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 2 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.
Saya Barkdoll, RMP
Lead Instructor Segment 3 Practical, Teaching Assistant Segment 1 Practical, Prenatal, Clinic Instructor
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
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
Lead Instructor Segment 1 Practical
Gaia 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.
Stephanie Bean, LMT
Lead Instructor Segment 1 Research Literacy, Clinic Instructor
(bio pending)
Tiffany Bention
Teaching Assistant Segment 1 Practical, Clinic Instructor
(bio pending)
Jean Briggs, LMT
Lead Instructor Segment 3 Integrative Healthcare, Segments 1, 2 & 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.
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
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, LMT
Lead Instructor Segment 3 Academic & Practical, Nutrition, Clinic Instructor
Traniceia “Tree” Campbell is a Licensed Massage Therapist, Ayurvedic practitioner, healthcare professional, and massage educator. Her journey began in education, which she initially studied after high school before transitioning into the healthcare field. She later earned a BA in Ayurveda and Integrative Health and is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Nutrition and Integrative Health. Tree specializes in manual lymphatic drainage and prenatal and postnatal massage, bringing her experience in healthcare, integrative wellness, and therapeutic bodywork into the classroom. Teaching at PMTI has brought her journey full circle, blending the path she began in education with the career she built in healthcare and massage therapy. She enjoys helping students understand the “why” behind their techniques, build confidence in their hands, and grow into knowledgeable, compassionate massage therapists.
Jon Coventry, RMP
Assistant to the Director of Education, Acting Registrar, 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.
Jasper Drizin-Kahn, LMT
Teaching Assistant Segment 3 Practical
(bio pending)
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 2 Introduction to Business Practices & Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapy, 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.
Jen Float, LMT
Art of Touch, Touch of Massage
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 Assistant Business and Ethics 1,2&3
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.
Mark Greiner, L.Ac.
Lead Instructor Segment 1, Communication Boundaries & Ethics
Dually educated as a Zero Balancer and pastor, Mark is passionate about trauma healing for persons and communities. He taught at the Maryland University of Integrative Health where he received his Masters of Acupuncture. Mark also worked at an integrative health clinic in rural Nepal, and has additional certification in the Tao of Trauma with Alaine Duncan. Through his Master’s of Divinity from Princeton Theology Seminary, he cares for people through life cycle transitions in diverse congregations. Because he is inspired by the Chinese Medical Classic saying: “If there is free movement, there is no pain; if there is pain, there is lack of free movement,” he enjoys gyrokinesis, Sacred Circle Dancing, and Five Rhythms Dancing.
Lorie Gumbs-Tyler, ND, CNS
Lead Instructor Segment 1 Academic, Medical Terminology, Lead Instructor Segment 2 Intro to Case Report, Research Literacy, 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.
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.
Maya Hollomon Kovac, LMT
Teaching Assistant Segment 1 Academic
Maya brings both clinical mastery and proven business acumen to Potomac Massage Training Institute. A former dance and yoga instructor (and a 2016 graduate of PMTI), she is the founder of Heaolu Massage, a practice she successfully scaled into a full time mobile massage business serving clients in Maryland and Washington, DC. Her career spans diverse clinical settings, from day spas to doctors’ offices, including 2 years serving as a Team Lead/in-house instructor. Maya is dedicated to mentoring the next generation of therapists in the art, science, and business of massage therapy.
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.
Chelsea Horton, LMT
Lead Instructor Segment 2 Academic, Teaching Assistant Segment 2 ICR, Segment 3 Case Report
(bio pending)
Mayasa 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, Couples 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.
Peter Langsdorf, LMT
Lead Instructor Segment 2 Practical
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.
Sarah Lawson, LMT
Lead Instructor Segment 3 BCST
(bio pending)
Holly Leon-Lierman
Fieldwork Manager, Teaching Assistant Segment 1 Practical
Holly is a graduate of PMTI and is thrilled to join the teaching staff where she can pair her extensive background in trauma-informed care, non-profit leadership, restorative yoga and reiki with advanced clinical training in massage therapy. Her passion and vision are to expand access to bodywork and culturally relevant healing modalities to foster embodiment and connection, and to ease stress.
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.
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.
