The San Francisco Holistic Health Examiner recently featured National Holistic Institute San Jose student Anna Sallas and her personal quest to become certified in oncology massage.  Way to go, Anna!

Read the entire article here.

San Jose became the first National Holistic Institute campus to hold a Haiti Disaster Relief Fundraiser this past Saturday.   With massages booked every available session and donations still coming in, the San Jose Campus has already raised over $1200!

Campus Manager Beth McNeill massaged alongside 10 student therapists, 2 graduates and 3 teachers for donations to go to Haiti victims.  Beth wasn’t looking to massage all three sessions when she came in to lend a hand, “but was excited just like [NHI teachers] Phil, Gena, and Darlene to help out where needed.”

Thanks to the staff and students of National Holistic Institute who are donating their time, skills and supplies so that all the proceeds of our special clinics can go to the people who need them.

Want to participate in one of our Haiti Disaster Relief Fundraiser Clinics?  You still have 4 more opportunities.

Click on your preferred campus below to book an appointment.  If your campus appears unavailable at the moment, please try again at a later date.  Additional massage volunteers will allow more sessions to come available.   

• Encino                   Wed, January 27        6:15p, 7:30p, 8:45p
• San Francisco   Thu, January 28         1:30p, 2:45p, 4:00p
• Emeryville          Thu, January 28         6:15p, 7:30p, 8:45p
• Petaluma              Wed, February 10     1:30p, 2:45p, 4:00p

Simply book and attend a designated massage clinic at one of our campuses and pay at least the minimum massage fee*.  You’ll receive a 50-minute student massage and your entire fee plus any contribution will be donated to USAid.

With your help, we can touch the world!

*Massage fees vary from $20-$35 depending on campus.  No gift cards accepted.  Cash only.

With 15 events and counting in 2009, the National Holistic Institute’s San Jose Sports Massage Team looks forward to 2010 with 7 events already planned.

A whopping 140 students participated in a wide range of events including the AFM motorcycle endurance ride, I Care Classic cycling tour, Forest of Nisene Marks Trail Run, Tour de [Read more →]

While National Holistic Institute offers class starts year-round, we experience the most enrollment excitement during the back-to-school time of August and September.  So, with great delight, our campuses recently threw open their doors to the many new prospective students with several Open House events.

From San Jose to Encino, prospective students, friends, and family members snacked on cheese & crackers, cookies, and assorted fruit while mixing with members of the faculty, admissions, current students, and graduates.  Attendees visited an anatomy-rich science room; received sports massage treatments; participated in [Read more →]

Eight members of National Holistic Institute’s San Jose Campus Sports Massage Team donated their time and talents to raise $500 for the American Cancer Society by providing massage therapy for the participants of the Los Gatos Relay for Life.  The NHI students worked from dawn to dusk providing relief for achy lower backs and knotted calves.  Relay For Life can be considered the American Cancer Society’s signature activity. They are overnight events and can last up to 24 hours in length.  The event in Los Gatos was held at the track at Rolling Meadows Middle School.  The NHI Sports Massage Team offered $1/minute massages throughout the day and by 8:00 pm had collected a considerable donation to a great cause.

Here is a view of the AMTA National Convention from San Jose Campus Manager Alicia Ramos.

I had a great time at the National Convention recently.  It was my first time at a National Convention and I was thrilled to meet so many great names in the industry!  Most notable for me was Judith Aston (above, with Melissa and me), who gave me lots to aspire to, personally.  I decided I want to be just like her “when I grow up”!  She is poised, graceful, strong, flexible and radiates wellness on all levels from her very being!  She was gracious enough to chat with me at the dinner/dance and I was able to see that not only was she amazing from a far, but she was genuine, too.

The other “big name in the industry” that I met that was most influential to me was Carol Osborne (www.bodytherapyassociates.com) who was honored as AMTA’s “Teacher of the Year”.  She gave an inspiring and touching speech at the Teacher’s Networking Luncheon and she taught “Balancing Art and Science in Massage Therapy”, which was one of the “teacher tract” workshops I attended.  From that class, I felt both validated (that NHI already uses some of her suggested activities/techniques to include both Art and Science in all our classes) and excited to share with the NHI faculty her tips that I believe will add even more depth, understanding and fun to our already fabulous classes.

San Jose teacher Beth McNeill reports from the field.

On Saturday morning, five students from the San Jose campus and I drove up to Napa to provide chair massage for the riders of the 4-hour Endurance Ride hosted by the American Federation of Motorcyclists (AFM).  A student from Group 32 arranged the event through the president of the AFM.  She was also instrumental in bringing the riders and vendors and cornerworkers to the massage area.

We provided chair massage at the massage area, at the timing area and in the pits.  The students felt very prepared to work on the riders after attending a sports massage training focusing on the specific needs of a motorcyclist.  They all did great work throughout the day.  The riders loved having on-site massage and the President of AFM has asked us (NHI) to think about coming back for more events next season.

We all had a great deal of fun.  It was a wonderful to spend Saturday with this crew!

While I was traveling to Phoenix on Wednesday to the AMTA National Convention, the NHI campuses were celebrating Constitution Day.  Here is Beth Fisher’s report from San Jose.

Group #32 winner Kai Nomellini proudly displays her Biofreeze prize pack in front of a copy of the U.S. Constitution.

On September 17th, students and staff at the San Jose campus observed Constitution Day in honor of the signing of the nation’s most instrumental document, as well as in appreciation of the school’s continued receipt of federal financial aid.  The student lounge was a frenzy of activity at 11:00 a.m. as students raced against the clock to complete a “Framing of the U.S. Constitution” word search and fill-in-the-blank puzzle.  Winners in each group received a complimentary pack of Biofreeze lotion.

Group #31 student Eddie Russell holds his prize pack.

As part of the festivities, participants also snacked on sugar and M&M cookies while sipping tea and juice from blue and red plastic cups, each cup with a distinctive Constitution-related trivia quote on it.  For example, do you know who was the oldest person to sign the Constitution?  Benjamin Franklin at age 81.

Group #30 winner Sarah Cacdac.

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.