He too was a Graduate of NHI.  He definitely knew his stuff and the most distinguishing thing was the confidence that came through in his work.

Like me, he started out Prone (positioned lying flat) and worked the back a ton; long ironing strokes that I guess you could say were effleurage, but kneaded the muscle as they ran from neck to sacrum. I think he used every tool available, hands, fists, sides of the hand, whole forearms and the elbows too.  He then did awesome work on my Traps that really pulled the Traps away from where they had been living just under my ears. It was like lower neck work and back work combined.  Somewhere in there he was working the arm, Axilla, Scapula, and Deltoids too.  It felt like my Scapula got thoroughly moved & flipped around and put back a little lower than when I brought it in to be worked on and the Delts & arm felt like the way a towel feels when you wring it out after falling into the pool.

As I had hoped, he finally got around to working on my legs, I have very long legs and I always hope that people really get as much of the muscle worked on as possible. Well this therapist did and I think it’s because he was a cyclist too. Hams, Adductors, the IT Band, all worked on with tons of movement for the Knee and a reshaping on my Gastrocs & Soleus. It was most certainly not the typical lighter Swedish, it was deep ploughing & ironing that made my legs soo happy mostly because the work definitely felt like it didn’t just address the area we call the “Back” of the leg but all around the leg.  He rolled it around in different directions to be able to better access the sides that were not just facing up. When he was done I could only say that my legs felt “Floppy” and I loved it.

Thorough, professional, deep but also very in tune with what he was doing as to not work too deep on the knots or just think one pressure is good for every part of the body. He watched my reaction and adjusted the pressure accordingly.

Finishing with some forehead swipes & scalp work was just a wonderful way to close out this massage that I would come back for again & again if I could. The massage was perfect! But alas, I only received it in my own imagination. Haven’t we all dreamed of receiving the same massage we give to others?!

The Golden Rule really applies everything, including  massage. “Do unto to others as you would have them do unto to you”.   Stay present in your work, use empathy and ask yourself what everything would feel like and be open to the feedback of the clients as if you were hearing the compliment or criticism from yourself.

~Mark Nielsen, CMT and NHI instructor extraordinaire :)

Consider this: have you ever had a job you disliked? Perhaps you’ve even had a job you hated?!  If the answer is “yes”, then you already know what a drain it can be to have to work a job when your heart just isn’t in it. But then there is the economy! In this financial day and age, there are plenty of people who would settle for any work! Work can cause stress, to be sure… but not working can stress us even more.

So having work, it seems – particularly, work we can be passionate about – is a blessing.

The term “work” has interesting connotations. In some contexts, work could be synonymous with something arduous, something unpleasant. But in the spiritual tradition of Alchemy, the term “Work” has a very different implication: transformation! Not simply the transformation of lead into gold, the Magnum Opus, or ‘Great Work’, of the alchemists was about transformation generally – darkness into light, ignorance into knowledge, matter into spirit.

I would argue that, in this Alchemical Way, work we love can transform us, teaching us the lessons and providing us with the challenges we need to progress along the Path of our lives. Bodywork especially, with its emphasis on self-knowledge, compassion, safe space, and connection to another person, causes us to get real, to honestly confront our fears and limitations… and to overcome them so that we can continue to facilitate the healing of our bodies, our communities, and our planet.

Work that you love can transform you. Do you have Work You Love?

~William Mathis
Mentor, NHI Petaluma Campus

We look forward to watching our new campus grow and become connected with the rest of the National Holistic Institute community!  We also recently began our student massage clinic and had a wonderful first weekend - John Lambert and Lucas Nevarez have done a great job working with our wonderful students!  If you are in the Sacramento area and you need some more incentive to get down to the clinic, you can get $5 off your first massage just by liking our Sacramento Facebook Page!

The question I hear often in one form or another is; “why” and/or “how”?

