Where the FUTURE is in your hands
a 501(c)(3) non-profit
organization
Meet Our Faculty and Staff
The mission of the staff at PMTI is to provide a strong and efficient organizational foundation embodying integrity, harmony and compassion, while initiating and supporting the growth, diversity and changing needs of the PMTI community. Our staff is fully committed to helping provide the tools necessary for students, faculty, and alumni to have the most positive educational experience possible. They are deeply committed and dedicated people!
Our instructors exemplify PMTI's core values and continually strive to create and maintain a positive and supportive learning environment for all of our students. They bring a vast array of experience along with a knowledge of and passion for massage to the classroom.
The long-standing and continued success of our students is due in no small part to the tireless efforts of both our administrative staff and our faculty. It is an immense joy, honor and privilege for all of us to be part of your journey!
All PMTI faculty are licensed in the field of massage therapy, often in multiple jurisdictions, and meet all of the licensure requirements of the Maryland Higher Education Commission. ​
Ethan Ableman
Intern Segment 3 Practical
Ethan was a member of the final PMTI class that graduated before the pandemic in early 2020. After a long hiatus, they are excited to be back at PMTI assisting with the Segment 3 Practical class! While not doing bodywork, you can find Ethan birding, social dancing, and working downtown helping state governments manage their federal funds.
Joyce Adams
Lead Instructor Segment 3 Nutrition
Joyce is a 2019 graduate of Maryland University of Integrative Health, and has a Master of Science in Nutrition and Integrative Health. She completed her Clinical Nutrition internship at Mary's Center, a community healthcare organization based in Washington, DC. She holds a Certified Nutrition Specialist (CNS) credential from the Board for Certification of Nutrition Specialists and is licensed by the Maryland State Board of Dietetic Practice as a Licensed Dietitian-Nutritionist (LDN). In addition to her nutrition education and training, Joyce holds a Master of Science in Healthcare Administration from University of Maryland, University College (currently University of Maryland Global Campus) and a Bachelor of Business Administration from The George Washington University. Prior to transitioning into the health and wellness field, Joyce worked in healthcare compliance for Kaiser Permanente and medical professional risk management for MedStar Health. She currently works as the Wellness Program Director for Single Adult Housing at So Others Might Eat (SOME).
Saya Barkdoll, RMP
Lead Instructor Segment 3 Practical
Saya graduated from PMTI in 2000 and has been practicing ever since. Her passion and love for massage therapy has grown more every passing year. She has continued to add to her practice with prenatal massage, trigger-point therapy, deep tissue massage, isolated stretching techniques, and more. She feels passionate that massage therapy is not just a treat but a necessity for everybody! She has seen the incredible outcome with so many, including her own daughter, and she knows, firsthand, the power of massage.
Linda Baron, LMT
Teaching Assistant Segment 1 Practical, Clinic Instructor
Linda graduated from PMTI in 2020. After graduation, she was a Teaching Assistant for the Heart of Touch and Segment One practical, and was also an Instructor with the Student Clinic. Linda is licensed in DC and Maryland and currently works at a wellness spa. She studied and practiced bodywork for many years before coming to PMTI and is a certified Phoenix Rising yoga teacher, therapist, group facilitator, and therapeutic life mentor. She also has extensive training and experience in Thai massage. When not practicing body work or teaching yoga, Linda enjoys biking, gardening, and vegan cooking.
Gaia Baytop, LMT
Team MemberGaia has a Bachelor's degree in Biology from Bucknell University and is a licensed teacher in the District of Columbia where she currently teaches Science full-time at the Lab School of Washington. She graduated from PMTI in 1999 and taught here as an Intern, Assistant and Lead Instructor for 9 years. She returned in 2023 as a Lead Academic Instructor in Segment 2 and Clinic Instructor. Gaia has certifications in Orthopedic Massage, Connective Tissue Massage, and Infant Massage, and is a Reiki Master. She has a private practice in Silver Spring, MD.
