Meet Our Team
Betty Chrestman, Founder, LMBT, CST
I have been developing and refining my skills in somatic healing for over twenty years.
This journey began in Oklahoma City where I earned an Associate of Occupational Studies Degree in Therapeutic Massage from Heritage College. I also received Certification from the Connecticut Center for Massage Therapy in Westport for Acupressure, Kinesiology, and East/West Pathology.
Recently, I have acquired multiple certifications and training in various methods of therapeutic massage, energy work, CranioSacral and other treatments to enhance wellbeing.
I have lived and worked in several states, bringing my unique blend of empathic and pragmatic healing to clients from all walks of life.
After years of working in high end spas, including being backend and therapist manager for the Spa Soleil at Bonvoy Marriot on Hilton Head Island, I have returned home to Highlands with a vision of cultivating wellness throughout this community where I have chosen to raise my daughter, Edie.
I believe that the body is a conduit for profound healing-especially when a person is ready and open to the work. I also believe in the power of wellness and community, and am committed to ushering in this reality for all persons.
Being a creative and collaborative entrepreneur, I founded Unfurl Massage and Bodywork in 2021; a highly respected local business that showcases local artisans, healers, and provides bespoke experiences for individuals, groups, and events. I am excited to announce an expansion in progress to a full service spa, we will continue to offer healing modalities, and introduce our community to new and exciting therapies.
Rachael Bowker
Rachael is our Spa Manager. She is passionate about nature, mental health, organization, psychology, skincare, learning, and helping others care for themselves. Organizing and making clients happy is what she loves!
Rachie enjoys hiking, exploring trails, and gardening. These activities have taught her mindfulness and the benefits of staying grounded and structured which she practices through daily meditation.
She is in her last semester of a Psychology degree focusing on management and customer relations. Helping people prioritize their well-being is one of her greatest joys.
Whether through a friendly conversation or creating a welcoming retail space, she aims to make people feel valued and cared for.
Caroline Long
Caroline Long has been part of our team for the past three years, serving as our social media manager and passionately spreading the word about Unfurl within the community, and beyond. She lives in the area with her husband and two amazing kids. Caroline is dedicated to promoting products and services that enhance well-being and self-care, seamlessly blending her professional expertise with her personal commitment to family and community.
Cath Connolly-Hudson
Cath is a local resident artist and yoga instructor.
After completing a career in Management and Leadership at top enterprise software companies, Cath came to Highlands to follow her passion to paint, teach, volunteer and build a yoga practice.
Cath’s initial yoga teacher training were in 2012 with The Blue in Raleigh, NC and The Kripalu Center for Health and Yoga in Mass. Cath builds her classes for everyone. Her gentle style becomes a meditation on movement and breath. Her focus is to help you reconnect with your breath, and develop your own inner sense of well being in a calming and caring environment.
Gisela Suarez
Born and raised in Guayaquil, Ecuador, Gisela Suarez migrated to the United States in 1989. In 2004, she embarked on a dedicated career in Massage Therapy and Esthetics, bringing over 20 years of expertise to her clients. Gisela is highly skilled in a wide range of therapeutic techniques, including Lymphatic Drainage, Sports Massage, Neuromuscular Therapy, Table Thai Massage, Lomi Lomi, Hot Stone Therapy, Reiki, Stretching, Prenatal Massage, Oncology Massage, TMJ Treatment, Trigger Point Therapy, and Infant Massage. In the realm of skincare, she offers advanced services such as Hydrafacials, customized facials, Guasha, Microdermabrasion, Dermaplaning, face waxing, and chemical peels.
Her holistic approach to wellness is not only rooted in technical excellence but also in her passion for helping her clients achieve relaxation, therapeutic relief, and rejuvenation. Gisela takes pride in her ability to provide personalized treatments that leave her clients feeling revitalized and at ease.
Outside of her professional life, Gisela is an avid traveler who enjoys exploring new cultures both alone and with her family. She also finds joy in activities such as hiking, dancing, karaoke, biking, walking, and solving crosswords, all of which reflect her zest for life and love for new experiences.
Gisela’s passion for her craft and her commitment to her clients’ well-being make her an exceptional professional in the field of Massage Therapy and Esthetics.
Hillary Marshall
Hillary Marshall loves helping you train your nervous system and move your body, especially through yoga.
Breathwork and movement is what helps her through tough times and she has a passion for teaching these skills to you.
Hillary loves being outside; biking, hiking, and gardening. You can also find her reading a book, playing a board game, or traveling.
