ABOUT LITTLE BIRD WELLNESS
From 2010 to 2024, follow the winding road of a massage therapist, her tribe, and a dream.
It Starts with One
Lani Dove's journey began at the Connecticut Center for Massage Therapy, juggling massage training with yoga teacher certification. After gaining experience in various settings, she launched her own practice, Healing Wings Massage, in 2011.
Bird is the Word
Healing Wings Massage thrived as Lani expanded her skills, taught at CCMT, and grew her private practice while balancing family life.
On the Move
Clients love to laugh about how often we've relocated over the years. From gyms and yoga studios to chiropractors’ offices, boutiques, and salons, we’ve made our way through many spaces before settling in Manchester and East Granby, where we continue to grow.
Adding to the Family
Lani expanded the team in 2019, hiring former students and colleagues, slowly growing the practice into a full-fledged wellness center, even overcoming challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Pressure Makes Diamonds
Despite the setbacks of COVID-19, Lani and the team seized the opportunity for further growth, including new locations and services.
What’s in a Name
With a growing team and expanded services, the practice was renamed Little Bird Wellness, blending the family names and honoring its evolution into a holistic wellness center.
Hometown Nest
The expansion continued with a new location in East Granby, where Little Bird Wellness built strong community ties and actively supported local initiatives.
Main Street Pride
Little Bird Wellness continued its growth in Manchester, finding a more spacious location at 272 Main Street, allowing them to add more practitioners and engage deeper with the community.
We Invite You to Become Part of Our Story and Begin Your Own Journey to Wellness
MEET THE TEAM
Meet our family of massage therapists, estheticians, nutritional therapists, and shaman healers with over 80 years of experience combined. We are ready to help our clients achieve full body mind and spirit wellness
Lani Cochran
LMT, NTP
lic #6286
After dabbling in music education and yoga instruction, Lani finally landed where she always has belonged and graduated from the Connecticut Center for Massage Therapy (CCMT) in 2010. She has been an active member of the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA) since graduation, previously serving on many volunteer committees and the CT Chapter Board, and earned the President’s Award in 2021 and the Distinguished Service Award from the CT Chapter in 2023. Lani was a faculty member at Cortiva Institute (formerly CCMT) from 2014 to 2019. She taught multiple bodywork classes, professional preparation & science classes, and brought that same spirit of education into the growth and development of the Little Bird Wellness staff family. In her massage work, Lani has been practicing Traditional Thai massage for 12 years, and Sarga Bodywork for 4 years. Her clients describe her style as “deceptively deep” and she has been known to lull people to sleep just as easily as she can unstick a frozen shoulder. In 2021 Lani also became a Nutritional Therapy Practitioner, to help clients find balance through the foundations of health. She is passionate about finding healing from the inside out, and loves the therapeutic qualities of food! See me for: Therapeutic Massage, Sarga Bodywork, Thai Massage, Body Treatments, Nutritional Therapy
Chris Cochran
Shaman Practitioner
Transpersonal Coach
Chris is a formally trained Shaman in the Peruvian traditions. He has 25 plus years of experience as a personal and profession coach stemming from his career in the U.S. Army and in corporate America. Chris holds a B.S. in Strategic Studies and Defense Analysis with a minor in Anthropology, a Masters of Leadership, and an MBA. Chris combines his corporate, military and healing training with his love of nature to provide coaching and healing sessions which are unique to each client. See Me For: Shamanic Healing
Emily Kerr
LMT, EST
LMT lic #10656 / EST lic #1605
Emily graduated from Cortiva Institute (formerly CCMT) in October of 2019 for Massage Therapy, and returned in November of 2020 to pursue Skincare. Finishing the program in May 2021, she now has a dual-license for Massage and Esthetics. She has additional education in lymphatic bodywork, offering a type of massage that focuses on the body's Nervous system, rather than the musculature. Most recently, she has trained with the owner & creator of Solavedi Organic skincare, and is now offering Ayurvedic facials. With a passion for helping people and an education in muscles & skin, she’s there to help anyone feel better, inside and out. See me for: Therapeutic Massage, Lymphatic Massage, Body Treatments, Facials, Lashes & Brows, Waxing
Stacey Carew
LMT
lic #3149
Stacey graduated from the Connecticut Center for Massage Therapy (CCMT) in 2002. Over the next 15 years, she supported massage therapy students using both her experiences in the massage therapy field and her degree in Psychology from St. Joseph University. She has training in multiple modalities, including Thai massage, Myoskeletal Alignment techniques and, most recently, warm bamboo massage. Combining intuition and various massage modalities, she supports each client towards their own personal healing. See me for: Therapeutic Massage, Thai Massage, Body Treatments
Rachel Shea
Receptionist
East Granby office
Rachel has worked in the medical, dental, insurance, and natural health industries in roles ranging from support to management. She earned a B.S. in Family Studies: Adulthood and Aging Concentration with a minor in Gerontology from University of Connecticut in 2001. Rachel graduated from Connecticut Center for Massage Therapy (CCMT) in 2007. She is a certified Reiki practitioner and she earned 200 hour Yoga Teacher Certification from Journey of Yoga in 2020. As the receptionist for Many Rivers Community Acupuncture, Rachel fondly remembers numerous occasions of people coming into the clinic in pain and then leaving with a smile on their face as they floated out. She is looking forward to utilizing her acquired skills and education, fueled by her passion for holistic health and healing, in her new role as receptionist at Little Bird Wellness.
