Our Therapists

BRENDA STEBBEDS

Massage Manager

Brenda has a special skill that we are thrilled to have at Overleaf Lodge & Spa. With deep experience as a Licensed Massage Therapist (LMT), she also has an extensive background helping other massage therapist succeed in our common goal of serving clients.

“Massage is not just a ‘back rub’ that anyone can do,” says Brenda. “Professionally trained and skilled therapists perform magical work that you cannot experience at the massage chairs in the mall. Massage is unique, in that it takes strong focus to set aside one’s personal agenda each day and meet each client where they are at, in that very moment.”

To provide our guests an exceptional experience, Brenda works to identify LMTs who share this philosophy to become part the Overleaf Spa team. In addition to providing team members support, she oversees safety protocols to keep clients, therapists and staff healthy and happy while in our treatment rooms.

Brenda began her journey over 13 years ago with an initial goal of helping others feel better. Today, she is an adjunct instructor for the massage therapy departments at both Lane Community College and Rogue Community College. She is also the owner of Urban Therapeutic, a wellness and therapeutic products boutique in downtown Eugene, Oregon.

Brenda lives in Eugene, with her family and dogs, Waldo and Frida. Several times each month she travels to Yachats to breathe the fresh air, enjoy the beautiful views and work, here at Overleaf Spa.

KANDICE RINGER

Licensed Massage Therapist

Helping, guiding, encouraging people’s bodies to release tension and heal, thanks to intentional touch, is what Licensed Massage Therapist Kandice Ringer brings to the massage tables here, at the Overleaf Lodge & Spa.

A licensed massage therapist since 2013, her experience is wide-ranging, with 20 years in health care and expertise in a variety of modalities, which she adapts to meet clients’ needs. She practices a Swedish-based massage “very intuitively.” She also has studied or attended workshops for acupressure, trigger points, Hawaiian lomilomi, Thai massage, cupping, aromatherapy and myofascial release.

“I have always been drawn to natural treatment options,” says Ringer, who has been inspired by her own journey of personal injuries and her health care quest to discover treatment options that are natural and effective.

Ringer has practiced massage in chiropractor offices, spas, a park recreation center, in private practice and care facilities, even at music festivals.

Born in Alaska, Ringer moved to Gold Beach, Oregon, when she was 7 years old. She has lived in Eugene since 2006 and is thrilled to be practicing massage therapy at the Overleaf Lodge & Spa.

“Yachats has always been my favorite Oregon Coast town. I love the vibe, the architecture of the homes, the artsy feel, the views and the beaches,” she says, adding, “I love being in nature, hiking in the mountains and walking on the beach.”

JESSE BURLINGHAM

Licensed Massage Therapist

Throughout the course of his life, Jesse Burlingham has been a student and an athlete, a leader in the U.S. Army, a retail manager, a recruiting manager, and has also worked in law enforcement. More recently, Jesse became an Oregon Licensed Massage Therapist—what he calls his best career decision ever! All of those experiences, he says, have two things in common: the desire to help others and teamwork.

Jesse has owned his own massage practice since earning his license in 2018. About his clients, Jesse says, “I love hearing that they feel relieved of pain, feel relaxed, that they can bicycle, run, hike longer and with ease.”

Jesse’s massage techniques include Swedish, Deep Tissue, Sports and Thai. He also does Assisted Stretching and Fire Cupping. “I find it fun to investigate specific ailments or pains, identifying the anatomy involved, and then work collaboratively on a treatment plan,” he adds.

Although he currently lives in Eugene, Jesse loves his time working in Yachats, which he calls “a special place that everyone should experience at least once in their lifetime.” While on the coast, he loves to hunt for agates and check out the tidal pools.

When he’s not providing massages, you can find Jesse either fly-fishing, working out at CrossFit, hiking or biking. He and his wife enjoy being active together and spending time with their new puppy.

MARIA ERSKINE

Licensed Massage Therapist

As both a Licensed Massage Therapist and Reiki Energy Healer, Maria Erskine values being able to help people heal and relax. Maria utilizes a variety of techniques to release tension, increase circulation and promote overall well-being.

She is passionate about the connection between the mind and the body and what bringing these two into harmony can do in our lives. She shares, “Too many people are unaware of what this harmony truly feels like, which is why I’m so dedicated to and excited about the work I do every day.”

Maria recognizes massage as a tool for easing pain, healing injuries, and restoring you to your core self.

In response to the Holiday Farm Fire near Eugene, Oregon, in the late summer of 2020, Maria provided emergency massage relief at different evacuation sites. She witnessed the relief that a simple 10-minute chair massage provided, creating a space for calm, ease and release.

A resident of Eugene, she has always been drawn to the ocean ̶, its mesmerizing waves and the peace and tranquility of beautiful coastal towns like Yachats. For Maria, exploring the coastal trails is one of her favorite ways to enjoy nature and observe the variety of vegetation.

DIANA PIWETZ

Licensed Massage Therapist

Nurturing people has always been at the core of Diana Piwetz’s work.

Before she became a Licensed Massage Therapist in 1995, she owned a bakery/café in Bend, Oregon. She enjoyed feeding people but when ready for a career change, she chose massage therapy to continue helping people feel good.

“I have the best job around,” she says. “I get to help people feel better or just relax and be calm for a while.”

With 25 years of experience, Diana knows that not everyone relaxes in the same way, but she truly loves the variety of people she meets through her work. She recalls how one client talked and laughed through the whole session.

“I thought to myself: How is she going to relax if she keeps talking?” she says. Still, the client fully enjoyed the massage, telling Diana that she felt more relaxed than she had in months. “I just never know what people are going to tell me or how they will be affected,” Diana adds.

Not only does Diana give massages at the Overleaf Lodge & Spa, but she also works at a day spa in Cottage Grove and at a chiropractor’s office in Eugene.

When at the Oregon Coast, Diana loves to walk on the beach and trails. She enjoys watching the waves and incoming storms, often from the beautiful Overleaf Lodge property.

“The environment brings me peace and helps me to recharge.”