Posts from — August 2008

Yes, I’m aware that summer officially ends September 21st.  But in most people’s minds, it’s over with the Labor Day weekend.  Vacations are done and school is back in session.

Of course, our school happens year-round.  That doesn’t mean we don’t celebrate summer, though.  In fact, this year we termed it the “Best Summer Ever” and filled it with fun events at each campus.  One of those was San Jose’s 2nd Annual BBQ in the Park.  Thanks to Beth Fisher, an admissions representative in San Jose, for providing details and pictures.

On August 11th, staff, students, and graduates of the NHI San Jose campus gathered at the nearby Frank M. Santana Park for the second incarnation of this event.  Picnickers chowed down on a choice of beef, salmon, or veggie burgers, as well as an array of vegetables and dip, salsa and chips, and some yummy chewy cookies.

San Jose campus hoops it up for second annual BBQ!

In honor of the concurrent Olympics, participants demonstrated their athleticism in a unique triathlon of events – Frisbee throwing, hula hooping, and water balloon tossing.  Watch out, Michael Phelps!

SASC Benita MacDonald holds a hula hoop for the Frisbee throw.

Campus Manager Alicia Ramos, Student Administrative Services Coordinator Benita MacDonald, and Emeryville Student Services Coordinator Jaime Montenegro worked hard to make the event a success.  San Jose is already looking forward to next year!

And we look forward to more blogs from Beth, who looks to be a regular contributor.

Every 6 weeks or so, the NHI Education Council meets face-to-face at a secret location under tight security.  Okay, so perhaps I’m exaggerating about that last part.  We actually rotate the meetings to different campuses and, while they are private, they aren’t top-secret.

The purpose of these meetings is to ensure that we consistently provide the best education possible to our students.  In addition to defining our current standards and curriculum, we chart out NHI’s future, making sure we keep at the top of the industry.  Included in these discussions are all campus managers, the Director of Education, the Deans of Students and Faculty, the Curriculum Coordinator, and the Training Coordinator.  Most of the time, the President of the company and the Director of Development join us as well.  I’m the “newest” member of the Council having been with NHI just over 2 years; the longest serving members have over 15 years with the school.

Ed Council in Emeryville

This is a diversely experienced group of dedicated, intelligent, motivated, and good-humored individuals.  It’s such a joy to be with them that it doesn’t even feel like work.  But don’t let the laughter that comes from our meeting room fool you.  We take our jobs very seriously.  For example, yesterday we discussed among other things the progress of implementing our latest curriculum changes; externship policies and goals; student awards; alternative schedules for our program; and needs both universal and specific to each campus.

NHI is a school.  We succeed only if our students succeed.  That may sound obvious, but it’s a reality ignored by many institutions.  That’s why I’m proud to work at a school that puts education first; that never stops to rest on its laurels; and that trusts its employees to say how things should be done.

As promised yesterday, here is KNBC’s news story about the California State Massage Certification bill featuring NHI.

On Monday, it seemed like NHI popped up wherever you looked.  For the early risers in Los Angeles, we appeared on KNBC’s Today in L.A. discussing the California state massage certification bill that currently awaits the Governor’s signature.  It was a very nice segment that we hope to have up on the website soon.  (You’ll be the first to know, of course!)

Later in the day, we made our way onto YouTube courtesy of Mahalo Daily.  Leah D’Emilio visited us in Encino to learn some tips on how to give a 15 minute relaxation massage.  Over 25,000 people have viewed it so far!  You can add to those numbers by clicking below.

Who knows where we’ll pop up next!

Saturday marked the 2nd anniversary of NHI classes at Encino.  On one hand, it seems like yesterday; on the other, it feels like forever ago.

Prior to that, there was a smaller massage school in the same location, Touch Therapy Institute.  TTI had existed since 1989 - a good while, but ten years shy of NHI’s founding in 1979.  Though TTI had a stellar reputation, it lacked the national accreditation, federal financial aid, and program length needed to continue supporting its students and graduates.  Finding that they shared similar cultures, TTI merged with NHI in May 2006.  That summer we remodeled the campus and added more space necessary to accommodate NHI’s larger program.

I’m not a big fan of construction.  It’s dirty, disruptive and always takes more time and money than estimated.  But time has a way of erasing those trialing days, and instead I prefer to happily remember August 23^rd when Group 57 kicked off the NHI era in Encino.

Time doesn’t erase pictures, though.  Here are a couple of pictures of the campus transformation 2 years ago.

The New Rolf Classroom Takes Shape.

TTI Remnants from Six Floors Up.

As a side note, I spent Saturday back in Texas celebrating my parents’ 50^th anniversary.  A coincidence that my school and parents have the same anniversary?  Maybe.  At the very least, I hope it foretells of many successful years to come.

As much fun as it is to welcome new students, it’s bittersweet to see them graduate.  Just when it feels like we’ve gotten to know them, they leave.  Boy, does 10 months fly by!  But we’re proud to see them leave the nest to do what they came here for - help others through massage.

