Melissa Kutok, Owner of House of Wellness

Melissa Kutok is a seasoned professional in the world of therapeutic massage. After graduating from the Onondaga School of Therapeutic Massage in 2001, she embarked on a journey to provide exceptional wellness experiences. As the proud owner of House of Wellness, Melissa hand-selects a team of incredible massage therapists dedicated to enhancing your well-being.

Beyond her passion for massage therapy, Melissa is an avid enthusiast of yoga and literature. When she's not at the helm of her wellness business, you can find her on her mat or immersed in a captivating book. Melissa is not only dedicated to the art of relaxation but also to her two wonderful children, who inspire her every day.

Join Melissa and the House of Wellness team on a journey to rejuvenate your body and spirit.

Shane SavoY, lMT

Shane is a graduate of the Swedish Institute College of Health Science in New York City and has been a licensed massage therapist since 2017. 

He also holds a master's degree in exercise physiology and has worked at sports medicine practices, athletic training centers, and fitness centers throughout New York City. 

Shane uses a mix of osteopathic techniques and traditional massage during a session in order to provide the best possible individual treatment. 

Osteopathic techniques comprise of: osteo-articular pumping, fascia normalization and fiber reset, which are performed active or passive and are specific to the tissues.

Traditional massage techniques comprise of: Swedish massage, trigger point therapy, myofascial release and lymphatic drainage, which are passive and general to the tissue. 

Both provide relief and relaxation. These modalities can be combined or used individually based on the specific needs of the individual. 

Additionally, Shane has specific training in managing scoliosis, temperomandibular joint (tmj) pain and whiplash trauma. 

- Injury Recovery and Rehabilitation
- Head and Neck Trauma
- Sports Massage Therapy
- Deep Tissue/Muscle Specific Therapy
- Myofascial Release
- Trigger Point Therapy
- Lymphatic Drainage
- Manual Lymphatic Drainage

Fernando Landazabal Leal, lMT

Award winner for best Massage Therapist in Atlanta 2009 and 2010, by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, joins the House of Wellness team of talented therapists in Astoria. With 15 years of experience as a licensed Massage Therapist and over 12,000 people who have felt his touch, Fernando brings a blend of techniques that include his specialties:

-Trigger Point Release
- Shiatsu
- Lymphatic Drainage
- Deep Tissue Massage
- Pre/Post-natal

Ilia Gerassimov, LMT

Ilia’s professional journey has been shaped by hands-on training and real-world experience, ultimately leading him to pursue a multifaceted career in healthcare. he is currently a licensed Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA), and Licensed Massage Therapist (LMT). In addition to his clinical and therapeutic expertise, he is a devoted husband and father, with a strong passion for continuous learning and personal growth.

His practice integrates a broad spectrum of therapeutic modalities, with an emphasis on providing relief from physical discomfort, promoting recovery, and improving overall well-being. With over 15 years of experience, he remain dedicated to helping others regain balance and vitality through a blend of compassionate care and expert techniques.

Specialties:

- Swedish Massage
- Deep Tissue Massage
- Trigger Point Therapy
- Myofascial Release
- Sports Massage
- Pain Management & Rehabilitation
- Post-Injury Recovery
- Aromatherapy Integration
- Relaxation and Stress Relief Techniques
- Cupping

Ingrid Castano, LMT

As a graduate of the Swedish Institute College of Health Sciences in New York City, Ingrid has been a licensed massage therapist since 2013. Her strong passion for helping people drives her work, and she has gained valuable experience in both spa and medical office settings. Ingrid also has a passion for traveling, which enriches her life and broadens her perspective. Beyond her professional life, she is a dedicated wife and a proud mom to a teenage daughter, balancing her career with family life and embracing the joy that comes with both.

Specialties:

- Deep Tissue

- Swedish

- Stress Relief & Relaxation

CRISTINA PANDREA

For over a decade, Cristina worked in accounting before beginning her journey into holistic wellness in 2014, when she discovered the profound healing potential of yoga and touch therapy. What started as a personal exploration quickly grew into a deep passion for understanding the connection between mind, body, and spirit. Yoga and healing practices became powerful tools for managing stress, cultivating balance, and inspiring a new path forward.

Driven by this passion, Cristina earned certifications in Hatha Vinyasa and Kundalini Yoga, studied Thai Yoga Massage, and immersed herself in Vipassana meditation. In 2020, she graduated as a Licensed Massage Therapist from Pacific College of Oriental Medicine, specializing in Prenatal Massage. Currently, Cristina is furthering her studies in Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine, with a special focus on women’s health.

Her treatments blend therapeutic skill with intuitive presence, supporting both immediate relief and long-term wellness.

In her personal life, Cristina embraces a holistic lifestyle rooted in acupuncture, yoga, meditation, dance, and the use of essential oils. Her commitment to self-care and personal growth enriches her work, allowing her to create a nurturing and restorative space for her clients.

Specialties:

• Prenatal Massage

• Deep Tissue

• Acupressure

• Lymphatic Drainage

• Table Thai Yoga Massage

• Hara Abdominal Massage

• Relaxation and Stress Relief Techniques

Sydney VanAlstine

After graduating from Finger Lakes School of Massage in Ithaca NY, Sydney has been a licensed massage therapist since 2017.

She is passionate about Wellness within the connection of mind, body, and spirit, offering a wide spectrum of modalities and bringing Reiki into sessions.

She specializes in:

-Reiki massage
-Trigger Point Therapy
-Prenatal/Postnatal Massage
-Meridian Therapy
-Sciatic relief  
-Deep Tissue Massage
-Connective Tissue Therapy
-Cupping

After her time in massage school, she’s been in pursuit of overall wellness, attending yoga school, meditation classes and Reiki to help ground her own personal practice of life.  