Jadyn Brick, RMP
Teaching Assistant Segment 2 PracticalJadyn is a massage therapist and dancer/choreographer. They first learned to connect with their own body through dance, and later to connect with other people's bodies through massage. In 2024, Jadyn graduated from PMTI, then quickly realized they wanted to be back in the classroom and returned as an intern. As a practitioner, Jadyn is passionate about creating a safe and compassionate space for their clients, and they do the same for students in the classroom.
Jean Briggs, LMT
Lead Instructor Segment 3 Integrative Healthcare
Segments 1, 2 and 3 Spa & Hydrotherapy
Jean is a Licensed Massage Therapist and Massage Educator working in Washington D.C. She has supported the community of PMTI in many capacities since her graduation in 2005 to include formerly serving on the Board of Directors and assistant teaching in the professional training program. Currently she teaches Integrated Health Care Concepts and Spa and Hydrotherapy as courses which offer key elements for the growth, self care, and success of our future massage therapists. Jean's enthusiasm for massage therapy and delight with her educational collaborations has kept her interest ongoing for cultivating the best possible experience for all involved.
Linda Brogdon, RMP
Clinic Instructor
Linda is a board-certified OBGYN. She enrolled at PMTI while experiencing significant burnout as a physician. She credits her time at PMTI as a key component of her self recovery. She graduated in 2024 after reconnecting with her passion for the human body. She continues to practice medicine full-time and works as an instructor in the PMTI student clinic. When she's not working, you'll find her at home with her three cats or in the gym.
Indeara Brooks-Taylor, LMT
Lead Instructor Segment 2 Academic
Indeara has been a massage therapist dedicated to serving the DMV area since 2007. She has a Bachelor's degree in psychology which provides her with a deeper understanding of the mind-body connection. This academic background, combined with her minor in Elementary Education, informs her ability to effectively communicate and instruct. Indeara's skill set includes Swedish, deep tissue, sports, and chair massage; Aromatherapy and Reflexology; Trigger Point therapy; and advanced prenatal massage. Indeara is also a Certified Reiki III Master Teacher. In 2022, Indeara's expertise and passion for massage therapy led her to become an instructor at the Holistic Massage Training Institute in Baltimore, MD. This experience highlights her dedication to fostering the next generation of massage therapists, reinforcing her own mastery of the craft. A natural nurturer, Indeara approaches her work with a deep-seated intuition. This allows her to instinctively understand the areas of need for her clients, providing a level of care that is both skillful and deeply empathetic. Her holistic approach is centered on creating a personalized and restorative experience for everyone she serves.
Laura Bryant-Earner, LMT
Lead Instructor Segment 3 Oncology
Laura has been a practicing massage therapist since 2018 and a manual lymph drainage therapist since 2019. Before becoming a licensed massage therapist, Laura taught English in Japan for 19 years. It was in massage school that she heard of something called "oncology massage" and felt drawn to it. Passionate about learning, Laura has continued her advanced training in the fields of oncology massage, scar tissue manipulation and manual lymph drainage. She has provided massage in a variety of settings including corporate, private practice, spas and hospitals. Because of her own massage experiences, Laura appreciates how massage can play a supportive role in health care and the journey that is being human.
Angilique Campbell, RMP
Teaching Assistant Segment 1 Practical, Clinic Instructor
Angilique graduated from PMTI in 2022 and is certified in Prenatal and Postnatal Massage, Integrative Reflexology, and Reiki. Angilique has over 20 years of teaching experience in the health and wellness industry, with a focus on private and semi-private classical Pilates and yoga instruction, in-person, online, and on retreats.
Traniceia Campbell, RMP
Teaching Assistant Segments 2 Academic, Clinic Instructor
(bio pending)
Jon Coventry, RMP
Assistant to the Director of Education,
Lead Instructor Segment 1 Academic,
SOAP Charting, Clinic Instructor
Jon graduated with a BA in Biology from Skidmore College in 2017. He graduated from PMTI in 2023 and never left, working both as an instructor and in the administration. Jon is a practicing LMT with a passion for manual lymphatic drainage and massage for post-plastic surgery. Outside of bodywork, he enjoys making art, storytelling, acting, and flexing his creative muscles.
