A Team Committed to Helping You Thrive!
Meet Erica
FOUNDER/DIRECTOR
Ericahas been a licensed bodyworker for 22 years, gaining experience across a variety of settings, including medical spas, chiropractic offices, Munson Medical Center, and the Cowell Family Cancer Center. She currently operates her private practice, BodyWise, where she specializes and is certified in several modalities, such as Trigger Point Therapy, MindBody (somatics), Myofascial Release, Oncology Massage, Lymphatic Drainage, and Dynamic Cupping. Erica is deeply committed to continuously expanding her knowledge of the human experience—mind, body, and spirit—through ongoing education and self-study. Her diverse background in bodywork equips her with a comprehensive understanding of the field and enables her to teach SŌMA students from a place of rich, practical experience.
Meet Kelsey
FOUNDER/DIRECTOR
Kelsey has been working as an LMT for the last seven years in Traverse City, MI. She has worked in Massage Therapy centers, Chiropractic practices, and currently runs a private practice. Since graduating from the Mind Body Institute in 2017, she has added certifications in Prenatal Massage, Oncology Massage, and Myofascial Release. Kelsey aims to be a constant student in both her personal and professional life and is eager to bring knowledge acquired through story and study into our classroom at SŌMA.
EDUCATOR - Weekend Program
Amanda Bowen has been a massage therapist for 16 years, working in a variety of clinical and private practice settings since graduating from the Ann Arbor Institute of Massage Therapy in 2010. She holds certifications in neuromuscular therapy, myofascial therapy, massage cupping, and prenatal and postpartum massage.
Amanda has always been drawn to teaching. As a student, she could often be found tutoring and assisting her classmates. Before beginning her massage career, one of her favorite jobs was a teaching position where she worked cooperatively with parents and young children, focusing on brain and motor-skill development while promoting caregiver bonding. For the past six years, Amanda has enjoyed homeschooling her daughter and teaching in a local co-op.
Her approach to education focuses not only on what students learn, but also on who they will become, how much they care about what they’ve learned, and how they engage with the world around them. As a massage therapist, Amanda cares deeply for her clients and loves teaching them about their own bodies. She is excited to share her passion for anatomy, physiology, and healing with the next generation of skilled bodyworkers.
Meet Amanda
Meet Andrew
EDUCATOR - Specialty Instructor
Andrew Goforth has been practicing Massage Therapy and Bodywork since graduating massage school in 2011. With 14 years of hands-on experience, Andrew has developed a unique approach to working with the body through Myofascial Release, CranioSacral Therapy, and his own evolving techniques known as Myofascial Unwinding.
A passionate educator, Andrew regularly teaches workshops, seminars, and continuing education courses for bodywork professionals. His teaching combines practical experience with an emphasis on developing palpation skills, deepening body awareness, and learning to listen to the subtle patterns and movements of the body.
Through his practice and teaching, Andrew is committed to helping both clients and practitioners discover new possibilities in bodywork. His personalized approach brings together years of experience, specialized training, and a deep curiosity about the body’s natural capacity to unwind and change.