The ‘why’ is the easiest to answer; for hundreds of years many people have studied, discovered and documented the many benefits of meditation. The question of ‘why’ has been answer better than I could by many scientists, gurus, and authors.  All one has to do is refer to those articles and books when seeking the deeper answer. I can personally attest to the improvement of focus, stress reduction, and overall sense of grounded-ness that one feels after a few minutes of meditation. 

The other component to this question is; “why do we encourage this in massage school”. Meditating before class allows the student to maximize their class time and education – this translates to better therapists. Any teacher at NHI will tell you: The best massages come from therapists that are focused, not stressed, and present for their client’s body and needs.

The ‘how’ is the trickier point to discuss. Many people think the point of meditation is to sit absolutely still and clear every single thought from one’s head. If you are anything like me, that seems like a near impossible task! It is true that the goal of some meditation practices are to clear the mind completely, and, fortunately that is not the only flavor of meditation.  

There are different goals and many paths to practice. Some meditations fill you with chants, some are moving meditations [tai chi, chi gong] some have you focus on breath and repeat specific patterns.

I will share one that has helped me reduce my internal chatter significantly. Below is an awareness exercise; a body scan.  

Sit comfortably on the floor or in a chair. Pick a quiet room when you can, or do this on the bus if you think about it. (You’d be surprised how much you can tune out in public once you turn your attention inward) Make sure your spine straight but not rigid and shoulders and other joints relaxed as possible. Breathe deeply; find your own rhythm. 

Next bring your awareness to the top of your body – your head and face. Tune to where you hold your tension; is it in your forehead? Are you clenching your jaw? Sometimes all one has to do is set the intention to relax that area and they feel a shift immediately. Move your awareness down to your neck and shoulders – repeat the process of tuning in to the area and set the intention to “let go and relax”. I would not recommend you spend too much time in any one area of the body. Keep your attention flowing from section to section, eventually tuning into every single part of your body. You can repeat the cycle over and over again should you wish for a longer meditation session.

This practice is meant to calm the ‘over stimulated’ mind, not to silence it completely. Careful not to confuse attention and body awareness for thinking about why you feel sore. If you focus one area for too long and realize you are thinking, or if your mind wanders and you flash to work, or that song keeps playing in your mind; acknowledge you are thinking, take a deep breath and resume the meditation. Gently redirect your mind back to the scan / let go and relax mode.

With enough practice you can exist in this relaxed state more often than not, your time and energies will not be spent over thinking and worrying. Your energy will shift to an increased awareness, more focus in your life and calm sense of being.

This may not be an easy practice and you may encounter some challenges along the way. Maybe a different technique is required… maybe you need more time. Anyone can do this well with a sincere approach, patience with the process, and regular practice. People usually improve what they do when they practice it.

~ Lucas Nevarez,
Mentor, NHI Sacramento Campus

NHI’s history of responding to crises dates back to the Loma Prieta earthquake of 1989.  The work that Jim Charlesworth and others did at that time laid the foundation for what would become the Massage Emergency Response Teams (MERT) (see our previous blog remembering Jim).

Since that time we have massaged the victims and emergency workers of numerous disasters around California and the nation.  Unfortunately, many disasters occur beyond the reach of our hands.  But that doesn’t lessen our desire to help; it just forces us to be more creative in raising funds and supplies.  For example, last year through donation clinics, NHI gave over $7,000 to the Haiti earthquake relief effort.

With a devastating series of events in Japan, from a 9.0 magnitude earthquake, to a tsunami which took hundreds of lives, to uncertain conditions of multiple nuclear reactors, Doctors Without Borders is contributing greatly to the relief of the people affected. While the country of Japan is not struggling for funds like Haiti and many other countries have during times of crisis, there are still countless people who were affected by the disaster and have not been able to receive care.  Doctors Without Borders has been providing personal attention and medical assistance to individuals in Japan, but will use funds to provide care all around the world; wherever it is most needed.

