OUR TEAM

Danielle Reghi, LAc #AC183536

Danielle Reghi is originally from Hawaii. Growing up on the beautiful island of Kauai she was introduced to natural medicine modalities as a way to maintain balanced health and wellness. She was not introduced to the idea that someone could make a career out of the natural health and wellness field till she moved to Seattle Washington after college. Working in the Hotel industry in Seattle she would give her co workers tips on diet and stress relieving practices, and people responded well. She began to see the effect that small changes could make on the working professional, and how satisfying that could be to a person.

From Seattle Danielle found her way to Oregon College of Oriental Medicine to study Traditional Chinese Medicine here in Portland. After graduation from OCOM, she traveled to Nepal to volunteer with the Nepal Acupuncture Relief Project. She spent two months in rural Nepal treating patients with an array of symptoms from Muscular to digestive, to women’s health and more. In a matter of 7 weeks she was able to treat 710 patients and see some real results and progress be made, which added to her excitement for her new career path.

Danielle joined Zen Space as a partner, and has not looked back since. She loves the Zen community, and is excited to be part of the team!

Michelle Andrews

Michelle is the Owner and founder of Zen Space and Cupping Studio. A native to Oregon, she began her healing journey with Acupuncture while she was in high school. She was so astounded by the results she received, that she decided to pursue acupuncture as a career, and graduated from Oregon College of Oriental Medicine in 2016. She is currently living in Texas, but is still an active part of the Zen Space community. If you see her in the office on one of her trips home, make sure to day Hi!

Latina Cline

Latina is our billing manager and insurance expert. We just don’t know what we would do without her. You will see Latina in office most days of the week, and sometimes she even moonlights at the front desk, but really she is our behind the scenes rockstar. If you see her around the office don’t hesitate to say “Hello”!

Dr. Nahinu James DC #5829

Dr. Nahinu is a board certified chiropractic physician and a trained Craniosacral therapist through the Upledger Institute. She was born and raised on the beautiful island of Oahu, Hawai’i, and tends to channel her local upbringing into her discussions and treatments with patients. She has spent most of her adult life here in the Pacific Northwest – graduating from Pacific University in 2010 with a Bachelor of Science in Biology, and then earning her Doctorate of Chiropractic from the University of Western States in Portland, Oregon.

Dr. Nahinu is joining Zen Space after three years of practicing at other locations in the Portland area. It has been a dream to serve all those in need throughout the greater Portland metro over the years, but Dr. Nahinu feels a sense of coming home with the decision to return to the East side. While she enjoys treating all those seeking bodywork, Dr. Nahinu specializes in prenatal, postpartum, and pediatric care. Through multitudes of treatments with expecting mothers, she quickly realized that she wanted to be someone who put mom’s (and women’s health in general) first! She strives to maintain a safe and healing space, and works to meet your body where it’s at. Through her work with any who identify as a mother, Dr. Nahinu has witnessed the growth of many beautiful families, and has had the extreme pleasure of offering supportive and gentle care to the kiddos of her prenatal and postpartum patients. She is a member of the ICPA (International Chiropractic Pediatric Association), and attends continuing education courses and seminars that place an emphasis on treatments and therapies for both the blossoming mother and infant.

When not at Zen Space, Dr. Nahinu is out gallivanting with her partner (Tyler) & husky pup (Nalu), reading for pure joy, or practicing health in mind & body with yoga, circuit training, and running/cycling. She is also bound & determined to learn how to create macramé wall hangings!

What does a treatment with you look like?

My goal is to help empower women, mamas, & mamas-to-be. I am here to offer a listening ear and therapeutic treatments, along with additional references & resources when needed. I firmly believe we are stronger as a supportive unit, and that each individual deserves to have an army of advocating care providers behind them. I also find no limit to the joy it brings me to assist littles in proper movement patterns and feeling more comfortable in their ever-changing bodies. Know that when you or your child are on my table, all of your concerns & needs come first. Everything else is secondary to providing you with the absolute best care towards a path & life of optimum health. You & your family deserve that. We all deserve such love & compassion. Here’s to bountiful, beautiful, and well-loved lives! I look forward to meeting you along the way & becoming a part of your healthcare tribe. Cheers! – Dr. N

