Meet Your Instructors.

Founder

Rachel Hogancamp has been a dedicated leader in the wellness field since 1994, when she began her massage therapy journey as a student at the Finger Lakes School of Massage. She went on to become a long-time instructor at the school, teaching kinesiology, pathology, ethics, business, and a range of massage modalities until 2012. Her deep roots in education, combined with a passion for holistic health, have shaped her vision for massage therapy as a meaningful and sustainable career path.

In 2006, Rachel co-founded Rasa Spa in partnership with Island Health & Fitness at the Cayuga Wellness Center, bringing to life a full-service integrative health spa designed to support the whole person. From the beginning, her mission was clear: to make therapeutic, high-quality bodywork and spa services accessible, not just as a luxury, but as a vital part of healthcare and well-being. Rasa Spa quickly became a cornerstone of the Finger Lakes wellness community, offering massage, skincare, body treatments, meditation, yoga, and more in a warm, inclusive environment.

Rachel's experience also includes co-owning Bodyworks Massage Therapy, a collaborative massage practice she helped grow into a thriving community of independent practitioners. She is a passionate supporter of the arts, an advocate for community wellness, and a photographer with a love for capturing the natural world.

With Living Essence Massage Institute, Rachel brings her decades of experience, her unwavering commitment to compassionate care, and her belief in the transformative power of massage education into a new era—one focused on cultivating mindful, skilled practitioners ready to serve with heart and integrity.

Program Director

Dr. Ammitai Worob has been a healthcare leader in Central New York since 2009, providing chiropractic care in Cortland and Ithaca with the belief that every person deserves to live a healthy life. Dr. Worob has served on the board of directors of multiple health care organizations, is a guest lecturer, and has taught at universities and  colleges in New York State, and continues to be the director for a small massage therapy clinic in Ithaca.

Ammitai has been very active in local politics and government over the past few years, serving as Chief of Staff to Assemblymember Anna Kelles, then as her campaign manager, and also as the chair of the Town of Ithaca Democratic Committee.

Ammitai is thrilled to be a part of the LEMI team, and to bring more exceptional massage therapists into the region. Everyone would benefit from more massage therapy in their life!

Assistant Program Director & Lead Instructor

Jahnna is a Psychic Consultant & Energy Healer specializing in biodynamic cranial sacral therapy. She has worked in various realms of her massage therapy and therapeutic healing practice with clients since 2002. She is a graduate of SUNY University at Albany, Finger Lakes School of Massage, One Heart Biodynamic program, and has completed numerous other trainings in bodywork, cranial sacral therapies, communication skills and providing support services. Jahnna is also a certified End-of-Life Doula, trained through the University of Vermont Larner College of Medicine.

Jahnna is passionate about bodywork education and taught various modalities at the Finger Lakes School of Massage including Connective Tissue Therapy, Neuromuscular Therapy, Medical Massage, Elder Massage and Energy Palpation until 2011. She also held an administrative role as their Student Advisor and specialized in supervising community service clinics. Proudly a forever student of Spirit and life, and she has studied and worked personally with her own spiritual teacher for many years. In her own life, Jahnna keeps a regular meditation and yoga practice and forever loves her Mom-job. She is an advocate for our BIPOC & LGBTQ+ community in Ithaca, NY and beyond.

Jahnna is here to be a helper. She is happy to assist in guiding those who have a heartfelt want for healing, and tapping into their potential for optimal happiness, joy and success in this life. Bringing these sentiments to LEMI as an Assistant Program Director and Lead Instructor is such an exciting honor. Jahnna is dedicated to helping the world by helping individuals access their innate abilities to provide healing for themselves and for others.

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Assistant Program Director

Wren Anjali (they/them) comes to LEMI with a background of over 20 years as a Massage Therapist specializing in treatment of acute and chronic injuries/pain. Recognizing the importance of the mind/body connection, Wren developed techniques that melded manual fascial work with strategies that also addressed energetic and consciousness aspects.  Wren was a Massage Therapy Instructor (anatomy/physiology, business and massage modalities) and started their own massage school (Elements of Wellness, Saint Louis, MO).  With a Masters degree in Speech/Language Pathology and emphasis on Psychology and Human Development, Wren has held numerous teaching and administrative roles in educational organizations throughout their career.

