaching others, it helps him to be a better massage therapist.
AJ owns Therapeutic Massage in downtown Bend and specializes in Deep Tissue, Sports, and Swedish massage. He also works with clients in pain management and teaches them stretching techniques to help them with their ongoing rehabilitation. AJ likes to incorporate humor into his lessons as well as creative Power Point demonstrations to keep students engaged and learning.
AJ lives with his wife, two young daughters, and their Shlab (Siberian-Husky- Lab) in Bend, and enjoys hiking, camping, and Aikido. AJ enjoys the fact that he is a life long learner!
Diane Flowers, BS, LMT
Diane attended massage school at the Healing Arts Institute in Fort Collins, CO while finishing her Bachelor of Science at Colorado State University. She graduated in 1996 and opened a private massage practice. After practicing for about a year, she decided to further explore her interest in the healing arts by spending fi ve years studying at the National College of Naturopathic Medicine. After fi nishing school in 2002, she moved to Bozeman, MT to open a practice. Before long, Diane met and fell in love with her husband and moved to Sisters, OR to marry him.
Diane now has a private massage practice in Sisters where she focuses primarily on injury treatment and rehabilitation. She continues to practice massage because of the benefi ts that her clients experience, the fulfi llment that she feels, and the fl exibility that it affords as she raises three children. Diane also loves to run, mountain bike, rock climb, and occasionally compete in adventure racing.
Diane has taught in a number of settings in the past, and is very excited about teaching massage. Her main goal for teaching is communicating information that will be relevant to practice in the “real world” while having fun and cultivating a passion for massage.
Deby Grant, LMT, AAS Massage
Deby has 26 years of teaching experience and 18 years as a licensed massage therapist. She has developed successful private practices in Portland and Bend Oregon. Her primary focus is treating chronic pain conditions, auto injuries, and stress management.
She loves to teach because she loves to learn. Deby often says, “Teaching makes me a better therapist and my private practice makes me a better instructor”. She enjoys inspiring and motivating students to believe in themselves and their abilities to be the best massage therapist they can.
Her desire is to give the knowledge and skills she has learned in a fun, creative, learning environment. Students say she communicates the main objectives of a lesson clearly, so that they can understand the importance, for their own massage careers.
Amy Lafferty, BA, MS, OTR/L, LMT
Amy Lafferty, MS, OTR/L, LMT has a wealth of experience as a health care provider. She worked for several years as an Occupational Therapist at the University Hospital in Denver, at the Mapleton Center for Rehabilitation in Boulder, CO, and in Idaho before discovering the highly gratifying work of Massage Therapy. Amy holds a BA degree from the University of Colorado at Boulder, a MS degree in environmental education from Colorado State University, and a MS degree in Occupational Therapy from Colorado State University.
Amy completed her massage training (including advanced deep tissue training) at Central Oregon Community College (COCC). She is both a Licensed Occupational Therapist and a Licensed Massage Therapist in Oregon.
As an environmental education curriculum developer and front-line educator, Amy learned that individuals learn from various paths. She is committed to making learning experiences relevant and meaningful to students.
Amanda Layton, BA, MS
Amanda is a new addition to the Sage Faculty this year and is teaching Anatomy & Physiology I & II, and Applied Pathology. She completed a Bachelor’s in exercise science from Willamette University in Salem, Oregon and recently completed a Master’s in exercise science/physiology at Central Washington University in Ellensburg, Washington.
While new to Sage, she is not new to teaching. She has instructed both classes and labs at undergraduate institutions including anatomy & physiology, kinesiology, physiology of exercise, and several physical activity courses. She has several years of experience in human cadaver dissection and has been involved with research in many different areas of exercise science including: cancer survivorship exercise prescription, yoga to reduce fear of falling in older individuals, comparing female masters and collegiate runners, comparing modern dancers and cheerleaders, and her own thermoregulation research with cyclists and triathletes.
Amanda is excited to bring her knowledge of sports medicine, health, and wellness to the students of Sage. She enjoys outdoor activities including running, hiking, and rock climbing; she has completed two marathons and a triathlon.
