Living Essence Massage Institute to open in Trumansburg 

Living Essence Massage Institute (LEMI) announces its opening in the Finger Lakes region, marking the return of a full-time massage therapy program to an area that has been without one for over five years. LEMI offers a 1,000-hour massage therapy certification program and is now accepting applications for its inaugural class in September 2025. 

Located at 1891 State Route 96, LEMI is 10 minutes north of downtown Ithaca and 5 minutes south of the Village of Trumansburg. The new school addresses a significant educational gap that emerged when the Finger Lakes School of Massage (FLSM), which operated in Ithaca for over 25 years, closed in 2019. During the ensuing two years, four other massage therapy programs within 90 miles of Ithaca also ceased operations, leaving aspiring massage therapists in Central and Upstate New York with limited nearby options.

Rachel Hogancamp, Founder and Managing Partner of Rasa Spa and longtime FLSM instructor, serves as the founder and CEO of Living Essence Massage Institute. Drawing from her extensive experience in both massage therapy education and spa management, Hogancamp envisions the school as a beacon of healing and hope for the community.

“At a time when many people are feeling concern and uncertainty about the future, massage therapy and bodywork offer profound healing – not just for physical benefit, but for the mental and emotional stress that has become so prevalent in our daily lives,” Hogancamp says. “Living Essence Massage Institute will train compassionate practitioners who understand that true wellness encompasses the whole person. Our graduates will go into the world equipped not only with technical skills, but with the heart-centered approach needed to make a real difference in people’s lives.”

LEMI emphasizes a holistic approach to massage therapy education in its full-time, eight-month long curriculum, combining rigorous scientific training with personalized instruction and a strong commitment to diversity and inclusion. The comprehensive program, approved by New York State Department of Education, prepares students for successful careers in the rapidly expanding field of integrative wellness.

In addressing what makes this program unique, Hogancamp noted “As part of our commitment to a highly individualized education and a deep level of mentorship, enrollment is limited to 24 full-time students per cohort, or graduating class. A small class ensures both accessibility in learning, and immediate transferability of skills to real-world practice. Faculty who have worked together as part of Ithaca’s wellness community and who bring decades of success as healthcare practitioners, business owners, and educators, provide a very close and supportive community to Living Essence students.

The impact of massage therapy training extends far beyond the profession itself, according to longtime healthcare provider Dr. Ammitai Worob, who is the Program Director of Living Essence Massage Institute.

“Living Essence Massage Institute will not only create local jobs in healthcare, but will be the catalyst for new business creation and expansion,” Worob noted . “Having a massage therapy program here is integral to the fabric of our Ithaca area communities. There isn’t a walk of life that hasn’t been touched by those trained as massage therapists. It could be your yoga instructor, or the contractor who built an addition to your house. A trip to your doctor’s office at some point is likely to include being treated by a nurse who started their career as a massage therapist. The same is true for mental health counselors, acupuncturists, physical and occupational therapists, and chiropractors – many of whom started their healthcare careers in massage therapy.”

Living Essence Massage Institute welcomes students interested in pursuing a career in massage therapy, and applications are now being accepted for the September 2025 inaugural class. For more information about Living Essence Massage Institute and its 1,000-hour massage therapy certification program, visit www.livingessenceflx.com.