La Vida Spa Santa Fe

Dr. Asta Rackauskaite came to the US in 1999 from Lithuania. Ten years after her arrival she created a business called Self Heal, and began seeing clients in her Boulder clinic. Asta, a Board Certified Doctor of Integrative Medicine, is passionate about informing her clients about a wide array of health issues. Dr. Asta is a graduate of the Santa Fe School of Massage (former Scherer Institute of Natural Healing) and has been successfully running her own business while simultaneously working at a number of Santa Fe spas. She is certified and has extensive experience in Neuromascular Therapies, Deep Tissue, Swedish massage, Deep Tissue, Hot Stones, Himalayan salt stones, Polarity, Cranial Sacral, Prenatal massage. She also enjoys sharing her knowledge of Chinese medicine, Ayurveda, Herbalism, Essential Oils, flower remedies and quantum medicine. Dr. Asta believes in the wholeness model of healing and the need to include consciousness in the process of seeking optimal health.

Cynthia is a Colorado native who has spent 17 years living in New Mexico. She has over 10 years of experience as a Registered Massage Therapist licensed in Colorado, Hawaii, and New Mexico, has over 35 years as an energy healer, and is owner of High Mountain Hokulea Therapeutic Healing LLC. Cynthia is trained in a variety of modalities, including Advanced Swedish Massage, Deep Tissue, Hot Stone, MyoFascial and Body Restructuring, Reflexology, Shitasu, Reiki, Sports Massage, Cranial-Sacral and Hawaiian Lomi-Lomi Massage. Cynthia Brings a cross-cultural knowledge to her practice, gained over years of learning from professionals at the top of their field in Hawaii, Colorado, and New Mexico. She specializes in pain and stress release addressing the needs of the client for a customized therapeutic massage, helping clients to improve their health through holistic and life-style choices. Her profound connection with the natural world enables her to bring fundamental grounding elements to her technique, helping clients re-generate, heal, and relax.

Desirée Granado, is originally from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and has been in Santa Fe for 17 years. Deda graduated from the Vogue College of Cosmetology in Santa Fe in 2012 and became certified as a Licensed Esthetician by the state of New Mexico shortly thereafter. She has worked at medical spas, and was an esthetician at 10,000 waves for 7 years. Deda specializes in Skin Analysis, European Facials, Lymphatic Facial Massage, LED Light Treatments and Biotherapeutic Micro Therapy. In addition to her work at La Vida, Deda spends time cooking, hiking, and practicing Samba dance.

Heidi has been a Massage Therapist since 1985, working in private practice, sports medicine clinic with Physical Therapists, as well as many spa settings. She has taught anatomy/ kinesiology within a  Massage Therapy Program at Lane Community College, Eugene, Oregon. In 2005, she completed a  500 hour Ortho-Bionomy Practitioner’s diploma (positional release, decompression techniques) at NM  Academy of Healing Arts (NMAHA) in Santa Fe, NM. In 2014 she received her 700 hour Craniosacral  Diploma from Etienne Piersman and NMAHA. Heidi brings her experience from the movement arts to  her work. She has a Bachelors of Fine Art in Dance, competed in National Collegiate gymnastics, has  training in Thomas Hanna Somatics and Tai Chi. She has performed and taught Contact Improvisation  movement, touring the US. Psychotherapy, Buddhist philosophy and meditation have also influenced  her work and life. Heidi says, “I love doing massage for the one on one relationship and for the  challenge of providing solutions to problems that can arise in the body. I strive to meet the person and  their needs for the time I am at their service.”

Karin comes to us all the way from Germany, though she has been a Santa Fe resident since 1985. She has been a massage therapist since 1992, with 25 years of private and spa service under her belt. Karin studied initially at the Rolf Institute and Guild for Structural Integration in Boulder, CO and has done additional studies in Structural Integration and Craniosacral Therapy. Her particular specialty is deep tissue. “What I like most about being a therapist is that I can positively affect the lives of my clients. Whether this happens by aiding in stress reduction, recovery from an injury or an illness, or simply by stimulating healing potentials — there is nothing more rewarding than helping a human being feel better and more relaxed through my work.

Her outside interests are being in nature, hiking, running and bicycling. She also loves studying nutrition and helping her husband in cancer research. Karin also enjoys photography and making jewelry.

Kelleen moved to Santa Fe 30 years ago from the Virgin Islands, where she managed health food stores, raced bicycles, sailed and competed in running and swimming. She graduated from the New Mexico Academy of Massage and Healing Arts in 1992 and has been practicing massage for the past 25 years. Aside from a private practice, Kelleen spent ten years working at the El Gancho Health Club in Santa Fe before joining La Vida when it opened in the summer of 2005. Kelleen's extensive background in sports and natural healing arts gives her a broad basis for her approach to a thorough full body deep therapeutic massage. Her emphasis is on lymph, joint, and muscle release techniques, bringing length and circulation to muscles to relieve joints, ligaments and tendons. Hers is a unique blend of strength and nurturing.

In addition to providing excellent bodywork, Kelleen also offers facial treatments at La Vida, as she is an Aveda trained, Dermalogica Certified, Skin Therapist, as well. She has spent most of her life studying natural health and healing. She has worked in a corporate capacity for many well known natural skin care lines as an educator and representative. Kelleen combines her knowledge and facial massage skills to enhance the efficacy of our professional products to deliver a blissful, skin enhancing customized experience.

Kristen has been offering massage for 14 years and other alternative healing methods for longer. Kristen went to the Pacific school of Awareness and Bodywork in Kauai in 2008, studying with Lee Joseph. She repeated the program as a student teacher the following year and assisted at the school for years to come. Kristen has studied many modalities including Structural Integration, NMT, Swedish Massage, Lomi Lomi, Essential Oil Therapy, Visionary Cranio Sacral Therapy, Chi Nei Tsang Abdominal Massage, Sound Healing and more. 

Marla Montoya is a New Mexico Native and has studied to achieve her “Expert” level certification from Dermalogica, La Vida’s skincare partner. Marla has spent time working and studying within this field in California and Hawaii, in addition to New Mexico, and is certified by the Board of Barbering and Cosmetology in all three states. Marla has studied at many esteemed institutions, including The International Dermal Institute, in Irvine, CA. With years of experience in Santa Fe, including 4 years at Ten Thousand Waves, Marla specializes in Japanese lifting Facial Treatments, Biotherapeutic Micro Therapy, LED Light Therapy, Chemical Peels, and more. Marla is passionate about her work, and also enjoys meditation, Kundalini Yoga practice, dancing, music, movies, and family time.

Originally from Texas, Shea brings with her over 30 years of bodywork and massage professional experience. She has studied at both the Austin School of Massage Therapy (1989) and the New Mexico School of Natural Therapeutics (2003). Her specialties are Myofascial work, Polarity, Shiatsu, Energy Healing, and Swedish massage. Outside of performing bodywork, Shea is interested in nutrition, and loves cooking and gardening.