Ellyn Lindquist, BA, LMT
Ellyn brings over 16 years of experience in bodywork and Rolfing® to her classroom and creates a fun and creative environment. She graduated from Indiana University with a degree in Psychology and then went on to attend East West College of the Healing Arts in Portland, OR and the Rolf Institute for Structural Integration in Boulder, CO.
Ellyn has taught anatomy, kinesiology and pathology at East West College, assisted at the Rolf Institute and for continuing education classes and is now teaching myofascial work and pathology at Sage School of Massage. She also has had teaching experience in rock climbing and mountaineering classes.
Ellyn owns Central Oregon Rolfing® & Therapeutic Bodyworks in Bend and has a full practice in structural work and Rolfing. She is active in triathlon, skiing and Pilates. She has a sound background in rock climbing, yoga, dance and playing music and was a choreographer for musicals in her hometown of Appleton, WI.
Her realistic approach to teaching helps students to understand what they will experience in their practice. She uses humor and philosophy to integrate scientific knowledge into practical application. Ellyn’s philosophy of being a therapist and teacher is “I simply want to help educate people to better understand their bodies and minds and the correlation between the two”.
Bonnie Snyder, BA, LMT
Bonnie graduated from Seattle’s Brenneke School of Massage in 1995 and began a private massage therapy practice in Bellingham, WA. After moving to Bend in 1997, she started her private practice and taught at the former Central Oregon School of Massage. In 2000 she began teaching in the Massage Therapy Program at Central Oregon Community College, where taught kinesiology, massage, and introduction to massage therapy as a career, a course she designed and developed.
Bonnie has taught infant massage at the Athletic Club of Bend and in private classes. She loves her profession and is committed to the field of massage, and massage education. Bonnie believes massage can be of benefit to every body, and has a passion for offering excellent skills to her clients. Her continuing education courses have covered a wide range of techniques, including myofascial release, treatment of whiplash injuries, cadaver anatomy, and cranial sacral therapy. She has studied deep tissue massage with Bill Musser, LMT, and has assisted in workshops on whiplash treatment, and SOAP charting with Diana Thompson, LMT.
Bonnie does dog training at Dancin’ Woofs Compassionate Dog Training and Daycare, and has raised two service dogs for Canine Companions for Independence.
Kelly Ward, BS, LMT
Like so many people drawn to the practice of massage therapy, Kelly started out as just another massage junkie. It was after years of receiving body work that Kelly finally sent himself to massage school to learn the craft. Educated at Utah College of Massage Therapy in Salt Lake City Utah, Kelly’s career path has taken him to spas in Utah, Idaho, California and currently Shibui Spa in Sisters Oregon. Kelly brings 10 years of spa management and massage experience to our staff.
Kelly has been teaching Swedish massage, hydrotherapy and deep tissue classes since 2007. Before becoming an educator, Kelly has spent the bulk of his career as a lead massage therapist, a job description that includes, hiring and training massage staff as well as the concept and design of body treatments.
Kelly’s passion for bodywork is evident in his teaching style. He brings real world experience to the class room, and gives students the strong fundamentals they need to succeed. “Teaching is a way for me to give back all that I have learned as a successful massage therapist to ensure the next generation of body-worker has a strong foundation on which to build their career.”
Continuing Education
Bill Musser, MS, LMT Massage
Bill Musser has had private practices in Colorado, New Mexico, and Oregon and has worked in a variety of treatment settings. He holds a Master’s degree in Exercise Physiology and has been a Registered Nurse. bill has over 30 years of bodywork experience. Prior to moving to bodywork on a full-time basis he had a career in college teaching and administration. He has served as chairman of the Oregon State Board of Massage Therapists and has performed as a principal investigator in research on carpal tunnel syndrome for a National Institute of Health study. Bill was selected as the Jerome Perlinski National Teacher of the Year by the Council of Schools of the American Massage Therapy Association for the
year 2000. His clients have included motor vehicle accident victims, injured workers and athletes (recreational and intercollegiate to Olympic Gold medalists and world record-holders). Bill developed and taught the advanced massage courses at Central Oregon Community College in Bend for over ten years. A former NCAA College Division All-American, he also performs biomechanical analysis for swimmers.