Ana Varona, BS, MA, LMT

After 30+ years in practice I am delighted to have relocated to the Princeton area. It is a privilege to be here with, and for you.

Academics: I received an Interdisciplinary BSc in human movement studies (kinesiology) from the CUNY Baccalaureate Program and an Interdisciplinary MA in wellness and health promotion from California State University.

Massage & Bodywork Training: After graduating from the Swedish Institute in New York City, I went on to be licensed in New York, New Jersey, and Puerto Rico. I am an Active Release Techniques® Certified Provider, and a Kinesio Taping® Practitioner and Instructor. I earned the certificate in the Clinical Rehabilitative Massage Specialty from the NCBTMB (national massage board) and the Academy of Clinical Massage. I am also an Ergonomic Assessment Specialist (Back School of Atlanta).

I teach continuing education courses for massage therapists and other health professionals.

I have been fortunate to learn from some of the best in the field: Elaine Calenda, James Hackett, Whitney Lowe, Til Luchau, Graceann Forrester, DPT (Kinesio Taping), and Michael Leahy. DC (Active Release Techniques).

Meditation, Mindfulness, Living Well and Dying Well: I have been a long-time student and practitioner of meditation. My main teacher has been Matthew Flickstein, with whom I completed a two-year meditation teacher training program based on the Theravada and non-dual traditions.

I completed the Foundations of Contemplative Care training at the New York Zen Center, and the End-of-Life Doula Certificate Program from the University of Vermont. Both programs, and working as a hospice volunteer, have informed my work around pain, illness, grief, and the end of life.

Movement & Dance: My movement classes are based on decades of training and teaching dance, posture, and movement re-education. My early training was in ballet in San Juan, PR. In New York, my teachers included the legendary Erick Hawkins (modern dance), Zena Rommett (Floor Barre), and André Bernard (ideokinesis), whom I assisted in his Saturday classes at NYU. I studied Flamenco with Loli Reid in California and Lola Sanchez in PR.

I studied the Vaganova (Russian School) technique through John White’s seminars for teachers as well as participating in a teacher’s conference at the Vaganova Academy in St. Petersburg, Russia. I have taught ballet and floor barre at various dance studios in Northern CA, including the SF Dance Center; in San Juan, PR, on the faculty of Universidad del Sagrado Corazón and as a guest teacher at the UPR; and most recently at The Princeton Ballet School. My movement re-education classes have been offered at Omega Institute, the New York Open Center, and other learning centers.

My latest love is Argentine Tango.