Wren is also a nature connection mentor and leader, devoted to supporting human/nature relationships through offering youth and adult programs, Ancestral Earth Skills workshops, and instructor/staff development opportunities.  Wren has a knack for recognizing and acknowledging the unique gifts of others, and a passion for engaging people in community activities and outdoor fun.

Curriculum Coordinator & Lead Instructor

Hallie is the founder of Soul Song, offering continuing education in a wide spectrum of alternative approaches to health and wellness. She is an established and respected educator with extensive training in energy work and body-centered therapies. Her work with individual clients integrates techniques from the many disciplines in which she is trained, creating a deeply personalized and comprehensive healing experience.

Hallie has been practicing massage therapy since 1996 and is licensed in Connecticut and New York. She is certified in holistic aromatherapy, polarity therapy and reflexology, and a master instructor of Reiki and Integrated Energy Therapy. Hallie is also Board Certified in Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork, an approved continuing education provider for the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCTMB), and has been offering NCBTMB-approved continuing education classes to licensed massage therapists since 2000.

Hallie’s unwavering dedication to advancing the field of massage therapy and holistic wellness makes her a sought-after educator, consultant, and practitioner. She taught four years for Cortiva Institute and 13 years for Finger Lakes School of Massage where she played a key role in mentoring, inspiring, and shaping future practitioners.

Her decades of experience in massage therapy instruction and program administration now guides and shapes her professional consultancy work with colleges, universities, and private institutions seeking to integrate massage therapy training into their degree programs and educational offerings. Among her recent accomplishments in this field, are the development of the 1000-hour massage therapy curricula for both Northeast College of Health Sciences in Seneca Falls, NY and Living Essence Massage Institute in Trumansburg, NY.

Hallie is passionate about empowering clients, students, and colleagues through education, healing, and mentorship. She is dedicated to promoting the benefits of integrative wellness practices and advancing the standards of massage therapy education.Curriculum Coordinator, Lead Instructor

Through her unique blend of hands-on experience, teaching excellence, and program development expertise, Hallie continues to inspire and elevate the next generation of wellness professionals, creating a lasting impact on the field.

www.soulsong.abmp.com

BFA, LMT

Curriculum Coordinator & Lead Instructor

Sondra has been licensed as a massage therapist in New York since 1991. She is Nationally Certified in Holistic Aromatherapy, a Master Instructor of Integrated Energy Therapy, a Usui Reiki Master Teacher, certified in Arvigo Therapy Massage and Arvigo Therapy Advanced Spiritual Healing, a certified Hands On Health Instructor for the Arvigo Institute, and a certified Reflexologist.

She was an instructor for the Finger Lakes School of Massage in Ithaca, New York, for 24 years, teaching since the school's inception. She also taught at the Arizona School of Integrative Studies for 10 years.

Sondra has spent seven years serving as the Education Director for Rasa Spa, overseeing the continuing education program, teaching CE classes approved by the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork, and mentoring new instructors. Throughout her career, Sondra has built and nurtured a private practice that offers bodywork and energy work services to clients of all ages.

Her focus for the past 3 years has been Ayurvedic training in creative alternatives to health and personal transformation. Most recently, she played a vital role in the development of the 1,000-hour massage therapy curricula for both Northeast College of Health Sciences in Seneca Falls, NY, and Living Essence Massage Institute in Trumansburg, NY.

Sondra’s wide spectrum of expertise and her generosity shine through and inform all her work. Her wellspring of genuine interest and commitment to the healing possible through massage transforms the lives of her clients, empowers students, inspires fellow instructors, and illuminates the many possibilities of this career path.

Arjan Makar is a healer, teacher, and coach with over two decades of experience helping people connect more deeply to themselves and others. A 1998 graduate of the Finger Lakes School of Massage, Arjan arrived in Ithaca with a B.A. in Anthropology and years of experience teaching yoga—foundations that shaped her holistic, culturally grounded philosophy of healing. Her studies have taken her to Central America, India, and Turkey, where she explored diverse approaches to mind-body connection and transformation.

