NHI Emeryville Grad Tobi Lessem Builds Thriving Marin County Practice, Bodywise Massage
- Advanced Neuromuscular Therapy Program
- Amazing Alumni
- Core Massage Therapy Training Program
- NHI Believes
Tobi Lessem, NHI Emeryville Graduate and Owner of Bodywise Massage
Content Summary
National Holistic Institute Emeryville graduate Tobi Lessem shares her raw, inspiring journey of overcoming personal hardships, a speech impediment, and dropping out multiple times to become the successful owner of Bodywise Massage. This spotlight explores how the combination of NHI’s Core program and Advanced Neuromuscular Therapy (ANMT) program gave her the clinical tools to survive COVID-19, employ a team of 13, and launch a massive 2,400-square-foot facility expansion.
- Overcoming the Odds: Tobi’s transparent story of perseverance, navigating personal struggles, and balancing family needs with school.
- The Power of Orthopedic Testing: Why the ANMT program was the essential missing link for managing complex client conditions.
- A Resilient Business Model: How Bodywise Massage survived the pandemic and scaled to a 13-employee powerhouse.
- Community-First Rehabilitation: Serving vulnerable populations, from individuals experiencing homelessness to Guide Dogs for the Blind.
Finding My Path Through the Chaos
When I first enrolled in the Core Program at NHI’s Emeryville campus, I was a hot mess. I had just returned to the country, didn’t have a permanent place to live, and was navigating a storm of interpersonal challenges. On top of that, I was managing a speech impediment that actively impacted my schooling.
Because of intense family obligations and the financial reality of needing to work, I actually had to drop out of the Core program one and a half times.
But through it all, I knew one thing with absolute certainty: healing work was my path.
The incredible, unwavering support of the staff and instructors at NHI kept pulling me back. They didn’t just offer a curriculum; they gave me the structure and the community I needed to cross the finish line. Not only did I graduate from the Core program, but I knew I couldn’t stop there—I immediately pivoted into the Advanced Neuromuscular Therapy (ANMT) Program.
Learning to ‘Feed a Platoon’ Through ANMT
I originally chose NHI because they had all their “ducks in a row” to get graduates legally certified and working right away. But once I got out into the field doing mobile massage, sports events, senior homes, and wellness centers, my clients started asking clinical questions I simply couldn’t answer yet.
The Core program got my foot in the door, but the ANMT program taught me what I actually needed to know to change lives. It completely reshaped how I looked at anatomy and pain management.
“Trying to serve a clinical client load without ANMT training would be like taking a few basic cooking classes and then trying to feed an entire military platoon. You need the advanced training to survive.”
The single biggest takeaway for me? Orthopedic testing.
ANMT gave me the assessment protocols required to precisely isolate and identify soft-tissue pain points. I 100% could not have sustained my career without that advanced clinical knowledge. The sheer variety and complexity of the clients I see today demand it.
The Rise of Bodywise Massage
In 2018, just a couple of years after working various gigs in the field, I took the ultimate leap of faith: I bought an existing business, Bodywise Massage. It was the single most impactful thing I’ve ever done.
Only a year and a half into ownership, COVID-19 struck. It was a terrifying time for hands-on businesses, but the foundational skills and structural resilience I learned at NHI helped us keep the doors open. We didn’t just survive; we adapted.
Today, Bodywise Massage is an integral piece of the Marin County community. We currently employ 13 incredible people, providing them with flexible, structured employment that allows them to support their own families while loving what they do. Our team provides touch therapy all over the county, working with:
- Guide Dogs for the Blind
- The Marin County Civic Center and local government seats
- Individuals experiencing homelessness
- Post-operative and aging individuals requiring deep rehabilitative care
Because of this incredible demand, we are currently expanding our business from a modest 600-square-foot space into a massive 2,400-square-foot wellness hub! This new expansion will feature advanced massage services, an herbal kitchen, and space to host master massage classes.
A Life of Freedom
What I love most about my career is the raw experience of helping people feel healthier, more alive, and truly empowered in their own skin. Beyond that, it gave me my freedom. I am someone who could never sit in a corporate office all day; if it weren’t for massage therapy, I would be out of luck finding a career path I could stick with.
NHI gave me the legal piece of paper I needed, the hands-on mastery, and the blueprint for how to show up for work that actually matters. It was the keystone to my entire life.
For anyone thinking about taking the leap into massage therapy, my advice is simple: Do it.
But remember these three things for the journey:
- You must genuinely care about people, or you will burn out.
- Never stop learning—stay relentlessly curious.
- Protect your own body by staying physically and emotionally strong throughout your career.
Meet more Amazing Alumni like Tobi.
Connect with Tobi at Bodywise Massage.
Get the details on how to pursue a career in massage therapy and neuromuscular therapy with National Holistic Institute. Complete this form to connect with an admissions representative today.
Advanced Neuromuscular Therapy Career FAQ
Q: What makes the NHI Emeryville campus unique for prospective students?
A: Located in the heart of the SF Bay Area, the Emeryville campus provides a vibrant, diverse community hub. It offers state-of-the-art training facilities, a bustling public clinic for hands-on practice, and deep roots within the local Northern California wellness and athletic communities.
Q: How does Orthopedic Testing enhance a massage therapist’s practice?
A: Orthopedic testing involves specialized physical assessment maneuvers used to evaluate bones, joints, muscles, and soft tissues. Rather than relying on guesswork, these tests allow an ANMT professional to accurately pinpoint the structural source of a client’s chronic pain, making treatments significantly more effective.
Q: Can an NHI graduate realistically transition into business ownership?
A: Yes. NHI’s curriculum includes dedicated business and career development modules. Graduates learn the operational, legal, and financial foundations of the industry, empowering them to launch independent mobile practices, manage wellness centers, or successfully purchase and scale brick-and-mortar clinics like Bodywise Massage.