Teacher Bios
Ama Tara is home to the private practices of Stacy Romillah, Asian Medicine Practitioner, Licensed Acupuncturist and Certified Massage Therapist, and Anusara Yoga Teacher, and Chama Anderson, Licensed Massage Practitioner. You can read their biographies and personal messages to you below.
Stacy Romillah, Asian Medicine Practitioner, Licensed Acupuncturist
My path in healing began when I was a child. I would walk home after school and sometimes hear divine music, seemingly carried on the wind. By the time I was a teen I felt so curious about topics that most of my friends had no interest in. Although I’d had no exposure to alternative medicine or meditation, I had an insatiable yearning for it. When I went to college at Western Washington University I immediately began inquiring about anyone teaching meditation, and began my exploration of spirituality.
Some time later while taking pre-med coursework at the University of Alaska in Anchorage in 1992, and having just graduated from Gatekey School of Mind Body Integration Studies with my national certification in massage therapy, I awoke with a start. I sat up in bed, with a deep and certain knowing that I was going to be an acupuncturist. I had been studying Jin Shin Do Acupressure and was feeling inspired about Oriental Medicine, but I really did not have a logical reason to make this choice. I was enrolled in a college student exchange program at the University of California, and all was prepared for the autumn. Instead what I did was call the Oriental Medicine colleges in Washington State and enrolled in a 3 year Master’s degree program. I had just enough credits in all the required medical subjects to meet their entrance requirements. I was the youngest student to ever have graduated from the Northwest Institute of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine when I finished school in 1995. Looking back it still surprises me that I so unquestioningly changed educational tracks. Somehow the decision to study Oriental Medicine felt so certain and natural, that I felt free from doubts. Thank goodness! Since graduating, I have continued my studies in very gentle and transformative styles of acupuncture.
In 1992 I moved to Orcas Island. I traveled to Seattle each week for school and home to my beautiful island retreat on the weekends. In 1993 I joined the Healing Arts Center in Eastsound and gained experience practicing massage at Rosario Resort. After 15 wonderful and growth oriented years at the Healing Arts Center, fate stepped into my life again.
In October of 2007 I was on a flight home from a 10 day intensive meditation retreat. As I sat quietly on the plane, suddenly a picture came into my mind. I could see the general course of my life as a valley. For the most part, my path through life was in the “right” valley. I knew I was generally doing what I was meant to do. But now I looked down and the mist cleared and I could see one narrow and perfect path, the exactly correct path for my life. I felt with certainty that I was to open a healing center that would allow me to offer more of what I valued in the field of healing. It would be a place that was healing in itself, a place where classes about health and meditation would be offered, where alternative medicine would be affordable to all, and where I could set up my practice the way I had always dreamed of. This path has been filled with grace and ease with Ama Tara Healing and Meditation Center.
I believe and have experienced that the gravity of balance is strong in each of us. Our bodies want to be healthy and our hearts want to be joyful. All we must do is let go of the ideas and beliefs that hold us back from this experience. When we let go of these inaccurate perceptions of ourselves and our bodies, incredible and rapid changes can take place. As with most truths, it sounds simple, but can be challenging to do. In each private session and class I focus my skills and knowledge on helping you give into the gravity of balance that is always calling to you.
In health and wellness,
Stacy Romillah, Asian Medicine Practitioner, Licensed Acupuncturist
I have held a Washington State license as an Asian Medicine Practitioner and Licensed Acupuncturist since 1995. I have my Master’s Degree in Acupuncture. I have held an American Massage Therapy Association certification since 1992. I also have certifications in Toyo Hari Acupuncture, Jin Shin Do Acupressure and Medicinal Aromatherapy. I continue to practice and study meditation and Anusara Yoga. My undergraduate background is in biology and health sciences. I will process insurance claims for automobile accidents, and my services are covered by some insurance policies.
“Stacy has a very intuitive knowledge of the human body, and places her emphasis on wellness. I think I have gained 10 additional well years because of her efforts.” JC, Orcas Island Washington
“It has been sheer grace to have Stacy as our primary healing professional for the last 8 years. Her level of experience, caring and presence has been profound and deeply beneficial.”
RS & JG, Orcas Island and Ashland Oregon
“I sought acupuncture treatments from Stacy for dealing with grief issues surrounding the loss of my parents, both within a year’s time. Stacy’s healing touch allowed me to fully feel my feelings and do what I needed to do to grieve my loss while striving to maintaining a certain balance. My treatment focused mainly on realigning/recalibrating my energy/chi from which I would feel immediate comfort after each treatment. I have since passed the first anniversary of my parents’ deaths and I feel that I have come to a place of closure, gratitude, and peace ~ and joy, knowing my parents are where they need to be. Stacy was instrumental in getting me here.” LR, Orcas Island and Seattle Washington
Chama Teresa Anderson
Licensed massage practitioner
I began my massage training at Brenneke School of Massage in Seattle, Washington. I graduated and received my national certification in 2004. A great deal of my training and knowledge comes from my life experience as an athlete, caregiver, body worker, hospice and social worker, coach, and student of life, Mother Earth and Spirit.
The tools I bring to my practice include: structural assessment, myo-facial release, injury treatment, deep tissue and Swedish massage, cranio-sacral, positional release, energy work, structural decompression, unwinding and ancient healing practices. All of these are built upon a solid foundation with Spirit.
In closing,
a sore muscle, a tingly leg, an ache, a pain
or chatty joints in the cold, cold rain
no matter the call
of one or of them all
your body does know
listen and go slow
sometimes there are mumblings
sometimes there are shouts
sometimes no matter your efforts
you still don’t know what it’s about
it may have begun long, long ago
a heartache, a bone break
an accident or mistake
an untrue belief
that is habitually said
can really, really fog up your head
patterns have come
patterns can go
one thing is for sure
and this I know
Love is what we are
yes, you and me
no more, no less
that’s who we be
from this place I come
experience, trainings,
trips and falls
I offer an intentional massage,
a beautiful space
for you to heal
and to see
your beauty
and grace
-Chama Teresa Anderson