Carrie Fauteux
Receptionist
Manchester office
Carrie is our part-time receptionist at the Manchester location. In her other life, Carrie is an RYT500 and received her certification from Crossroads Yoga Teacher Training in 2018. She is additionally trained in Energy Medicine Yoga (EMYoga) and is a Reiki III practitioner.
Jasara Hall
LMT
lic #3378
Jasara is a 2002 graduate of the Connecticut Center for Massage Therapy (CCMT), and has worked in many different venues of massage over the years. She has been trained in many modalities and takes that knowledge into every session. Using a combination of intuition & client communication, she develops a plan for continued work and care with clients. Sports massage, deep tissue, reflexology, or a combination of all & more. Jasara focuses on a shared goal of client health for each session. See Me For: Therapeutic Massage, Body Treatments
Pamela Prior
EST, RDH
lic #1621
Pam became a state licensed Aesthetician in 2019 after completing the 1250-hour Advanced Esthetics Program at ACC. Not only does Pam bring her dedication and love to her profession, she has an extensive medical background as a dental hygienist to ensure her clients the highest standards of care, infection control and safety. Her thirst for knowledge in the ever-changing skin industry led Pam to obtain additional certification in: Jet Peel, Microdermabrasion, ProCell Microchanneling, and Microcurrent. Pam's approach is one that encompasses all the technical knowledge with a relaxing and soothing touch. A true master of customized facials, body treatments, peels, mechanical exfoliation modalities, lymphatic drainage techniques and relaxation. She enjoys providing her clients an opportunity to achieve healthy skin through services that are truly unique, personalized and precise. Pam believes there is no better satisfaction than knowing she has helped a client achieve far more than what they hoped for. See Me For: Facials, Waxing, Body Treatments, Lashes
Elizabeth (EJ) Davis
LMT
lic #10955
Elizabeth (EJ) Davis is a graduate of Cortiva Institute of Cromwell, CT. After having a demanding corporate career for over 26 years she realized the cathartic power of a routine massage and decided to do what she loves and became a Massage Therapist. Every session is customized from light to deep pressure to best suit your needs allowing you to completely relax. Her style is calming and effective by working with your nervous system and muscle tone. Sinking in slowly to melt away muscle tension. EJ comes to massage with genuine compassion, and a deep desire to help people. See me for: Therapeutic Massage, Body Treatments
Christine Butler
LMT
lic #10618
Christine is a Licensed Massage Therapist who graduated from Cortiva Institute in 2019. She first became a Licensed Cosmetologist in 2014. Since then, Christine has worked in both fields and has developed a passion for the importance of self care. She believes that the power of touch is essential, and massage therapy is a way to improve your mental and physical well-being. Christine has a strong interest in anatomy and views each body as its own unique puzzle. And to better serve her clients, Christine plans to further her education in order to help whomever should walk through the door. See Me For: Therapeutic Massage, Body Treatments
Bronwyn Burns
LMT
lic #7169
As a Violinist and Violin instructor for the past 20 years, Bronwyn has studied and implemented use of correct posture. She has trained her hands to be sensitive and finds this ability transfers well to massage therapy. As a Certified Music Teacher in the Hartford Public Schools, she has experience in maintaining equilibrium being sensitive to the needs of a wide variety of individuals. As an undergraduate she minored in Philosophy of Science & has knowledge of the concepts and practices of Energy Work. Bronwyn is a Martial Artist, this is helpful for strength, flexibility and endurance. This, along with regular meditation, helps to maintain her spiritual, mental and physical balance. Bronwyn enjoys sharing these qualities, and feels a deep sense of satisfaction in bringing comfort and relief through massage therapy. See Me For: Therapeutic Massage
Sarah Enders
LMT
lic #10340
Sarah studied massage therapy at CT State Community College in 2018, and has been a licensed massage therapist since 2019. Her massage therapy style blends swedish, deep tissue, stretching, and trigger point therapy, as well as acupressure and meridian techniques in order to ease client pain and increase her client's well-being. She is interested in the interplay of physiological healing with energy-centered philosophy, and looks forward to continuing to deepen her knowlege and understanding of acupressure and meridian massage through the ancient medical science of Traditional Chinese Medicine.