All you have to do to help is to join a growing community of healers and helpers by clicking ‘like’ on the National Holistic Institute Facebook page. From injured and helpless families to power plant workers risking their lives and their health, your contribution will go toward a good cause.

We know there is a huge population of people whose passion is helping others in need and creating a positive change in our world.  The National Holistic Institute is constantly striving to connect those individuals and create a dialogue that will support people in times of crisis.  We hope our Facebook page can serve as such a meeting place.

National Holistic Institute is putting up the money; all you have to do is click ‘like.’ Already like us, or want to see us give even more? Share this with anyone who may be interested in helping those in need.  You can link to our page on your Facebook, Twitter, your blog, or any other social network that you are a part of.  Thank you for being a part of our helping and healing community!

You can also help us donate by receiving a massage during our donation clinic days!

Do you like feeling good from receiving a massage… AND feeling good about giving to others through massage?  Then you will want to hear this news.  NHI is hosting two massage clinics focused on raising funds for those affected by the earthquake in Japan.  All funds raised through these clinics will be donated to Doctors Without Borders.  Student and staff volunteers form NHI will be providing the massage sessions.  Clinics occur on 4/03 at the Emeryville campus, and on 4/10 at the San Francisco campus.  Appointment times are 2:00, 3:15 and 4:30pm.  Click HERE to schedule an appointment in Emeryville, and click HERE to schedule an appointment in San Francisco.

About Doctors Without Borders  (MSF)

Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is an international medical humanitarian organization working in more than 60 countries to assist people whose survival is threatened by violence, neglect, or catastrophe. MSF’s work is based on the humanitarian principles of medical ethics and impartiality. The organization is committed to bringing quality medical care to people caught in crisis regardless of race, religion, or political affiliation.  MSF will be using funds all over the world; wherever they are needed most. Click HERE to learn more about MSF

Disclaimer:

The National Holistic Institute (NHI) will donate $1 for every new ‘like’ we receive on our Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/NHImassageschool between 4/1/11 and 4/30/11.  Users who already like the page will not raise funds by un-liking and liking again, but may instead share the page with their friends and followers.  NHI will donate funds upon the close of the promotion up to a maximum donation of $1000.

I am always pleased to see the reaction on people’s faces when you offer them FREE massage. There tends to be a moment of disbelief followed by complete gratitude. It is amazing how 15 minutes of compassionate skilled touch can completely change a person’s outlook for the day. It is a privilege to be a part of that.

The new Whole Foods in Santa Rosa has been designed to support public awareness and health education. The experience of offering massage there has been phenomenal on so many different levels. One of the most exciting aspects for all involved has been the opportunity to connect with a lovely community of individuals, be it the customers or Whole Foods staff. As a massage therapist it has been wonderful to make connections with individuals that are interested in health and well being from a holistic perspective, including nutrition, supplementation, energy healing, massage, stress management, etc..

As an instructor it is so fulfilling to see the students and graduates of NHI at work. While we are there we get to talk to people about massage and share our passion for therapeutic touch. One student stated as she arrived for the day that she was very nervous about talking to people and “marketing” herself. By the end of the day she had networked with several customers and even booked a massage for her private practice!

Next we will be offering a workshop at Whole Foods on the value of infant massage. Imagine what this world would be like if we all started off getting massage on a regular basis! I wonder if we could change the world one massage at a time…

~ Breanna G.
Mentor, NHI Petaluma

Special thanks also to Gabriel and all of his students for giving a sneak peek into their reflexology class and to all of the other students and staff at NHI who made a cameo.  You are all amazing!

For more information on our new campus, get in touch with us!
NHI Sacramento on the Web
(916) 568-6411

We hope to share more videos with you all in the future – If you’re curious about a certain part of life at NHI, leave us a comment and let us know what you’d like to see!