George Essig, RMP
Clinic Manager, Coordinator Segment 3 Academic
George is the Clinic Manager at Potomac Massage Training Institute. As a business owner, licensed massage therapist, audio/video technician, entertainer, and inventor, George is constantly exploring different ways to think about massage and how it affects people, especially musical applications. With a focus on the philosophies behind bodywork, every day brings new lessons on the benefits of human touch.
Molly Farwell, LMT
Lead Instructor Segment 3 Business Practices & Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapy
Molly is a full-time MT and cooperative business owner in Baltimore, MD. She graduated from PMTI in 2017, transitioning out of a paralegal career in immigration law. It was her time working with immigrants that prompted her to pursue a career in trauma-healing bodywork and equitable business ownership. Her bodywork training includes over 500 hours of post-licensure education in biodynamic craniosacral therapy and Alchemical Alignment. Outside of work, Molly is a mother, a yogi, and an avid zero-waster. She is also a member of the AMTA Maryland chapter board, where she serves as Financial Administrator. Molly teaches the business practices class with an emphasis on ethical and sustainable business practices and policies, in addition to Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapy.
Kim Fisher-Key, LMT
Lead Instructor Segment 3 Practical
Kim started her training in France, where she was the first American to graduate from Conaissance et Evolution with a diploma in neurosensory therapy, a 2-year program in understanding chronic pain for European osteopaths. In the Bay area, she earned certifications in myofascial decompression and neuromuscular re-education at UCSF. In Boone, North Carolina, she served as the sports massage therapist for the Appalachian State football team, who won conference titles two years in a row. She completed mind-body medicine training at Harvard and earned postural alignment certification from the Center of Neurosomatic Studies. Now based in Northern Virginia, she runs her business, Functional Fit. She is on call for performers at the Kennedy Center, including the Washington Ballet. For 3 years, she has been a member of the National XPE Core Sport Bodywork Team, working with Division 1 football players preparing for the NFL draft at a training facility in Florida. She works with several local high school athletes, the George Mason University men's and women's soccer and basketball teams, and nationally and internationally ranked triathletes.
Jen Float, LMT
Lead Instructor Segment 1 Practical
A PMTI graduate in 2013, Jen holds a B.S. in psychology and a Master's degree in special education from the University of Maryland, College Park. She taught special education for 6 years. Jen maintains a private massage practice in Laurel, Maryland. She is certified in pregnancy and postpartum massage, as well as fertility and hot stone massage. Jen joined the instructional team in 2014 and has been a lead practical instructor since 2017.
Tamera Gelman
Executive Director
Admissions Management, Teaching
Tam attended Middle Tennessee State University and enjoyed a long-term career as a commercial mortgage banker and broker prior to becoming a massage therapist. Since graduating from PMTI in 2002, Tam has been an instructor and administrator for the school. Tam first volunteered as PMTI's real estate consultant in 2002 to help orchestrate the school's relocation to Wisconsin Avenue in DC, and she has served in this same role in relocating PMTI to Silver Spring. Joining the Board of Directors in 2003, Tam has twice served as Board Treasurer and as the Board's Co-Chair. Tam served as the school's Acting Co-Director on two occasions before assuming her current position in 2011.
Lorie Gumbs-Tyler, ND, CNS
Lead Instructor Segment 1 Academic & Medical Terminology,
Segment 3 Case Report
Dr. Lorie Gumbs-Tyler is a licensed naturopathic doctor, certified nutrition specialist, and craniosacral therapy practitioner. She earned her Doctorate in Naturopathic Medicine from the University of Bridgeport and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Comparative Studies in Race and Ethnicity from Stanford University with a concentration in Community Health. She received training in craniosacral therapy, somatoemotional release, advanced topics of craniosacral applications for pregnancy and childbirth, pediatrics, and working with chronic depletion through the Upledger Institute. Her approach is empowerment-based, helping people to restore balance and reach a level of sustained wellness. Her process is holistic, addressing the connection between one's mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual wellbeing. Her unique integration of whole-system analysis with individual needs provides effective personalized medicine. She has over 25 years of combined teaching experience from elementary to postsecondary levels, including private tutor, youth development and after school coordinator, non-credit adult education program coordinator and instructor, curriculum and workshop developer, as well as adjunct instructor for graduate level acupuncture, integrative medicine, and nutrition courses.
