Lena West has a Bachelor of Science degree from Saint Leo University and is a Florida Licensed Massage Therapist. She has been an educator for over 28 years in the areas of employee development and massage therapy. Her passion and focus has always been on raising the level of knowledge and competence in every field of practice she has encountered as an educator. She is an active member of the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA) and Association Bodywork and Massage Professionals (ABMP), and serves as President of the Tampa Chapter of the Florida State Massage Therapy Association (FSMTA). She serves as evaluator/peer reviewer for several accreditation boards, including the Commission of Massage Therapy Accreditation (COMTA). Further, she has been the director of massage programs for two of the largest schools in the country, and has served on several advisory boards for massage therapy.

Ms. Aruda has been a Licensed Massage Therapist and Nationally Board Certified Therapeutic Massage Bodyworker since 1995, specializing in Neuromuscular Therapy, Sports Massage, Myofascial Release, Trigger Point, Range of Motion, injury rehab, clinical based modalities and therapeutic exercise. Since 2006, her career path led one of the largest University Massage Therapy Programís lead faculty member and clinical manager, ultimately becoming the Massage Therapy Program Director. She is an approved continuing education provider under the Florida State Department of Health/Board of Massage Therapy and serves as a professional consultant and academic program evaluator for Massage Therapy programsí curriculum accreditation processes nationwide.