Hillary has a passion for the outdoors and anything that keeps her active, but her true passion is helping others achieve their goals. When facing an obstacle, it is easy to feel unsure of oneself; Hillary excels in identifying the steps to take to acquire success and providing helpful encouragement and guidance along the way to help you improve in both mind and body.
Hillary’s yoga teacher training is through Yogabody Fitness with Lucas Rockwood (200HR Vinyasa Flow Yoga, Gravity Yoga®, Yoga Trapeze®, and Breath Coach®) and has studied with Ashley Masters Healing Arts (Deep Stretch). She is an ACE Certified Personal Trainer and also holds certifications in TRX and Barre® Intensity.
Candice Rose
Candice Rose, M. Psych. & Certified Life Coach, offers 1-1 therapeutic coaching in person for adults and teens.
She draws on a range of holistic tools and science-backed techniques to help you heal your past, and discover your unique strengths and talents so you can create the future you want.
Her coaching is so beneficial because it goes beyond talking to doing. It’s active, empowering, and applicable to daily life. She believes that everyone has the potential to achieve their dreams and live a fulfilling life.
Victoria Thomas
Victoria, an author and spiritual teacher, is dedicated to connecting individuals with their inner healing abilities through her unique approach at Cosmictoria Natural Wellness.
Combining a diverse range of esoteric modalities with a grounded, compassionate, and intuitive touch, she creates a nurturing environment for self-exploration and growth. Victoria’s work honors the sacredness of authentic expression, guiding clients towards deep personal transformation and genuine self-discovery. She especially enjoys working with those who are committed to making positive changes and impactful shifts in their lives.
Her work includes Polarity Therapy (having trained at Polarity Therapy Institute), Past Life Regression (using Dolores Cannon’s Quantum Healing Hypnosis Technique), and Human Design (she is a level II Reader trained by Jenna Zoe Human Design).
Jessica Wilker
Jessica Wilker is an Esthetician with a genuine passion for helping others look and feel their best through skincare.
Graduating with flying colors from Asheville-Buncombe Tech Community College, where she received her Esthetics Technology Certificate. Her dedication and hard work earned her a coveted spot on the Dean’s List, showing her commitment to excellence in her field.
Jessica is certified in the art of Dermaplaning and microneedling and is also dedicated to continuing her education by enhancing her expertise in the dynamic field of skincare.
Originally from Florida, Jessica has called Highlands her home with her family for over four years.
Jessica understands the importance of balance in life as she strives to embody this philosophy in her own life, cherishing moments with her family while pursuing her
professional goals.
With a belief in the power of a holistic approach to beauty and wellness in her role as an esthetician, Jessica’s mission is clear: to empower others to feel confident and comfortable in their own skin. She takes pride in her ability to provide personized skincare
solutions, understanding that true beauty emanates from within.
With a nurturing spirit and a genuine desire to uplift others, Jessica strives to ensure that everyone she meets leaves feeling rejuvenated and refreshed.
Riley Chlupacek
As a former college basketball player with a degree in Exercise Science, I’ve spent my career dedicated to helping others achieve their fitness goals.
After earning a master’s degree in Strength and Conditioning, I co-opened a personal training gym, where I work with clients ranging from elite high school athletes to much older adults. My approach is deeply holistic, integrating physical training with mental well-being, and a connection to the basics of human health.
I believe true fitness is about harnessing and aligning with the foundational principles of strength and well-being that have guided human vitality for centuries.
Autumn Lucas
Autumn is a dedicated massage therapist, bodyworker & movement teacher who aims to help people move more of themselves, more often, and better by integrating Massage Therapy and Bodywork into Pilates-based, restorative movement education. She settled in Western North Carolina in 2019 after living in Taos, NM, Baltimore, MD, Cape Cod, Massachusetts, Los Angeles, CA and NYC. She is the mama to 3 big dogs, 2 fat cats, and shares custody of a 300 pound pig named Pickles.When not helping people feel better, she also enjoys volunteering at Macon County Animal Services.
Eric Hudson
Eric Hudson has studied, practiced and taught body based healing practices for over 25 years. His passion is to help people harness their innate health and healing, with a distinctive approach that provides immediate relief and lasting results. He has an MA (Poetics of the Imagination) and extensive training in multiple somatic therapies with certifications in sports, deep tissue, Thai massage, Ashiatsu, and Watsu (aquatic massage therapy). He also studied nutrition, natural movement, acupressure, trauma-informed therapeutics, and energy medicine.
Eric has worked with populations that include Olympic athletes, people with traumatic experiences, and high-powered executives. His warm, supportive demeanor creates a safe space for clients to discover, learn from, and repair patterns held in their bodies. Whether seeking to unwind from your day, heal an injury, or experience mind-body wellness, Eric is a kind, knowledgeable guide.
