Our Mission

Maureen has been a Licensed Massage Therapist since 1981 and is also a Continuing Education provider for Florida Massage Therapists. She founded Northcoast Yoga Center in 1986. In 2010 Maureen relocated to Ocala, FL and in December 2012, opened Hands of Grace Massage & Wellness Center in Ocala.

Maureen is passionate about movement and Yoga in particular. She teaches Iyengar-style yoga and has been studying yoga in the Iyengar tradition since 1980. Her knowledge of the neuromuscular system has been enhanced by 39 years of bodywork as a Licensed Massage Therapist. She offers Yoga Therapy as a component of her Massage Therapy practice. She is Registered with Yoga Alliance and is a Continuing Education provider for yoga teachers as well.

Maureen's enthusiasm for providing clients and students realistic tools for reaching optimal health goals is evident in the therapy she offers in the massage room and on the yoga mat.

Karen joined Maureen at Hands of Grace in July 2016. She received her training at the internationally known Florida School of Massage in Gainesville, FL.

Karen is dedicated to the massage therapy profession and enjoys educating herself with new massage therapy modalities.

Karen's specialty is in prenatal and postnatal massage. She has a 64 hour Advanced Prenatal Bodywork Certification. While most therapists refuse clients in their first trimester, Karen safely offers deep tissue massage while still recognizing risk factors that may contraindicate certain massage modalities.
Karen enjoys educating her pregnant clients. She can offer instruction on stretching and muscle resistant exercises to help relieve stressed muscles and to help prevent painful ligament strain.

She also has training in Oncology massage and can safely administer bodywork for all cancer patients.

Kassie was born and raised near Chicago, IL before attending school in Jacksonville, FL where she recieved her Associates degree in Occupational Science, specializing in Massage Therapy. She has always found herself in her element, when helping people create positive change in their lives. She has always been a believer in natural and alternative healing. Her purpose and passion are brought together in therapeutic massage. Self care is one of the ingredients for creating a better world, because when we take care of ourselves, we take care of each other. Kassie practices deep tissue massage for promoting change and healing in muscular tissue, relaxation massage for helping promote mindful meditation and stress relief. She also enjoys incorporating other modalities from sports massage, and trigger point therapy, to hot stone, and aromatherapy. She enjoys customizing massage for each individual. Kassie is a Wellness Advocate for essential oils and health products with the company Doterra. Follow “Kasandra Herff Licensed Massage Therapist” on Facebook for her monthly specials!

Summer is continuing her education to become a Physical Therapy Assistant. She grew up on the back of a horse, she was on a horse before she could even walk. For about 6 years she trained horses in a variety of disciplines such as Polo, Barrel Racing and she also worked with Carriage horses. Her favorite was starting horses under saddle. She discovered Massage Therapy from an Equine Massage Therapist who worked on her barrel horses when she high school rodeoed. She loved the aspect of "natural healing" and believes in it 100%. Summer went to massage school as a stepping stone into another career and that is what brought her to Physical Therapy. She also enjoys working at a Physical Therapy rehab as a Massage Therapist. Since she can relate to equestrians, she hopes to offer an "Equestrian Massage" specifically designed for horse back riders which will combine deep tissue massage & advanced stretching the equestrian can use to advance their riding skills.

Eliane studied Massage Therapy at The Swedish Institute in New York City where she graduated in 2014. She is certified in Advanced Sports Massage and Medical Massage. Eliane has worked with professional athletes, clients from the corporate industry, for in-home massage therapy services and chiropractic offices and with private clients in New York and Florida.

Health, wellness, fitness, and nutrition have all been lifelong passions of Eliane. She is also a Registered Nurse and Health Coach with certification in Plant Based Nutrition and Evidence-based Health Coaching and brings over 15 years of experience in the health care and wellness industry ranging from Preventive Medicine to Med/Surg, Oncology and Hospice.

She loves working with people and provides a professional, therapeutic, and relaxing client experience to improve functionality, relieve pain and improve overall well-being and wellness.

Eliane is originally from Switzerland, lived in NYC for 15 years and traveled extensively before moving to Ocala, Florida

Drawing on decades of hands-on experience, Sharon's intuitive massage combines many modalities including Swedish, Deep Tissue, Neuromuscular, Sports and Reflexology. Sharon's 42 years in massage therapy started at the Minneapolis School of Massage back in 1978. Her healing hands have practiced Aspen, to Maui, to Cape Cod and now Anna Maria Island, with many adventures in between.

Liana has been practicing massage for 7 years, she graduated from Rassmussen Collage with her AS in Science majoring in Massage Therapy. She is Experienced in Deep Tissue and Relaxation Massages and will incorporate stretches and Trigger point therapy in her massages upon request or as clients need. Liana is also a Multiple Sclerosis warrior she is passionate about helping her clients with MS and any other Auto Immune disorders by improving sleep, decrease pain symptoms and stress through massage.

Meg started her Pilates career teaching Aerobics in 1989. In 1999, she became a Pilates Mat Instructor & was certified by Power Pilates in NYC. In 2000, she began her extensive training in Pilates equipment with Kevin Bowen & Michelle Laarson, a 2nd generation Master Teacher in the Pilates Method of exercise. In 2010 she became a licensed Zumba instructor and is certified in Levels 1 and 2 Zumba, Zumba Toning and Zumba Gold. In 2014, she became certified in 2 levels of Booty Barre. Meg offers classes around Marion County.

Mary Stevens owned a women's clothing boutique in downtown Ocala, Marketplace on Broadway, for 23 years. A car accident in 2009 forced her to change her workout routine from power yoga and weight training to something gentler. She began studying and practicing Iyengar style yoga with Maureen Whitaker in 2011 and found physical healing through this style of yoga.

Mary received a Yoga Teacher Certification in Vinyasa and Hatha Style yoga in 2017 and continues her study and practice of yoga. Recently she became certified in Holy Yoga, Senior and Chair Yoga.
Mary has personally experienced the physical healing that can result from practicing yoga and is enthusiastic about helping others discover the same benefits.

Eden Nevárez, MA IBCLC is an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) in private practice, and the owner of Bonding with Baby Lactation, LLC.

Eden provides lactation care to families struggling with breastfeeding offering in-home and office consultations.

Her experience includes working in a NICU and PICU environment with preterm, fragile, and sick babies at Miami Children's Hospital; along with working in a private practice lactation consulting environment. Eden provides care and support for issues such as low milk supply, difficulty with latch/positioning, infant tongue/lip tie, breastfeeding the preterm infant or infant with congenital anomalies. She also provides consultations for parents returning to work, pumping guidance, and breastfeeding care and support for parents of twins.

TO SCHEDULE WITH EDEN, CONTACT HER DIRECTLY @ (352) 615-9307.