Tonia Lach – Elevating Massage into a Sacred Art

Training and Experience

Private Practice

Owner of “The Body Journey Massage Experience” from 1992 to present in Mill Valley and Sonoma Valley, CA – both practices are thriving with wait-lists.

Professional Training

  • Acupressure Massage Technician Certification from Berkeley’s Acupressure Institute (1992) and McKinnon Body Therapy Center

  • Chi Nei Tsang, Jin Shin Jyutsu, Lymphatic Drainage, Reflexology, Deep Tissue, (1994-2024)

Professional Voice and Sound Healer Certification

  • Kaleo Sound Foundation (2001)

Certified Professional Coach

  • Energy Leadership Index Master Practitioner

  • Institute for Professional Excellence in Coaching (2013)

AS in Life Sciences and Mathematics

  • College of Marin (1996)

Public Speaking Practice and Training

  • Landmark Education (1991)

  • Toastmasters (1993)





With over 32 years of practice and teaching, I’ve come to view bodywork as a transformative journey of body, mind, and spirit. I know that many people come to the table seeking more than physical relief; they’re looking for deep restoration and energetic alignment. When I teach, I draw on a blend of ancient healing traditions and modern techniques, offering a clear foundation while inviting students to view massage as a sacred practice. I strive to be both welcoming and visionary, grounding my instruction in anatomical knowledge while encouraging students to expand their understanding of what massage can be.

This perspective led me to create the Body Journey Massage Experience®, which combines sound healing, skilled bodywork, and energy work, and teaches practitioners how to take each client on a deep inward journey as they do muscular work. I teach these certifications and other continuing education courses in the San Francisco Bay Area, and I have also taught the Body Journey certification for the New York chapter of the American Massage Therapy Association.

Alongside this work, I develop and teach innovative spa treatments with clear protocols. My aim is to help professionals weave sound therapy, energy work, and creative bodywork techniques into their existing services. I often partner with spa directors to craft signature treatments that enhance the guest experience and elevate their menus.


“Massage is more than technique—it is an alchemy of presence, expertise, and connection. It is the antithesis of discord, a language of peace written through the hands.”

— Tonia Lach