Debra Lustberg, Karuna Shala's Co-Owner & Director of Massage Therapy, is a caring and nurturing person with an adventurous spirit.  She has a deep connection with nature and a passion for travel. Her travels have led her across the US, South East Asia, India, Central America, New Zealand and Australia.  Each of these adventures has influenced Debra’s life

and practice in a unique and significant way.    

Debra began exploring the healing arts and practicing yoga in 1997. She was driven by the desire to learn holistic healing methods as an alternative to traditional Western medicine. Since then, her studies in Eastern and Western Massage & Bodywork techniques, Reiki, Yoga & Meditation have shaped Debra’s understanding of the deep connection between the mind and body.   Debra believes that massage and bodywork has the ability to help everyone - physically, mentally and emotionally.   She enjoys taking time to understand

her clients in order to address their specific needs. Whether enabling a client to breathe easier and relax, feel nurtured through touch, or recover from surgery

or other injuries, Debra practices massage as a

healing modality that helps to enhance her client’s body-awareness and help to teach the body to heal itself.  

Debra is a Nationally Certified Massage Therapist and Reiki Master.  She received her massage training at The Healing Hands Institute in Westwood, NJ and her Advanced Thai Massage Certification at The Thai Massage School of Chiang Mai, Thailand.  In addition, Debra has studied yoga while in Rishikesh, India and will be receiving her Ayurvedic Bodyworker’s Certification at Kripalu in July 2009.

Caitlin O’Neill is an artist and a free spirit whose path has led her towards the healing arts.  Caitlin has studied Fine Arts and Eastern Philosophy , and at age 23, Caitlin began studying Massage Therapy and Reiki, and now looks forward to continuing her studies in holistic healing.

Caitlin feels that bodywork is the ultimate way to combine her passions; she utilizes her spirituality, intuition, creativity, and extensive knowledge of anatomy and kinesiology to customize every treatment.  Caitlin is constantly learning from each client and new experience, making every day truly exciting.

Caitlin has received her 600 Hour New Jersey Massage Therapy Certification, Reiki Level 1 Certification, and is a member of the Associated Massage and Bodywork Professionals.  In 2008, Caitlin also received her Neuromuscular Massage and Trigger Point Therapy Certification, which focuses on sports massage, pain relief, and injury recovery.

Caitlin feels that massage and bodywork are an essential part of health maintenance, allowing us to become more aware of ourselves, furthering our mind-body connection.  When our energy is flowing freely, and our bodies remember how to heal themselves, we function at our highest level and live a balanced life.  Massage and reiki have profoundly changed Caitlin’s life in the most positive way, and she hopes to share  this positive energy with everyone she meets!

Lisa Slattery, Lisa loves being a massage therapist at the Karuna Shala. She has been in massage therapy for over 8 years having graduated from the Swedish Institute in 2001. Since then she has been practicing massage in many settings, including Equinox Spa in Manhattan and various chiropractic offices. She has also enjoyed being a teacher of massage techniques, as well as anatomy and physiology, at 2 New Jersey schools – Helma Institute and Berdan Institute.

But her love of massage and yoga have led her to the peaceful and nourishing atmosphere of the Karuna Shala. Yoga has been an important part of Lisa's life since the day she was born. She was introduced to it at an early age by her grandfather, who had been teaching yoga since the 1960s!

Lisa's massage is an intermingling of nurturing strokes and deep tissue techniques. With an excellent knowledge of muscles, she is also able to apply trigger point work alongside gentle stretches. She makes sure to listen to you and finds the best way to address your individual needs.

Magda Polkowska, Bio Coming Soon!