MEET ALESSANDRA
Owner & Director
Alessandra's life philosophy is growth, evolution and a steady flow of energy. She believes that continuing education is a key in providing her clients with the most informed advice and treatments.
She began her career as an aesthetician in 2002, working at a holistic spa in Toronto. Here, the practices of natural wellness sparked her interest and she set off on an adventure to learn unique methods of healing the skin and body in the holistic way. Growing up in Brazil for the first few years of her life, she was also exposed to beauty treatments like Brazilian bikini waxing, where her cousins would create home made wax using sugar and give each other manicures on the weekends. These self care modalities became very intriguing to Alessandra at a very young age.
In 2010 Alessandra set off on a new adventure to learn the practice of Yoga and Ayurveda. She completed her 500HR YTT at Downward Dog Yoga Center and Trained with Andrea Oliveira at Rituals Ayurveda School, learning decadent and nurturing treatments like Abhayanga warm oil massage and Shirodhara scalp massage that can be catered special to each individual. Her education did not stop there, in 2018 Alessandra was certified as Registered Massage Therapist. She's also completed training in Yoga Nidra Meditation, Theta Healing Technique and Restorative Yoga all while simultaneously studying massage therapy and practicing as a postpartum Doula to assist new mom's move smoothly through the transition to motherhood.
After graduating from Kikkawa College of Massage Therapy, Alessandra wanted to move deeper and immersed herself into herbalism and plant medicine. In 2019 she graduated from The Gaia School of Healing in Vermont after completing 340hours of Traditional Herbal Medicine and Plant Spirit Communication. In 2020 she became a faculty member of the Gaia School and began teaching online herbal medicine classes.
Alessandra continue to complete the circle of healing and believes that we are all life long students. Her latest venture is studying Traditional Chinese Medicine at Eight Branches School in Toronto and recently acquired her certificate to practice Acupuncture.
Her training has allowed her to develop treatments in a more holistic way - using homemade products by Heal Lab Herbals in facial treatments as well as massage treatments. She continues to seek unique ways to be in service to the community in Toronto and working with ancient wisdom and natural alternatives to heal and understand the body.
AMANDA CECCARELLI
Spa Manager
Amanda has over 20 years of experience in the spa industry. As a previous Esthetics business owner, she understands the value of great services paired with excellent customer experience.
LYNN JANKOV
Registered Massage Therapist
Lynn is a graduate from Sutherland-Chan School and Teaching Clinic and is a registered member of the College of Massage Therapists of Ontario (CMTO). She practices therapeutic Swedish massage and within that context has discovered there is a lot of room for flexibility. Her treatments vary in style from deep tissue to a lighter lymphatic drainage approach. Experienced in Hot Stone massage and incorporates a variety of techniques into each treatment including trigger point therapy, passive stretch & myofascial release. She has trained to treat women in all stages of pregnancy, as well as neurological and pathological conditions such as Parkinson’s, Multiple Sclerosis and Cerebral Palsy.
JOCELYN BOGNOT
Registered Massage Therapist
Jocelyn views massage therapy as the perfect integration of science-based techniques with a holistic approach to achieve wellness in assisting the body in its natural healing process.
As a graduate of the Sutherland-Chan School and Teaching Clinic, Jocelyn has worked with conditions ranging from musculoskeletal impairments, scar adhesions, cancer and spinal cord injuries. Her treatments incorporate techniques such as trigger point therapy and joint mobilizations with an element of relaxation to address life’s daily stresses. Jocelyn believes wellness is a collaborative effort and works with her clients to assess, educate and offer an appropriate treatment to achieve their specific goals.
KATHERINE MENDEZ
Esthetician
Katherine is a recent graduate, and got into the skincare industry because of her love for all things skin!
Her goal is to help people get their skin into balance, while offering a relaxing treatment.
She plans on furthering her education in the skincare industry by taking courses, viewing seminars and learning from other estheticians daily. She aims to excel in this field!
TANYA PILLAY
Registered Massage Therapist
Tanya has been offering therapeutic bodywork since 2004 when she added introductory training in shiatsu to her hobby of massaging friends for fun. These years of experience and growing interest in physical and mental wellness led her to become a Certified Master Hypnotist in 2009, and a Registered Massage Therapist in 2018. In addition to standard training in Swedish massage, Tanya’s massage style is most influenced by Thai (using body weight and leverage), fascial/myofascial (stretching anatomical structures away from each other), rolfing (dragging skin and fascia), active release (engaging muscles during massage to help them release tension), and of course shiatsu (travelling compressions). While her deepest work is done with little to no oil or lotion, your preferences are her top priority.
