STAFF AND THERAPISTS

I spent my early years in San Diego and abroad in Tokyo, and I have been in love with seeing the sights of the world my entire life. As an avid athlete, my dream of attending a storied basketball college came true. I will always cherish my time at Indiana University, where I earned my Bachelor of Science in Public Management and a minor in Kinesiology.



After earning my Doctorate in Physical Therapy from A.T. Still University’s School of Osteopathic Medicine in Mesa, AZ, I spent time in Australia working with a professional Aussie-rules Football team. I eventually moved to Tucson to work as a P.T. in a hospital, E.R., which opened my eyes to the badly broken parts of our medical system. I saw the troubling consequences of opioid abuse, injections that masked patients’ pain, and ineffective, unnecessary surgeries that opened the door to future complications. In most cases, these patients had never tried Physical Therapy. 

At the same time, I was studying in my spare time to learn new techniques that I put into place and saw tremendous results. I realized that my calling was to put those skills to use to help people BEFORE they went down the path of pills, injections, or surgery, and I wasn’t going to be able to do that in the Emergency Room.

I opened a practice out of my home and got so busy that I knew I had to get an office and find other therapists who shared my vision. At the same time, Phil Tygiel had been helping people with their pain for decades and was looking for the right person to take over his clinic, the one we are in today. I told him my vision for the future, and he knew I was the right person to succeed him.

I share my love of world travel, musical theater, and college basketball with my fantastic wife, Mel. We have two of the cutest wiener dogs on the planet, Winston and Wilbur, and we are thrilled to live in a town as amazing as Tucson. Even though I guess it is still considered “work,” I still have a passion for educating people about how to live a better quality of life. I spend many free weekends giving seminars for powerlifting, CrossFit gyms, and other community partners.

My name is Utimio Trujillo, I am a Doctor of Physical Therapy and have been practicing for 4 years. I have been extensively trained in musculoskeletal disorders and utilize dry needling as a tool for treatment of some of those disorders. My training in dry needling comes from a Pentamodal approach to needling that is comprehensive and holistic. This patient centered approach involves treatment of a number of musculoskeletal disorders from osteoarthritis, trigger points, tendinopathies, strains and sprains, scar mobilization, and TMJ

As a dual-credentialed Physical Therapist and Athletic Trainer, Kris has worked with people of all ages and skill levels - from weekend warriors to Olympic athletes - to help them get back to doing what they love.

With his dry needling practice, he draws on his extensive anatomy education, knowledge of musculoskeletal conditions, and understanding of how tissues heal to target the root cause of the issue and improve function.

Dr. Erin Brunelle, PT, DPT, RYT joins us with nearly a decade of experience as a physical therapist. Erin specializes in Integrative Dry Needling, a gentle style of dry needling that is able to address symptoms at systemic, segmental, and local levels. She enjoys using dry needling to help her clients find relief from pain and restore balance in their bodies, empowering them to move and feel their best.



I'm a client-centered licensed massage therapist. I enjoy meeting people where they are and empowering and educating them on the benefits of massage and other complementary therapies to help get them where they want to be. My focus is on achieving positive outcomes for clients. Whether the session's "goal" is relaxation, tension and pain relief, better mobility, or just receiving professional manual therapy in a safe, body-neutral, and welcoming space, I want you to know you are in good hands. I aim to help you reach your goals, whether improving your range of motion, managing pain, or a specific pathology (TMJ, plantar fasciitis, carpal tunnel, etc).

MODALITIES OFFERED

- Sports and Deep Tissue Massage

- TMJ Massage

- Craniosacral Therapy

I am a strength athlete, and massage is one of the modalities I found most helpful in my self-care. It has dramatically improved my quality of life as a person and athlete over the last ten years. As a powerlifting coach, massage therapy allows me to help individuals from any sports discipline and those looking for increased quality of life receive the benefits of massage therapy!

MODALITIES OFFERED

- Sports and Deep Tissue Massage

- Muscle Scraping

- Cupping



Maxine has been a massage therapist for 14 years, starting in California. She incorporates deep tissue, stretching, myofascial, neuromuscular, lymphatic drainage, and sports massage into her sessions depending on her clients' needs. She specializes in working with anyone who is dealing with pain. 

Mei realized her calling as a massage therapist during the pandemic and has loved her life and career ever since! A Minnesota-born ex-barista, ex-graphic designer, and ex-model, she moved to Tucson in 2022, searching for sunshine. She enjoys road trips, Pokémon Go, and helping people get in touch with their bodies to improve their lives and achieve their goals.

MODALITIES OFFERED

- Connective tissue massage

- Deep tissue massage

- Cupping

- Trigger Point Therapy

- Table Thai Massage



’m a native Tucsonan; I earned my Bachelor’s in Exercise Science but worked in the software industry for many years before I returned to my love for athletics and anatomy via massage. I have been a therapist since 2015 and have been with Tucson Sports Recovery since the summer of 2021.

While my work tends to be firm and deep, excellent at targeting deep muscle layers, connective tissue, and breaking down scar tissue, you may need something else on a particular day. Based on the targeted goals for each session and the feedback of your physiology during the session, I will apply different techniques and pressure to address your bodywork needs; sometimes that’s a lighter touch, other times that can be some stretching (dynamic or static), as well as add-on services like cupping, scraping, or laser therapy.

MODALITIES OFFERED

- Deep tissue and sports massage

- Muscle Scraping

- Cupping

- Pre and post-natal massage

KEIRA

Keira has been a massage therapist since October 2018, graduating from the 600-hour New Jersey massage therapy licensing; she continued to finish the 1080-hour New York licensing program and finally completed her bachelor’s in Exercise Science in December 2021. Keira focuses on getting the body to move better and relieving pain through therapeutic massage techniques, primarily deep tissue, orthopedic, neuromuscular, and myofascial massage techniques.

MODALITIES OFFERED

- Deep tissue and sports massage

- TMJ massage

- Orthopedic massage

My Name is David Greenwood. I am a driven massage therapist with the passion to help people recover from wear and tear of daily life, any pain or tension from an active life, or chronic pain from past injuries. I use a combination of deep tissue, pin and stretch, focused muscle work and focused muscle separation to address any problem areas that my clients have!

With over five years of experience, Sterling Gordon is passionate about helping clients find relief and balance through a unique blend of Thai and Lomi Lomi techniques, complemented by deep tissue work focused on the head, neck, shoulders, and TMJ. Formerly a bread baker and chocolatier, Sterling brings creativity and

precision to his craft.

His career highlights include working on a cruise ship and competing in the World Championship Massage Competition in Denmark. Sterling thrives on helping 9-5 desk professionals while prioritizing personal health. Outside of work, he enjoys hiking, movies, art, and travel.

DESTINY

Destiny Mendoza is a passionate massage therapist with nine months of experience, bringing fresh enthusiasm and a commitment to continuous learning. Drawn to the field for its endless opportunities to grow and evolve, Destiny specializes in sports massage, deep tissue, and pin-and-stretch techniques.

Destiny takes pride in helping clients find relief from chronic pain and loves seeing them leave sessions feeling better and more balanced. With a special focus on shoulders and glutes, Destiny is excited to tackle new challenges every day and build meaningful connections through her work.



Outside massage therapy, Destiny enjoys unwinding, staying productive by running errands, and keeping active with regular stretching. Her dedication to health and well-being shines through in every aspect of her life and work.