DEON DE WET

Deon de Wet first discovered "Nuad Bo Rarn", Traditional Thai Massage, while traveling in Thailand on vacation. It brought forth sensations of emotional and spiritual well-being, similar to those related to periods of deep meditation.  He also experienced a profound sense of Bliss and connection to his body, previously only felt after vigorous exercise.

On his return to the USA, he began a period of intensive and ongoing training with Saul David Raye, who had spent years learning the system while living in a Hill Tribe Village in Northern Thailand. Saul was personally certified to teach this ancient healing art by the legendary Asokananda, one of the world's foremost experts in Traditional Thai Massage.

After completing several training courses, retreats and evaluation of hundreds of hours of work, he was certified by Saul as an Advanced Thai Yoga Therapy Practitioner and has continued to train with him since then. In the same year, Deon also became a Certified Massage Therapist, after receiving thorough training in Swedish and Circulatory Massage at IPSB, the Institute for Psycho-Structural Balancing in Culver City, California. He has been practicing Yoga for many years and obtained his Teacher Training Certificate in the Anusara style of Hatha Yoga.

Deon still returns to Thailand periodically, where he spends time in Chiang Mai, studying with and experiencing treatment sessions from master Thai Massage practitioners and teachers such as Pichest Boonthumme, one of Asokananda's early teachers.

PHOEBE DIFTLER

Phoebe Diftler has been fortunate to study with many gifted teachers, Saul David Raye among them and has earned Advanced Certification in Thai Yoga Massage Therapy. She has been teaching Thai Yoga Therapy at the White Lotus Foundation since 2002.

Phoebe also teaches Yoga in Los Angeles and offers her expert Thai Yoga Therapy healing services in her practice and through deonThai™ YOGA, preferring to work with a wide range of clientele in their own environments around the Westside of Los Angeles County.

• "I highly recommend Phoebe for those who are ready to evolve."
  Dan Bienenfeld – Director, Hellerwork International
• "Phoebe's gentle power leads you through a journey that nurtures, heals and transforms, setting new highs for the creation of sacred space."
  Tracey Rich & Ganga White - The White Lotus Foundation
• "Phoebe is an inspired and soulful healer/teacher with depth of knowledge, wisdom and intuition along with many other gifts to share with those on the path of healing and wellness. She is an excellent guide and has the ability to hold a healing space for others. I highly recommend her work and teachings."
  Saul David Raye – Ritam Healing Arts

SHAUNA HELLEWELL

Shauna Hellewell is a certified Yoga Instructor, currently based in Los Angeles, who has been teaching since 2001.  She has taught on both coasts and her public classes have included Sacred Movement in Venice, Santa Monica Yoga, Bryan Kest’s Power Yoga, Sonic Yoga in Hell’s Kitchen, NYC and Exhale Spa on the Upper East Side of New York. 

Shauna has also attracted a wide range of students in her Customized Private Yoga Sessions where she helps people with specific individual issues such as: developing a therapeutic practice to overcome injury or assist in major life transitions; building core strength through a vigorous practice that could include Calisthenics and Pilates; balancing a physical practice with meditation, concentration and relaxation techniques.

She has extensive experience with teenagers, women’s issues and trauma.  She believes that the best way to make real progress in Yoga is through the traditional one-on-one teaching method and is highly respectful in protecting the confidentiality of her students, as they work toward their highest personal growth.

Shauna approaches Yoga as a way of life and living, helping her students to create their own unique blend of practices to support the unfolding of their passions, creativity, health and productivity.

Trained at Yoga Works in Los Angeles, by the well respected Lisa Walford and Maty Ezraty, she has also studied and practiced with many world-renowned teachers of asana, Ayurveda and meditation, including John Friend, Ana Forrest, Shiva Rea, Erich Schiffmann, Robert Svoboda and Saul David Raye. She is a regular student of Sri Sri Ravi Shankar’s Art of Living and has sung vocals on several CDs for kirtan (chanting) musician Dave Stringer.

JOEY CALDERON

Joey Calderon first started taking classes in massage therapy in between film projects while working for Walt Disney Feature Animation. He became certified as a Massage Therapist in 1998, from the Institute of Psycho-Structural Balancing in Culver City CA. Since then, he has had hundreds of additional hours of advanced bodywork training at the Esalen Institute in Big Sur, CA.

Joey also studied different versions of Cranio-Sacral Therapy with the Upledger Institute, Polarity Healing Arts and the Milne Institute. Since 2002, he has been helping patients rehabilitate injuries with Deep Tissue Massage working with Chiropractor and Acupuncturist, Dr. David Wells in Encino, CA.

Grateful to be able to do the work he loves, Joey also sees private clients in their own environments around Los Angeles in the Westside and San Fernando Valley areas.

Before or after bodywork treatments, he can be found painting or drawing, or otherwise out in the ocean paddling Hawaiian Outrigger Canoes or surfing with dolphins.

Joey’s approach to table massage therapy is particularly suitable and complementary to Thai Yoga Therapy and he has been offering his healing gifts through deonThai™ YOGA and his own private practice, for many years with profoundly excellent results.