Dr. Joshua Cooper DC #6019

Dr. Josh Grew up in Honolulu, Hawaii with a nurse mother and psychiatrist father, so healing and the mind / body connection has always been in his blood. On Oahu, he enjoyed ocean swimming, yoga, dancing and being active outdoors. Dr. Josh received a BA in psychology from UW, then next became fascinated with bodywork and started massage school. His goal has always been to blend the mental component with the physical dimension. For over a decade he did deep tissue massage and trigger-point therapy before deciding to attend the University of Western States, in Oregon to become a chiropractor. Chiropractic and massage go together like peanut butter and jelly and through using these safe and healing modalities, he has witness some amazing improvements in his patients bodies. He has studied Shiatsu in Japan, Zen Trigger Point in Hawaii, and leaned some Thai massage in Chiang Mai. In Portland, he enjoys the beautiful green nature, hiking, yoga, and spending time with his friends out and about. He sometimes gets sad that he cannot swim in the ocean here and the long gray wet days are sometimes a challenge, but he finds joy working with the human body and helping his patients feel and function better. “You don’t know how much better you can feel, until you feel that much better” using his style of some deep tissue work with gentle adjustments, Dr. Josh is excited to assist and learn more from each new body he touches.

Dr. Kate Sydney ND#3080

Known as Dr. Kate around the office, she is both a licensed Naturopath and a licensed Acupuncturist. We know, she is pretty impressive. Kate owns a Paleo Cookie delivery business called Morsel Code Cookie Co. Dr. Kate has special interest in nutrition, homeopathy, western/eastern herbalism, and essential oils. She believes optimal health is fostered by the tiny little rituals we carve out time for and practice on a daily basis. Dr. Kate has a bachelor’s degree in communications and theater from Monmouth College in Monmouth, IL and worked in both corporate and broadcast television for 7 years before beginning medical school. In 2015, she graduated with a doctorate in Naturopathic medicine and a Master’s degree in acupuncture and Chinese herbalism from The National University of Natural medicine in Portland, Oregon. For fun she likes to hike all around the PNW, bake cookies, run, do yoga, and drink embarrassingly expensive tea. Kate lives in NE Portland with her beloved housemates and elderly diva cat, Pekoe. Some of the conditions Dr. Kate treats: · Chronic Pain (arthritis, long standing injury, scar therapy) · Acute Pain (sprains, strains) · Insomnia/Circadian Rhythm disturbances · Emotional disorders (depression, anxiety, stress) · Cancer care (side effects of chemotherapy, radiation) · Hormonal Imbalances · Skin Conditions (rash, hives, psoriasis, eczema, fungal infections) · Fatigue · Adrenal & Thyroid disorders · Gastrointestinal disorders · Blood sugar dysregulation (diabetes, metabolic syndrome) · Tension, migraine headaches

Jonathan Ho, LAc #AC169814

Jonathan, an Oregon licensed acupuncturist, utilizes the therapeutic modalities of traditional Chinese medicine: Asian bodywork, acupuncture, nutritional therapy, herbal prescriptions, cupping and moxibustion to help people regain balance in their health. Jon is a graduate of Oregon College of Oriental medicine here in Portland. Since beginning his practice he has honed his skills and now specialized in an array of issues, with a real focus on body pain related issues.

Uma Tupper LAC #AC01052, LMT #6686

Uma Tupper has been in practice for 11years as a dual-licensed Acupuncturist/Massage Therapist. Her diverse approach creates a personal and intuitive synergy with her patients. She specializes in injury rehab, pain management, and pain reduction. Uma blends several modalities with acupuncture which create effective, long-lasting results. She looks forward to assisting each individual in achieving optimal health & wellness!

Michelle “Shelzey” Tuffias, LMT #20529

Michelle, is most often called by her nickname, Shelzy. She believes that Bodywork is a blessing. “I am blessed to develop my career in a field that is both mentally stimulating and healing. I have studied Deep Tissue, Structural Integration, Thai, Swedish Massage and Basic Cranial Sacral Techniques. Bodywork allows me to consistently learn and explore the body, an endless discovery. As I learn, I facilitate growth for my clients by connecting them to their own bodies. This will change a person’s overall daily function. Nurturing and healing led me to my path of bodywork. At a young age I picked up informal, yet intuitive massage. This comfort with human touch helped me listen deeply to the physical body. I bring this intuitive approach to my current practice. I listen to the verbal needs of my clients, with close attention to body movement and non-verbal cues. This helps me cultivate a unique session, with fluidity from area to area for each individual. I truly look forward to working with each human”.

Mandy Ashlock, LMT #19392

Amanda came to Portland 12 years ago from a small farming community in south eastern Kansas, and although it would be fun to say she road in on a tornado, it’s also fun to say she arrived with a veritable jungle’s worth of plants, a small child, two cats, and a few centimeters of road dust on all of their belongings (thanks to her husband leading them through that “shortcut” in Utah) .

