About Us

KIM CLAFLIN has a bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education and a minor in Child Psychology. She visited and researched Sarasota School of Massage Therapy for about twelve years, before she attended and graduated from that establishment. She played a lot of sports and realized the importance of stretching and taking care of the body.

“After working in the corporate world, I wanted to go into a field of health and helping others to feel better – not only in body, but also in mind and soul.”

“With stretching and different massage modalities, a massage therapist can use touch to heal. At times we are manipulating the body and muscles or soft tissues and other times the therapist can just help to facilitate. Our bodies are amazing and know what needs to be done to improve. Massage therapy is therapeutic health for the body and mind. At our Retreat you are listened to – we focus on your concerns.”

“Massage used to be a luxury and only thought to help relax or to be spoiled on vacations. Science has proven that there are many benefits that massage therapy can provide”

DIANNE GARABEDIAN  (LMT#88496)
Rejuvenate your mind, body and spirit with Dianne who wastrained and liscenced in Boulder CO in 2015. She will customize your bodywork session with her therapeutic, healing touch, incorporating integrative massage techniques such as stretching, myofascial release, reflexology and lymphatic drainage.

BEN KURZ  (MA# 98207).
Ben graduated from Northern Virginia School of Therapeutic Massage. He knows first hand the mental and physical benefits of massage therapy and finds great satisfaction in relieving clients of their stress and pain. He has recently joined Ready or Knot Massage and has been a very important part of our team at the Retreat. 
His next training will be in Thai massage.

January 2022: 
“Ben worked me in last week and he was AWESOME!!!!!
Hugest relief in my hands and arms. Nice polite young man.”

J. Roach, Venice

SARAH LEVINE (FB 9788637)
Sarah is originally from Minnesota and was raised on a dairy farm. She has always cared about health and beauty, especially through her exposure to simplicity and purity of nature.  She has lived all across the United States of America and traveled throughout Europe. She has studied cooking, bonsai and cultural anthropology. Currently living in Florida, Sarah has found her passion in the study of aesthetics at the Fashion Focus Academy. Her goal is to enhance your natural beauty and to support people with their skin care needs. This is done by using modalities such as; water dermabrasion, Nano needling, Hydro facials, and power peels for the face and décolleté. There is a special peel designed especially for the delicate areas around the eyes. This addresses the signs of aging, hyper-pigmentation and those fine lines. Sarah also will wax the delicate areas of the face. Bacials;  are offered which is a treatment specifically formulated for the back. She is proud to use Dermalogica; a professional skin care line, founded by a woman and internationally acclaimed. Sarah loves to learn and share her knowledge with the people who are proactive about health and well-being. You will walk away from time spent with Sarah feeling uplifted and glowing!

AIMEE WHALEN  RN, BSN (9612187RN)
Aimee has been registered nurse for 41 years. She is known as a polymath of the healing arts. Polymath is Cranial Sacral Therapy, Reiki Master & teacher, an Energy Medicine practitioner and Quantum Bio-feedback specialist. Aimee skillfully combines scientific rigor with intuitive sensitivity to hone in on the patient’s body and mind as a whole ecosystems of organs and energies. These are in constant need of revisiting, renewal and compassionate care. She is able to integrate Western nursing and holistic medicine. This all works together for the greater good or her patients/clients.
Aimee has been involved for at least eleven years with the hospice program. Through this experience; she is a published author of The Heart of Hospice.

HEATHER DAWLEY  Heather Dawley (MA102274)
After spending 15 years as a dog groomer specializing in special needs dogs, Heather thought she was in her forever career. Until one day, she had a knowing that she needed to learn Reiki. From knowing practically nothing about reiki to becoming a master, a new passion filled her. Wanting to share her gift with others led her to enroll at Sarasota School of Massage Therapy. At first massage school was just a technicality on the journey. Soon after beginning school Heather quickly realized this expirence was so much more than that. Getting to dabble in many different modalities and other energy work, she was able to quickly orchestrate a beautiful intuitive massage focused on making not only your body feel better but your mind and soul as well. She is currently enrolled in addition neuromuscular training to better aid her clients.
“Compassion is not a relationship between a healer and the wounded. It’s a relationship between two equals.” -Pema Chödrön.

Testimonials

Michelle DeNio  — 5 star
April 1, 2015 ·