Aesthetics
Jennifer Jones
Aesthetician
Jennifer has been an aesthetician since 1986 and massage therapist since 2014. She trained in aesthetics in Atlanta at Sydell Skin and Body Care. She is also a graduate of the Body Therapy Institute in Siler City. Her early interest in make-up artistry and physical fitness eventually led to her work in aesthetics and massage therapy. With a caring and compassionate spirit, Jennifer is dedicated to creating a nurturing spa experience for each of her clients.
Gracie Rowland-Dunn
Aesthetician
Gracie graduated in 2017 from Imani Institute of Cosmetology in Ashland, Oregon. Her passion for natural and holistic healing led her into aesthetics, where she learned that inner health and outer beauty are strongly correlated. Gracie is certified in energy healing and balancing and chakra cleansing. She looks forward to customizing the perfect facial for you and is honored to be a part of your self-care practice.
Stephanie Woods
Aesthetician
Stephanie’s interest in skin care began over ten years ago when she left management to pursue a more fulfilling career as an aesthetician. In a world in which television and magazines attempt to define beauty in narrow terms, Stephanie wanted to help women embrace their own unique glow. Believing every individual is a one-of-a-kind work of art, she provides clients the opportunity to see themselves in a different light and focus attention on their positive attributes while addressing any skin health issues.
In addition to being a licensed aesthetician, Stephanie has an LMBT in massage therapy with certificates in a number of massage modalities, including oncology massage, reflexology, sports massage, hot stones, decompression (cupping), pregnancy, and Lomi Lomi. Being licensed in both fields allows her a unique perspective on client care and the ability to more holistically address her clients’ needs.
Massage Therapy
Fay Breitbart
Lead Massage Therapist
Originally from New York City, Fay received her training for massage therapy at the Swedish Institute of New York nearly 30 years ago and now lives in idyllic Saxapahaw, home to a supportive community in a unique setting along the Haw River.
At Hillsborough Spa and Day Retreat, Fay offers Swedish massage, Reflexology, Prenatal massage, hot stone massage, and deep relaxation and stress relief—her specialty. She recently completed a workshop in Esalen massage, which features long flowing strokes to coax the nervous system into a deep state of relaxation, allowing the muscles to let go, the breath to deepen, and the mind to become quiet.
Prior to joining Hillsborough Spa and Day Retreat, Fay was a certified personal trainer and an infant massage instructor at the Aveda School in New York City.
Andy Freeman
Massage Therapist
Andy completed his massage therapy training through the Body Therapy Institute in Siler City in 2013. He has also been trained in Neural Reset Therapy (NRT). He is passionate about the amazing capabilities and astounding results of using NRT. He works to improve clients’ health by resolving the root of their issues, not simply to treat symptoms. If the root is unresolved, the symptoms will return or evolve into different issues. Andy’s life has been focused on educating and helping others in various ways, shaping lives through compassion, creativity, and care. He strives to individualize each massage session through observations and assessments, with the intention of meeting or exceeding every clients’ goals and needs. His mission is to improve the quality of life for each person he touches.
Leigh Hall
Massage Therapist
Leigh is a former teacher as well as a lifelong student. She is a top-of-the-class graduate from the Carolina Massage Insitute and has a wonderfully warm and caring touch. Her specialty is working off the energy of the client and tuning into their body language to free bound-up tension in the muscles and joints. A longtime meditator, Leigh appreciates bringing that quiet spaciousness to body work. She enjoys playing the ukulele and spending time with her family.
Sheryl Mika
Massage Therapist
Massage began for Sheryl as a family tradition as she grew up surrounded by athletic brothers always in need of a good back massage after a tough game or practice.
After graduating with a bachelor’s of science degree in education and joining the U.S. Army Reserves, Sheryl was still looking for her “gift.” While experiencing her first professional massage at a fitness center, she realized she’d had her gift all along. She immediately began her professional massage education and has never looked back! She now has over 20 years of professional experience and continuous professional training in this field. Sheryl’s style is often described as thorough, smooth, confident, and intuitive. She especially enjoys hospitality massage in a spa setting where she can help every guest have a special and memorable experience.
Courtney O’Keefe
Massage Therapist
Courtney O’Keefe brings a joy to healing that gives her an intuitive connection with clients. Her appreciation of the physical renewal of massage led her to professional practice. A graduate of the Carolina Massage Institute, Courtney has a lifelong passion for unlocking the body’s capacity to heal and relax. Through a perceptive touch, she determines the optimal pressure and movement for healing. And with an appreciation of the body’s ability to communicate, she conveys a peaceful sense of caring. At home, Courtney enjoys gardening, nature walks, and spending time with her husband and their beloved pets.
Rebecca Podlipec
Massage Therapist
Rebecca’s Swedish and deep relaxation massages incorporate attention to the breath, trigger point release, acupressure, and myofascial release. The goal in each massage is to listen to her client’s unique body and promote flow, stimulating relaxation and addressing specific needs, freeing up the body’s resources to heal itself. She holds space for nurturing, healing, and letting go, so when you are done you feel refreshed and rejuvenated.
Rebecca is also a 500-RYT yoga teacher and loves continuing her education through study and practice. In her free time she loves gardening, sunrise walks, reading, and spending time with her family.
Margery Nelson Price
Massage Therapist
Margery Nelson Price, LMBT, practices massage therapy with a nurturing and meditative touch. As a graduate of the Body Therapy Institute and the Carolina School of Massage, she is well versed in Swedish, Russian, hot stone, pregnancy, and deep tissue massage. Her regular clients often say she has especially warm hands and a calming presence. Margery is able to meet you where you are and to help you achieve a lasting sense of ease and relaxation.
Carey Reynolds
Massage Therapist
Carey is passionate about healing. After years of receiving (and benefiting from) various forms of bodywork, she realized that this is work she wanted to do. She graduated from Body Therapy Institute in 2011 and has training in Cranio-Sacral Therapy through the Upledger Institute. She loves working with clients in need of deep relaxation. Her specialties are working with issues of the head and neck (headaches, migraines, TMJ syndrome, etc.). She is happy to work with the talented team at the Hillsborough Spa and Day Retreat and honored to share her gifts with you.
Daina Urbaitis
Massage Therapist
Daina offers slow and stable touch. Her work draws on her experience with integrative reflexology and senior spa for the homebound and is influenced by Ayurvedic teachings and grounded with Esalen Massage techniques. She believes we need to practice what we preach: slow is real, and we’ll get there together.
Our Management
Dara Fort
Spa Director
As a yoga teacher for the past 20 years and with a background in managing people and business, Dara has been happily taking care of people most of her adult life. Through movement or management, she truly enjoys creating a special environment within which she can connect to those she is serving. She has always believed that experiences are more valuable than things and that what we exchange with one another is often our greatest gift.
A self described worker-bee, she has a hard time sitting still but has recently had profound moments of stillness and peace in the spa sauna and steam room.
Our Owners
Hillsborough Spa and Day Retreat is locally owned by Lies Sapp and Sage Rountree, owners of the Carrboro Yoga Company. After years of gratifying research at spas around the state, the country, and the world, we are delighted to share this beautiful space with you. We created a spa that reflects our personal taste and deep appreciation of the balance to be found in stillness. We hope you love it, and we are eager to hear your feedback. Please write us at info@hillsboroughspa.com with any questions or comments.
