Shiatsu Supporting Faculty

Eileen Muir, Director and Principal Teacher

From 1982-1984 Eileen studied and graduated from the Ohashi Shiatsu Institute in New York City. She travelled to Japan in 1984 and lived there for a year and a half. She studied privately with two different Shiatsu teachers, both with very different styles. One teacher was Susuki Sensei of the Masanaga School of Tokyo, and the other was a little old man called Yamamoto Sensei, who taught in the Namikoshi style. Eileen graduated at the Swedish Institute of NYC in 1987 and taught level one through advanced Shiatsu there from 1987-1995. She developed and taught a Shiatsu/Yoga curricullum for the New York Open Center, and taught there from 1989-1995. Eileen volunteered at the Gay Men’s Health Crisis and worked extensively with patients with HIV and Cancer for several years. Eileen has held a private Shiatsu practice since 1983.

Megan Frazier, MFA, MS, PT

Megan Frazier has always loved the exploration of the body, both as a dancer and as an anatomist. She holds an MS in physical therapy as well as an MFA in Dance and a BS in biology. She currently practices physical therapy in both pediatric and geriatric settings, and is an adjunct neuroanatomy instructor at Springfield College. Megan was first introduced to yoga in high school by her modern dance teacher, and finds that yoga practice deeply enhances her anatomical exploration.

Chris Marano RH(AGH), MA, BS

Chris Marano is a teacher of Indigenous and Earth-based wisdom, Chinese philosophy, hands-on experience in field, forest and gardens, herbal preparations, human health and disease, materia medica, clinical practice, wildcrafting, and ”barefoot doctor” medicine.  He is a master clinical herbalist, naturalist, and educator.  He has been a therapeutic herbalist since 1993, Chris draws upon his skills, experience and studies in Chinese, Native American, and Western herbal health traditions to offer Wellness Consultations for a wide range of health issues. He is a registered Herbalist of the American Herbalist Guild (AHG). He is a graduate of Herbal Therapeutics School of Botanic Medicine and holds MA degrees in Science Education from Columbia Teachers College and a BS degree in Pre-Medicine and Chinese Philosophy from Columbia University. With over 25 years of study, teaching, and published writing on Chinese Buddhism, Meditation, and Philosophy he founded  Clearpath Herbals, a school of herbal medicine, that offers wellness consultations and high-quality herbal preparations.

Jennifer Tongren MAOM, Lic.Ac

Jennifer Tongren is a licensed acupuncturist and certified herbalist in the state of Massachusetts from the Massachusetts Board of Medicine. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, New York and a Masters degree in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine from the New England School of Acupuncture in Boston, Massachusetts. Jennifer graduated from the New England School of Acupuncture in 2005. Her schooling for acupuncture and herbal medicine includes 2160 didactic hours and 934 clinical hours. Since graduation, Jennifer has completed over 200 hours of continuing education in the field of acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine. Starting inn 2000, Jennifer studied Shiatsu levels I-III with Ann Ramsay at the Vermont School of Asian Body Therapy located in Burlington, Vermont.