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.
Jason Atkins
LMBT, Certified Back Country Survival Instructor, Educator
NCLic #11780
(919) 448-6526
J W Atkins is a well-rounded Massage Therapist from Chapel Hill with over 10 yrs of experience. Jason was a behavior science modification specialist/combat field medic. His military background only strengthens his character. Jason is gifted with a rare ability to put his clients at ease no matter how hectic life is. He believes in teaching his clients how to live a healthier lifestyle overall. He works with an eclectic mix of modalities, including Shiatsu, Swedish, Prenatal, and Deep Tissue. He is a continuing education instructor for Apex Retreat Seminars and co-founder for Apex Retreat.
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.
Josephine McErlean
LMBT, PTA, CPP
Now accepting new appointments!
(718) 730-3881
Josephine McErlean is a Physical Therapy Assistant, Licensed Massage and Bodywork therapist and Pilates/Yoga instructor and educator. She has trained in medical massage, sports massage, Thai massage and Pilates for the Rehabilitation Specialist.She brings the holistic approach to wellness and incorporates the most sought after modalities of Massage and Pilates Therapy.
She believes that change and healing happens to a movement and the power of touch. She brings over 20 years of experience and continues to further her education.
