Soma Wellness Staff
Barbara Bennett LMT, CCK
Barbara is an advanced practitioner of the holistic manual therapies and brings 30 years of experience and knowledge to her healing practice. With a background originating in conventional nursing, Barbara embraces massage therapy/bodywork as a medical intervention supporting the roll it plays in preventing disease, easing discomfort, and restoring health. Her intent is to unravel complex postural patterns and unlock residual restrictions due to trauma, poor posture and repetition. She practices a variety of modalities and techniques infusing each session with specific detail. Her sessions are compassionate and direct. A great joy for Barbara is in guiding her clients towards their own innate wisdom and healing potential, while encouraging them to learn new ways of self care. She looks forward to helping you achieve your wellness goals naturally bringing radiance and vitality back into your life!
Heather Whip, L.Ac. MSOM
Heather was born and raised in Anchorage, Alaska. She earned a Master of Science in Oriental Medicine from the Traditional Chinese Medical College of Hawaii in 2005. For the next two years Heather traveled abroad while treating patients from all over the world as an acupuncturist on a cruise ship. This allowed her to quickly gain experience treating many different people and conditions from all walks of life, from the very young to the elderly.
Heather is trained in Acupuncture, Herbology, Tui-na, Nutritional Therapy, and Qi Gong. Her specialties include: treatment and management of acute and chronic pain, stress reduction, anxiety, PTSD, smoking cessation, weight management, digestive disorders, allergies, insomnia, migraines, women’s health, and a needle-free therapy for children called Shonishin. Heather is well known for her gentle hands and warm bedside manner.
As a native to Alaska and lifelong commercial fisherman, Heather understands the demanding lifestyle of Alaskans. Her treatments aim to return the body to a state of harmony and balance.
Brenda M. Beck LMT, CAMT
I am a Certified Advanced Myofascial Therapist, with certificates in Upledger Craniosacral and Biodynamic Craniosacral.
My focus is working with the fascia to promote ease of movement. Our bodies are held together by fascia, if it becomes restricted by either injury, surgery, stress of repetitive work, or restricted movement, our body as a whole suffers, especially the nervous system.
It is within the fascia that movement and memories are stored: holding, restricting and protecting. To follow the pattern of tightness, you can unravel the tissues to promote healing, calm the nervous system and free movement of the joints. My goal is to assist clients in releasing the fascia, by either: active/passive stretching, joint mobilization, active release and myofascial/trigger point therapy.
Full body therapeutic massage and craniosacral is also available to assist clients with stress relief, calming the nervous system and relaxation.
Amy Cynowa Conklin, D.C.
Dr. Amy Cynowa Conklin is a 1998 graduate from Logan College of Chiropractic. She uses low force chiropractic adjustments to align the spine and increase immune response. Her sessions include scanning all levels of imbalances (structural, electromagnetic, nutritional, emotional, allergies and toxicity) and implementing related therapies into her treatment protocol. Dr. Conklin is trained in using the worlds most researched 3LT Lasers. These low level lasers are non invasive and are used to help the body heal a variety of different conditions.
Dr. Conklin has a dedication and passion for education and care for her patients. She loves to works with infants, athletes, elderly and overall family care. She would love to work with you, at your level, to help you improve your quality of health.
Dr. Conklin is a certified Zero Balancer. She also uses Cranial Sacral Therapy, Visceral manipulation, and myofascial release to help facilitate your bodies own ability to heal.
Michele Aitken, NCLMT
Upledger Advanced Craniosacral therapist;
Upledger Advanced Pediatric and Obstetric Craniosacral therapist;
Bio-Dynamic Craniosacral Certified therapist;
Therapeutic massage;
Raindrop therapy with essential oils;
Lymphatic Drainage;
Specializes in pregnancy, infant, and pediatric massage.
Body Balancing, her own technique to de-stress the body from allergies and immune issues.
Educator on healthier and happier pregnancies and births
Her great love is educating families and their communities on creating health and in their lives on all levels. She has spent the last 25 years in the holistic community doing just that! In a world that keeps us moving in so many directions at once, it is vital that we take time to be present, listen to our bodies allowing Therapeutic Time to self-heal. Michele supports this through offering modalities of healing that will bring the body back into balance.
Twenty years ago she was blessed to give birth to her youngest daughter, CarlyRose. Carly was born with an extremely rare genetic disorder. So rare that she is one of two in documented medical history!
Being a holistic practitioner, she brought every tool she had to support Carly’s health. She embraced Carly’s uniqueness opening her up to see everyone else in a new perspective. CarlyRose is my teacher and together sharing her story, we have had the opportunity to teach people of the benefits of holistic healthcare.. “CarlyRose has opened my eyes to the importance of listening. I have learned compassion and love beyond measure! Be PRESENT in life, it’s really all that matters!”
The special needs community is close to her heart. Supporting and strengthening those families with love and compassion and educating them on holistic healthcare is her goal. (She offers discounted prices to anyone in need)
“I love what I do and I am passionate to help people realize how to support themselves in a gentle, non-invasive way to be healthy and enjoy their lives to the fullest.”
