MTTI

Timothy Gay, LMT # 4437,  RMTI #S-0333, Timothy graduated from Massage Therapy Training Institute (MTTI) in Las Cruces in June 2003. He was hired by MTTI as their administrator shortly thereafter. Timothy has worked with the New Mexico Chapter of the American Massage Therapy Association as their AMTA-NM 3rd vice president, national delegate, web builder, and chair of the education committee. He helped MTTI become accredited and was instrumental in bringing the federal financial aid program to the school. Timothy purchased MTTI in May of 2007. He has worked for the BNSF railroad as a conductor, built houses with adobe and rammed earth, specialized in sculpted adobe Rumford fireplaces.  Also, he was lucky enough to have been a stay-at-home dad raising his daughter. Timothy’s passions are music, mountain bike riding with friends and a living museum named the Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad in Chama, New Mexico, where he worked as a steam locomotive fireman and mechanic. Timothy’s goal is to be of service to the massage community and make new friends along the way.  Timothy  is the president of  MTTI, teaches hands-on modalities and supervises the clinic.

Jerron Roberts, RMTI #S-0299, LMT #3458, obtained her massage diploma in 1999 from Mesilla Valley School for Therapeutic Arts. She is certified by the National Certification Board (NCBTMB).Jerron also has a private practice, Ancient Ways Therapeutic Massage and Body Work located at 741 N. Alameda, Suite 12, Las Cruces, New Mexico 88005.   Her practice takes her to Europe every year where for the past ten years she worked  in Switzerland, Holland, France and Germany doing private sessions as well as workshops.  She continues to train in Europe under Rheva La Rue and the Wellnet Television Station.  Jerron has a passion for life, and education in the mind body connection and alternative ways of healling .  Jerron has received many awards over the years and has represented New Mexico as the  New Mexico Chapter National Delegate of AMTA.   She is  the night class hands on instructor.

Christine Thompson, MA, LMT #4722 (NM) and LMT #016313 (NY), RMTI #S-0344, earned her massage diploma in 2003 from Onondaga School of Therapeutic Massage in Syracuse, New York. She is certified by the National Certification Board of Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCBTMB). She is a Level II Reiki practitioner and pursues Yoga and Qi Gong for her personal care. Certified in Elaine Stillerman's Mother Massage, she has incorporated prenatal massage in her practice. Christine comes from New York State with a varied background of experience: 16 years teaching English at Jefferson Community College, Watertown, NY; 9 years as a Student Assistance Specialist for four public school districts in her home county; Freelance Writer for Gale Research. She also has lent her services to the American Indian Project, a non-profit organization for urban Native Americans in Syracuse, NY. She is a professional member of the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA). Her other interests include learning more about Native American and world cultures, as well as accompanying her husband on cross-country motorcycle trips. Whenever she is not otherwise engaged, she snags every free moment to write a series of fantasy novels and dotes over her daughter and granddaughter. She joins the faculty at MTTI as an instructor of Anatomy and Physiology.

Norwood Yamini, DC, Dr. Yamini has practiced chiropractic care in Las Cruces for 23 years. He has over thirty five years of experience in the healing arts. He was trained as a physical therapist in the US Navy during the Viet Nam conflict and holds certification in applied Kinesiology and Reiki. He is a health care educator who has presented seminars at the state and national level for the AMTA since 1992. He is the creator of the Body Dialogue system of healing which offers tools and classes to the general public and health care professionals for the enhancement of health and well being. Currently, Dr. Yamini has a private practice called The Center for Pain Free Living where he is a certified Egoscue postural analyst. Dr. Yamini is an A & P instructor.