TAYLOR BHOJA
Registered Massage Therapist
Taylor is an RMT and Transformational and Energy Healer who orchestrates powerful, simple energetic shifts to augment restoration and rejuvenation.
As an Energy Healer, Taylor is passionately committed to the healing arts using holistic healing practises. He expertly deploys sound and energy healing in conjunction and coordination with body work to bring about energetic release, vibratory attunement, physical relaxation and stress relief. Taylor's sensitivity and delicacy allows him to facilitate processes of grief, transformation and optimal attunement.
As an RMT, he offers swedish massage, cupping therapy, deep tissue and rehabilitation massage, myofascial and trigger point release, joint mobilization, hydrotherapy applications, and can address musculoskeletal impairments, scar adhesions, spinal cord injuries. He is also experienced in treating patients with neurological and pathological conditions such as Cerebral Palsy and Parkinson's, Auto-immune issues such as Multiple Sclerosis and cancer. Taylor's techniques have been beneficial in assisting in recovery from aches, pains, injuries, stress relief and relaxation.
He creates immersive environments that deepen the impact of his work. Taylor believes in educating his patients on how they can play an active role in their health by providing a rounded approach to psycho-physical awareness combined with healthy and mindful living including remedial exercises for them to follow at home.
Taylor has honed his craft and has developed particular expertise in highly sensitive dynamics such as working with the elderly, facilitating trauma release and aiding recovery through Energetic Healing, Soundscaping and as an RMT.
Taylor continues to attend workshops to advance his present modalities and learn new and complementary techniques. Taylor is a registered member with CMTO. As a mindset coach, he leverages his expertise in Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) to help people identify and adopt winning perspectives and life strategies.
In his spare time, Taylor loves drumming, spending time in nature and within the community, tending to his backyard, caring for wild life in his backyard, playing with his pets and being with his family.
ISABELLA DE CARVALHO
Registered Massage Therapist
Having immigrated from São Paulo to Toronto in 2015 to study Massage Therapy, Isabella has practiced Physiotherapy for 9 years in Brazil.
Having been a STOTT PILATES Certified Instructor for 11 years, she is very comfortable creating a friendly client-therapist relationship and is committed to help her clients reconnect with their bodies in a healthy way.
Practicing under the College of Massage Therapists of Ontario (CMTO) since 2019, she has been part of the Laya team since 2016. Isabella is passionate about using her knowledge and intuition to provide a remarkable experience for her clients. For her, touch is a powerful form of non-verbal communication.
Her specialties are Deep Tissue, General Swedish Massage, Manual Lymphatic Drainage, Sports Massage and Indian Head Massage.
When she is not working she likes to spend time biking, running, reading, playing the piano and connecting with friends and nature.
Isabella’s favourite quote is by Carl Jung:
“Who looks outside dreams. Who looks inside awakens.
LYNNE NEUBERT
Registered Massage Therapist
Lynne has been practicing massage therapy in Toronto since 2000 and has all the experience you need to help heal any acute or chronic muscular conditions. Most of her earlier years as an RMT were spent in rehabilitation clinics treating car accident injuries and more severe neck and back pain gaining knowledge in remedial exercises and overall health management. Her specialty is relaxation massage, stress relief and pain reduction. If you love a soothing massage her traditional Swedish technique is for you. Neck treatments are her best treatments followed by a head and scalp massage to put you into a deep sense of relaxation.
FRANCESCA PORTA
Registered Massage Therapist
Francesca has OVER 15 years of experience in the Spa industry. She started back in 2007 in Italy, her original country, and then Toronto.
Once she moved to Canada, driven by her passion for knowledge and the desire to help people, Francesca decided to continue her education and became a Massage Therapist, graduating from Kikkawa College.
She works directly with clients to find the root causes of their pain and discomfort, and alleviate symptoms. She uses a variety of techniques to match the goals and needs of each client, combining both therapeutic and relaxation techniques.
Her techniques/modalities include: Swedish Massage, Joint Mobilization, Deep Tissue Massage, Relaxation Massage, Pre/post natal Massage, Cupping and more.