Katarina Antalova
LMT
lic #7786
Katarina graduated from the Connecticut Center for Massage Therapy in 2008. She is helping clients with management of stress, pain, discomfort and edema. Katarina is a certified manual lymphatic drainage therapist (CMLDT) and certified lymphedema therapist (CLT). She studied complete decongestive therapy (CDT) and MLD through Klose Training under the guidance of Linda Hodgkins, MS OTR/L CLT-LANA. See me for: Therapeutic massage (Swedish, Deep Tissue), Manual Lymphatic Drainage (MLD), Prenatal and postnatal massage, Reflexology, Hot Stone, Ayurvedic Abhyanga massage and body treatments.
Olivia Wertz
LMT
lic #10462
Through my educational experiences working with chiropractic patients I have a solid understanding of how to treat people who are recovering from a fall, surgery or car accident. I assist in the healing process and eliminate scar tissue. My favorite type of massage to perform is deep tissue and I have seen and felt these techniques work in these types of patients. In addition, I’ve paired well with physical therapists to help with the strengthening of clients muscles. I’ve had the opportunity to work with professional athletes who have benefited as well and made a difference in their performances. I have such a passion for massage therapy and it shows when I work on clients. You can feel that I want to heal. I am still continuing my education and adding more techniques and knowledge to better serve the community.
Kiley Farren
EST
lic #2644
Kiley's favorite part of the skincare industry is that it is always growing, allowing her to expand her knowledge in the field. She loves being able to help people feel their best and revealing their improved skin to them after treatment, along with helping them curate a perfect home care regimen
Krissa Fondakowski
EST
lic #3178
Krissa believes it’s important that every client gets a personalized treatment as unique as they are. She feels blessed to have found her passion and have the opportunity to make other people feel happy in their skin. She offers the highest standard of treatments that will not only help you look your best, but also enhance your total health and wellbeing!
Beki O'Neil
LMT
lic #5558
Beki is a CCMT graduate from 2007. With over 13,000 hours of hands on experience and use of techniques such as deep tissue, Swedish, sports, assisted stretch, prenatal, hot stone (including Himalayan), cupping, basic trigger point, basic reflexology, and rehab/post surgery work. One her specialities is helping with headache and migraine relief. She also has worked along side a chiropractor for over 13 years with patient care and care plans within a massage therapy scope of practice. She is always willing to help and provide the best therapeutic pressure and relaxation for every BODY- using empathy and intuition to make you feel refreshed and renewed.
Michael Crowe
LMT
lic #11046
Michael has been practicing massage therapy for 2 years after graduating from Cortiva Institute in 2022. Since starting he has picked up multiple modalities such as Swedish, cupping, myofascial, and recently Himalayan hot stone. He utilizes a collaboration of Swedish, myofascial, and some deep tissue techniques at a slow, intentional pace. The Swedish base of the massage allows for deep relaxation while the myofascial and deep tissue techniques are capable of offering a more intentional massage to those who still require a lighter touch.
I've had massages before, but this was my first time at Little Bird Wellness. From the moment you walk into the establishment, you feel instantly welcomed and at peace. The atmosphere is very serene and clean and the customer service is outstanding.
Tina Dee