Nicole Harvey, LMT
Clinic Instructor
Nicole is a native Washingtonian and has a BA from Howard University. She received her massage training at PMTI, and trained in a myriad of bodywork and energetic modalities, such as Integrative Reflexology, Reiki III, and Muscle Release Technique. Nicole has been a licensed massage therapist since 2005, working mainly in spas, offices, and in private practice. In addition to her work at PMTI, she has a private practice that is seeking to expand by working with groups of people in non-profit organizations, elder care facilities, and other types of team-oriented work environments.
Laura Henschel, LMT
Lead Instructor Segment 3 Myofascial Release Technique
Laura came to PMTI to teach and work with students as they develop their knowledge and interests in the field of massage therapy. Certified through PMTI in 1986, she maintains a private practice in DC. She has expanded her knowledge in response to the needs of her clients, studying sports and prenatal massage, and in Ayurvedic inspired Polarity Therapy with added study in the field of Cranial-Sacral Biodynamics with Sills and Upledger. Laura has studied structural work with Dalton and in 2017 became a certified Anatomy Trains Structural Integrator (ATSI) with Meyers. She received a BS from University of Maryland in English Literature with a minor in biology 1995. In 2005 She completed an advanced personal training program and maintain her standing as a Certified Conditioning Specialist (CCS) through the National Strength Professionals Association. Laura is also certificatied as a Healthy Lifestyle Coach in 2007 through WellCoaches.
Celeste Homan, LMT
Lead Instructor Segments 1 & 2 Eastern Energy
Celeste Homan, MS, DAc, LAc was an Associate Professor of Acupuncture at the Maryland University of Integrative Health where she earned her doctoral degree. She is certified in Zero Balancing, holds a certificate in advanced massage and bodywork from the Baltimore School of Massage, and completed advanced training in acupuncture and Chinese medial aromatherapy with Jeffrey Yuen. Celeste served on the editorial board of The Journal of the American Society of Acupuncturists and published several articles about her clinical and academic work. Before entering the healthcare field, she worked as an engineer and holds a Master of Science in Engineering from the Johns Hopkins University. Dr. Homan's science and math background naturally supported her academic focus which was clinical reasoning and foundational theory. Dr. Homan has been in clinical practice since 1993. She is passionate about East Asian medicine which is rooted in the body's natural mechanisms for health and healing. In both her clinical and academic work, she emphasizes the role of awareness in the healing process which unites the body, mind, and emotions as they inform the deeper self.
Mayassa Howell, RMP
Clinic Instructor
Mayasa is a 2013 graduate of PMTI and certified in Applied Qigong for Holistic Healing by TCCII (Traditional Chinese Culture Institute International). As a student and lover of African dance, Transcendental Meditation, and having previously studied martial arts (Kupigani Ngumi, kung fu, tai chi) with Oso Tayari Casel as well as various African indigenous spiritual systems, she integrates principles and concepts from all of these experiences and modalities into the process with her clients towards achieving therapeutic goals.
Ellen Jarvis, RMP
Dean of Students
Lead Instructor Segment 1 Practical & History of Massage, Clinic Instructor
After graduating from PMTI, Ellen stayed on as a therapist in the Graduate clinic and as an intern teaching assistant in Segments One and Two of the Professional Training Program, and as Student Clinic Supervisor. Ellen currently supports the student body in their progression through the PTP while teaching as a lead instructor in Segment One. She also holds a BFA in Stage Management from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts and works with children and adults with developmental disabilities.
