Massage School Faculty
Our massage school faculty is dedicated to providing each student with caring attention and closely supervised instruction.
David Lauterstein, LMT, MTI, Cert. ZB, TLC School Co-Director, has been in massage and bodywork practice since 1977 and has become one of the most highly respected international educators in the massage therapy realm – inducted in 2011 into the Massage Therapy Hall of Fame, honored as the 2012 recipient of AMTA’s Jerome Perlinski Teacher of the Year Award, and in 2013 by the Alliance for Massage Therapy Education as “Educator of the Year.” David regularly teaches in England and throughout the U.S since 1982. He is the author of the books, Putting the Soul Back in the Body: A Manual of Imaginative Anatomy for Massage Therapists, The Deep Massage Book: How to Combine Structure and Energy in Bodywork, and Life in the Bones: A Biography of Dr. Fritz Smith and Zero Balancing. He is certified in Structural Bodywork and Zero Balancing and is a faculty member of the Zero Balancing Health Association. His background prior to massage therapy was in philosophy and music composition (BA, U of Illinois, 1972). Click here to learn more about David, his books, and classes.
John Conway, BA, LMT, MTI, TLC School Co-Director, began practicing massage therapy in 1981. His background, prior to his massage studies, was in construction, gardening, journalism, and English Literature (B.A. Rice University, 1969). His early massage and bodywork training was with Zach Elrod, Bob King and numerous other national-level presenters. John was certified in sports massage by the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA) in 1986. Since that time he has worked countless triathlons, marathons, swim meets and track meets, and has been teaching sports massage for over 20 years. He served as Education Director for the Texas Chapter of the American Massage Therapy Association from 1988 through 1992 and was one of the original faculty members of the Texas School of Massage Studies. His fascination with communicating the power of bodywork as a tool for change is reflected in his teaching and his clinical practice.
Cindy Anderson, LMT, MTI has been an enthusiastic student and practitioner of massage therapy since 1989. She practices Swedish massage, chair massage, shiatsu, Thai yoga massage, pregnancy massage, lomi lomi, hot stone, deep massage, sports massage, and many advanced hydrotherapies. She has been a massage therapy instructor since 1991. Her passion for giving, receiving, learning, and teaching bodywork has also led her to study reflexology, jin shin jitsu, watsu and waterdance. She is also a certified Yoga Teacher. Cindy instructs in the Advanced Program for Clinical Massage and Bodywork.
Gretchen Cole, (BS, LMT, MTI) has studied humans and their organization by taking a degree in Sociology/Anthropology & Archaeology and by studying art, as well as by working for Naturopathic doctors. She furthered these interests by entering training for the massage & bodywork field at TLC in 1994. After establishing a successful private practice, Gretchen returned to TLC as Faculty where she engages students in the challenge of developing biomechanics and “looking beyond” the techniques to the relevance of the work for the individual client. At TLC she teachs Biomechanics, Swedish Techniques, Health & Hygiene, Anatomy & Physiology, Sports & Deep Tissue Techniques. In her private practice based in Westlake Hills, Gretchen enjoys designing sessions that integrate circulatory techniques with specific myofascial and trigger point work, therapeutic-grade essential oils and hot packs for optimum client comfort. Her work is both nurturing and physically effective in “promoting peace & awareness”.
Tammie Culley, LMT, MTI, is a graduate of The Lauterstein-Conway Massage School and is a massage therapist in the Austin/Round Rock area. She is currently the Lead Massage Therapy Instructor for the Internship Clinic at that same school. Tammie works side-by-side Chiropractors and Physical Therapists. She is still often seen at many of the races around Austin giving massage support to the wonderful athletes there. She has a small but successful private practice, which allows her the honor of attending clients in a more personal setting. Tammie is married and a mother of 4. She has a limitless curiosity for learning and finds joy in this endeavor. She also enjoys travel, camping, riding her motorcycle, martial arts, reading, and spending time with her family.
