Meet Our Instructors

Jill Burynski

Jill has been working in the field of holistic health and alternative medicine since 1992. Her career began in bodywork in 1996 after receiving her level II Reiki certification. By 1998 she was a Nationally Certified Massage Therapist graduating from the Florida School of Massage in Gainesville, FL. In 2001 she received her certification as a Holistic Health Practitioner from Mueller College of Holistic Studies in San Diego, CA.

Jill, a longtime yoga practitioner, wanted to integrate the benefits of yoga with the effectiveness of massage and bodywork which led her to specialize in Thai Massage. In 2003, she took her first trip to Thailand to study at the Old Medicine Hospital in Chiang Mai.

After this, Jill went on to become a spa trainer and consultant creating spa treatments and protocols to spas nationwide. She also completed two yoga teacher trainings in two states. These experiences helped her to realize her love of teaching.

In 2008, Jill returned to Thailand to continue her studies of Thai Massage and become a Thai Massage Teacher approved by the Thai Ministry of Education. In addition to being an approved provider of continuing education for the NCBTMB and the Florida Department of Health, Jill is also a massage and bodywork instructor for the State of North Carolina and a reviewer for Elsevier Massage Therapy Textbooks.

In 2009, Jill founded Living Sabai, a continuing education company for massage therapists. She teaches Thai massage CE trainings at numerous massage schools and has been a presenter at several massage conventions.

Jill continues to return to Thailand regularly to study with her teachers and bring massage therapists on study abroad trips for advanced training. Jill resides with her family in Asheville, NC.

Jess Barnwell

Jess Barnwell (she/her/hers) is a Thai Instructor and an Advanced Practitioner from Asheville, NC. She has studied Thai Bodywork for the past ten years, beginning her journey with Living Sabai, then continued on to study in Thailand at ITM in Chiang Mai, OmSala, and with Thai Master Pischet Boonthumme and Aon Boonthaumme. Jess brings a calming energy to her classes, and provides a grounded atmosphere that allows time and space for technique and intention to soak in.

Thai Bodywork has helped facilitate true healing in her own body, as well as connect her to a community she holds dear. Because of this, she loves to share this work with others who may also be deeply impacted, and is passionate about furthering her student’s knowledge and experience in this ancient modality.

As bodyworkers we develop personal styles and rhythms. Jess leans toward a slow, deep, rhythmic approach to Thai. Incorporating deep sustained compressions, allowing the body and spirit to feel safe and unguarded, she guides the client through supported passive stretches, breath work, and a dance between giver and receiver. It is her belief that when we nurture ourselves and allow others to nurture us through healing, we can welcome our very best selves and walk the Earth in authenticity.

Marijean Rue

MariJean Rue is an NCBTMB approved Thai Massage Instructor. When she became a licensed therapist in 2010, Marijean was already wondering if she would be able to realize her dream of being a full-time massage therapist, due to an overuse injury of her elbow. A twist of fate—and a miscalculation of CE hours—led her to sign up for Living Saba’s three-day Foundations of Thai Massage course, and Marijean’s career and life changed forever. Not only did learning Thai body mechanics help heal the injury to her elbow, Marijean became so passionate about Thai Massage that she transformed her practice and studied to become an advanced practitioner and teacher with Living Sabai. She became a certified NCBTMB provider in 2017, traveled to Thailand in 2019, and is excited to explore new ways to share Thai Massage with other massage therapists in the future. NCBTMB provider # 45102-09

Heather Rowell

Graduating from the NC School of Advanced Bodywork in 2016, Heather immediately dove into the world of Thai Massage. She attended all of Living Sabai’s CE classes and completed the Advanced Thai Massage Certification by 2017. Heather has traveled to Chiang Mai, Thailand multiple times to study at the International Training Massage School (ITM), Omsala, and the Sunshine School, learning advanced techniques, including Abdominal Chi Massage.

In the midst of this deep learning, Heather has dominated the rising American Massage Championships at the state and national level. She has won more than 15 awards and medals, including Overall #1 Massage Therapist in the USA for 2024. She is now the Co-Director of the NC State Massage Championship. Heather owns a private practice, Organic Touch Inc, in Mint Hill, NC offering private coaching and mentorship in addition to teaching CE classes for Living Sabai and practicing bodywork.

Heather brings a passion for Thai culture and massage to all of her classes. Her unique way of incorporating both Eastern & Western holistic practices is what sets her and her practice apart. She agrees with the Thai “Sabai” approach to massage, that when done properly, it is beneficial for both the giver and receiver.

John Terribili

John Terribili is an advanced practitioner of Thai massage, having transitioned from a successful 25-year career in IT. His journey into bodywork began in 2018 at The Healing Arts and Massage School in Raleigh, NC, where he first encountered Thai massage. After obtaining his license in 2020, he immediately began training with Living Sabai. The moment he took his first 3-Day Intensive class, he was hooked! Over the next two years, John completed all of Living Sabai’s classes and served as a teacher’s assistant in many courses. In February 2023, he took part in the Study Abroad program, expanding his education at ITM, OmSala, and Boonthumme Thai Massage school, where he had the privilege of studying under renowned instructor Pichest Boonthumme and his son, Aon Boonthumme.

Today, John runs his own Thai bodywork practice in a community bodywork collective in Durham, NC. His approach to Thai massage is slow, meditative, and calming, focusing on helping clients release trauma held in the body. In addition to Thai massage, he is a certified Yin yoga instructor and appreciates the deep complementarity between the two practices.

Passionate about sharing the healing art of Thai bodywork, John’s teaching style mirrors the calm and thoughtful energy he brings to his sessions. He lives in Durham, NC, with his family.

John Kowalski

John’s interest in holistic health was sparked while living in Albuquerque, NM in the 90s, where he graduated from the New Mexico School of Natural Therapeutics in 1996. After several years working as the lead therapist for a corporate spa chain, John moved to an Ayurvedic spa in Asbury Park, NJ, where he is the educator for all new employees.

John began his Thai massage journey in 2015 through ITM-USA courses in New Jersey and Delaware. One of his teachers introduced him to Jill Burynski and he proceeded to take every class Living Sabai has to offer, including travelling to Thailand for the Study Abroad program where he trained at ITM and OmSala in Chiang Mai.

Through his fun-loving approach to teaching, John embodies the Sabai way of life and brings his passion for Thai bodywork and massage education to all his classes.

Sarah Brant

Sarah has been practicing bodywork since graduating from Southeastern Institute in Charlotte, NC in 2013. She went on to work for Eden Therapy and Massage before opening her own practice, Turning Pointe Massage, in 2016. Sarah is a retired classically trained ballerina and Black Belt in Tang Soo Do, now combining her passions into educating others on the importance of self care, body movement, and stretching! She was recommended by a teacher to take a Thai Massage CE class and from her first class with Living Sabai in June of 2019, she knew that she was meant for Thai Massage!  She immediately began taking all of Living Sabai’s courses, falling in love with being a TA, and finally traveling to Chaing Mai, Thailand in January 2023 for the Study Abroad trip. There she studied at ITM and OmSala. Her favorite part of teaching is watching students fall in love with Thai massage and find a revitalization for their practices.

In her spare time, Sarah enjoys camping with her husband, son, and Australian Shepherd. As a family they love to travel, mountain bike, and listen to live music.