Gabrielle Jarvis
Front Desk Manager
Gabrielle has been part of the customer service industry for over seven years. In college, she worked seasonally as a National Park ranger in New Mexico and Wisconsin. As Front Desk Manager, she is delighted to answer visitor's questions and to extend hospitality. In her off time, she enjoys backpacking, tennis, and spending time with her friends.
Kara Keicher, LCSW-C, LICSW, LMT
Lead Instructor Segment 1 Communication & Boundaries
Lead Instructor Segment 2 Psychological Perspectives
Kara is a Licensed Massage Therapist with over 20 years of experience and a Licensed Social Worker since 2018. She began massage studies in 1999 at Anne Arundel Community College and graduated from the Baltimore School of Massage in 2001. Her intuitive style blends deep tissue, myofascial release, reiki, and the improvisational use of eclectic techniques acquired over time. Informed by her lifelong relationship with dance, Kara sees the body as a vessel for communication and healing, and massage as a dialogue guided by the body's subtle feedback. Since earning her Master's in Social Work, she has focused on social justice advocacy and supporting people living with trauma, OCD, and chronic mental health conditions. New to PMTI and to teaching, Kara looks forward to sharing her passion for touch, movement, and connection with future massage therapists.
Peter Langsdorf, LMT
Team Member
Peter is an LMT specializing in Swedish, Deep Tissue, and Neuromuscular Therapy (Trigger Point) techniques. He has spent time as an intern, teaching assistant, and instructor in numerous parts of the program: Segment One academic and practical, Segment Two practical, and Segment Three practical and case report projects, as well as Medical Terminology and SOAP Charting. Peter works full time as a massage therapist in Northern Virginia following a career in federal recordkeeping and litigation support.
Mara Levy, MSOT, OTR/L, CLT-LANA, SEP
Lead Instructor Segment 3 Manual Lymph Drainage
Special Populations
Mara is an occupational therapist, certified lymphatic therapist, and somatic experiencing practitioner. They've been in practice since 2005, and have extensive experience with a wide range of complex medical and neurological conditions. They currently provide a blend of somatic mental health care and trauma-informed bodywork at their private practice, Rainbow Spring Wellness in Silver Spring, MD. Their work is queer and trans celebrating, neurodiversity affirming, fat positive and HAES aligned, antiracist, and liberation oriented.
Kobie Nichols, LMT
Intern Semester Two Practical
Kobie Nichols earned a degree in electrical engineering from North Carolina State University in 1998. He graduated from PMTI in 2021 and continues to study manual lymphatic drainage and reflexology as areas of special interest.
Michael Oliwa
Marketing Director
IT Manager
Michael started as an assistant in his father’s photography studio on Madison Avenue in NYC. Taking an interest in design and communication, he worked and freelanced at ad agencies and publishers in NY and NJ, specializing in graphic design, illustration, and corporate communications. In 1999 he launched District Line Productions, a boutique graphic design agency, first in Bethesda and later in downtown Silver Spring. Michael is also the manager of PMTI’s IT Department.
Ellen Olmstead, LMT
Director of Education
Ellen Olmstead brings 40+ years' experience as an educator of adolescents to the elderly from Boston to Baltimore, empowering historically underrepresented and underserved learners and advancing a culture of equity -- in TRIO programs, high schools, HBCUs, state universities, Ivy Leagues, adult education programs, and prisons, as well as in community colleges, her primary commitment since 1994. Since 2006, she has worked full-time as a Professor of English and Women's and Gender Studies at Montgomery College. Ellen graduated from Holistic Massage Training Institute in Baltimore and has been practicing as an LMT since 2010, focusing on serving people with psychological challenges -- especially trauma, people with HIV/AIDS, people with developmental disabilities, and people in hospice. She has taught at Holistic Massage Training Institute and Central Maryland School of Massage, and now appreciates the opportunity at PMTI to combine her two passions: teaching and massage.
