Maria Troia, M.S.Ed., L.M.B.T., L.M.T., N.C.T.M.B. is licensed to practice massage therapy and bodywork in New York, Arizona, and North Carolina. She is also nationally certified in therapeutic massage and bodywork and is an approved provider of continuing education with the NCBTMB. Maria holds a Bachelor of Arts in English and a Master of Science in Education, both degrees conferred by Hofstra University, along with an A.O.S. degree in Massage Therapy from the New York College of Health Professions.
Maria has specialized training in AMMA Therapy®, a form of Asian bodywork brought to the United States from Korea by Dr. Robert Sohn and his wife, Tina Sohn. This 5,000 year old system of healing is based on Five Element Theory, the Eight Principles of Chinese Medicine, and also incorporates Chinese nutrition and gentle movement exercises such as T'ai Chi Chuan and Qi Gong. Maria taught AMMA Therapy® at the New York College of Health Professions and also supervised the student clinic there before relocating to Arizona. Maria integrates ancient Eastern wisdom into all of her seminars and client sessions.
Maria is also a Reiki Master Teacher, and has studied with John F. Barnes, Elaine Stillerman, and Dr. Darren Starwynn, among others. She is also certified as a Bach Flower Consultant by the Bach Foundation. Maria has a profound interest in plants as healing agents and as such she has also studied Aromatherapy and Aromatology, and has received training in Chinese Herbal Liniments. Currently she is a student in the Masters Degree program in Acupuncture at Phoenix Institute of Herbal Medicine and Acupuncture.
Maria's personal journey into the holistic healing arts began after a serious accident in 1997. An 18 month exploration into healing and alternative medicine ultimately led her to an open house at what was then The New York College of Wholistic Health, Education, and Research. Within six months of that fateful evening, Maria became a full-time student in their two year A.O.S. degree program.
Honesty and authenticity are at the heart of Maria's approach to bodywork and teaching. She firmly believes healing requires not only a personal commitment, but also a supportive environment. As such, she believes she cannot ask her clients or students to take a journey she has not taken herself.
Maria's goal is to treat her clients and students with the same level of patience and respect that her own healers and teachers have given her. At the heart of every bodywork session and seminar she gives, Maria places an emphasis on compassion, intuition, and body-mind awareness.
