Emeryville Massage School

Lisa is a 1996 Graduate of NHI's Core Massage Therapist & Health Educator Program and has been a dedicated NHI employee for over 15 years. Her contributions to NHI's mission of "Helping People Have Work They Love" have come through numerous roles held, which include Student Life & Career Coordinator, Mentor, Campus Manager, as well as her current role of Instructor. Lisa is passionate in establishing connections with each individual who passes through NHI's doors and looks to provide each Student and Graduate with a balance of support and motivation, tailored to their specific needs. Lisa invites any opportunity to share knowledge about the benefits of massage with others and loves to share mini massage facts with children and youth. I guess one might say that she enjoys "planting the seeds of self-awareness, self-care, and a life-long practice and love of receiving massage."

Kirsten began her journey with NHI as a student in 2004. While nurturing a growing love for massage therapy, she realized that she naturally also gravitated toward a skill set built in her previous career: training and education for adult learners. As a student tutor at NHI, and later as a Teaching Assistant post-graduation, Kirsten was able to explore a variety of approaches to teaching and learning while honing her massage skills. When NHI approached her in 2006 to invite her to merge her loves of education and massage by becoming a teacher, she jumped at the chance. While growing a robust and diverse massage practice, Kirsten also began to grow with NHI. Kirsten focused strongly on understanding the Core Program curriculum and how to effectively deliver it to a wide-variety of students. Over the years, Kirsten became a key member of the curriculum and faculty training teams, teacher and trainer of the ANMT Program, Co-Manager of the ANMT Program and now currently is the Director of Training and Program Development for all NHI programs and campuses. “My passion is to create educational experiences that make teachers excited to teach and students excited to learn.”

Jamere Dailey began his journey in massage therapy in 2014. He's a Neuromuscular massage therapist who enjoys providing positive results for the most challenging of muscle related issues. Jamere's goal is to raise the aspirations of the next generation of massage therapist, and witness how they will take massage therapy to a new level. He's in a perfect position to do so as an instructor at National Holistic Institute. "I can massage really well, I'll prove that you can too!"

Garion is a massage therapist who enjoys leveraging his many years of technical and administrative support experience to help find students and grads work they love. As a California Bay Area native, Garion finds fulfillment and equity in supporting all those who strive to walk their own path to success and wellness, and who do-so with the intention of uplifting their families and communities along the way. Massage is a life-long practice for Garion, and he is committed to furthering his knowledge of the art and industry NHI students are shaping every day.

Gabrielle began her massage career in 2008 when she graduated from NHI’s Core Program. She enjoyed the muscular anatomy education she had received as a student, so she also completed the Advanced Neuromuscular Massage Therapy program when it debuted in 2010. In her massage practice, she utilized a number of modalities, particularly deep tissue and trigger point therapy, to help meet her clients’ needs for each session. As an instructor, she draws on her personal experience in the field and her love of learning to help students find their own niche as bodyworkers. “Every body tells a story, and as massage therapists, we have the privilege of helping our clients write their next chapter.”

Esko’s 10 years of experience in the massage therapy field have been fed by very eclectic knowledge, ranging from fitness training and working with professional athletes to being a Reiki master teacher. One of his best strengths is his unique approach and ability to explain a lesson many different ways. He encompasses massage as an art form and can draw from over ten different modalities during any given session. “I am always learning. NHI has given me a job that I love, in the field of massage therapy, and continues to give me an education ten years later.”

Emily became a certified Massage Therapist and Holistic Health Practitioner in 2005. Since then she has worked in clinical and spa settings, while building her private practice around the treatment of severe and chronic pain. Providing safe, knowledgeable, and effective services are her passion; one Emily strives to share with the students of NHI.

Dan began his massage journey after graduating from core and advanced neuromuscular therapy training in 2017. He spent his time applying those skills to great success in the spa industry. He returned to NHI to teach in order help other people learn to be the best they can be, doing what they love to do. “Knowledge cannot be given; it must be grown. As you grow, so does your knowledge.”

Breanna Christenson is a mentor and teacher on the Petaluma Campus. She first came to NHI in 2011 as a student, with a thirst for knowledge and clearly committed to more deeply understand the body. She has been a practicing massage therapist since her graduation. Breanna has completed 1350 hours of education in massage therapy, including 450 hours of Advanced Neuromuscular Massage Therapy training. Walt Whitman once said that ‘If anything is sacred, the human body is sacred.’ Through her positive, and lively teaching style, Breanna exemplifies this ideal in the classroom. She believes that massage is much more than putting our hands on the client, and that the first step toward helping others, is being able to take care of ourselves. Besides teaching, Breanna is currently practicing her work in Santa Rosa.

Amy is a 1995 graduate of NHI’s Core Program. Since graduating from NHI, Amy has worked in chiropractic offices, salons and in private practice. Most recently, Amy’s focus has been on Transformational Bodywork, Energy Work and Shamanic Practices, even traveling to Ireland to complete an Advanced Shamanic Certification Course in 2017. Amy also has an MA in Counseling Psychology and has worked with children with Autism since 1990. Amy is thrilled to have returned ‘home’ to NHI as a teacher and mentor. “In all of my experience, I have come to realize that my life’s purpose is to help others find theirs. To me, being a teacher is one of the best ways of helping others find Purpose and Direction in their lives. I believe that doing what you love, what you’re passionate about, is the only way to truly live one’s life Authentically, and helping people find work they love is what being a teacher at NHI is all about.”

Akilah Tutt graduated from the Petaluma campus of NHI in 2010. She began her massage career at the Silverado Resort & Spa in Napa, CA. She enjoyed the foot reflexology modality and loved performing Meyer Lemon Salt Scrubs. Incorporating Myofascial Therapy's technical aspect of pain reduction proved to be another joyous benefit of her sessions. She is currently serving as an Instructor/Mentor for the Emeryville campus. Her favorite quote is, "People don't care how much you know until they know how much you care."