Melissa Wheeler addresses her peers at All-Staff Day.

The American Massage Therapy Association has awarded the 2010 Jerome Perlinski Teacher of the Year Award to Melissa Wheeler, a longtime National Holistic Institute teacher and current teacher trainer.

To the many teachers, staff, and students Melissa has touched in her 19 years at NHI, no one deserves it more.  One of the highlights of this year’s NHI All-Staff Day was Melissa’s address to her peers and receiving of a scrapbook created by co-worker Sharlene Philip, containing numerous memories, congratulations, and accolades.  While Melissa remains as humble as always about this rare honor, here are words of praise from others:

“It has been my pleasure to work with Melissa, whose input always puts the teacher first in the education committee’s roles and initiatives.” – Ruth Werner, author and President of the Massage Therapy Foundation

“Melissa is one of those rare and special educators who help ignite the passion for Massage Therapy in all of those who are fortunate enough to learn from her.” – Rhoni Hirst, Books of Discovery

“Another example would be one particular student that faced numerous challenges, the least of which being a recently paroled ex-convict.  He came to Melissa to seek advice on how to construct a resume, interview skills and generally just how to get past being a large, loud, tattooed gentleman and help him find the therapist within (this being no easy task in itself).  That graduate now has a thriving private practice and a top position in a local massage therapy center.  To say the above mentioned student was a challenge is an understatement.  I should know, I am that student.” – Christopher Sanderson, former student

“From her remarkable work as a Kinesiology teacher, where she presented the information with enthusiasm and passion, to the daily contact we had where she saw me as a unique individual, no just one of several hundred, Melissa’s impact has been profound.” – Bonnie Rodriguez, student

AMTA presents an award each year to an instructor in a member school who demonstrates exceptional teaching abilities and commitment to high standards of education in massage therapy. This award honors the memory of Jerome Perlinski, an extraordinary educator and much loved leader. Jerome Perlinski is remembered for his recognition of the gifts and talents of others and his ability to bring out their best. A consumer and advocate of massage therapy who was not a practitioner, Jerome held a doctorate in the history of ideas from St. Louis University. He was a widely experienced teacher and lecturer whose committed work helped raise training standards, improve teaching methods and educate massage practitioners about the importance of ethical, professional behaviors. He also played an instrumental role in the early development of the Council of Schools. When colleagues remember Jerome, they use words like inspired, passionate, motivating, principled, and exceptional.

We’ll be cheering Melissa on as she accepts the award and presents at the AMTA National Convention in Minneapolis this September.  We also look forward to many more years of inspiration from her!

NHI owner Mason Myers, Teacher Trainer Melissa Wheeler, and Advanced Program Manager Al Carbonetti share a laugh at the All-Staff Day bowling party.

MTF President-Elect Ruth Werner & NHI San Jose Campus Manager Beth McNeill

It was an honor for National Holistic Institute to be recognized by the Massage Therapy Foundation at this year’s American Massage Therapy Association National Convention in Orlando.

Only a short year ago at the Phoenix convention, I attended the MTF’s reception for the first time.  Watching so many people within the massage community support the MTF inspired me to do something.  I brought that inspiration back to the Encino campus teachers, which resulted in a “faculty clinic” that raised both awareness and money for the MTF.

During this year’s reception, I presented the money our teachers had raised to Ruth Werner, MTF President-Elect.  Much to my embarrassment (yes, I can be shy), she announced NHI’s donation and the story of how it came about to the capacity crowd.  She also challenged other schools in attendance to find similar ways to contribute.  By publicly acknowledging our efforts, another layer was added to the awareness and money we had already raised.  Perhaps our actions will encourage even more people to participate next year just as I was so inspired last year.

And next year, we will be back – hopefully with even more money as well as some student case studies!

Click Here for the previous blog of our fundraiser and why we support the Massage Therapy Foundation.

NHI President Tim Veitzer with NCBTMB Chair and NHI Graduate Neal Delaporta

Massage and Texas!  Two of my most favorite things together!  It truly was a delight to join NHIPresident Tim Veitzer in representing National Holistic Institute at this year’s American Massage Therapy Association’s Council of Schools (AMTA-COS) Conference in San Antonio.

