National Holistic Institute

National Holistic Institute Academics

After learning the art of massage and setting up a few private practices, Carol Carpenter set up the National Holistic Institute in 1979 with the hope of helping people learn the art of massage in a much easier way than she experienced. Now, the National Holistic Institute is by far one of the largest massage therapy institutions in the United States, with five separate schools located throughout California, four centralized around the Northern Bay Area of San Francisco and one in Los Angeles. And even though Carpenter is no longer the head of the school, the institute continues to be one of the most respected massage therapy programs in the world.

The institute is accredited by the Accrediting Council for Continuing Education and Training and was one of the first accredited massage schools in the United States. Additionally, they are one of the only massage therapy institutions to be mentioned in the book, “The History of Massage.”

Unlike most holistic schools that focus solely on the practice of massage therapy, the National Holistic Institute incorporates all of the necessary eastern and western techniques as well as courses in business and marketing, to assist graduates in setting up and maintaining an independent practice. These additional incorporations go hand-in-hand with the school’s proclaimed mission statement, “Helping People Have Work They Love!”

The school offers a 720-hour, comprehensive program that covers all aspects of holistic medicine, including sports massage, aromatherapy, Shiatsu, acupuncture and traditional Chinese medicine. Course times and schedules vary depending on each school and campus. It is recommended to contact an admissions representative in order to set up the best program.

Also, each of the school’s five locations runs a full-time massage clinic where students can utilize real clients and customers to practice the skills that they learn in the classroom.

When it comes to graduating time, not only do participants receive official diplomas, but they also are provided with such alumni services as job placement support, which works closely with many spas and health clinics to make sure that recent graduates can find employment.