Joe Fajardo, BS, MAT, LMT #5541, Joe is the Job Placement officer and Admissions officer for MTTI. Joe Graduated from MTTI in September 2006. He has a bachelor’s degree from NMSU (1979) and a master’s degree from UNM (1991) with additional hours taken at ENMU. He has worked as a counselor and a teacher over the last 22 years.  He was hired to work at MTTI in August 2006.  He has always enjoyed working with students and their parents and believes he can use this experience to enhance his position at MTTI. He would like to be an instructor at MTTI in a few years and is excited to begin his massage practice. He is currently working as the Professional LMT at MTTI and continues to learn from the best instructors and therapists in the city. Joe enjoys music of all sorts and loves finding a new restaurant to share with his friends. Bon appetite!

Robin Faux-Vanderpool, LMT # (NM 5600, OH 12436), Robin graduated in 2003 from Sinclair Community College and SHI Integrative Medical Massage School in Dayton, Ohio. She holds and associate degree in Integrative Medical Massage Therapy.  She is Nationally Certified by the NCBTMB.  Robin has expanded her skills with classes in Craniosacral Therapy, Reiki, Thai Massage, Touch-Pro chair massage, marketing and Emergency Massage Relief.  She volunteered to do massage for other relief volunteers during the reconstruction of Pascagoula, Mississippi after Hurricane Katrina.  Since 2005,  she has traveled across the country practicing in salons, hospital, private practice, a church and the Denver International Airport. In her free time, she likes to travel, hike, go geocaching with her husband, and write about her adventures.

Allison Bunker, LMT #5975 RMTI#S-0416, graduated from the Arizona School of Massage Therapy in March 2005. She has worked in the medical and spa setting and has made her way into massage instruction here at MTTI where she is a clinic supervisor and substitute teacher. She has a private massage practice, she continues to work on her yoga practice, reads anything she can find, and loves spending time with her family.

Dietrie Yamini, LMT #0856, RMTI #S-0465, was born is Cheyenne, Wyoming on 2/24/1961. Her family moved to Las Cruces, NM when she was five years old where she attended preschool through college. She became interested in nutrition and healthy living since she was a teenager. When she was 23 years old, she attended a one year counseling program in Santa Monica, CA. She attended massage therapy school at 25 and has been self-employed as a massage therapist ever since. In 2011, Dietrie took over supervising the NMSU externship site for MTTI. She lives with her 13 year old daughter, Tess, and husband, Dr. Norwood Yamini.

Rebecca Ortiz, LMT 5962, RMTI S-0466, worked in the healthcare field providing long-term care for the elderly before attending MTTI in 2007. Since then, she has worked in chiropractic and spa settings. She balances a private massage practice as well as her clinic supervisor duties at MTTI with the raising of her two sons.

Adrian Zavala is the administrative assistant at MTTI. He is the youngest of three in a very hardworking family. In addition to excelling at his duties at MTTI, Adrian also volunteers at local churches and is passionate about education.

Chandra Reed, LMT #5996, RMTI #S-0482, graduated from MTTI December of 2007. She also holds a bachelor's degree in Communication Studies from NMSU (2006) and a Certified Nursing Assistant Certification (2010) from DACC. Since that time she has worked in clinical and spa settings and expanded her skills to include a certification in Reiki at the Master-Teacher level, Craniosacral, lymphatic massage, prenatal massage and basic acupressure. When she isn't working or at the school clinic, she spends her free time at home with her sister and their cat. She enjoys laughing, reading many subjects from science fiction and fantasy to energy work. She writes, paints, plays video games, loves movies and enjoys music. She is even known to practice the didgeridoo and belly dance on occasion.

Tara Castle, LMT # 6413, RMTI # S-0482, has been involved in the healthcare field since graduating from NMSU in 1992. After "climbing the corporate ladder" in the private and public medical sectors, the need for alternative healing options became apparent. Understanding the over-use of medications and surgical procedures, and recognizing the fact that the whole must be considered, was the first step in her evolution to becoming a Licensed Massage Therapost in 2009. Developments were also taking place on a spiritual level, as she has worked with a metaphysical physician and groups of energy healers since 1994. Her desire to share her knowledge has led her to a lifelong dream of becoming a teacher, and she obtained her Registered Massage Therapy Instructor license in 2012.

Documentation of faculty education and experience is on file at MTTI.