Jonathan Osmundsen, LMT
Director of Continuing Education, Workshops & PartnershipsDuring his rehabilitation from a critical accident in 2015, Jonathan discovered his most significant recovery came from bodywork in modalities like myofascial and craniosacral therapy. This profound life experience set him on a path to PMTI, where his passion for the healing arts eventually led him to return after graduation to intern and support Segments one, two, and three practical classes including craniosacral, myofascial, and practical integration. From there, he transitioned to an administrative position where he manages Continuing Education. Jonathan's bodywork combines modalities including craniosacral, Trager, and myofascial -- generously sprinkled in to his Swedish and deep tissue massage. Prior to his career in massage, Jonathan spent more than two decades in public affairs, media relations and PR/marketing for nonprofits, startups and Fortune 100 Companies.
Bryan Paige
Coordinator Segment 3 Academic
Intern Segment 1 Academic & Practical
With a degree in Criminology and Criminal Justice from the University of Maryland College Park (1998), for twenty-five years Bryan has worked in almost every capacity with the Maryland Department of Juvenile Services. He also established his own personal training business, Fitness First, from 2001-2005. He graduated from PMTI in 2025.
​Robbin Phelps, LMT
Lead Instructor Segment 2 Movement Perspectives,
Segment 3 Introduction to Trager
Robbin graduated from PMTI in 1996 and, from there, developed her practice that centers on touch, presence, and movement as a certified Trager® Approach Practitioner. She is also a Reiki master, an energy medicine practitioner, a licensed social worker, and a psychotherapist. Her love of all this work and a natural inclination toward teaching has taken her into leading a weekly Mindful Movement class on Zoom, tutoring Trager students, and assistant teaching in innumerable Trager trainings. She serves as President of the Board of the US Trager Association.
Alicia Portillo
Intern Segment 1 Academic
(bio pending)
Brenda Rayner, LMT
Lead Instructor Segment 2 Practical
Segment 3 Deep Tissue Academic and Practical
Body Dynamics, Administrative Accounting
Brenda joined the staff as Office Manager in October 2017 with a career background in entrepreneurship, human resources, and accounting. A 2002 graduate of PMTI, Brenda has been a longstanding member of the Segment Two faculty, serving as both an academic and practical instructor. She has been a member of the Board of Directors since 2010, and currently serves as Treasurer. During the last several years, Brenda has continued to develop experience in massage therapy education through involvement with ABMP, AMTA, and AFMTE, participating in the development of two major projects in our field, ELAP/The CORE Blueprint for Entry-level Therapists, and more recently the Core Competencies for Massage Therapy Instructors.
Bob Schleichert, RMP
Lead Instructor Segment 1 Practical
Bob graduated from PMTI in 2004 and has additional training in Reiki, Compassionate Touch, couples massage, massage for low back pain, and carpal tunnel syndrome. He has taught in various segments of PMTI's Professional Training Program, and is currently a lead instructor in Segment 1 practical. Bob maintains a private practice in Ashton, Maryland.
Judy Rose Seibert, LMT
Lead Instructor Segment 2 Movement Perspectives in Bodywork
Judy Rose has been a Trager practitioner since 1996 and teaches Trager nationally. She works out of Shore Wellness in Delaware. She studied Biology at the University of Maryland College Park, massage at PMTI, and CranioSacral therapy at the Upledger Institute while based in Silver Spring for twelve years. Her practice combines Trager bodywork and Mentastics therapeutic movement, and integrates CranioSacral therapy, myofascial release, and Reiki.
RaNecia Smith, LMT
Lead Instructor Segment 3 Sports Massage, Advanced Stretching
A 2020 graduate of Holistic Massage Training Institute, RaNecia is the founder and owner of G3M Therapy and Wellness, serving Prince George's County. With degrees in psychology and community counseling from Hampton University, she brings over a decade of experience in mental health counseling to her holistic approach to healing and her commitment to client-centered care. G3M is a community space which also offers meditation and yoga to complement massage.
