Frank Lowen, LMT - I attended the New Mexico School of Natural Therapeutics, graduated as a Massage Therapist in 1983 and was offered a teaching position at the school. I taught spinal mechanics and other modules that were included in the program. In 1983, I took my first Craniosacral course with Dr. John Upledger. I had also explored Trager, Alexander Technique, Muscle Energy, and various other forms of therapy. I had taken several of Dr. Upledger’s courses when he invited me to participate in Instructor Training. I completed that training and became a Certified Craniosacral Therapy Instructor in 1986. While teaching in this program, I illustrated the course manual and developed the format for the Apprentice training program to develop assistants and teachers. I also illustrated one of Dr. Upledger’s published books.

Even before teaching Craniosacral Therapy for Upledger Institute, I began to study with French Osteopath, Jean-Pierre Barral, who had introduced his Visceral Manipulation to the U.S. via invitation by Dr. Upledger. This work was very compelling, and I took as many courses as were available in the U.S. Rather than repeating courses in an effort to receive Dr. Barral's recognition, I repeated all classes so I could capture the essence of the work, and recognize and understand the many variations that occured from class to class. This allowed me to gain access to the subtle and elegant nuances of Dr. Barral's work. To this day, those who study Biovalent Systems Manual Therapy are encouraged to repeat classes to enable them to gain more clarity and insight for this manual therapy and gain mastery over the delicate hand skills, just as a gifted musician trains and practices, rather than simply performing the work as a technician. The more a practitioner invests himself in learning the fine details of his or her craft, the more successful they will become in helping others.

My studies greatly expanded my skills as a practitioner and gradually, it became apparent that I was being prepared for an important role in the Visceral Program. In 1989, Barral announced that I would start teaching the first level course the following year. From 1990 to 2000, I taught Visceral Manipulation for the Upledger Institute, gradually increasing my responsibilities until I was teaching, organizing, training new assistants and teachers, and formulating manuals for all levels of the curriculum, except for the most advanced levels which Barral continued to teach upon his yearly teaching visits to the U.S. I became the Program Director of the Viscera Manipulation Program. I also taught in Holland, Canada, and New Zealand.

By around 1993, I had started to develop my own techniques. I shared my findings with Barral, who encouraged me to develop them independently. He stated that he did not want me to share too much with him, since he was still working on his material and did not want my work to influence his. A student, who was also teaching at the time, convinced me to present my work in collaboration with her. From 1995 through 2002, I taught classes in manual therapy through Therapeutic Horizons. There were eight levels of classes by the time we disbanded due to philosophical differences.

In 2000, I presented the first class of my original work through my own company, Illuminatis. In that same year, I had met with Dr. Barral and we decided together that it was time for me to focus on developing my own material. I left the Upledger Institute in good standing and with support for my professional endeavors.

I have enjoyed an excellent reputation and an extensive and lengthy background as a manual therapy educator both in the United States and abroad. As the developer of Biovalent® Systems Manual Therapy, my students have not only encouraged me to continue the exploration of and building of this material, but to continue teaching the discoveries I have made. Being a practitioner of light-touch techniques for over 20 years, I was excited to find the body’s response and acceptance of this gentle work, which produces consistent, rapid results utilizing the body’s own self-corrective mechanisms without treatment reaction. Biovalent® Systems is my life’s work and I am proud of the results we see with the techniques in our clinic and in the myriad reports of exceptional results achieved with clients from our students.

Laurie Levine-Lowen, OTR/L, LMT - After graduating with a B.Sc. in Occupational Therapy from McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, in 1980, I have worked in all phases of Rehabilitation as an Occupational Therapist, including Chronic pain, Acute, Neurology, Rehabilitation, Hand Therapy, Neonatal Rehab, Early Intervention Pediatrics, Burns, and was the Assistant Director of a large Department. I consulted in the Hand Clinic, the Arthritis clinic and gave lectures to Physical Therapy Students as well as Medical Students and Residents in this teaching hospital.

In 1991, I graduated from Massage School and became a licensed Massage Therapist in New York and, while continuing a mostly manual therapy practice, I started assisting and teaching courses in John Barnes’ Myofascial Release. After relocating to New Mexico, in 1992 I became licensed in New Mexico, and incorporated both my Occupational Therapist and Massage Therapist backgrounds in my work with chronic pain clients. I also was a resource to the rehab staff at HealthSouth. I maintain my New York Massage Therapy license.

I have been assisting courses and teaching since 1989. I assisted at many Myofascial Release Seminars with John Barnes and lectured at his Pediatric course. I assisted at many levels of Jean-Pierre Barral’s Visceral Manipulation classes through Upledger Institute.

