National Holistic Institute – Massage School

I graduated from NHI’s San Jose campus in 2011, in Group 37, one of their evening classes.
NHI has several concurrent groups in their schedules, most of which met during the mornings or afternoons. My Group 37 was scheduled Mon/​Wed evenings and all-​day Saturdays, which attracted people with full-​time jobs during the week.
At that time I was working in a full-​time job and wanted to expand my personal skills on the side. I had been getting massages for over 10 years and felt that I could do pretty well myself if I got some formal training and a professional certification, to actually earn some side income while doing something that I enjoyed anyway.
I had researched a few different massage schools in the bay area before choosing NHI. NHI was the most comprehensive school and specialized only in massage. Other schools were broader schools that offered other vocational programs (dental assistant, medical billing, etc.) or had shorter/​simpler programs. NHI’s tuition wasn’t cheap, since it’s a vocational school that prepares you for a new career/​job with a regular income. But then I noticed all the other schools costed about the same amount too, not cheap.
As I was running marathons regularly at that time, I noticed that there was usually a large massage tent for runners after the finish line. I inquired about how the massage worked, and who worked there, and it was usually National Holistic Institute students that were providing the massage (LA Marathon, Nike Women’s Marathon). That helped me understand NHI’s reputation in the industry. But the big benefit was seeing how NHI helped place their students into internships and into well known clinics and spas (Massage Envy, Burke Williams, Preston Wynne, Ritz Carlton, etc.) It was this extensive service during and after the education that provided a lot of value.
The school and classes were great. It was a school I looked forward to going to every time. After a long day at work I would come to class at 6pm and we usually begin our session with a 15-​min group meditation or yoga mini-​session to open our minds and spirits. In learning massage we had lots of practice, and in nearly every session we would get a massage and give a massage to a class partner. Besides practice, we also had our fair share of theory and science — physiology, kinesiology, pathology, learning all the major bones and muscles of the body, learning different modalities (swedish, shiatsu, sports massage, thai massage, reiki/​energy work, abdominal work, cold and heat therapy, stretching, deep tissue, myofascial release, etc.) This really prepared us to deal with all types of situations when we meet with real world clients, we we started doing right in the school clinic.
We got our real world experience as students immediately. First in the school clinic, where we worked 3 sessions each week, giving massages to paid clients from the public. It was a great way to practice everything we learned as well as people and business skills. Some regular clinic clients who really liked us even became our regular private clients after graduation!
Besides school clinic, NHI also prepared us to work outside in 2 internships to gain additional experience in different real-​world settings. I had extra time, so I did 4 internships myself — at Massage Envy, Destino Spa, Equinox gym, and Stanford Athletics. All were great places which demonstrated the highest level of professionalism and quality of service, and great places to work in and learn from before going on to other places at least as great.
It’s been a few years since graduation, and I’ve worked in a few different places practicing my massage — a couple clinics, a corporate environment, as well as starting and running my own mobile massage massage business where it’s been super-​rewarding to give the best massages possible to clients directly and receive 5-​star Unilocal reviews in return. That’s the vision I had in mind when I joined NHI to get the background and training to help me get started.
When choosing and entering a massage school, I would advise you to carefully consider what type of job you might get afterwards, and how much you could earn as a massage therapist. While income can be great for single people, the income and environment may be more challenging if you are the primary income for supporting a family. Hopefully you’ll do the careful thinking for going into this industry, but then most of us go into this industry because it’s a field that we love.
There’s a lot to consider in choosing a massage school, or even a job/​career in massage therapy, but there are many paths where you can go. Like many other opportunities, a lot of your success depends in your vision and how much effort you put into it yourself.
NHI is a great partner to help you get to your vision, with their structured classes and wide range of opportunities available to you, both during and after enrollment.

I graduated from NHI in 2009. I would say overall i had a wonderful experience there. As far as massage schools go, it was the most well rounded program that I found after checking out various other massage schools in the Bay Area.
The program is divided in to two segments, an eastern and a western segment, focusing on massage modalities like shiatsu (japanese/​eastern) and swedish massage (western). There are many more massage modalities covered in each segment.
You get 720 hours of training, including working at the student clinic. So by the time you finish the program, you graduate with more experience and hours than is required for California state certification (minimum 500 hrs).
Before anyone decided to attend this school or any school, make sure you KNOW that this is what you want to do. If you KNOW that this is something you want to learn, then go for it. You receive a great deal of training here that will serve as a base for all future learning you do outside of school.

I came to school here in 2010. I had a devastating year and suffered a heartbreaking loss the year before in 2009 (my grandmother from my father’s side passed away.) and decided to start my life over. Going to this school really changed my life in a positive way. The teachers, the students, and the faculty really made me a better person. I was pretty difficult to deal with at that time and I think it was because I was going through a really difficult personal situation at the time and also I don’t think I was completely over the loss of my grandmother. I thought I was, but looking back; I think i was just trying to be tough and was still grieving inside. My mentors gena, julie, and jeff and the staff members benita macdonald (not there anymore) and beth fisher (the lady that enrolled me) really helped me get through those challenging times and encouraged me not to give up and keep on trying. I also met a group of students, in my last months there, that also changed my life as well. They taught me how to strive hard, work hard, the importance of being unselfish and teamwork, and being kind to people and helping people. God bless everyone at NHI. I really don’t know how my life would’ve turned out had I not gone to this school and meet those people. There’s an old saying «It takes a village to raise a child» and I’m forever thankful and appreciative to this village for raising me and helping me grow as a person. I got both a diploma and a positive life changing experience. I’m very blessed!

