About Us

Filiz Bakir, AP, DOM
Acupuncture Physician,
Doctor of Oriental Medicine

Owner and Medical director of Thrive Wellness Center – A Fort Lauderdale Alternative Medicine facility. Filiz’s practice focuses on Oriental Medicine as well as Nutripuncture, a needleless form of acupuncture. Nutripuncture is based on Nobel Prize winning science and can effectively heal trauma and address root causes to self-limiting patterns that can often lead to dis-ease. Having received advanced training in innovative European injection protocols, Filiz also offers the latest in these protocols for pain and age management.

William Gutierrez
Executive Director

Bill helped form and bring together Thrive Wellness Center in 2008, creating a vision initiated by Filiz Bakir, his wife and partner. Together, they embarked on a journey that has manifested itself into what today is a new facility that houses six treatment rooms, a yoga/teaching studio and administrative offices.

 

Angela Pepe, LMT
Licensed Massage Therapist

Angela Pepe has been a Massage Therapist for the past 22 years. Her treatments combine Swedish, Shiatsu, Neuromuscular, Thai and CranioSacral techniques. Angela combines her skills as an experienced practitioner with great sensitivity and intuition.’

Martha (Marty) Moore, LMT
Licensed Massage Therapist

Marty has worked with thousands of clients in South Florida helping them to manage their stress and pain with massage, coaching them that everyone is an ‘everyday athlete’, and about the importance of Joyful Oxygen.
Marty studied at Florida College of Natural Health and the Touch Institue at Univ. of Miami and holds a B.A. in International Public Relations. Her practice styles include Swedish, Deep Tissue, Sports, Infant/Pre-Natal, Thai and Pet Massage with patients ranging in age from 10 to 93. All treatments are uniquely designed and are catered towards the individual client, with a commitment to the highest standards of personal service.

Eric Lopez, Shaman
Hellinger Familiy Constellation Facilitator

Eric trained under the famous German psychotherapist, Bert Hellinger, to become certified in this method. He integrates his shamanic practices into the highly transformative Hellinger Constellation process.
Please check the workshop page for Alternative Constellation dates. For more information please visit alternativeconstelaltions.com

Stephen Sedita, AP
Acupuncture Physician
Tai Chi Instructor

While in his 5th year of the Ph.D program at the Center for Complex Systems and Brain Sciences of Florida Atlantic University Steve decided to leave to pursue his passion of the martial arts and oriental medicine full time.  Steve recently graduated from the Atlantic Institute of Oriental Medicine and is now a Florida State licensed Acupuncture Physician. He has been studying and practicing Tai Chi and Qi Gong for over a decade.

Meghan Cowens de Sturdze, AP
Acupuncture Physician

After graduating from the Atlantic Institute of Oriental Medicine Meghan went on to study tuina (Chinese medical massage) in depth at the Beijing Massage Hospital, thai massage, and Sports Medicine Acupuncture with Matt Callison. Her training has allowed her to understand and utilize orthopedic testing and muscle motor points to successfully isolate and rehabilitate musculo-skeletal issues.

Yumiko Asai, AP
Acupuncture Physician

Yumiko was trained in the Japanese style of acupuncture and practiced for over 20 years in her native country of Japan. She has extensive experience treating many conditions but specializes in fertility related matters. She also is highly regarded for her beauty treatments and acupuncture facial treatments. She graduated from the Atlantic Institute of Oriental Medicine as part of her requirements to practice in the United States.

Sabah Saoud
Yoga Instructor

Sabah, European and American certified, has studied and experienced many styles of yoga for over twenty-five years, learning from a variety of teachers, including Deepak Chopra. She came to America eight years ago and received her American qualification as an Instructor in the Science of Yoga. She also holds certificates in Reiki I, Silver Sneakers Chair Yoga, Silver Sneakers Weights, Strength and Range of Movements (WSROM) and Yoga especially for people with MS, adding to her knowledge and many years experience.