For three days, we discussed, debated, and dreamed about massage education.  We even ran into some old friends like Neal Delaporta (above with Tim), the new Chair of the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork (NCBTMB) and an NHI graduate.

Ruth Werner, pathology author extraordinaire, dropped by to say hello (below).

Joe Bob Smith, Ruth Werner & Tim Veitzer

And we were privileged to meet AMTA President-Elect Judy Stahl (below).

NHI President Tim Veitzer & AMTA President-Elect Judy Stahl

Of course, what would a trip to San Antonio be without yours truly in front of the Alamo!

Remember the Alamo!

Joe Bob Smith (Encino Campus Manager), Alicia Ramos (San Jose Campus Manager) and I all met up at the AMTA National Convention in Phoenix on behalf of National Holistic Institute.  NHI chooses to participate in such conferences both to learn what’s current in the larger massage community and to give our students and alumni a voice in those happenings.  This one was so big it required three of us to go!

Author Ruth Werner, NHI Grad John Lambert, & Melissa

In addition to taking classes like Integral Anatomy, Balancing the Art & Science in Massage, and Massage Therapy on Trial, we met up with teachers, NHI graduates, textbook authors, and massage therapists from all over the country.  It was so inspiring!

Just to show the variety of our experiences, I met 2 Japanese publishers who promised to send me a Japanese-language copy of the textbook we use, Trail Guide to the Body! 

Books of Discovery reception

Joe Bob found the red, white & blue table he’d always wanted from Oakworks.

Alicia won a basket full of creams and massage lotions at the Massage Envy gathering.

Massage Envy reception

We all had a wonderful time at the Massage Therapy Foundation reception, hanging out with the Trail Guide publishers and Ruth Werner who is not only the author of the beloved book Massage Therapist’s Guide to Pathology, but the leader of the MTF’s Education Committee.  What does all that mean?  Read about the MTF and their brand new e-journal that they have just launched online – propelling our industry forward.  This massage research is available free to all at the International Journal of Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork.

Alicia in a portable Far Infrared Sauna at the AMTA Convention in Phoenix.

Would you like to boost revenue while easing your workload?  Massage therapists by nature can feel alone professionally, like a rowboat bobbing at sea.  They spend most of their working hours in a room with only their patients.  Many choose to work independently for themselves.

Weeks, months, and even years may pass without a therapist “talking shop” with a fellow therapist.  Hopefully, this means work is busy and running smoothly.  But, by not conversing with industry peers, therapists miss out on continuing (and relatively cheap) opportunities to learn the latest in patient care, business management, and marketing.

Conventions connect you to hundreds, possibly thousands, of people doing exactly what you do.  They have the same joy for massage, share similar business struggles, and desire to jointly improve both their personal lives and the massage industry in which they work.  You go from feeling like a rowboat to a fleet of ships!

Graduation from massage school shouldn’t be the end of education; rather, it should mark a whole new chapter of learning.  This means taking continuing education classes; reading massage articles; joining professional associations; and attending local, state and national gatherings.  Doing these things will elevate a therapist above other less involved peers, creating a livelier business and lengthening career longevity.

Author Ruth Werner and Melissa

While this was my first AMTA National Convention, I have always attended professionally related events whenever possible.  In fact, my NHI relationship began at such a conference!

Now that we’re back on campus, Melissa, Alicia, and I look forward to sharing more detailed stories about information learned, things seen, and people met.  So even if you didn’t make it to Phoenix, this blog can serve to connect you to the massage community at large.

• Watching Judith Aston dance on a spinning cycle.
• Having lunch at the table with AMTA President M.K. Brennan.
• Meeting pathology expert and textbook author Ruth Werner.
• Learning more about massage therapists’ increasing ability to bill insurance companies for their patients’ treatments.
• Enjoying some spinach & artichoke dip with the magnificent Andrew Biel, author of our textbook Trail Guide for the Body.
• Sharing a spontaneous stroll through downtown Phoenix with Patty Glenn, President of the Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards.

So much more, but I must go do even more today!