This week saw new students coming in on Tuesday and graduates leaving on Thursday.  Group 50’s graduation yesterday was full of laughter and tears.  A brain cancer survivor (twice!), another who started the course in grieving, a mom ready to have a new career, a son whose dad surprised him from the East Coast to attend graduation - these were just some of the powerful stories that were shared.

The Final Whoosh!

We wish you all much success (but we’ll miss you too)!

Part of what makes NHI such a great school is our low turnover rate - meaning we have to replace very little of our staff each year.  Mostly, we get the joy of adding new folks as the company grows.  As a manager, this sure beats having a lot of people quit on you or, worse yet, having to fire people.

Low turnover is especially true among our teachers.  At this campus, we haven’t seen a teacher depart in over a year when one retired after almost a decade of service.  But yesterday our streak came to an end.

Jan, Joe Bob, John & Amy share one last chocolate cake!

Our beloved Amy Atkins has bid us adieu.  Luckily, she didn’t quit and she wasn’t fired.  Instead, Uncle Sam came calling - or, rather, called up her husband.  He’s in the army and has been deployed to Kansas, where he will no doubt protect all Midwesterners from cyclones, munchkins, and flying monkeys.

Some of you may recognize Amy as “the face” of NHI.  Her image is plastered on our website, in our brochures, and even hangs on our walls.  Had she a better agent (or any agent) back when, she would now be living high off royalties since we’ve used her effigy so much.  But Amy was just a student in those days and had no idea for what she was volunteering.  Even we didn’t know at the time that her face would be used for years to come.  There was just something about it that spoke of the tranquility and love that is massage.

Amy graduated from NHI and went on to do well as a massage therapist both in Northern and Southern California.  Who knew that a few years later, NHI would open a campus near her in Los Angeles and that she would come back to teach.  It seems Amy and NHI are never too far apart.  So, it’s my expectation that eventually Amy will find her way back to us or we’ll simply have to open a campus in Kansas.

If you happen to see this face around, tell her that we love her, miss her, and wish her all the best!

Many jobs become monotonous and boring.  Not mine.  Aside from the fact that I love my job, the scenery is always changing.  By scenery I mean students.

Every few weeks, new students start school.  This means constantly getting to meet and know new people.  Over the 10-12 months students are here, we get to laugh, cry, amaze, surprise, push, pull, teach and learn with each other.

Last night began one of those journeys for our latest group.  What a wonderful experience to see all these faces filled with a mix of curiosity, trepidation, excitement and, best of all, possibilities.

Congratulations to the new Group 58!  My hope is that you graduate in a year full of many beautiful memories and passionate about your future!

The New Group 58!

My favorite part of NHI?  The people.  In addition to many great administrative, financial and admissions staff, we have over 40 mostly full-time teachers spread across our 5 campuses!

All of our teachers have at least 500 hours training and 3 years experience in massage.  But numbers alone don’t fully define our teachers.  Each one is his or her own person.  They combine their diverse backgrounds of massage, business, and good ol’ life to create a rich tapestry of knowledge that enhances our educational program.

They also have families.  And their families make up our extended family.  So it’s with great pride that we announce the latest addition to our NHI “family” – baby Griffin, the 2^nd child of our beloved teacher, Jeanette Ching!  Sister Emma and Daddy Jerome are so excited!  Mommy Jeanette is due back to work at NHI at the end of September, mentoring her group 18 in Emeryville.

Jeanette's baby, Griffin

In addition, one of our other babies isn’t a baby anymore!  Lisa Mendiola’s little girl, Adrianne Sage, turns one-year-old on August 23^rd.  And she already knows how to swim!

Lisa's baby, Sage

I’m so delighted to have Melissa Wheeler as one of our guest bloggers.  She has been with NHI over 15 years and is one of the first teachers I met when I initially toured the school.  While Emeryville is her home campus, she is the Faculty Training Coordinator for all campuses.  She makes sure all NHI teachers continually meet our high level of training.  Her background is in Sports Massage and Rehabilitative work, having worked in a Physical Therapy clinic for a number of years – and with athletes at Cal Berkeley.

This is the first of Melissa Wheeler’s occasional series about interesting conditions that can benefit from massage.

Lace Bite.  Ouch!  What is THAT?  Runners, walkers, hikers:  Loosen your laces!

Lace Bite is a common condition that develops over the top of the foot where the long extensors of the toes pass under the extensor retinaculum. (see illustration below).  Compression of these tendons can cause a painful condition called tenosynovitis.  In this region it is commonly called “lace bite” because tight shoelaces are often the primary cause.

• Retinaculum:  Thickenings of deep fascia in distal portions of limbs that hold tendons in position.
• Tenosynovitis:  When tendons that pass through a synovial sheath become irritated and inflamed.

How to Treat with Massage?  Deep Transverse friction of the affected tendon along with myofascial release on the retinaculum (and loosening your laces) can resolve the problem!  I had a client who had this condition for months and could not figure out what was wrong.  After one massage specific to this area – the pain went away!  However, don’t work if acutely inflamed.