Her interest in bodywork seeded when she was a child. Her Grandpa Alvin (a woodworker, blacksmith, and horse trainer) would come in from a cold day out in his workshop and would ask her to hold his hands to keep them warm. She noticed that with age and a lot of use, came what she would later learn was arthritis, but would call his bear paws. Instinctively, she would massage his hands until she could feel the muscles start to relax. Soon Grandma Betty started taking advantage of this free service, and Mandy’s Massage opened for business at their kitchen table. Their neighbors, Velma and Marion, were also big fans.

Amanda has 10 years of bodywork and massage experience to continuously build upon. She incorporates several techniques into each session, and meets her clients where they are upon every arrival. Her treatments are individualized, weaving together the following techniques:

Myofascial Release, Facilitated Stretching, Deep Tissue, Swedish Relaxation, Gua Sha, Fire Cupping, Guided Breath-work, Pre and Postnatal Massage, and Ashiatsu. Her massage is slow paced and intentional, working with clients needs instead of agendas or routines. In 2015, Amanda received her 200 hr YTT through Forrest Yoga, which brings more movement based and kinesthetic knowledge and practices into her treatments. She has worked alongside chiropractors, acupuncturists, and naturopaths to round out wellness teams, and lead and coordinated prenatal massage education courses for LMTs. Recently, she completed training with Tami Kent for Holistic Pelvic Care TM, furthering her understanding of the dynamics of the pelvic floor, and the energetics surrounding that creative womb space.

Amanda is a triple Aquarius and a 12th house kid: she’s deeply humanitarian, has an insatiable thirst for knowledge, and strays far from trends (her heroes are weirdos) She is happiest alongside her husband and son, in the wilds of the PNW finding alpine lakes and deep forests. She is currently completing an herbology and plant studies program through the Chestnut School of Herbal Medicine. Her life’s work allows her to sit in a place of stellar admiration, witnessing the wayfinding.

Samantha Weigandt, LMT #023498

Sam believes in the body’s ability to heal itself and utilizes her expertise to assist in this process. Through listening to the body and thoughtful communication, she has a collaborative approach of reaching the specific goals of her clients. Sam is a Portland native and East west college graduate. She has an education in deep tissue massage, trigger point therapy, Thai, and myofascial release work. She often gives her clients self-care homework including foam rolling and simple stretches. In her free time you can find her exploring the beautiful PNW or curled up with a good book.

Brie James, LMT #25580

Brie James is a Licensed Massage Therapist and Reiki Master. A typical Sagittarius, her love of learning has brought her to many special places but all revolving around one major theme, holistic wellness of the mind, body, and spirit. After encountering on going health issues herself, her own journey to wellness brought her down a path of learning and connection. This opened up a whole new world to her which she hopes to bring to you!

Brie’s massage style can be described as Intuitive, Nurturing, and Intentional. Coming from a therapeutic and more gentle approach. Working with and speaking to the muscles and nervous system, guiding the body back to a safe space instead of forcing it, with an added energetic component. She can do deep work, but prefers when the client is interested in addressing things holistically.

Brie has many credentials under her belt. Graduating from East West College of the Healing Arts, Holy Fire Reiki Master, Certified Personal Trainer, Licensed Holistic Esthetician, Attending the Portland School of Astrology and Blue Iris School of Magic.

Brie specializes in Tui Na, Myofascial Release, Deep Tissue, Trigger Point, Lymphatic, and Cranial Sacral Therapy.

Richard ``Ricky`` Irvine LMT# 24893

Ricky is results focused. His wealth of knowledge in kinesiology and how muscles move is his specialty and rare. When clients are experiencing stubborn tension that does not want to go away, Ricky’s therapy helps to relieve it, and it sticks.

Ricky is originally from Georgia, and we are grateful he made his home in Oregon. His passion for bodywork is integral to his work and primarily focuses on deep tissue, neuromuscular trigger point therapy, and muscle energy techniques.

As a graduate from East West, Ricky has been working in the massage field with a focus on sports injuries and chronic pain to best serve his clients. He strives to be able to provide a wide range of modalities to ensure that he can help as many people as possible to achieve their therapeutic goals. This could be a relaxation massage, sports massage, or those who are in rehabilitation from sports injuries. His ideal client wants results. In Ricky’s own words; “It is the greatest feeling in the world when positive, lasting changes start to take effect for a patient with whom I am working. Helping people is a rewarding career, and I look forward to years of patient centered care.”

