Meet Our Staff

Dietrich W. Miesler
His life’s journey began in Breslau, Germany on July 20th 1925. On May 22, 2006, Dieter Werner Miesler departed on that greatest of trips following complications of pneumonia and long standing Parkinson’s disease.

Dietrich entered the massage field in 1975 and founded the DAYBREAK Geriatric Massage Project (now known as the DAYBREAK Geriatric Massage Institute) in 1982. With a background as a gerontologist and a nursing home administrator, he brought significant knowledge and caring to his elderly clients through therapeutic massage. He produced numerous courses, teaching aids about the muscle system and massage treatments tailored to geriatric clients with varying needs. He was also a long-time columnist for Massage & Bodywork magazine.

Dietrich left his native Germany in 1955 and moved to the United States, where he raised his five children and pursued his varied artistic interests, including jazz, photography, and publishing. In 2001, he left DAYBREAK to focus on research and writing.

We will miss his irrepressible, witty, charming spirit.

Sharon Puszko, PhD, CMT
Owner and Director

is a graduate of the University of California with a major in education. After teaching Biology and English internationally, in Europe, Asia, Central America and the Eastern United States, Sharon made a career change into the wellness field in 1986. She attended massage school in Northern California and then graduated from the Pittsburgh School of Massage Therapy and Healthbuilders School of Massage Therapy in St. Augustine, FL. Along with overseeing the function of DAYBREAK Geriatric Massage Institute, she has a private practice and does volunteer hospice work. She travels extensively throughout the US and internationally teaching the DAY-BREAK Geriatric Massage Level 1 and Level 2 workshops in massage schools and community colleges.

Member ABMP (associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals). Volunteer in St. Vincent's (Indianapolis) Hospice Care Program.

(317) 722-9896
(317) 722-0511 Fax
7434  - King George Drive - A
Indianapolis, IN. 46240
spuszko@juno.com

Jody Falconer
Jody Falconer, CMT, Instructor, has trained with Dietrich W. Miesler, MA, CMT, since 1994. She helped Dietrich develop the DAY-BREAK Geriatric Instructor Program, and has been teaching with Dietrich since 1997. Jody is also a teacher on staff at California Institute of Massage & Spa Services, instructing in the Massage Technician Program, Advance 1 Program, Geriatric Massage and Therapeutic Touch.

She maintains a private practice in Sonoma, CA, focusing on geriatric patients and soft tissue injuries. Her goal with massage is to help facilitate pain reduction and healing, bring a renewed sense of balance in one's life, and compassionate touch to anyone in need.

"I have seen so much 'good' come out of this massage. I am always amazed at how well the techniques work. It is such a privilege to work with these elders through all of the different phases of their lives."

Virginia Kingsbury, CMT

Virginia left the insurance industry with the intention of working with seniors. A year after graduating from massage school, a chance conversation with Dietrich Miesler in 1997 led her to her first geriatric massage workshop with Sharon Puszko. She has been with DAYBREAK since. In addition to private clients, she also worked in the DAYBREAK administrative office and volunteered with St. Vincent Hospice program. Virginia completed the Instructor Certification Program in 2001. After Sharon became the owner of DAYBREAK, Virginia was instrumental in launching DAYBREAK to becoming the leading geriatric massage training program that it is today. Wanting to add to her direct experience with seniors, she left the DAYBREAK office for 2 ½ years to join the nursing staff at a long term care facility. She is now back in the office and can still be found in the field disseminating Dietrich’s methods of bringing comfort to older bodies.

Millie first met Dietrich Miesler, Founder of the Day-Break Geriatric Massage Institute, in 1992 while attending massage school at Ashmead College in Seattle.

In Dietrich’s workshop, he suggested to the class as he pointed at Millie, “A nurse could easily set up the hands-on part of the weekend at a nursing home so students experience working on frail elderly”.

Millie currently has a private massage practice in Spokane, Washington, she is a certified teacher for Day-Break Geriatric Massage Institute, and she volunteers for Horizon Hospice. “I love working with the elderly. They remind me what really matters in life and I enjoy absorbing their stories.”

Millie has also written and published articles for a number of massage publications.

Eleanor Hansen received her bachelor’s degree from Ball State University in 1995. Shortly thereafter, she and her husband Scott welcomed twin boys into their instant family.
She is a graduate of both the Lame Frog School of Massage in Noblesville, Indiana and the Kaplan Massage Program in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Since 1999, Eleanor has been practicing massage in the Indianapolis area. She began working with elderly clients, which led her to the Day-Break Geriatric Massage Institute workshops in 2007.

Eleanor also shares her love of massage by teaching at Kaplan College in Indianapolis as a massage therapy instructor.

She is excited to join the staff of Day-Break as the office manager.

Jane is a graduate of the Pittsburgh School of Massage Therapy and has been an instructor with the Day-Break Geriatric Massage Institute for two years. She comes with a wealth of expertise in the care of geriatric patients.

Jane has been a massage therapist for 12 years. In addition, she has a Master’s Degree in the study of death and dying.

In her spare time she teaches seniors aerobics and senior yoga classes.

Joyce A Garland, RN, LMT

Joyce Garland, RN, LMT graduated from Somerset School of Massage in Somerset, New Jersey. She is a Registered Nurse and has worked exclusively with geriatric patients for the past 20 years. She is an instructor/therapist for the Day-Break Geriatric Massage Institute and has worked closely with Dietrich Miesler, MA, CMT and, Dr. Sharon Puszko, CMT. She has taught Geriatric Workshops at many massage schools throughout the U.S. Joyce started her private practice in 1996 with emphasis on the elderly client with specific health needs. Member of AMTA and Nationally certified.