Faculty & Staff
Steph Haddox (she/her) - Founder and Lead Instructor
I’ve been a massage therapist since 2011, opening Balance Massage Therapy in 2012 and Balance Massage School in 2018.
As an educator, my work is rooted in creating a learning environment where students feel safe, supported, and empowered to grow—not just in skill, but in confidence, curiosity, and self-awareness. I believe that meaningful learning happens within a strong, respectful container, and cultivating that space is at the core of my teaching.
While a solid foundation in anatomy and technique is essential, my passion lies in helping students understand what is happening beneath the surface. Massage therapy is not just about muscles—it is about the nervous system, perception, and the ways our lived experiences shape how we inhabit our bodies.
I am deeply interested in the intersection of neuroscience, the mind-body connection, and trauma-informed care. Together, we explore how stress and life experiences are expressed through the nervous system, and how thoughtful, attuned touch can influence regulation, awareness, and healing. My goal is to help students bridge the gap between theory and practice—so they not only know what to do, but understand why it works.
Through this lens, students develop a more nuanced, responsive approach to their work—one that honors each client as a whole person, rather than a set of symptoms. They learn to listen with their hands, think critically, and adapt their approach in real time.
Teaching has also been a profound path of growth for me. It has deepened my understanding of the human experience and continues to shape how I show up—for my students, my clients, and my community.
At Balance Massage School, all are welcome. Every race, gender, identity, orientation, and belief system is respected and supported. We are committed to fostering an inclusive, compassionate, and professional learning environment.
Continuing education, certifications, and life experiences that have informed my work and teaching include:
Trauma Informed Care Certificate, Dr. Mark Olson
Certificate in Neuroscience, The Neuroscience School
NeuroSomatic Intelligence Coaching Certificate
Integrative Somatic Practitioner Course, Integrative Wellness Academy
Somatic Parts Certificate, The Embody Lab
NeuroAffective Relational Model Training
Professional Massage Therapy Certificate, 2011
Professional Bodywork Teacher Training “The Spirit of Learning”, The Body Therapy Institute
Usui Reiki Level 1+2 Certification
Bachelors of Science - Social Work, The University of Vermont
Division 1 soccer player and coach, The University of Vermont
14 years coaching youth soccer - club and ODP, U8-U19 boys and girls
Proud mama of two amazing souls - perhaps the most profound life experience cultivating expansion and learning over the years
Dan Barone (any) - Ethics & Business Instructor, Student Support Guide
Since childhood, I had lived someone else’s dream. I built a “successful” life by following the path that others showed me. On the surface, things looked great. I had money, a family, and lots of stuff. The problem was that none of those things could fix how I felt about myself.
Underneath the outward success, I was miserable. It didn’t matter what I did or how much I had; the pain inside me just kept growing. Each day was a desperate fight just to stay alive. Things got so bad I almost lost. Thankfully, I woke up before it was too late.
I chose to ask for help and committed to doing the work of inner healing. My life started to change. My relationships grew healthier, stronger, and deeper, all beginning with myself. Over the course of my life, culture had taught me to ignore the pain I felt; to numb, escape, or soothe it.
Never to learn from it.
It took me almost dying to finally look at it differently. The pain wasn’t happening to me. It was here for me. To teach me something important. Something I’d been missing. Something I needed for the path ahead. Could I listen to what it was trying to tell me?
I slowed down and began to pay attention; to be present in the moment. Being present with the pain taught me a powerful truth:
The love I was seeking all along didn’t come from outside; it was within me.
All the conditional love and performance-based worthiness that had been modeled to me was wrong. I wasn’t empty; I was whole. My life had unfolded in such an exact way to lead to this place; the path of Love.
This path led me to Balance Massage.
Amber Wodtli (she/her), LMT - Massage Application Instructor
Amber brings over 25 years of experience to the world of Massage Therapy, blending deep anatomical wisdom with a playful curiosity for how the body, mind, and spirit work together. Rooted in a strong foundation of Sports and Neuromuscular Therapy, her approach to bodywork is both collaborative and holistic; honoring ancient wisdom while integrating modern neuroscience, movement education, and restorative care. Her work supports both amateur and professional athletes, empowering clients to cultivate greater self-awareness, prioritize intentional self-care, and embrace recovery and renewal as integral components of health and wellness.
A lifelong lover of nature, Amber believes healing often mirrors the rhythms of the natural world: grounded, adaptive, and deeply interconnected. Whether riding her bike on the trails, soaking in the mountain air, or simply finding stillness outdoors, she draws inspiration from nature’s ability to restore balance and resilience. Qualities she brings into every treatment room and classroom.
As a Massage Therapy instructor for 19 years, Amber is highly respected for her dedication to her students and their educational experience. Her teaching spans Ethical Practices, Therapeutic Bodywork, Sports Massage, Cupping and Gua Sha, Community Outreach, and Research Development. Her passion for integrative medicine and vision for the future of holistic healthcare continue to evolve and she is committed to cultivating meaningful collaboration between ancient wisdom and modern medicine, to help shape a more connected and compassionate healthcare system.
Aubrie Moran (she/her) - Student Clinic Supervisor & TA
My name is Aubrie, she/her. My journey into bodywork has been guided by an enduring curiosity about what helps people heal, thrive, and feel at home in themselves. This curiosity led me to study massage and craniosacral therapy and one of the greatest joys of my work is helping people reconnect with the innate wisdom of their bodies.
After graduating from Green Mountain Massage School in 2020, I balanced bodywork with a career in research compliance and oversight at the University of Vermont before transitioning to full-time bodywork in 2025. I now practice in Newport, VT, after relocating from Burlington to the Northeast Kingdom.
My work blends refined therapeutic skills with intuitive, energetic approaches. In addition to massage and craniosacral therapy, I am a budding dreamworker and shamanic practitioner. I have apprenticed with Tracey Forest of Spirit Hollow in Shaftsbury, VT and will soon continue my studies with Sierra McFeeters at the Indigenous Roots Institute in Woodbury, VT. I look forward to seeing how these skills continue to inform my current practice. Whether through therapeutic touch, mindful awareness, or cultivating a deeper relationship with the living world around us, I believe healing often begins when we remember that we are not separate from our bodies or nature, but are deeply woven into both.
When I'm not in the treatment room, you'll most likely find me wandering the woods communing with the more-than-human world, or sitting beside a lake or river with my toes in the water. I live in a tiny house nestled in the woods with my partner, who is a graduate of Balance Massage School—so yes, we're quite literally living the dream!
I'm honored to support the Balance Massage School of Vermont by bringing together my experience as an educator, my love of lifelong learning, and my passion for somatic healing. It is an honor to help support the next generation of thoughtful, skilled, and heart-centered bodyworkers!
Harlyjane Pelletier (she/her) - Student Clinic Supervisor & TA
Harlyjane is a local massage therapist, yoga instructor, and retreat facilitator residing in East Montpelier, VT. She has a massage business, harlyjane massage therapy, that is based out of Waterbury, VT where she focuses on integrative massage, lymphatic drainage, and TMJ relief.
Through her practice, Harlyjane strives to help individuals quiet the background noise of life and tap into what their body wants and needs. Harlyjane spends her time sipping coffee, searching for rivers to jump in, dancing to live music, traveling to Costa Rica to visit her mom, and hanging out with her little dog, Larry.
Being a graduate of the 2021 Balance Massage School class, she is extremely excited to continue to immerse herself within the Balance Massage community and upcoming educational cohorts!
