The National Holistic Institute (NHI) in Encino is launching the Pink Slip Massage Therapy Relief Act (PSMTRA) which will provide one free 50-minute massage to any unemployed person who has a pink slip or other verification of unemployment issued within the last 90 days. Eligible individuals must book online at Encino Clinic. Appointments will be offered on a first-come, first-served basis the following dates only: April 17 & 24 and May 8 & 15.

The PSMRTA continues NHI’s long-standing tradition of offering free massage therapy to people in need. In response to the Loma Prieta earthquake in 1989, NHI began the Massage Emergency Response Team (MERT) that is now used nationally to organize volunteer massage therapy on rescue and recovery workers at disaster sites. 

The latest California unemployment rate (2/09) was 10.5%, tying Rhode Island for the fifth highest rate in the country. Rising unemployment has dramatically increased stress levels for the jobless and their families. Massage therapy has been proven to relieve stress, relax muscles, increase joint mobility, lower blood pressure and boost productivity. In fact, according to the American Massage Therapy Association, 36 percent of Americans got a massage to relieve stress in 2008.

Massage Magazine online recognized the PSMTRA as their top news story today!

Click Here for the Full Article on MassageMag.com

“Infants who received massage therapy compared to those who were rocked experienced greater daily weight gain; more organized sleep/wake behaviors; less fussiness; improved sociability and soothability; improved interaction behaviors; and lower cortisol and norepinephrine and increased serotonin levels.”  This is according to a study led by Tiffany Field of the Touch Research Institute at the University of Miami.

Our school has long supported infant massage and it’s with great pride that we’ve watched one of our own become a leading expert in this field.  Since graduating from Touch Therapy Institute (before it became National Holistic Institute), Suzanne P. Reese has traveled the world first learning about infant massage and then becoming one of it’s most esteemed champions.  She has published both a book (Baby Massage) and a CD (Talk to Me), created a series of videos for NewBaby.com, and was featured in People magazine for her work with the orphans of Chernobyl.  Just this week, Suzanne wrote an article for Massage Magazine online about the benefits of infant massage for infants, families, and society.

Suzanne will be at our Encino campus this Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday (September 18-21) teaching the Infant Massage Educator Certification course.  Students are trained to teach parents and caregivers how to massage their own infants.  For many hands-on practitioners, this offers a non-hands-on opportunity to expand their practice and possibly compliment their existing pre- and peri-natal care.  It is an ideal way to follow through with parents and caregivers who have sought out massage services for themselves.  The class is open to everyone and, as of this writing, there are only 4 spaces left.  Email Denise at boyled@nhi.edu to register.

For more information on Suzanne P. Reese, check out http://www.compassionatechild.com/.

Happy 1st week!  By coincidence, this blog began one week ago on the same lucky day as the Olympics in Beijing – 08/08/08.  But then, many would say there are no coincidences.  Massage and sports have a long, beneficial history together.  In fact, some of our graduates have massaged at Olympics past, but I haven’t heard if any are in China currently.  Still, if you’d like to hear about what it’s like to be at the Olympics from a massage therapist’s point-of-view, Massage Magazine has a blog on that subject going now.  Click here to read all about it.