Since Frank Lowen developed his new work, I have attended most of the classes that he has taught repeatedly, at which I acted as an assistant. I have formatted teaching guides for most of the classes and have been co-teaching intermediate and advanced courses, and teaching the entry level courses for several years. I have also run trainings to select and train the new teachers.

I developed the Core Concepts and Skills for Biovalent® Systems Course and training manuals for Manual Perception 1 and 2, Connective Tissue Series: Fascial Regulators 1 and 2, and Biomechanical Regulators. I also developed supplemental text for many of the courses to augment the learning process and revised the original manuals to provide more text and clarity. I teach Core Concepts and Skills, Manual Perception 1 and 2, Fascial Regulators 1 and 2, Biomechanical Regulators Foundations, Neuro 1, Circulatory, Advanced Connective Tissue, and have assisted in Advanced Hand Skills and Neuro 2. I am developing the Skills and Integration course for Intermediate practitioners and also am responsible for most of the teacher training. I supervise the Practicum program at Threshold Therapeutics.

Laurie is in private practice with her husband, Frank Lowen at Threshold Therapeutics, Inc., in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and is co-owner and co-director of this clinic and educational center.

Marianne McGreevy, MA, PT - Marianne McGreevy earned her undergraduate degree in Physical Therapy from the University of Washington in 1985 and her Master’s Degree in Motor Learning from Columbia University in 1993. Her early career was focused on Pediatrics with specialization in lower extremity serial casting and orthotics. Starting in 1995, Marianne began to shift more into orthopedics with a manual therapy approach.  

Certified as an NDT therapist, Marianne is also a manual therapist (Institute of Physical Therapy), and earned her diploma as an Integrative Manual Therapist in 2002 (Connecticut School of Integrative Manual Therapy).  

In 2001, Marianne became a teaching apprentice for Illuminatis, assisting courses with Frank Lowen, and working as a guest therapist at his clinic. She is currently teaching Fascial Regulators 1, Biomechanical Regulators, Manual Perception 1 and 2, and Core Concepts and Skills for Biovalent® Systems. Marianne maintains a private practice in Pullman, Washington.  

Rosemary Hegarty, PT - Rosemary Hegarty, Physical Therapist, graduated from the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center in 1985 with a Bachelors of Science in Physical Therapy. She has studied various manual therapies since 1986, including John Upledger's Craniosacral Therapy and Jean-Pierre Barral's Visceral Manipulation (Barral, Lowen), Integrative Manual Therapy (Weiselfish-Giammatteo), Therapeutic Horizons (Lowen, Weiselfish-Giammatteo) and Biovalent Systems (Lowen). Rosemary has taught manual therapy to many types of practitioners, including massage therapists, occupational and physical therapists, nurses, chiropractors, osteopaths and medical doctors, on a national and international scale for more than six years with three different recognized educational providers: Dialogues in Contemporary Rehabilitation, Therapeutic Horisons and Biovalent Systems. Rosemary has over 500 hours of post-graduate continuing education courses in manual therapies. Her excellent hand skills, clarity with communication, knowledge of anatomy and physiology and understanding of Biovalent Systems Manual Therapy make her an invaluable member of our teaching team.

Currently, Rosemary has been in private practice in Boulder, Colorado, since 1997, treating a wide variety of clients. She has been an instructor for Biovalent® Systems for four years. Active with a hatha yoga practice, Rosemary also enjoys pottery, hiking, foster-parenting injured and neglected pets for the Humane society and gardening.

Kris Roy, PT, LMT - Kris Roy is a licensed Physical Therapist and co-owner of Something’s Moving, a manual and movement therapy practice in Albuquerque, New Mexico. She is an associate of Threshold Therapeutics, which is the home of Biovalent® Systems Manual Therapy. Kris graduated from Boston University in 1991. After Physical Therapy School, Kris studied CranioSacral Therapy, Visceral Manipulation, Integrative Manual Therapy™, Biologic Analogues, and Biovalent® Systems Manual Therapy. She has practiced in a variety of settings, including sub-acute and chronic rehabilitation hospitals and nursing facilities, a fibromyalgia pain clinic and private practice.  

Kris worked at Regional Physical Therapy and Center IMT in Glastonbury, Connecticut, for six years, where she was clinical manager of the Glastonbury office and director for the Facial Palsy program. During that time, Kris taught Integrative Manual Therapy™ for Dialogues in Contemporary Rehabiliation, Northeast Seminars and the National Centers for Facial Paralysis. Today, Kris continues to train in Biovalent® Systems Manual Therapy with Frank Lowen and is teaching his work through Illuminatis.  

