Our Mission: Where clinical skill meets embodied understanding.
Body Advocate Education approaches massage therapy through a holistic lens, viewing the body as an integrated, communicative system rather than a collection of isolated parts.
Our mission is to cultivate therapists who work in partnership with their clients to support healing — combining deep anatomical knowledge with somatic awareness to listen to what the body is expressing and respond with skill, clarity, and care.
Precision
Anatomical accuracy meeting intuitive somatic touch.
Longevity
Sustainable practices for the therapist's body and career.
This philosophy directly shapes how trainings are designed and taught. In addition to isolated techniques, courses emphasize pattern recognition, functional anatomy, and the relationship between structure, movement, and nervous system regulation.
Therapists learn to assess the body as an interconnected whole — studying neuromuscular function, injury rehabilitation, and fascial dynamics while developing the perceptual skills needed to recognize subtle holding patterns. Hands-on practice is paired with discussion and reflection, encouraging therapists to think critically about their work and adapt their approach to each individual client.
The goal of this education is to develop practitioners who are both technically skilled and perceptive: therapists who can interpret what the body is communicating and respond with care that is precise, collaborative, and grounded in whole-person understanding.
Teaching Philosphy:
Precision in Touch, Wisdom in Practice
Our approach to education bridges clinical precision with somatic wisdom. By integrating advanced myofascial assessment with trauma-informed practice, we support massage professionals in developing both refined technical skill and deeper empathetic presence.
We believe effective bodywork requires a strong foundation in anatomical science alongside an understanding of the nervous system and the lived experience held in the body. Each training is designed to be engaging, practical, and adaptable to different learning styles, combining hands-on exploration with clear anatomical understanding and collaborative discussion.
Workshops foster an active dialogue between the therapist’s hands and the client’s experience, encouraging therapists to work from a holistic, whole-body perspective. The goal is not only to expand professional knowledge, but to build confidence, curiosity, and sustainable practice that supports long-term growth.
The Voice of the Advocate
An Education Built on Decades of Clinical Practice
Body Advocate Education was founded by a massage therapist and educator with over 26 years of experience in therapeutic bodywork and a lifelong commitment to the healing arts. Since beginning her professional journey in 1995, she has developed a practice that bridges clinical precision with embodied understanding.
She has taught massage and anatomy since 2008 in both the United States and Norway, working with diverse student populations and professional environments. Her clinical background includes working with elite athletes in track and field and mixed martial arts, as well as collaborating with mental health professionals to support clients releasing trauma and emotional patterns held in the body.
In addition to her massage training, she is a certified yoga instructor through Yoga Alliance International and has taught anatomy in yoga teacher training programs for over seven years. She is an approved continuing education provider with the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork.
The Participant Experience
Voices From the Somatic Community
"Loved the detailed instructions Erin gave us. She is extremely knowledgeable and did a great job adjusting to the group and making sure we got the maximum out of this modality. I really learned a lot these last days with Erin and am excited to use all of these techniques more often. She showed us good tricks for body posture!"
"It’s very easy to learn from Erin. She’s very approachable. I feel like what we learned about the different muscles was good review and Erin went more in depth about them. Mostly, the visual used was useful. Definitely, Erin’s super energetic personality helped too!"
"What I loved most about your massage, besides of course that it was so deep and felt so good, was how intuitive you are and how able to give a voice to the body. You would deliver messages from various areas you were massaging and it was like an intimate conversation... we talk to and about our bodies (at least in our heads) often, but to have it talk back, through you, was a marvel. Thank you, Erin!"
former student & Somatic Bodyworker
Former student & somatic bodyworker
Alma - somatic massage client
Contact Us To Learn More
We collaborate with massage professionals and institutions worldwide to deliver advanced clinical bodywork education. Whether you’re curious about our host requirements or ready to book a signature workshop, we’re here to help.
Email: erin@bodyadvocateedu.com
Location: Local, Regional, and International Workshops