If you are reading this right now, it means that you are like millions of others who are part of the "information age" and use the internet to your advantage. The internet has taken the world by storm in a number of industries including shopping, travel, communication, education and so much more. Massage, not to be left behind the times, is no exception.

Many massage practicioners have used the internet to enhance their businesses and themselves in a number of ways. There are websites to post your resume, to market your business, to help build a website, just to name a few.

Since there are so many websites available to help foster your growth as a massage therapist, we thought it helpful to put a list together of websites we found helpful. (Keep in mind, this is only the tip of the iceberg of what is available to you.)

My name is Catherine Ruggles and I graduated from National Holistic Institute in June of 2005.

What I was doing before NHI?

Before coming to NHI, I was an Office Manager for a staff of 45+, worked for various internet startups, as a Unix Systems Operator for Silicon Graphics, and in customer service for an international domain reseller. When an opportunity came along to change gears completely and attend NHI full time, I took it, not yet realizing that NHI would give me the tools to be a successful and effective body worker.

What am I doing now?
I completed the National Certification Exam shortly after graduation and received calls from two of the top spas in San Francisco - TruSpa and Remede Spa.

Just one year after graduating from the program, I have had four different massage jobs. Currently, I am a massage therapist for the Ritz Carlton Half Moon Bay. While employed at the Ritz Carlton, I have worked as a part-time and full-time massage therapist as well as working on-call. In addition to working at Body, Mind and Spirit, a massage studio in Oakland, I worked for a general practitioner in Oakland, massaging clients with various joint or muscle overuse and other soft tissue issues. Furthermore, I also operate my own private practice. This may sound like a lot of work, but I am striking a balance. I am keeping my body strong and healthy and practicing good body mechanics, so I can promote the same principles to my clients.

The focus of my private practice includes stressed out brides, moms-to-be, cyclists, lawyers, computer junkies, global travelers, and the generally overtired.

NHI and Me…
One of my most significant memories of NHI is of the day I felt reluctant to receive abdominal massage work due to feeling ill. I had stomach pains and did not feel up to the task. But after being open to suggestions from my instructor and allowing the bodywork, I realized the miracle of massage. Thanks to my classmate Josie’s incredible bodywork and gift of touch, my body felt healed. That’s when I knew this was an incredible world I was part of.

On the day of my graduation, I mentioned to my group that training for a marathon was one of my goals - now a year and a half later, I train for the Nike Women’s Marathon in 2007. We had such a supportive and great crew of friends in group 20. I send my thanks and greetings to them.

Through this journey of different experiences in the massage industry, I have accomplished another previous ambition – to work in the luxury hotel industry. I am now proud to say that I have the opportunity to follow the path I have begun with the Ritz Carlton Hotel, and I am happy to say that my great education at NHI really helped me get there.

NHI ALUMNI WEBPAGE

1. Where is the only bony attachment of the shoulder girdle to the axial skeleton?



2. What are the four walls that form the axilla?



3. Where is the acetabulum and how was it named?


(Answers at the end of newsletter)