LISA TAI
Thai Massage
Lisa Tai is a healing & creative artist (heArtist) who offers various holistic modalities to support optimal mental, emotional, physical & spiritual wellbeing. A teacher & student of Yoga & movement, she is inspired by & inspires others through yoga-based practices, writing, dance, and authentic self-expression. As a Holistic Wellness Practitioner, Lisa is passionate about helping others, especially with intentional rest and self-care, which led her to become a Thai Massage Practitioner, Holistic Nutritionist, Holistic Esthetician, Sound Healing Artist, and Energy Healing/Reiki Practitioner.
Lisa is a sensitive and intuitive guide who creates a supportive environment for meditation, self-observation & healing. She sees mindfulness as a vehicle for transformation & promotes the integration of ancient practices & ritual in modern times to manage mental health, stress, anxiety, depression.
As a Women's Studies graduate of York University, she is committed to supporting women, particularly BIWOC (Black, Indigineous & Women of Colour). A woman of Afro-Asian Caribbean descent, she highly values representation & the principles of inclusion, diversity & accessibility. A lover of music, poetry & subversive art, she embraces a lifestyle of balance, encourages play & believes in the importance of (self-)love, compassion & community care.
Her energy-based offerings are physical expressions of metta (loving kindness).
JESSICA MELRO
Yoga Teacher / Spa Supervisor
Jessica is a Certified 200 Hour Ayurveda and Hatha Yoga Teacher. She has certifications in Yin Yoga and Yoga Nidra, currently working towards finishing her 500 Hour Ayurvedic Specialist Training. Her interest in yoga began 12 years ago, on her journey of recovering from a brain injury inflicted in a car accident. She wanted to eliminate the constant anxiety, panic attacks, lack of focus, and body pain. Yoga is more than flexibility; it is the science of the mind, the union of the mind, body, and senses. It teaches us how to impact the nervous system through breath, mindful consciousness, and staying present in daily life. Her studies have helped her be a confident, calm, centred person who is adaptable to life, both on and off the mat. She is passionate about assisting others to live each moment more mindfully. Jessica teaches dynamic and holistic sequences, including yoga asana, pranayama (breathwork), kriyas, mudra, mantra, and meditation. This skillful integration will improve awareness of your energetic potential and leave you feeling empowered and deeply connected to yourself.
LIV BOCHENEK
Holistic Nutrionist
Liv became interested in the healing capabilities of nutrients and plants when she noticed a massive improvement in her ADHD symptoms from eating a nutrient-dense diet as a teenager. This eventually led to her deciding to study at the Institute of Holistic Nutrition, where she graduated with honours and received her status as a certified nutritional practitioner (CNP) in 2020. While in nutrition school Liv was also teaching vinyasa yoga classes and meditation at Yoga Space Toronto.
During the pandemic she moved to the West Coast for a few years, where she worked alongside and learned so much from a variety of very talented holistic health practitioners. Her love and understanding of plant medicine really deepened during this time, as did her ability of working with people to help support conditions impacting hormones, digestion, skin, joints, ADHD and anxiety.
Years prior to all of this Liv actually broke both her legs rock climbing. She experienced a lot of chronic joint pain the years following this incident so she decided to try self-administered reiki as a method of pain management. After completing a training, every morning during this time she would give herself reiki on her ankles and legs and noticed subtle and immediate improvements in her pain. She’s completed the level 1 and 2 trainings with Donna Wilding, and sees reiki as a beautiful healing modality that works to create balance and healing in the body from an energetic level.
As a holistic nutritionist, she works with clients to get to the root of the causes of their symptoms and conditions. It’s really important to her to work with her clients in finding personalized methods that are adaptable and not another source of stress. Typically she helps her clients make shifts in diet, lifestyle and nutritional/herbal supplementation to provide symptomatic relief and help restore a sense of vitality to their health.
Liv is currently working on becoming a certified intuitive eating counselor and should be completing this by the end of the year. Learning to become an intuitive eater has been so healing for Liv and she’s really passionate about helping others learn how to reconnect with their ability to eat intuitively.
ALESSIA GRECHI
Registered Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioner (RTCMP)
Alessia Grechi has been studying and practicing traditional Chinese medicine herbs and acupuncture for the past several years and is currently completing her Doctorate of TCM. She brings an integrative approach to treating disease using many different modalities to restore her
patient’s health. Her desire to aid individuals through Chinese medicine is demonstrated in her quest to deepen her knowledge to gain a more focused understanding of illness to better serve a diverse population. Her passion for this medicine presents itself in the attention to patient care, empathy, and unsurpassed level of passion in this field.