Mary Anne Leary’s innate curiosity for the natural healing arts was the inspiration for her many years of training and experience in alternative healing modalities ranging from therapeutic massage to flower essence therapy. Her interests led her to study Polarity Therapy, therapeutic massage (Swedish, Reflexology, Ayurvedic treatments, 4-Handed Massage, Hot/Cold LaStone Therapy), Aromatherapy, Flower Essences & Gem Elixirs, absent and contact color healing, and Bioenergy Balancing. It is Mary Anne’s desire to inspire and ignite each student’s passion for the healing arts and to support them in pursuing the healing modalities with which they most resonate.
Mary Anne is a certified massage therapist having studied at Heartwood Institute and Cypress Health Institute, both in Santa Cruz, CA and has been practicing massage therapy since 1980.She was the lead massage therapist, spa trainer and spa operations manager at The Lodge at Skylonda. Mary Anne assisted in teaching classes in Polarity Therapy at the Cypress Health Institute and created the Wellness Program at Skyline College, teaching classes in massage therapy, “wholistic” health and natural healing modalities.
Since 1988 Mary Anne has been involved in flower essence therapy having studied with the Alaskan Flower Essence Project in Homer, AK; the Flower Essence Society in Nevada City, CA; Perelandra: Center for Nature Research in Virginia; the Bach Flower Remedy Programme in England; The Australian Bush Essences in Sidney, Australia; Desert Alchemy in Tucson, Arizona; and Pacific Essences in Victoria, British Columbia. Mary Anne has received certification from the Flower Essence Society and the Australian Bush Essences and has completed the Practitioner Intensive Training with the Alaskan Flower Essence Project.
Mary Anne’s Aromatherapy training has been with the Pacific Institute of Aromatherapy and TARA Spa Therapy. She graduated from Skyline with an A.S. Degree in Business and has completed Skyline's Esthetics Program. She continued her post-graduate esthetics training receiving a Legacy Scholarship from the International Dermal Institute, earning their Certificate of Achievement for completion of 100 hours of training.
Mary Anne derives great pleasure in sharing her passion for the natural healing arts with her students and inspiring them to be successful in achieving their goals in the realm of personal discovery, wellness and massage therapy. It is her wish to motivate and inspire students to pursue living their lives with a deep sense of purpose, meaning, and fulfillment.
When not in the classroom, Mary Anne enjoys being in the awe-inspiring beauty and healing power of nature while hiking and searching for wildflowers!