Meet our Founder Leslie Bruder

 As well as developing the highly original forms of bodywork, Phenomenal Touch Massage and Three-Dimensional Hot Stone Massage, and being an outstanding massage therapist in her own right, Leslie is an inspirational and highly effective teacher. 

In addition to instructing her own Practitioner Program at the Institute for Phenomenal Touch, Leslie has taught at many schools and spas throughout the USA, Mexico, Turks & Caicos Islands, Italy and the Dominican Republic at Parrot Cay Resort, helping their Como Shambala Spa win World's Best Spa. 

Leslie has  published several articles for MASSAGE Magazine and authored an In-depth textbook entitled Hot Stone Massage: A Three-Dimensional Approach.  She is the inspiration behind  the Documentary film Touched: A Massage Story featuring Jonathan Grassi and the innovation behind her Phenomenal Touch graduates who won Gold, Silver & Bronze medals in the World Massage Championship in 2018, Copenhagen Denmark.

She takes great joy in inspiring all of her students to become  more then they ever dreamed they could be.  

"When you are inspired by some great purpose, some extraordinary project, all your thoughts break their bonds, your mind transcends limitations, your consciousness expands in every direction and you find yourself in a new, great wonderful world.  Dormant forces, faculties & talents become alive and you discover yourself to be a greater person by far 

than you ever dreamed yourself to be." 

Patanjali (First to Third century B.C.)

Leslie received her massage certificate from the Boulder School of Massage Therapy in 1985, She also holds a self-designed Bachelors Degree in Creative Writing, Philosophy and Avante-garde Filmmaking, a Master's Degree in Psychology and a 3-year Certificate in Integrated Body Psychotherapy. 

She studied with Evan Hodkins of the School of Alchemy, Gestalt therapy and gospel singing w Ysaye Barnwell at the Esalen Institute, Breathwork and Spiritual Pathwork with Alex and Elizabeth Mylonas,  New Games with the Association for Experiential Education, and techniques of  Loving Communication with Fred Keyser.  She taught for Outdoor Leadership Training Seminars and Outward Bound in Colorado and was an avid river runner and rock climber for twenty years.   

All of her studies and experiences are integrated into her wholistic approach of teaching that includes circling, chanting, and unique exercises all designed to deepen the learning experience of the infinite landscape of touch,  connection and  truly meeting the client in body,  heart. and mind.

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.  Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.  It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us.... our playing small doesn't serve the world.  There's nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around us. We are all meant to shine, as children do.... And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others."   ~ Marianne Williamson