This place & everyone that works at this location has changed my life! I have been a Lead Therapist for 8 years & because I went to this school & learned from the best I am so luck to be apart of the healing world. I love everything that I learned! I am so lucky to be doing what I love & never feel like I have to work a day in my life. Thank you Beth for calling me back that day & showing me around. You changed my life!!!

This is a review for NHI as a school, not the clinic.
Before you see the star rating and move on read the whole of the review because depending on your goals this may be a 5 star school for you.
I went to NHI after reviewing other massage schools. NHI was a significantly more expensive program and much longer to complete then other schools. However I made the decision based on one big factor, they were an accredited school that made promise of letting you earn «college credits».
At my admissions interview I let my counselor know that my goals were twofold, to obtain a massage certification to provide a nice side income for myself and two, to continue on to a CSU to finish my degree someday. I was advised that while they couldn’t guarantee every school would take NHI credits that many would because again, they are «accredited».
As far as a massage school education goes, I believe these guys are top notch. They expose you to a wealth of knowledge for the field. And if you are someone who wants to make a full-​time career out of this and needs the NHI name on your resume, well then it’s probably a good move.
BUT… after paying my money, completing a year of school, and yes obtaining my certification; I find out that my credits will not transfer to a junior college let alone a CSU. That makes me furious. They are good about not saying outright that a CSU will take these credits but the sales people (ehem sorry the admissions reps) allude to it in a way to go right up to the line but not cross it.
I sent an e-​mail tonight confused to the student outreach coordinator who sent me over to my admissions person. And the woman who had signed me up for school and knew me for a year gave me a bland «AT&T» customer service style text book response. She also could not tell me a single institution that would accept NHI credits.
What further burns me up here is that not only were we told this in our admissions tours, but also several times in class by instructors. We were told this would count for science credits. Even our diplomas sited «college credits earned».
So long but hopefully worth the read if you’re considering NHI. I can’t in all fairness give them a 1 star because it’s great for the massage education and the name that carries if you are trying to get a job with a high end spa (which I wasn’t so it didn’t matter…) But for me I’m left feeling very duped and the institute where I wasted a year of my life and many dollars who treated me like family only months ago is now treating me like an insignificant number.
To end on a positive note however, again if this is something you want as a full time career, great education, excellent instructors (mostly) and a fantastic campus manager. For me, in hindsight wish I had made a different decision but for you, consider your goals and go in with your eyes wide open. And lesson learned, (almost) all admissions reps are sales people, so if/​when you go in don’t get «sold» something that isn’t for you…

I’m a recent graduate of NHI, and I can truly say that this school (teachers and staff) changed my life. I work full time in a chriopratic office. Lynda Jones to be exact. I made some of the best friends I’ve ever had. I learned above and beyond what I expected to, and every bit of it I use every day. If you want a life changing experience I highly recommend attending NHI, and I hope you get Gena for your mentor, shes one of the most beautiful women inside and out I have EVER met. The staff here are all great don’t get me wrong. Any of them will drop what there doing to help in any way they can. Its a fun and positive learning atmosphere, and let me tell you first hand that the life of a Massage Therapist is a great one. I feel now like the world is at my feet ready for me to step out into it. NHI gave me all the tools I needed to succeed and because of that I’m succeeding now. I love my life and what I’m able to do and give to others.
Thank You NHI

As a former student, I think this school is excellent. They really pay attention to each student. All the classes are small, so the instructor can work one on one with students. They offer tutoring and encourage students to go the moment they feel like they’re getting behind. Students learn many different types of massages, anatomy, kinesiology, how to run your own business and many other very useful things. NHI is also one of the schools that the state recognizes if you go to get your state license. I’d highly recommend NHI if you’re looking for a massage school.

Great school! The staff is great! I highly recommend NHI to people who are considering a career in bodywork! You learn so much not just about the field but about yourself.
The bodywork experience you get as a student is so much more than most schools out there.
You graduate with 720 hours!!! Well over than the state requirement. :)
Staff are very supportive and knowledgeable.

NHI is an excellent school! This is one of the best Massage schools to attend! alot of people here are complaining how horrible there $ 35.00 massage was but you have to remember that the students are here to practice and learn how to communicate with there client’s. I do believe that some Massage therapist are not always the best but we have to give the students some credit! Just think if you were in there shoes, it’s nerve wrecking when your learning a new modality and then you have to perform the massage on an actually client for the first time. But the students after studying and practicing for 10 months to a year turn out to be phenomenal:) I know this from experience!