Erin Brown
Owner
Pilates Teacher
Erin Brown has been a student of movement and human anatomy her entire life. She began her journey as a young ballerina and transitioned to modern dance as a teen, where she received several scholarships and grants and quickly won the attention of world renowned choreographers for her fierce technique and creative style.
In an effort to avoid feeling trapped by a stagnant cubicle desk job to pay the bills, she immersed herself in the study of massage therapy. Years of dancing and old injuries began to show up in her knees and became troublesome for her massage work. In 2012, she connected with 2nd generation Classical Pilates Instructor, Penelope Wyer-Barrow. Her knee pain virtually disappeared and she acquired a healthy obsession with this incredible method of body conditioning. A few months later, she enrolled in Penelope’s Teacher Training Program, which she completed in September of 2014. She taught with Penelope at Pure Pilates Asheville, while also receiving training and mentoring from Meagan Koehler, owner of RISE Authentic Pilates. She has had the pleasure of attending advanced training workshops with some of the best in the industry: Kathi Ross-Nash, Brooke Siler, Mari Winsor, MeJo Wiggin, Chris Robinson, Murat Berkin, Saul Choza, Blossom Leilani Crawford, Dana Santi, Sandy Shimoda, and Jay Grimes.
In 2021, she completed the additional training “Weekends with Jay” with first generation teacher Jay Grimes, and continues to receive his guidance in virtual self-guided classes.
She currently trains with the incomparable Sandy Shimoda of Vintage Pilates and meets with other teachers in Sandy’s training group called “The Process.”
Erin has a deep understanding of the body and the way its musculoskeletal system operates. For this reason, she is now a favorite among Asheville Area Pilates Enthusiasts, Runners, Yogi’s, Hikers, & Cyclists, to name a few. In addition to her career as a Massage Therapist, Pilates Instructor, & Business Owner, Erin is a dance music aficionado and enjoys hanging with her husband and their little parrot, Diego.
Creds for those interested in such matters:
– 3rd Place Best Massage Therapist of WNC 2018, Mountain Xpress
– 1st Place Best Massage Therapist of WNC 2017, Mountain Xpress
– 1st Place Best Massage Therapist of WNC 2016, Mountain Xpres
– 1st Place Best Massage Therapist of WNC 2015, Mountain Xpress
– 2nd Place Best Massage Therapist of WNC 2014, Mountain Xpress
– Potomac Massage Training Institute, Washington DC
– Authentic Pilates Certification Program, Pure Pilates Asheville
– Nationally Certified Massage Therapist by the NCBMBT
– Active member of the American Massage Therapy Association
– Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, BFA Modern Dance
– Virginia Governor’s School of the Arts, Norfolk, VA
– Old Dominion University Ballet, Norfolk, VA
Virginia (Ginny) Hotze
Massage Therapist LMBT #4984
Attentive-Experienced-Strong
With 20 years of massage therapy experience, Virginia (Ginny) has a deep therapeutic touch supported by a strong understanding of injury and recovery. As a lifelong runner, skier and skydiver, Ginny is dedicated to helping her clients relieve their discomforts, improve range of motion, and recover from injuries. Upon completing massage therapy education in Phoenix, Ginny spent her first years of private massage practice working directly with a Physical Therapist. She credits this opportunity for providing her with a strong foundation in therapeutic massage and an appreciation for partnering with other health care providers and natural healing techniques to maximize recovery. Ginny along with her husband, Jim, and their pets made the move from the Arizona desert to Asheville 12 years ago. After several years in the spa at the Grove Park Inn, she has returned to private practice to continue her work with therapeutic massage. You will find her blend of various techniques – Deep Tissue, Thai Massage, Shiatsu, Craniosacral, Reiki – well delivered to meet your specific massage needs. In addition, with 8 years of military service, Ginny has an understanding of the unique needs of those who have served and would like to reach out to all fellow veterans. Although now you are more likely to find her on a yoga mat or in the woods, rather than in the air or racing, she continues to maintain a healthy lifestyle balancing family, fun, and fitness. As an athlete and adventure seeker, she is interested in helping others enjoy a healthy, strong, and active lifestyle.
Sarah Fankhauser
Massage Therapist LMBT #9467
Relaxing-Methodical-Light to Deep Pressure
Sarah has been practicing massage therapy since 2009. She completed her massage training in Charlotte, which focused on Neuromuscular Therapy, so she has a deep understanding of the muscular system and how to correct postural imbalances that lead to pain in the body. She gained extensive experience in South Florida before relocating back to NC in 2015. Her passion in life is to help bring relief to those living with chronic pain, and her goal is to correct postural issues while restoring balance to the body. She recognizes that each of us is unique, so with careful assessment, she can come up with a plan specifically for the person in front of her. In her free time, Sarah enjoys exploring all of the beauty that WNC has to offer with her fiancé and son. She is also an active hiker, roller skater, and enjoys anything outdoor related.
Mary Turco
Massage Therapist LMBT #966
Focused-Unique-Integrated
Mary has been practicing massage for 30 years. She took her initial massage training in the Chapel Hill, NC area and has since accumulated 2000 hours of additional studies in complimentary and related fields. She loves sharing all she’s learned with her clients to empower them so they can achieve the best possible health, balance and well-being for themselves.
Mary’s approach to bodywork is a very integrated style using her ability to focus with her experienced sense of touch and assess what is going on in the body. She also studied very extensively with many different styles of energy therapies, or what science is now calling your “Biofield.” She can then apply any one of many modalities she has been trained in to create a very individualized session which may include any one or a combination of the following:
Myofascial techniques, including Graston or Cupping
Trigger Point Therapy
Deep Tissue
Swedish
Jin Shin Doⓡ Bodymind Acupressureⓡ
Polarity Therapy
Eden Energy Medicine
Reiki
Craniosacral Therapy
Lymphatic Drainage
She believes everyone’s path and healing process is a very personal and individual process, so no one session is a duplicate of the last session. She chose to study a wide range of various modalities to broaden her therapy tools, so she may provide a holistic approach to healing and
staying healthy.
Kevin Fuller
Massage Therapist LMBT #16989
Intuitive – Steady – Adaptable
Kevin completed his massage therapy training here in Asheville in 2017 and has been practicing steadily ever since. After fine-tuning his skills at multiple spas and a private practice in northern California, he has recently relocated back to Asheville to continue building his bodywork career. Intuitive touch is an important aspect of his practice, listening and feeling into clients’ tissues to find the right pressure at the right pace. This allows him to hone in on problematic areas using aspects of trigger-point therapy to effectively help each client move towards active relief from chronic aches and pains and more acute discomforts. He has been consistently building upon his foundations of Swedish and deep tissue work, integrating modalities such as Thai and Shiatsu style stretching and range of motion techniques to help open locked muscles and joints. Using a combination of these modalities, Kevin will carefully craft a massage experience unique to the needs and preferences of each individual and provide professional recommendations for the next steps in their treatment plan. As an avid enthusiast of the outdoors, Kevin spends much of his free time on trails and in the mountains, eagerly exploring new areas and fresh views. Often accompanied by his guitar, his passion for music plays an integral role in his life.