Judy Osborne, PT, L.Ac., LMT - Judy Osborne has developed an integrated perspective in her work. After graduating from Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center in 1989 with a Bachelor of Sciences in Physical Therapy, Judy practiced in a variety of therapeutic settings, including acute care, in- and out-patient rehabilitation, home health, and long-term head injury rehabilitation. In 1996, Judy graduated from the Lauderstein-Conway School of Massage. She then continued her education earning a Master of Science in Oriental Medicine from the Academy of Oriental Medicine in Austin.

While developing her skills as a practitioner, Judy studied Manual Therapy extensively through the Upledger Institute, where she studied CranioSacral Therapy, Visceral Manipulation and Lymphanic Drainage. Judy's extensive education also included studies of Integrative Manual Therapy™: , Biologic Analogues, and Biovalent® Systems. Over the years, Judy has taught manual therapy, as well as designed, developed and directed core therapeutic programs.

Judy's private practice, JOI Health Associates, is located in Austin, Texas. She is a Diplomat of Chinese Herbology and Acupuncture from the National Commission for the Certification of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine and is a certified Functional Medicine Practitioner for the Institute for Functional Medicine.

Judy is excited to be studying with Frank Lowen and teaching Biovalent® Systems, continuing to expand her own therapeutic potential and facilitating therapeutic possibilities for others.

Helen Quirk, PT - Helen is in private practice in Portland, Oregon and sees a wide range of outpatient clients in her manual therapy practice. Having spent many years as a student in various modalities of manual techniques, including classes with Dialogues in Contemporary Rehabilitation, Therapeutic Horizons and Biovalent Systems, Helen has assisted at our classes for many years, sometimes with her sister, Marianne McGreevy, teaching. She has taught Core Concepts and Skills classes in the Pacific Northwest and is very gifted with anatomy, physiology and understanding how the body really works. Helen is able to impart this information quite readily to others. In addition to being a busy career woman, wife and mother, Helen Quirk, has her Masters degree in Physical Therapy and has been a guest practitioner at Threshold Therapeutics in Albuquerque.

John Henry "Scooter" LeBleu, PT, LMT - ‘Scooter’ graduated Cum Laude with a B.A. in Social Studies/Secondary Education from McNeese State University in 1977. He taught social studies at Sulphur High School, Sulphur, LA from 1977-78. He then graduated with a B.S. in Physical Therapy/Health Sciences from Louisiana State University Medical School in New Orleans in 1983. Scooter holds Certification in Neurodevelopmental Therapy (NDT), an 8-week pediatric course and 3-week baby course in 1993. Maintaining a private manual therapy practice, Scooter has studied various modalities in bodywork, including studies with Upledger Institute, Dialogues in Contemporary Rehabilitation, Therapeutic Horizon and Biovalent Systems. In 2002, Scooter received a diploma from the Connecticut School of Integrated Manual Therapy and has taken in excess of 112 continuing education courses in functional, structural, manual, massage and physical therapies since 1986, as well as independent anatomical, physiological and nutritional studies to stay abreast of state-of-the-art information in these fields. Having earned his Massage Therapy License in Louisiana in 1998, Scooter is currently licensed to practice Physical Therapy in both Louisiana and New Mexico. He is a welcome guest therapist in our clinic, Threshold Therapeutics. Having assisted at several courses, Scooter is now currently teaching basic- and intermediate-level classes for Biovalent® Systems. His depth of knowledge and ease of assisting others, along with amazing hand skills, makes Scooter an excellent teacher for new students.

Shawn Flot, MPT - Shawn has been in private practice since graduation from physical therapy school with a masters’ degree in 1994, first in Grand Junction, CO, then in 2003, Bend, OR. He has studied an integrated manual therapy approach to working with clients for 10 years. His studies with manual therapy include classes with Upledger Institute, Dialogues in Contemporary Rehabilitation, Therapeutic Horizons and Biovalent® Systems Manual Therapy. After studying with Frank Lowen for more than five years, Shawn became an assistant in several basic-level courses and is now on our Apprentice Track. Having had all classes many times, Shawn is enrolled in our Mentorship program with Frank Lowen and is working closely with Frank toward the development of an accessory program for Biovalent® Systems Manual Therapy with quadruped animals, based on clinical observation outcomes for animal manual therapy. Further plans include Shawn’s teaching Biovalent Systems in arenas to be determined to assist the knowledge and communication of this work to students. Shawn is a clear and eloquent speaker, having a wonderful understanding of the body and imparts this knowledge reverently, willingly and joyfully to those who attend his classes or who have the benefit of his assistance in labs. He is a very active outdoorsman, enjoying kayaking, hiking, practicing Yoga and exploring and his yellow Lab, Txuri.

