Our Team
Fernanda Santiago
CO-FOUNDER, CERTIFIED AROMATHERAPIST, LMBT
Born in the Island of Puerto Rico, Fernanda Santiago has always had a passion for wellness and helping people get healthy.
Her great grandmother was a midwife, herbalist and considered by many to be an expert in the use of natural healing compounds. This knowledge of herbal medicine and natural healing has been passed down for generations. Fernanda was introduced to Aromatic Botanical Medicine early in her career and has specialized in Aromatherapy for 16 years. She has also trained in Chiang Mai, Thailand, and mentored by Acupuncture Physicians, and Botanists, gaining hands on experience. She has studied with both Floracopeia and The School of Aromatic Studies.
She loves gardening, the outdoors and creating custom formulations for her clients. She has a private practice in Apex, NC named Healing Feels Good®. Here she provides consultations, Aromatherapy treatments & formulations as well as bodywork sessions such as Reflexology, Thai Massage and Thai Herbal Poultice treatments.
She is the co-founder of Apex Retreat Seminars, a nationally approved continuing education school for massage therapist and is a Level 2 NAHA Certified Professional Aromatherapist.
She loves to share her knowledge and passion for helping others using traditional methods of healing.
Not accepting new appointments. For spa training and continuing education inquires visit: Apex Retreat Seminars
NCLic # 09509
(919) 297-8445
Accepting appointments July 2022!
A massage therapist who combined eastern and western clinical massage.
NCLic # 19742
(954) 464-4814
Lijing Liu
Reduce your pain, Release your body, and Relax your mind!
I love to work with all types of different people. I provide eastern clinical massage combined with western massage for clients who are suffering pain.
My favorite massage techniques include, but are not limited to Swedish massage, deep tissue massage, sports massage, hot stone massage, Thai massage, reflexology, lymphatic massage, and acupoint massage.
My goal is to help promote the QOL (quality of life) of the individual client. I look forward to helping the clients get what they need to feel better and relax.
Lia Zhu
LMBT
NCLic #19824
(347) 399-8017 – Text to book appointment or reserve online.
Lia is from the country where massage originated. She has a passion for traditional Chines medicine and wellness. She believes massage is a valuable and safe way to get healthy without prescriptions or invasive operations so she enrolled at Wake Tech College for a Therapeutic Massage program. As a licensed therapist, she combines her cultural background and professional training to create a healing approach to wellness. She is trained in Swedish, Deep Tissue, Chinese Meridian Healing, Reflexology, Pain management, Cupping and Guasha, Pre/Post Natal, Acupressure, Stretching, Hot stones and Aromatherapy.
Her pursuit and focus is natural pain management, to decrease the effects of stress and life trauma, and guiding clients to relief and relaxation.
Investing in massage therapy is rewarded with good health. Her hands is the bridge between your body and health.
Dean Hebert
LMBT, Advanced Thai Massage Practitioner, Educator
NCLic #10820
(919) 400-1609
“The body knows what to do, you just need to let it.”
Dean has a versatile portfolio of a hard working man. He discovered his true calling in the wellness field. Dean has been a practicing LMBT for over 6 years and is one of the most sought after Massage Therapists in well known Spas in the Triangle Area. Dean’s specialty and focus is on helping the body function and mobilize better to achieve optimal health.
He specializes in Myofacial Release, Joint Mobilization, Table Thai Massage, and Deep Tissue work. He believes in teaching his clients how to live a healthier lifestyle overall. He is a continuing education instructor for Apex Retreat Seminars and co-founder for apex retreat.
William Stephenson
LMBT, E-RYT
NC License #15524
(919) 264-0990
William is an E-RYT with thousands of teaching hours logged over 10+ years in the Triangle. Upon graduating from the Body Therapy Institute in 2015, he went on to study Myofascial Release and Unwinding with John F. Barnes. In treatment, the therapist tends to employ a therapeutic blend of Myofascial Release, Thai bodywork, and Craniosacral therapy.
Fernanda, the founder of Apex Retreat, attended one of William’s yoga classes many years ago and brought him on board to establish his own massage practice along with the rest of the team. Since that fateful day, the two have become evermore aligned and entwined in the journey toward healing, teaching each other and countless others along the way via Apex Retreat Seminars and the Healing Arts and Massage school.
From the outset of his journey, he has held a curious obsession for classical yoga that led to a deep dive into hot yoga for many years. Although sun salutations and Sanskrit hold a special place in his heart, curiosity led us to the frontiers of Yin yoga as it pertains to the myofascial system. He currently teaches Anatomy, Sanskrit, and Yin yoga for a couple of yoga teacher training programs in Raleigh, as well as co-leading retreats and the Yoga Alliance accredited school: Nova Yoga. William leads yoga classes for free at Apex Retreat, endeavoring to be a pillar of sanity and strength to those willing to seek help in these trying times. In practice on the mat or in treatment, the hope is to maintain a sacred space that fosters curiosity, authentic expression, and radical self acceptance.