Photo by Manny Crisostomo of the Sacramento Bee

As a positive energy fills the air surrounding NHI’s brand new campus in Sacramento, CA, the Sacramento Bee and the Press Democrat both put the massage therapy profession into a new perspective.  The Bee article covers the growing demand for massage in the state’s capitol even through a rough economy.  Steve Pierce of Massage Envy Spas told the Bee,

“I’ll tell you how things are. If  NHI Sacramento had 20 or 30 massage therapists ready to graduate, I’d hire them all right now,”

Check out the article here:  

The Press Democrat featured a similar story:

“The industry’s growth has been prompted by several factors, she said, including a greater acceptance by medical professionals of the value of massage therapy and new state certification standards.”

Check out the article here:  

Despite a growing industry, we feel it is more important than ever for every massage therapist to be interconnected and get the best education possible.  With a focus on community and personal development, NHI staff and mentors strive to give each individual student the tools that they need to succeed.

Left to Right: Beth McNeill, Linda Rikli, Tiahna Skye, Jen Jhanda, Raquel Rodriguez and Ron Peat. AMTA Schools Summit NHI Panel

Several audience members expressed difficulties trying to place graduates while dealing with often slow state licensing processes.  NHI representative and California Massage Therapy Council (CAMTC) Board Member Joe Bob Smith explained how this wasn’t a problem in California since programs like NHI could help students apply for certification to work while they were still in school.  Michael McGillicuddy from Florida and Sally Hacking from the Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards (FSMTB) shared their perspectives on the matter and encouraged everyone in attendance to get involved in their local legislation.  It was agreed that many lawmakers still need to be educated about the massage profession and the role of schools.

Some attendees raised the issue of training students with English as a second language.  Cynthia Ribeiro, NHI’s Advanced Curriculum Coordinator and AMTA President-Elect, shared her story of coming to America from Brazil and succeeding as a massage therapist.  Most all schools, like NHI, welcomed the challenge of training a diverse student body.

The purpose of the panel was to encourage all schools to share their best practices as a way of raising the bar for massage therapy education as a whole.  In addition to some of NHI’s wisdom, participants also got to experience a couple of NHI rituals including the chi pat and the infamous “Whoosh!”.  Ron Peat closed the two-hour session with words of wisdom that he often shares with students: 1) the only failure is the failure to participate, and 2) if you can’t be on time, be early.

This annual summit, held this year in San Francisco, gathers massage school owners, directors, and personnel from across the country to discuss their challenges and successes as well as the future of massage therapy education.

Some of the easiest ways to increase overall wellness are to improve our diet, do regular exercise, get plenty of rest, and receive regular massage.  Massage supports all the body’s systems, making it easier for the body to repair itself, fight infection and disease, clear toxins, maintain energy, and balance our moods.  We understand how massage improves circulation, makes breathing more efficient, augments our body’s maintenance functions, improving overall health and reducing the likelihood of debilitating and expensive illness.  Moreover, the beneficial effects of receiving regular massage are cumulative.    Clients often only seek out bodywork once every few months, when stress overwhelms them, and they use massage to return to neutral.  If they were to get massage regularly – once a week or once a month — their wellness would improve and they would find themselves better able to cope with stress.

HMOs now see that improving wellness is as important as providing critical intervention.  Because Health Maintenance Organizations are responsible for paying for the care they provide their members, they understand that it is more profitable to keep their members healthy than treat them when they are sick.  HMOs  are leading the way by covering complementary services like massage, acupuncture and yoga and meditation classes.  They understand that these are inexpensive, non-invasive ways to keep their members from contracting conditions that will cost them hundreds or thousands times more money to treat.  And it is HMOs – and many hospitals – that are leading the way in hiring more and more massage therapists to provide these therapies to improve wellness. 

As people and institutions realize that taking responsibility for our own health and avoiding disease are critical to tackling the problem of health care in this country, the opportunities for trained massage therapists continues to grow.  There is no better time to become a massage therapist. 

~ Doug Blanc
Group 07 Mentor, NHI Emeryville Campus