Donna Dillon, LMT, NCTMB - Donna has been a Licensed Massage Therapist in Florida since 1984, first as an apprentice for a year, then fully licensed after taking the state boards and is nationally certified. She worked in a Physical Therapy Office from 1987-2002 doing Massage Therapy, Manual Therapy and Craniosacral Therapy, in addition to working in her own private practice since 1986.  Donna has been a certified tutor in Massage Therapy for the State of Florida for the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation since 2004.  She has published case studies, presented continuing education classes both at Tallahassee Physical Therapy and in private classes.  Donna has studied and continue to study Biovalent® Systems as a Manual Therapy system that assists people establishing homeostasis in as efficient manner as possible.  She has also studied Upledger Institute’s Craniosacral Therapy, Visceral Manipulation, Lymph Drainage, Mechanical Link and Dialogues in Contemporary Rehabilitation’s Myofascial Release, Muscle Energy Technique, Strain/Counterstrain, and many others.  Donna has spoken and made presentations to many local groups about the types of Massage Therapy that she does.  She has also taught and tutored people on basic concepts of Massage Therapy and on honing their skills as Massage Therapists. Having a wonderful understanding of the nature of Biovalent® Systems work, and a background as an educator based on psychological studies, Donna truly is able to tap into the learning potential of students and maximize their educational experience. Donna Dillon is a CEU provider for Massage Therapists in the State of Florida.

Gigi Degerlund Willett, LMT - is a Licensed Massage Therapist who specializes in the field of Manual Therapy for rehabilitation. Since graduating in 1991 with honors from the Massage Therapy Institute of Colorado (MTIC), she has served the Denver, Colorado community with a multifaceted approach. Specializing in treatment of pain, whether acute or chronic, she utilizes soft tissue therapy, biomechanics and body awareness to restore function and decrease pain for her clients. She has entirely incorporated Biovalent® Systems Manual Therapy into her pracitice since 2001.

Gigi maintains a successful, full-time private practice and currently instructs massage students in a one year Anatomy, Physiology and Pathology course at MTIC. She became a teaching assistant for Biovalent® Systems Manual Therapy seminars in 2003 and currently teaches Core Concepts and Skills for Biovalent® Systems. As an instructor, she enjoys an interactive teaching process and encourages students towards excellence as bodywork practitioners. She brings her passion and excitement for understanding of the human body to the classroom and enjoys the process of helping others ignite their own curiosity.

Desiring to continually develop her manual therapy skills has allowed her to study with many professionals at the top of their fields. Her experience includes studies in Acupressure and Oriental Medicine Theory, Advanced Neuromuscular Therapy, Integrative Manual Therapy ™, Functional Manipulative Therapy, Therapeutic Horizon's Biologic Analogues and Biovalent® Systems Manual Therapy .

Gigi began her studies with Frank Lowen in 2000, and continues to deepen her knowledge through repeating courses and the Mentorship Series. During each consecutive Mentorship, in which there is a five day immersion-type environment and interaction with Frank Lowen, she gains greater understanding into his unique observations of how the body functions and how to help the body self-correct. Over the years she has come to understand this approach is about how to view the body as an ever adapting whole. A systems based model. And when the body is struggling to adapt, how we as manual practitioners can gently assist its self-correction.

Outside of her practice, teaching and studying endeavours, she enjoys time with her husband and two dogs. She cultivates her own health and quiet time through yoga, qigong, hiking and creating art.

Gene Suzuki, PT - In 1979, after graduating from Loma Linda University with a B.S. in Physical Therapy, I apprenticed with a deep tissue therapist for three months. Skills learned there formed a foundation for successive coursework in Myofascial Release, Soft Tissue Release and Orthobionomy.

I met Frank Lowen through studies in Upledger Institute's Visceral Manipulation classes and continued to study with him through Therapeutic Horizons. This segued into classes through Biovalent Systems Manual Therapies. I started studying Biovalent Systems work in 2001 and have practiced Frank Lowen's work exclusively since 2002.

I look forward to continued understanding and advancement of skills in this very intriguing body of work.

Illuminatis/Biovalent® Systems ( Provider Number P3337) is recognized by the Board of Certification, Inc. to offer continuing education (CE) for Certified Athletic Trainers (ATs)Category A CE.  ATs are responsible for claiming only those hours actually spent participating in the CE activity. BOC Approved Provider Number:  P3337.

Illumatinatis/Biovalent® Systems (Provider Number 447205-00) is approved by the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCBTMB) as a Continuing Education Provider.

Biovalent Systems, 8300 San Pedro, NE, Suite B, Albuquerque, NM 87113 (505) 291-8100