Kazuko DeVirgilio, LMT, MTI, was born and raised in Japan. Growing up with four generations of her family under one roof taught her the essence of touch at an early age. She has been practicing massage therapy since 2006 after graduating from the Lauterstein-Conway Massage School. She specializes in oncology massage, stress and chronic pain relief. Her curiosity and desire to keep learning leads her to explore new modalities. She is currently attending school for Traditional Chinese Medicine to be able to integrate both western and eastern medicine approach into her practice. She is excited to share her experience with students here at TLC.
Kevin Graef, LMT, MTI, graduated the 500 hour Massage Therapy Training Program at Lauterstein-Conway Massage School in 2009 and the Advanced Program in 2011. His approach to bodywork is noteworthy for taking the time to feel what is going on with his clients and not rushing the unwinding of deeply held tension. His teaching style reflects this same philosophy; he ignites the passion and curiosity that he discovers in his students and helps them to fully develop their massage skills. In his free time, Kevin enjoys flora, fauna, swimming, and eating clean and yummy foods.
Jason Hammond, LMT, L.Ac., is a massage therapist and acupuncturist in North Austin. He is devoted to learning how to cultivate wellness in the body and to help the body recover from sickness or injury. Jason attended the Lauterstein-Conway Massage School in 2007 and received a Masters Degree in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine from AOMA Graduate School of Integrative Medicine in 2010. Jason holds a 4th degree black belt in Kung Fu and a 4th degree black sash in Tai Chi and continues to train and teach Chinese martial arts.
Jake Lauterstein LMT, MTI, graduated from the 500-hour Massage Therapy Training Program at Lauterstein-Conway in 2013, and the 250-hour Advanced Program in 2015. Jake has been a Teacher Assistant and Instructor in the 500-hour program since 2015. His multi-faceted and creative approach to education encourages students to follow their curiosity, gain confidence in their technique, and develop their clinical expertise. His post-graduate education has included the study of modalities such as Zero Balancing, Shiatsu, Clinical Deep Tissue, and Hawaiian Temple ‘LomiLomi’ Bodywork, among others. He currently teaches Swedish Massage, Deep Tissue, Sports Massage, Deep Massage the Lauterstein Method, Orthopedic Massage, Anatomy, Physiology, Kinesiology, and Pathology in the 500-hour program. His background prior to massage therapy was in Humanities and World Music (BA, U of Oregon, 2013). As the son of TLC School Co-Director, David Lauterstein, Jake is honored to be continuing the tradition of deep learning and community found at TLC.
Mary Duval graduated from Lauterstain-Conway Massage School’s 500-hour program in 2011 and since then has focused her career on working with mature adults, active and frail. She is also the owner of In Your Home Senior Massage, PLLC. Working with mature adults provides her with a rewarding career that allows her to help older adults feel and move better while getting to know some of the best people in the world! She is also the author of Beyond 60TM: Massage for the Mature Adult, which provides massage therapists information to help them understand how to work with mature adults.
Cristel McCarthy, LMT, MTI graduated the 500Hr Massage Therapy Training program at The Lauterstein-Conway Massage in 2011. She has been a teacher assistant since 2013 and received her Massage Therapy Instructors License in May 2014. In 2014, Cristel began working consistently in the Internship clinic at TLC where she manages the students and clients. Cristel enjoys trail running with her husband and her dog, Kodak, as well as spending time at Gaming Conventions and Renaissance Festivals. Don’t be surprised if you run across her at the local movie theater, as she is a huge movie fan.
Bob Steine, LMT, MTI, has had a private practice in massage therapy since 2000 in Austin, San Marcos, and Wimberley, Texas. Since 2007, he has been a core instructor at the Lauterstein-Conway Massage School. Mr. Steine provides instruction in Swedish Massage, Sports Massage, Clinical Bodywork, Deep Massage, Anatomy, Physiology, Kinesiology and Pathology in their professional training and in workshops .
The Lauterstein-Conway Massage School and Clinic has proudly trained Austin’s Massage Therapists since 1989 as Austin’s premier massage school. Join the legacy and put your career into your hands today.