Cheryl graduated from NHI in Emeryville in 1992 embarking in private practice. With a sports injury rehab specialty, she worked with many different clients including those in the NFL. Cheryl brings her passionate knowledge of strategic bodywork to teach at NHI. “Massage therapy chose me. It has taken me places allowing me to work with clients beyond my imagination.”

Chontelle Stapp is a graduate of NHI, Emeryville. (Group 2 – 2000) She was a CNA for 3 years, working in the Hospice wing of a SNIF. While researching the requirements to become an RN, Chontelle discovered that it was not a good fit for her, so she searched for another way to help people and discovered that massage therapy was a perfect fit. When she toured the NHI Emeryville campus, she just “knew”. Over her career Chontelle gravitated towards results based massage, working with chronic/persistent pain, and palliative massage. Chontelle has encountered a wide variety of clients who, because of her client base, asked thought provoking questions that she was not familiar with and found herself doing more research on. This lead Chontelle to enroll in the ANMT program, which changed her life. She was empowered by the education, applying the techniques to herself, reducing and eventually eliminating her need to use compressive socks due to excruciating foot, lower leg pain; and along with altering how she ate, completely eliminated the need to continue taking opioids for FMS – symptoms are now mild, where they once were life altering. Chontelle chose to teach because the work has given me my life back, and she wishes to empower others with the drive to do the same for themselves and their patients.

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.

As a Nationally Certified Massage Therapist (NCTMB) with a background in Physical Therapy, Gracia naturally combines a scientific and intuitive awareness of the body. She specializes in anatomy, physiology, kinesiology, myofascial work and advanced therapeutic techniques. As a massage professional (currently also working at Google), Gracia’s highly intuitive and skillful touch is infused with a sense of wholeness in a profound way. “I relish the opportunity to share my skills and knowledge with students on the path to being bodywork professionals.”

After a lifelong pursuit of knowledge in meditation, yoga, energetic healing, and other holistic health modalities, Jim came to National Holistic Institute in 2015 to take the next steps on his journey of learning. He graduated a year later and immediately became certified and went to work with the Silicon Valley Massage Therapy Group. There he worked with a variety of clients, but staying true to his family’s deep roots in the medical field his passions became focused on working with clients who were recovering from injuries, athletes who needed care and recovery from rigorous training regimens, and others who were just looking for relief from aches and pains to achieve a better quality of life. In this capacity, he worked with his clients and their Physical Therapists, Chiropractors, and other healthcare professionals to create individual plans to help them reach their recovery goals. He also became a key member of their corporate on-site massage team and worked with them acquiring and supervising clients for on-site therapy for college students, corporate staff, and other groups of working professionals to improve their productivity and general level of wellness in their work environment.

Josh is a Central California native where he completed his massage education, with honors, at Milan Institute in Visalia, CA in 2007. Upon his graduation, Josh moved to Santa Cruz and began his career working to build and grow his own business. Josh eventually found Massage Envy Monterey and was hired as a Massage Therapist. He quickly gained a strong client base and was voted the most requested therapist within his South San Francisco region. Josh was voted by his fellow massage therapist at Massage Envy Monterey to take the Lead Therapist position and quickly moved into managing the Monterey Location. Josh’s passion lies in sports and rehabilitative massage. Josh enjoys working alongside other medical professionals to create plans for his clients that promote healing and a better quality of life. "We have the privilege of working with the future of our industry. If we can create well-educated and passionate massage therapists, the effects will be phenomenal."

Kim Koga is a graduate of NHI, completing both the Core and ANMT programs. She combined her knowledge as a Personal Trainer with the skills she learned at NHI to work specifically with athletes in her private practice. Certifications in Cupping, Kinesiology taping, and IASTM helped her focus on those client’s unique needs as well as any chronic pain. Kim started with the San Jose team in 2021 and she loves being able to provide the guidance and support necessary to turn a passion into a journey.

A native to the Bay Area, Natalie graduated from the massage therapy program at Bryman College in 2013. Working in the field as a massage therapist at co-op clinics, Elements Massage, chiropractor’s offices, luxury spas and maintained a successful private practice studio. Natalie’s passion and love for bodywork has manifested into a unique craft by marrying spa life and wellness with sports and deep tissue work. She also has a history of caring for pre/post-natal individuals, cancer patients, and hospice patients. As a former ballet dancer, Natalie encourages students to think outside box and learn from different perspectives. She cares deeply for students and enjoys continually learning with them and from them.

Phil graduated from National Holistic Institute in 2002. His career began in a Chiropractic office and progressed to fitness resources, sporting events, and providing manual therapy for professional and elite athletes. His career highlights include working with the Association of Tennis Professionals in Indian Well, National Track and Field Championships, Olympic Trials in Track and Field, and working with individual athletes from professional sports teams in the Bay Area. His career at National Holistic Institute began in 2009 and he has been a Core Program Instructor, Core Program Mentor, Student Life and Career Coordinator, Advanced Neuromuscular Therapy Program, Advanced Neuromuscular Therapy Program Mentor, Curriculum Specialist, and Marketing Specialist. Outside of NHI, Phil is an active volunteer with the American Massage Therapy Association. He is a sports fanatic and finds it odd that he’s reading science and anatomy books as pleasure reading. Phil often shares with his students that, as a fetus develops, the root of the hands grow from the heart and the skin develops from the same ectodermic layer as the brain, so, “when we combine our knowledge with touch, Massage Therapists interact with our patients with our hearts and our brains.”

RozLyn graduated from the National Holistic Institute in Emeryville, CA, in 2009, and has been actively practicing massage therapy ever since. In her 13 year career as a therapist, she has worked in a variety of different fields of massage including spas, chiropractic facilities, and wellness centers. RozLyn has become an Instructor at NHI to express and teach her love for massage to the next generation of therapists, and also for her love and care for people. "To be in a position that allows me to interact with people AND teach them something I'm passionate about... sign me up any day! If you don't love what you do, you won't do it with much conviction or passion."