New Clovis massage school looks to elevate massage therapy in Valley - Fresno Bee

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A new massage school in Clovis is hoping to elevate the profession and provide the Central Valley with opportunities to incorporate massage therapy into the medical industry.

National Holistic Institute’s College of Massage Therapy opened its ninth location in Clovis in early June and is already teaching seven locals the trade as part of a 900-hour curriculum.

The program far exceeds the 500 hours required to become a certified massage therapist in California, which program manager Michael Greene sees as an advantage for students.

The program focuses on both Eastern and Western massage styles, which assists students in finding work after completion. For those interested in the program, day classes run for eight months while night classes take a year to complete.

“We really want to reinforce the educational aspect of allowing our therapists to know what they are doing and why they are doing it,” Greene said.

The school places an emphasis on understanding the body and making sure to do what is best for the client, especially when working around diseases and injuries.

The National Holistic Institute saw the Fresno area as a logical next step toward helping students get closer to medical hotspots in Central California.

Massage therapy can be incorporated into hospital and physical therapy settings, Greene said. He owns a massage therapy business, Fresno Kinetic Bodyworks, and has been teaching the trade for nearly four years.

“Massage can be utilized in many different forms,” Greene said. “I think we’re still trying to figure out how massage can be used in a hospital setting, and there are so many opportunities for our students to apply what they learn in different ways.”

In July, the school will open up its public clinic with discounted appointments available so that students can begin working with the general public.

National Holistic Institute also has colleges in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Sacramento, San Jose, Emeryville, Sonoma County, Santa Ana and Redding.

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