Dallas Region
Dallas Coordinator
EMAIL: amtadallastexas@gmail.com
Maggy Troup
Maggy is a bodyworker, educator and a multi-passionate entrepreneur. With a degree in Kinesiology and over two decades of hands-on-massage experience, Maggy specializes in helping her clients reconnect with their bodies and re-engage in their lives. She is a perpetual learner, and flourishes by staying on top of emerging trends and has developed and taught curriculum on sports massage, advanced anatomy and therapeutic practices to students and professionals alike
Michelle Amaya
Michelle Amaya graduated from Cortiva Institute in Arlington, TX, in 2020. After taking time to build confidence and experience, she joined Spa Face and Body in Waxahachie in 2022. Now, Michelle is eager to fully immerse herself in the field, to grow within the community, and to continue her learning journey.
Renee Houston
Hi there! I’m Renée! I am so honored to be a part of the Dallas region of AMTA.
I graduated from the Institute of Bodywork Studies (now the Massage Institute of North Texas) in 2008, obtaining my massage therapist license in 2009. In 2020 I became a Certified Manual Lymph Drainage Therapist, and the North Texas area’s first Trauma Touch Therapist in 2022.
I’ve been a business owner (twice), a franchise employee (also twice), both an employee and a contractor at chiropractic offices (more than twice), and worked with special populations in a variety of settings. I have had the honor of sitting at the feet of not one but two of the pioneers of oncology massage, as well as training under the inimitable Jen Hartley of Handle With Care to learn massage for burn survivors.
My niche is serving trauma survivors. Whether an elderly great-grandparent with fragile skin and several health conditions, a cancer patient undergoing chemo or radiation, or an abuse survivor struggling with PTSD and feeling so disconnected from their body, there are not many people I cannot touch safely in some capacity. My experience with Trauma Touch Therapy™ has been life-changing for me, and its principles inform everything else I do in my practice.
Concurrent with my passion to ensure that my beloved massage community is as trauma-informed as possible, I also have a heart to connect the massage community and the mental health community, for the benefit of all of our collective clients.
Because touch is a basic human need, and safe touch is a basic human right.”
Stephanie Castillo
Stephanie founded Belax & Co. in 2021, inspired by her daughter’s sweet attempt to say “relax” as “belax.” This heartfelt moment became the foundation of her business, emphasizing wellness and self-care. Since 2007, Stephanie has specialized in therapeutic and relaxation massage, with skills in deep tissue, prenatal, sports, and hot stone massage. Belax & Co., a proud woman and Latin-owned business, serves as a holistic sanctuary for clients to prioritize their well-being.
Julie Alexander
Julie Alexander is the owner of Handcrafted Therapy. Handcrafted Therapy is a massage supply and training center in Plano, Texas. She teaches meditation, aromatherapy, and massage therapy continuing education classes. Julie also teaches business marketing at Ke Kino Massage Academy.
Ms. Alexander has been a massage therapist since 2009. She has extensive experience in results-driven therapeutic massage solutions and is committed to helping clients maintain a pain-free life.
After attending high school at the Indiana Academy and graduating from the University of North Texas with a bachelor’s degree in Business Marketing, Julie served in several marketing roles supporting small businesses
Julie’s tenure at several high-end spas in the Dallas area gave her a crash course on how to run a successful spa. In 2015, she opened her first massage business in a wellness center.
Her business, Handcrafted Therapy, grew rapidly and expanded to a new location in 2017. She is not only fully booked out for weeks but also provides a professional day spa rental space for other therapists.
During the 2020 pandemic shutdown, Julie refocused her drive and passion to serve by providing virtual sessions for her clients on self-care.
She enjoys traveling with her husband, game nights with friends.
Eldie Lauren DuRousseau
Eldie (Lauren) DuRousseau is a licensed massage therapist with over +12years of licensed experience. Her career expands from professional sports massage to holistic wellness. Her notable work comes from working with committees & athletes within Iron Man Sports, UFC, International Weightlifting Federation and NCAA. During her education at Texas Woman’s University she helped create & establish the addition of massage therapy services that continues today. A current student and practitioner of Curanderismo, she continues into the holistic wellness space as well. With over 12 years, she has had the opportunity to work within medical, sports, holistic wellness and work independently to form a well rounded understanding of what various communities’ needs are. The goal is simple, to empower her community with massage therapy, education and acts of service.