Demara Stamler, LMT
Lead Instructor Business & Ethics Segment 1,2,3
Consultant to the Staff
Demara graduated from PMTI in 1989. Since that time, she has served PMTI as a Lead Instructor, Director of Education, and then Executive Director. Demara also has served the massage industry as a board member of AMTA Council of Schools (which was re-formed as the Alliance for Massage Therapy Education). She went on to serve industry education standards through her work at NACCAS, a national accrediting agency. In 2016, she certified as a coach and consultant through the Life Mastery Institute and the A.R.E. Demara then opened Awakened Dreams Coaching and Consulting, which focuses on supporting massage therapists (and allied professionals), businesses, and schools.
Tom Swiss, LMT
Lead Instructor Segment 3 ShiatsuTom is a 2004 graduate of the Shiatsu and Asian Bodywork program at the Baltimore School of Massage, where he was trained in both the Traditional Chinese Medicine and Zen/Masunaga approaches to shiatsu. He is certified as a Diplomate in Asian Bodywork Therapy by the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine, a Certified Practitioner by the American Organization for Bodywork Therapies of Asia, and a Maryland Licensed Massage Therapist. Besides his private practice, he has worked at one of the Baltimore area's top spas, and with chemotherapy outpatients at one of its top hospitals. Tom also holds a master's degree in Computer Science from the University of Maryland, and a kari rokudan (sixth degree black belt) ranking in Seido Karate. His book Why Buddha Touched the Earth was published in 2013, and he blogs at Patheos as "The Zen Pagan."
Nicole Teal
Fieldwork Manager
After graduating from PMTI in 2004, Nicole persued training in Neuromuscular Therapy (NMT) and 'Thai on the Table.' Her love of massage and bodywork has led to continued learning. She became a yoga teacher in 2016, and this allowed Nicole to relate to clients with special conditions more intuitively and with a more holistic approach. In 2023, Nicole studied with Alicia Barmon, and had a life changing apprenticeship in the neuroscience of breathwork. Through her own pain and recovery, she has been able to gain insight in to the mind-body connection. Nicole believes the breath holds the key to liberation for the mind and body to work in harmony. As a receiver of various modalities, she has enjoyed corrective exercise therapy. Nicole enjoys her career so much that she works out just so she can work more effectively and efficiently. She feels that "coming back to PMTI to teach and be part of this wonderful community is a true honor."
Allison Tilluma, LMT
Teaching Assistant Segment 2 Practical
Allison is a holistic therapist who specializes in energy medicine, conscious body awareness, and intuition development. Since graduating from PMTI in 2004 and earning her B.S. in Alternative Medicine, Allison has dedicated her career to helping individuals release pain, restore balance, and cultivate lasting well-being. Her approach blends deep listening, a profound connection to nature, and keen insight into how the body stores tension, fostering greater calm and joy in her clients With advanced training in therapeutic massage, Reiki, Shamanic energy healing, herbal medicine, yoga, and breathwork, Allison offers a diverse set of services at her Arlington, Virginia practice. These include massage therapy, energy work, and breathwork sessions, as well as workshops on holistic living and spiritual integration. Allison's holistic practice invites each person into a transformative process of healing, self-discovery, and embodied peace.
Brenda Tracy, LMT
Lead Instructor Segment 2 Movement Perspectives,
Brenda earned a BA and MBA from Hood College in Frederick, MD, and has had an extensive career in human resources, specializing in talent acquisition. She graduated from PMTI in 2018 and has worked part time in a wellness center focusing on pregnancy massage. Brenda is a Registered Massage Practitioner, certified in pregnancy and postpartum massage, and she has completed training for the Trager Approach -- Levels I, II and III. She has three children: a recent graduate of Temple University in Philadelphia, PA, and two who are currently enrolled at the University of Maryland.
Oona Waxenfelter
Registrar
Oona discovered the PMTI Graduate Clinic in 2006 and has been a client ever since. Her desire to support PMTI led to her filling the role of Registrar. Prior to that, she worked in the field of education for 17 years, and in a variety of non-profit organizations before that. She is thrilled to have the opportunity to help PMTI students achieve academic success.