Honor Woodard
I received my massage training at The Florida School of Massage in 2011. Since that time, I have studied extensively with Deane Juhan in Resistance & Release work and I continue to assist him in teaching around the country. I completed a year long mentor study and several other courses with Giorgia Milne in Biodynamic Cranial Approach, which is a lovely complement to the more active Resistance & Release and the Connective Tissue Therapy, Deep Presence and traditional massage which round out my Integrative Body Work.
As I continue deeply engaging with the body/mind/spirit through Integrative Bodywork and Deep Presence, I am looking very forward to working with more souls on the land as well, guiding souls through Rites of Passage and Awakening to their True Nature. Enhancing soul attunement via bodywork, I cherish opportunities to be a fellow traveler to those choosing the life-long path of soul re-membering. My recent training in Wilderness Rites of Passage with the School of Lost Borders further reinforced that my deepest calling has always been to the work of the soul in concert and reciprocity with Nature.
Dream work is an inspiring and transformative portal to learning about the wider arc of one’s larger story in life and decoding one’s own unique symbolic language. I have been working with dreams for decades, keeping a dream log for 30+ years now, and it has been so rewarding to lead local dream circles and experience the honor of giving private dream consultations.
Photography and art have been integral parts of my life since the mid eighties, and continue to inform my life's work daily.
Annette Tuck
For over two decades, the serene mountains of Sapphire have been my sanctuary, a place where I discovered and nurtured my passion for Reiki healing. My journey began in 1992, a time when chronic back pain had become a constant companion. Traditional treatments offered little relief, and it was then that I was introduced to the transformative power of Reiki. This ancient healing art not only alleviated my pain but also sparked a profound change in my life.
Driven by the desire to share this gift with others, I pursued extensive training in Reiki. I attained my practitioner and distant healing degrees, allowing me to provide healing both in person and from afar. My dedication to this practice culminated in achieving my Master’s degree, equipping me with the knowledge and skills to teach and guide others on their own Reiki journeys.
Since moving to Sapphire four years ago, my connection to these spiritual mountains has deepened. Here, I offer Reiki sessions that blend the tranquility of our natural surroundings with the powerful energy of Reiki. My approach is centered on compassion and personalized care, ensuring that each session is tailored to meet the unique needs of my clients.
Reiki has the power to change lives, just as it changed mine. Whether you seek relief from physical pain, emotional balance, or spiritual growth, I am here to support you on your path to wellness. Together, we can harness the healing energy of Reiki to bring harmony and peace to your community.
Lori Stolze
Born and raised amidst the serene vineyards of Napa, CA, I bring a lifetime of dedication to skincare. Since becoming a licensed aesthetician in 2007, I’ve channeled my passion for healthy, radiant skin into every client experience. My journey began as a teenager struggling with problematic skin. While I appreciated my dermatologist’s expertise, I yearned for options beyond antibiotics and harsh topicals, searching instead for gentle yet effective ways to bring out my skin’s natural resilience.
Now, as a professional, I focus on holistic skin health above all. To me, skincare isn’t about masking imperfections but rather nurturing the skin to reveal its authentic beauty. With a deep understanding of the challenges faced by those with sensitive or problematic skin, I am here to guide you to solutions that respect and enhance your skin’s natural balance.
Beyond my work, I’m an animal lover, an avid reader, and you can often find me singing my heart out alone in my truck. Let’s work together to bring out your skin’s healthiest, most confident glow—because true beauty starts with healthy, happy skin.
Cara Chase
Early in life I always felt the need to help and care for others. This interest was further sparked by spending time around elderly relatives, it was here that I first noticed the healing importance of touch in promoting wellbeing. These early experiences planted the seeds for my future in therapeutic massage. I graduated from the therapeutic massage program at SCC and received my licensure in 2020, thereafter working alongside chiropractor Dr. Sue Aery, providing therapeutic massage. Here I was able to hone and advance my skills and knowledge as I developed the ability to blend multiple techniques with intuitive touch to tailor each session to clients' unique needs. Among these techniques, I often incorporate lomi lomi, hot stones, table Thai, shiatsu, cupping therapy, and many others. I believe in the power of holistic healing and the body's innate ability to restore balance and harmony. I approach each session with empathy and intuition, focusing on the client's specific concerns and goals. Whether alleviating chronic pain, reducing stress, or enhancing overall well-being, I am dedicated to helping clients achieve optimal health through therapeutic touch. When I’m not working, I enjoy spending time with my husband and two young children, being out in nature, and painting.