Katie Bowens LMT# 18847

Katie has over 8 years of experience as a licensed massage therapist. Her passion for holistic healthcare and preventative medicine led her to pursue a certificate of massage therapy while living in Bend, Oregon. Practicing in Bend allowed Katie the opportunity to work with professional athletes, weekend warriors, self-care seekers, and other bodyworkers; treating a wide variety of musculoskeletal injuries and chronic conditions including rotator cuff injuries, low back pain, knee injuries, plantar fasciitis, chronic neck pain, headaches, jaw pain, wrist, and elbow pain.

While working as a massage therapist, Katie also completed a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a master’s degree in acupuncture and Oriental medicine. Katie uses her in-depth knowledge of human anatomy and structural diagnosis to design the most effective treatment plan for each client. She also believes that in today’s stressful and disconnected world, the importance of self-care, deep relaxation, and healing touch are essential for physical and emotional balance and wellbeing.

Katie specializes in Deep Tissue, Swedish/Relaxation, Trigger Point Therapy, Neuromuscular Therapy, Cupping, Gua Sha, and Prenatal Massage.

Her style is both therapeutic and deeply relaxing, allowing the body to release chronically held tension and to heal from acute and chronic injuries. Whether you are seeking relief from a specific injury, a chronic pain condition, or simply need a day of relaxation and a better night’s sleep, Katie will design a treatment specific to your own unique needs.

Samantha ``Sam`` Romanowski LMT #24708

About Sam

Samantha is a lifelong student, having studied a variety of subjects from sociology and community/urban planning to Chinese Medicine. The common theme throughout her education (both formal and informal) has been a drive to study and understand people and to help them understand themselves. So when she stumbled onto the Amma Therapy program at The Wellspring School for Healing Arts, she knew that her career path would be forever changed. Amma Therapy has had a profound impact on Sam’s life, and she is so excited to offer her practice to this community, so that others may receive the benefits and feel the change in their lives as well.

What is Amma Therapy? What can a client expect from a session?

Amma is a classic style of Asian bodywork that predates acupuncture. Literally meaning “push-pull” Amma is the oldest Chinese word for massage. Brought to the US in the 1970’s, Amma is a Korean based linage healing art, meaning that is has been physically taught and passed down from teacher to student over generations.

Amma Therapy is an integrative holistic form of healthcare based in the principles of Chinese Medicine. Understanding that a disharmony or imbalance of our energy, or Qi (pronounced “chee”), can lead to a state of dis-ease within the body, Amma focuses on the movement and balance of that energy to both treat and prevent disease.

By using rhythmic therapeutic pressure and point stimulation, an Amma practitioner relies on the strength and sensitivity of their hands to manipulate and invigorate the body’s Qi toward balance and harmony. In addition to bodywork, an Amma therapist may also use their knowledge of nutrition, herbs, and lifestyle practices as well as complementary modalities like Gua Sha, cupping and moxibustion to treat some health conditions.

A typical Amma session lasts 60 minutes, with some time at the start to discuss health history, current health challenges and lifestyle habits. Throughout the treatment, assessments about a client’s health are made through discussion, questioning, observation, and palpation as well as tongue and pulse analysis. After the bodywork at the end of a session, there is additional time for discussion of recommendations, or “homework”. Typically, a client is given recommendations to incorporate into their lifestyle as a way to feel the continued benefit of an Amma treatment.

In many cases, clients leave an Amma session feeling energized and invigorated, however it is not uncommon for some people to feel fatigued, hungry or slightly achy. These symptoms often resolve within a few hours. Because it is a comprehensive and wholistic style of healthcare, many people experience additional benefits like improved sleep, better digestion and reduced stress in addition to relief from discomfort.

Pablo Cohen LMT # 7863

Pablo Cohen is a licensed massage therapist and graduate of East-West College of the Healing Arts in Portland, OR. He has over 10 years of experience working under the guidance of chiropractors and medical doctors in the Portland area. Pablo also works in the community as an instructor of massage therapy and physical fitness. He has additional credentials and certifications in Medical Massage Therapy, Chiropractic Assistant, Rhythmical massage, Active Release Technique (ART), Trigger Point Therapy, Neuromuscular Reeducation, Orthopedic, Lomi Lomi, Sport and Thai Massage. Pablo specializes in serving people with chronic pain and injury, often related to auto, work or congenital injuries. Raised in the mountains of Venezuela, Pablo was exposed to the natural and spiritual elements of human healing very early on in life. His work combines this knowledge with modern training in structural health and healing. Pablo believes that massage has the power to free people of physical pain and injury to bring them to a higher level of healing.