Kayla Deslandes

Kayla Deslandes is a graduate of Queensborough Community College’s Massage Therapy program in 2025. She specializes in therapeutic massage, drawing from her diverse background to help clients recover, realign, and reconnect with their bodies.

Before pursuing massage therapy, Kayla worked in both inpatient and outpatient physical rehabilitation settings and is a certified personal trainer focused on making fitness enjoyable and digestible. Her integrative approach combines myofascial release, deep tissue work, and trigger point therapy, to support each client’s individual goals whether they’re seeking relief from pain or striving for peak performance.

Kayla is passionate about client education and believes that true healing happens when individuals feel empowered in their own wellness journey. When she’s not in the treatment room, you’ll find her enjoying nature, being an amateur food critic, or planning her next travel adventure.

Dr. Vernon Jenkins, DAc, LMT, CPT

A proud girl dad, Vernon is a life long learner and Healer, ardent about his client's overall health and fitness well-being. Vernon obtained his Associate degree of massage therapy in 2014 from New York College of Health and Professions. 2022 Vernon earned his Master degree of Acupuncture and Bachelor degree of Professional Studies. In 2024 Vernon  earned his Doctorate degree in Acupuncture from Pacific College of Health and Science in 2024. He is also certified a personal trainer under NASM.

He is currently enrolled in the Pacific College of Health and science to pursue his Licensed in Herbology as the well being and safety of his patient is always at the forefront of his agenda. 

Outside his passion of being a Healer, Vernon is committed to his family and his daughter's education. Registering for the latest continuing education courses, reading books and learning how to listen to his body because as a former professional athlete,he had to learn that the hard way. Vernon had always followed the motto ” No pain, No Gain” after a few injuries and stints in rehabilitation,  his new motto is “ Good Pain, Good Gain.”, he carries that same notion in to treatment room with his client.

Specialities 

Acupuncture Services.

• Injury Rehabilitation

• Pain Management

• Digestive disorders

• Sexual dysfunction

• Infertility

• E-Stim Therapy

• Cupping

Massage Therapy Services

• Swedish Massage

• Deep tissue

• Reflexology

• Medical massage

• Myofascial release of the Ilium, Psoas and Quadratus Lumborum

• Sports Massage

• Ampuku ( Stomach Massage)

Kat Harrop, LMT & Reiki Practitioner

Kat has been a licensed therapist since 2017 as a graduate of the Fingerlakes School of Massage in Ithaca New York, and completed her Reiki 2 training in 2024. She is passionate about the esoteric healing arts and offers a unique blend of modalities to assist the mind, body, and spirit in its innate ability to heal. She targets movement patterns and approaches the body with the idea that everything is connected. Trauma sensitive and communicative, she values holding a sacred space for deep emotional unwinding and activating the parasympathetic nervous system. The body tends to hold and store experiences and emotions that can lead to tension, pain, lack of mobility, and stagnation, Kat uses this understanding to deepen her practice and presence while she facilitates the healing process.

Her Specialties include but are not limited to:

• Myofascial Release

• Cupping

• Mindful Deep Tissue

• Meridian Therapy

• Reiki

• Pre-Natal/Post-Natal

• Neck and Jaw Release

• Emotional Pelvic Release

• Belly Massage

• Gua Sha

Danielle Marie Fusco, Reiki practitioner

Offering Reiki and Oracle card readings at House of Wellness

Danielle is a shamanic lineage healer and reiki practitioner.  She is intuitive, an artist, and a seeker of truth.  Her lifelong spiritual gifts have led her to profound breakthroughs while working with others.  Danielle is committed to elevating human consciousness through art, connection, and joyous expansion. 

She is here to assist you in finding peace, healing, and a sense of belonging in the community space. 

ALEXANDER TECHNIQUE SERVICE

Serena Venditto, m.amSAT

Serena is an AmSAT certified Alexander Technique teacher excited to share what she has learned about the mind-body with the anxious, high-achievers who don't (yet) know how to release all that tension. As someone who struggled with being told that she “needed to relax” and that she “wanted things too much”, the mind-body practice of the Alexander Technique was the missing piece to finally figuring out HOW to let go and move with less effort.

Her specialities include:

- Chronic pain symptoms 
- Desk related back/shoulder pain 
- Posture realignment 
- Performance anxiety 
- Stress management

ACUPUNCTURE SERVICE

Tara Grant, M.A., L.Ac.

Tara Grant is a licensed acupuncturist specializing in nervous system regulation, chronic pain relief, and trauma-informed care. With a Master’s degree in Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture from the Oregon College of Oriental Medicine and a Master’s in Clinical and Depth Psychology from Antioch University in Los Angeles, Tara integrates a unique blend of Eastern medicine and neuroscience-based healing to help patients find lasting relief.

Her approach is rooted in understanding how stress, trauma, and pain affect the nervous system, using acupuncture to shift the body into a state of deep relaxation and self-healing. By working with the body’s natural rhythms, her treatments help patients move out of chronic fight-or-flight mode and into a more balanced state.

Tara has worked in rehabilitation centers, community health settings, and private practice, supporting patients through pain conditions, infertility, auto-immune disorders, anxiety, and stress-related disorders.

Her acupuncture treatments are designed to:

• Regulate the nervous system and promote deep relaxation

• Relieve chronic pain, headaches, and muscle tension

• Support recovery from trauma, PTSD, and emotional distress

• Improve sleep, digestion, and overall vitality

• Incorporate cupping and Gua Sha for deeper muscle release and circulation

Tara’s treatments create a safe, supportive space for patients to reconnect with their bodies and heal at their own pace. She believes in empowering individuals with tools for long-term well-being, guiding them toward a pain-free, balanced, and resilient state.