Jonathan Osmundsen, LMT
Director of Continuing Education, Workshops & Partnerships
During 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, LMT
Clinic Instructor, Team Member
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.
Robin Pinner, LMT
Teaching Assistant Segment 2 Academic
Robin has an extensive background in bodywork dating back to 1995 that took her into the field of Esthetics where she has practiced and taught Anatomy and Physiology related to that field. She went on the study a the Medical University of South Carolina Dermatology Department. Robin has trained in a multitude of instructional tools and methods for help students gain the information and techniques that help them and their clients. She had always been interested in teaching at PMTI due to the fact that she consistently heard about the caliber of instruction and the quality of the student job applicants coming out of its program. She also took continuing education training at PMTI and received work from the students and graduates over the years. Robin is looking forward to contributing to the education of the students and growing in her own path along the way.
Alicia Portillo
Intern
(bio pending)
Frederika Prevost, LMT
Teaching Assistant/Coordinator Segment 3 Academic
Fredi graduated from the Baltimore School of Massage in Medical Massage Therapy and has over twenty years of experience and continuing education harmonizing traditional eastern energetic and therapeutic bodywork to support patient well-being. She is a Licensed Massage Therapist in the state of Maryland and Washington DC, a Professional Member of AMTA, and holds a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Broadcast Journalism from Bowling Green State University. Her practical use of observation and objective listening unlocks restrictive forces, allowing empathetic and compassionate application to direct patients toward healthy well-being.
Brenda Rayner, LMT
Senior Faculty Manager, Lead Instructor Segment 2 Academic and Practical, Lead Instructor Segment 1 Body Dynamics, Intro to Functional Assesment, 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.
Billy Reed, LMT
Clinic Instructor
(bio pending)
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.
Demara Stamler
Director of Education (Interim), Lead Instructor Business and Ethics Segments 1, 2 & 3, Consultant to the Staff
Demara graduated from PMTI in 1989 and had a successful full-time practice for over 20 years. Since that time, she has served PMTI as a Lead Instructor, Director of Education, and then Executive Director. Demara has also served the massage field 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 massage therapy education standards through her work as the Director of Accreditation for NACCAS, a national accrediting agency. In 2016, she certified as a life mastery coach and consultant through the Brave Thinking Institute and the Association for Research and Enlightenment. Demara then opened Awakened Dreams Coaching and Consulting, which focuses on supporting massage therapists (and allied professionals), businesses, and schools. Because of Demara's love and on-going support of PMTI, she has recently joined the administrative staff as the Interim Director of Education.
Laurissa Stokes, LMT
Teaching Assistant Segment 2 Practical
Laurissa came to massage therapy after seeing the role bodywork played in a close friend’s recovery from a stroke. Seeing the difference it could make deepened her appreciation for the power of touch and presence and inspired her to pursue massage therapy. A graduate of PMTI, she currently balances her work as a massage therapist with a career as an attorney for a federal agency. She returned to PMTI as a teaching assistant because she wasn’t quite ready to stop being a student and values the chance to keep learning within the PMTI community. Outside of work and class, she loves to read and dance.
Tom Swiss, LMT
Lead Instructor Segment 3 Shiatsu
Tom 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
Lead Instructor Basic Seated Massage
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."
Brenda Tracy, LMT
Clinic Instructor, Team Member
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.
Antwan Watson
Lead Instructor Segments 2 & 3 Stretching, Segment 3 Sports Massage
(bio pending)
Rebecca Willis, LMT
Teaching Assistant Segment 2 Academic
Rebecca has been guiding people toward better health through therapeutic touch ever since graduating from PMTI in 1999. She became interested in massage therapy as a means of self-care and healing after a professional career in classical ballet and modern dance. Also a yoga practitioner and certified yoga teacher, she brings a practice of mindfulness through movement to work, and believes deeply in the power of massage therapy to facilitate health and reduce stress.
Michael Wolosin, LMT
Lead Instructor Segment 1 Academic
Michael is an LMT who graduated from PMTI in 2026 and is working as a therapist in Bethesda, Maryland. He is fascinated by the ways that presence, connection and manual therapies can change the human nervous system, and thrilled to be in a profession that includes life long learning. Michael has a doctoral degree in forest ecology and transitioned to massage from a career in international climate policy and deforestation reduction.