Caroleen Monnseratt
Hello, I am Caroleen a life-long Alaskan and proud of it. After many years working as a Secretary and then Administrative Assistant I decided I wanted a career that was more fulfilling.
I decided on Massage Therapy and in 1998 began a prerequisite course on massage therapy at Gatekey School of Mind/Body Connection in Anchorage, Alaska.
After completing this massage course I was hooked!!! So I enrolled full time at Gatekey School of Mind/ Body Connection in January 1999. I graduated and took my National Boards and got licensed by the city of Anchorage in 2001. I am now licensed by the State of Alaska.
I incorporate in my massages other modalities of bodywork that I have learned
such as Repetitive Use Injury Therapy (RUIT), Cranio-Sacral Therapy (CST), Myofascial Release Therapy (MFT), (SMRT) Spontaneous Muscle Release Technique, Bowen Technique and Zero Balancing.
I pride myself in developing a therapeutic massage that is unique for each client.
Bruce Nelson
Bruce Nelson is a Certified Advanced Rolfer®, is certified in Zero Balancing, a Berry Method® Practitioner, a Licensed Massage Therapist, a Reiki Master, is Certified in Advanced Myofascial Techniques, and is an Instructor for Advanced-Trainings.com’s Advanced Myofascial Techniques series.
Bruce has lived in Eagle River, AK since 1979. The importance of family and community has always been close to his heart. After a 24year career in plumbing and heating, his devotion to self-care and helping others has led him to a career in the healing arts.
Bruce is known for a keen focus in overall body wellness supported by a trinity of clear, compassionate, and community minded teaching style. As an individual and teacher he is a holistic adventure-seeking student of the world. He has been a participant, fundraiser and coach with Leukemia Lymphoma Society since 2003.
His innovative approach to bodywork will provide a relaxing, invigorating session as well as the expert technical support to help you achieve a healthier and happier life.
Cassandra Sikat
Cassandra is our friendly receptionist. Her voice and smile you will recognize when you call our office. She has a strong background in nutrition, and is dedicated to supporting our team by answering questions, booking appointments, and assisting patient needs. We are grateful to have her as part of our team.
Lauren Krigbaum, LMT
Lauren is a born and raised Alaskan with a deep love for nature, finding fresh air to be the remedy for most things in life. Hiking, skiing, biking, dancing and yoga are outlets for her energetic spirit.
She has been a massage therapist since 2011. During her school she studied Swedish, prenatal, trigger point, deep tissue and hot stone. She also has extensive training in floor Thai massage, which has allowed her to incorporate stretching into her massage routine. To further expand her knowledge, Lauren completed her yoga teacher training in Bali in 2017. Having already had a strong understanding of how the muscular body works, it has been an asset to her career being able to share with her clients exercises and stretches to help strengthen and lengthen muscles.
She has a vast and healthy relationship with world travel and has combined her love of travel with her passion for continuing her education in massage therapy. She has studied Thai massage, Japanese shiatsu, Sarga silk barefoot massage, and Ashiatsu barefoot massage.
At the end of 2017, Lauren completed her certification in Ashiatsu barefoot massage, which has quickly become her favorite modality to practice. Lauren has found that through the surface area of the foot, Ashiatsu produces instant results within the body by working the myofacial tissue to create space for muscles to lengthen, and give nerves space to open their pathways. She also has continuing education in lymphatic drainage, and leans into her intuition through energy work. Her passion in life is health and an overall wellness for the body. She strives to share her ideas of activity through movement, breath, stretching, and self-massage techniques.
Lauren has found that massage led her to a more balanced space of peace within herself through the connection of breath and body. She loves to share this space of peace with others by being a vessel to relieve people of physical and emotional pain and discomfort. Taking part in many physical activities, she has first hand experience of the benefits of bodywork- relieving muscular pain, increasing range of motion for longevity, and finding deep, whole breaths as a platform for deep relaxation to bring a sense of calmness throughout the entirety of the body.
Lauren recently completed her bachelor’s degree of health science with a minor in psychology and is currently applying to physical therapy school with a special interest in breath therapy and the pelvic floor.
Ann Dougherty, LMT
Ann’s first career was in graphic design, after graduating with a B.S. in Marketing in 2005. Although she loved the creative problem solving, she quickly realized office life was not a fulfilling choice for her. Ann then graduated from the Colorado School of Healing Arts in 2010 with a 700hr certificate.
Her method for bodywork uses the concepts of structural integration delivered in a relaxing way. Ann believes myofascial and deep tissue work does not need to be painful to be effective. Her favorite feedback from a client is, “Your theme song should be ‘Killing Me Softly!’ I’m so relaxed during the massage but the next day feel like I went to the gym. A little sore but in a good way.” She has worked in a variety of settings from nationally ranked spas to physical therapy offices. Her goal is to meld the science and spirit aspects of massage into her sessions.
Ann moved full time to Alaska in 2016, after spending summers doing lodge work in Bristol Bay. She is happiest backpacking in the summer and reading a stack of non-fiction books by the woodstove in the winter. She is licensed in both Alaska and Colorado.