ABOUT US
MEET OUR TEAM
FERNANDA SANTIAGO
FOUNDER, CERTIFIED AROMATHERAPIST, LMBT
For inquiries:
919-297-8445
info@apexretreatseminars.com
Born in the Island of Puerto Rico, Fernanda Santiago has always had a passion for wellness and helping people get healthy. Her great grandmother was a midwife, herbalist and considered by many to be an expert in the use of natural healing compounds. This knowledge of herbal medicine and natural healing has been passed down for generations. Fernanda was introduced to Aromatic Botanical Medicine early in her career and has specialized in Aromatherapy for 20 years. She has also trained in Chiang Mai, Thailand, and mentored by Acupuncture Physicians, and Botanists, gaining hands on experience. She has studied with both Floracopeia and The School of Aromatic Studies.She loves gardening, the outdoors and creating custom formulations for her clients. She has a private practice in Apex, NC named Healing Feels Good®. Here she provides consultations, Aromatherapy treatments & formulations as well as bodywork sessions such as Reflexology, Thai Massage and Thai Herbal Poultice treatments.
She is the co-founder of Apex Retreat Seminars, a nationally approved continuing education school for massage therapist and is a Level 2 NAHA Certified Professional Aromatherapist.
She loves to share her knowledge and passion for helping others using traditional methods of healing.
Susan Good
LMT, RYT
Susan Good is a Licensed Massage Therapist and the proud owner of Latitude Massage in Charlottesville, Virginia. After completing yoga teaching training in India in 2012, she began teaching and quickly realized that her calling was to help others connect with their bodies through movement and therapeutic touch.
Susan’s experience as a Birth Doula in Honduras and Ireland led her to train in massage in 2017. After giving birth to her daughter, she holds a deep connection working with women in the prenatal and postpartum periods.
Susan specializes in Thai massage and has studied in Thailand three times, with more intensive study trips in her future! She is excited to work with other massage therapists through Apex Retreat Seminars and share her passion for learning.
Rapeewan Kannawat (Gail)
LMBT
Gail, born and raised in Thailand, brings a rich cultural heritage and deep passion for holistic healing to her role as an instructor at our continuing education school. With a dedicated focus on enhancing student practices and promoting client well-being, Gail specializes in Table Thai Massage and Thai Foot Massage. Her teaching philosophy integrates traditional Thai techniques with modern practices, empowering students to work smarter and support their clients' health and healing goals effectively. Gail’s extensive knowledge and genuine enthusiasm make her a valuable asset to our program and a source of inspiration for all who work with her.
Lijing Liu
LMBT, pHD
Lijing Liu is a dedicated educator and practitioner with an extensive background in Traditional Chinese Medicine and integrative movement science. She earned her undergraduate degree in Traditional Chinese Medicine from Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, where she received comprehensive training in classical medical theory and hands-on clinical practice.
Driven by a passion for bridging Eastern and Western approaches to health, she went on to complete both her master’s and doctoral degrees at the University of Tsukuba in Japan, conducting advanced research on the impact of physical activity on skeletal health. Following her doctoral studies, Lijing continued her academic career at Waseda University, where her work focused on promoting healthy growth and development in children through improving motor skills in adolescents.
After immigrating to the United States, Lijing further expanded her therapeutic skill set by studying Western therapeutic massage techniques at Wake Tech Community College in North Carolina. This diverse training allows her to seamlessly blend traditional bodywork principles with modern anatomical understanding.
Lijing specializes in teaching TCM-based courses, sharing her wealth of knowledge with massage therapists, estheticians, and bodyworkers. Known for her grounded teaching style, cultural insight, and scientific perspective, she offers students both practical skill and a deep appreciation for the body’s energetic and structural systems.
Her mission is to empower practitioners to elevate their craft through authentic TCM principles, evidence-informed movement science, and holistic understanding.