In 2018, Arjan became a Certified Life and Relationship Coach through the Co-Active Training Institute. Passionate about linking the mind and body as pathways to a more fulfilling life, she later deepened her training through CTI’s renowned Leadership Program, gaining powerful tools to ignite passion and growth in others.

Today, Arjan brings together her background in massage, yoga, anthropology, and coaching to support clients in navigating life transitions, building authentic relationships, and cultivating resilience. A lifelong learner, she continues to lead with curiosity, compassion, and a belief in each person’s innate resourcefulness. 

Rosemary Joseph is a 2013 graduate of the Finger Lakes School of Massage. Rosemary has been practicing massage and energy work for over 10 years. She approaches each session as a mindful dialogue with the body, skillfully weaving together various techniques to create a state of profound relaxation. With a B.A. in Psychology, Rosemary has a deep appreciation for the physical, mental, and emotional aspects of massage. To her, massage is a whole-being experience, a profound exchange worthy of complete presence and attention. 

Having taught at the Finger Lakes School of Massage previously, Rosemary is passionate about supporting the next generation of therapists. Her expertise, willingness to learn, and humor are key to her success as an instructor. In addition to her hands-on work, she also holds a more technical role at a gaming company. With one foot in tech and one in healing therapy, Rosemary brings a unique blend of experiences that informs her precise and communicative approach to instruction. 

Dex White graduated from the Finger Lakes School of Massage (FLSM), and has been licensed as a massage therapist since 2000. He was an instructor at FLSM for 15 years, teaching Swedish, movement-based work, energy work, deep tissue techniques, medical massage, and communication skills. His massage work usually draws from all of these approaches, based on his client’s preferences and his own deep listening to the body’s responses to the work. 

In 2025, Dex became a faculty member at Living Essence Massage Institute (LEMI). Drawing from his vast experience in teaching massage curriculum, Dex is now the instructor of reflexology, hydrotherapy, and seated massage at LEMI.  

Whether teaching or offering hands-on work, Dex truly enjoys following his intuition and responding to the needs he senses in the moment, and he places great importance on laughter and play.

Brian Alexander graduated from the Finger Lakes School of Massage and has been a licensed massage therapist since 2018. Shortly after becoming licensed, he began work at Rasa Spa in Ithaca, NY, where he focuses on sports massage, medical massage, and deep pressure techniques.

In 2024, Brian also began developing and teaching continuing education classes for licensed massage therapists that focus on the disciplines he loves. In 2025, he became a faculty member at Living Essence Massage Institute (LEMI), and brings a grounded and knowledgeable presence to his work there as clinical supervisor and instructor.

As an active person, Brian is passionate about learning how the body moves and functions. He lives with his wife and two kids in Horseheads, NY.

Kate Dimpfl has been a massage therapist since 2017. She was drawn to bodywork through her experience as a doula and birth educator, and went on to train as a massage therapist to bring a more tactile, embodied approach to prenatal care.

Kate’s love of teaching and community building has offered some unique opportunities; she is a frequent presenter at Cornell University and a TEDx presenter. She is a founder and CE provider for the Ithaca Doula Collective, co-founder of the Ithaca Childbearing Loss Network, and co-creator of the Ithaca Children's Garden Bulb Labyrinth Memorial Garden.

As a lifelong learner, her massage therapy background has broadened beyond belly work. Kate was an apprentice in Myofascial Therapy with Leonor Horden. She’s been a long-time student at The Barral Institute learning visceral massage, neural manipulation, and more. She has studied both Upledger Cranial Sacral Therapy and One Heart’s Biodynamic Cranial Sacral work. Currently, Kate is in the process of completing a Diploma in Osteopathic Manual Practice.

Kate is excited to be both a faculty member and continuing education (CE) instructor for Living Essence Massage Institute (LEMI). Her CE classes include prenatal and advanced pregnancy massage, an introduction to cranial and visceral massage, and a 3D approach to the shoulder. As a LEMI faculty member, she teaches the business, pathology, orthopedics, foundations of touch, and prenatal massage classes. She is particularly excited about empowering students to develop an intuitive, hands-on sense of the body, discover and integrate the approaches to massage that resonate for them, and create bodywork practices that are physically sustainable.