250 hour Course
Catalog for January 2007 to July 2009 Learn the most effective massage techniques to help others.
The Napa Valley School of Massage is located in Napa on Trancas Street. The Campus consists of the Pinewood building and the Heart and Health Center. The Pinewood building houses the administrative headquarters, the dojo for classroom instruction and the Natural Healing Center. The Natural Healing Center is a modern acupuncture and massage clinic. At the Heart & Health Center, you'll have a great opportunity to learn while working on actual patients. This facility consists of two buildings, the Heart Clinic and the Heart House. The Heart and Health Center features patient treatment rooms where you will practice your new skills under the supervision of our Medical Director. These two modern sites (pictured below) provide you with a comfortable and spacious environment for learning.
The Napa Valley School of Massage class schedule is designed to work for you. Whether you are employed, a student, live outside the Napa area or just have a busy lifestyle, the Napa Valley School of Massage provides you with the best educational opportunity. We offer both Morning and Evening Classes. In addition, distance instruction is provided through our excellent Online Course. Reasonable fees, excellent curriculum, prestigious faculty, modern facilities and extended hours provide you with a tremendous educational value.
Your massage instruction will begin with introductory lectures followed by rotations through the Laboratory and Media Center. In the Laboratory, you will learn to prepare oils and liniments and strengthen your hands in preparation for applying soothing and invigorating massage techniques. The Media Center is equipped with a VCR so that you can review massage techniques as well as observe master massage therapists at work. You will also have ample Classroom time for self study of required text assignments. You will also enjoy studying the bones, muscles, nerves and lymphatics of the human body on anatomical models and color posters. Following this unique experience, you will begin practical massage sessions on other students.
Prior to graduation, you will be allowed to practice on actual patients in the Napa Valley School of Massage's physician directed clinic. You will work directly with a medical doctor treating patients with specific injuries and illnesses. Through a variety of exciting instructional methods, The Napa Valley School of Massage offers in-depth training to ensure your success as a massage practitioner. During the first weeks of instruction, you will be introduced to eastern and western perspectives on massage and you will learn massage theory. A comprehensive education in massage technique, body mechanics, anatomy, and physiology provide you with a thorough understanding of massage. Training with liniments, oils and massage tools will supplement your training to become a proficient massage therapist. In addition to the numerous opportunities your diploma will open for you as an employed massage practitioner, the full 250 hour course includes training in business operations and maintenance to enable you to begin your own massage business immediately after graduation. With an excellent curriculum, outstanding faculty and practical experience on actual patients, the Napa Valley School of Massage offers you the best educational value..
This course is the outstanding foundation of the Napa Valley School of Massage's Restorative Massage Program. In this course, you will be introduced to the wonderful arts of Restorative Massage, Medical Gymnastics, Hydrotherapy, Hygiene, and the underlying principles of Anatomy and Physiology. You will learn two very important massage routines that are very different from each other. The Swedish massage is one of the most popular massages in the world. You will also learn a Deep Tissue Massage routine. Knowledge of these two outstanding massage routines will make you a very versatile Massage Therapist. You will feel very confident having worked in the Student Clinic. Most graduates will do 50 massages in the Student Clinic prior to course completion. You will be well prepared to pass your final examination. A prestigious diploma for 250 Credit Hours in the Art of Restorative Massage will be awarded to you upon successful completion of the course. This Basic 250 hour Course in Restorative Massage is taught in several formats including Morning or Evening Classes or through Distance Learning. Students who choose the Distance Learning format will complete 27 lessons online followed by a two week Intensive Massage Internship at the Napa Valley School of Massage. We have a dorm for you to stay in at no additional cost. All you need to pay for is your tuition, registration fees, meals and transportation. After graduation, you will be able to work independently or under the supervision of more experienced massage therapists, physical therapists, chiropractors or medical doctors. While some states and cities require more hours, many cities in California allow new graduates with 250 hours to obtain an independent license to practice massage therapy.
The total cost of the 250 hour course is only $3,000 .00 plus a $300.00 non-refundable registration fee. When you enroll in this course, you will be given a free gift of two high quality white scrub uniforms to wear in the clinic and two outstanding instructional massage DVD's - covering the two massages taught in this course. The Distance Instruction format is only $2,000.00 plus a $300.00 registration fee. The two sets of white scrubs and the two instructional DVD's are a gift welcoming you to the Napa Valley (These gifts cannot be mailed and are only available when you arrive in Napa for your massage internship).
The 500-Hour Course is the next step in your education as a Restorative Massage Therapist. The first part of the Intermediate 500-Hour Course consists of the 250-Hour Basic Course as described above. Your knowledge base as a Restorative Massage Therapist is built in the 250-Hour Course and further refined in the intermediate course. After completing the Intermediate Course, you will receive a prestigious Restorative Massage Diploma for 500 Credit Hours.
In addition, you will gain more experience in the Student Massage Clinic. Most graduates will have the opportunity to perform at least 100 massages in this setting. In this outstanding Intermediate Course, you will gain additional knowledge in Anatomy and Physiology. In the Intermediate Course, you will review the anatomy of the musculo-skeletal system and build on this knowledge by learning the anatomy and physiology of the nervous, circulatory, digestive, urinary, respiratory, integumentary, endocrine and lymphatic systems. At this Intermediate level, you will learn about the proper use of massage oils, liniments, salves and aromatherapy. You will also expand your knowledge by studying the detailed online information. This material covers every aspect of the instruction and will be available to you through the Internet. All Intermediate students will be required to pass an examination prior to successful completion of the course. Don't worry about passing, our students are all very well prepared by the time they take the final exam. After successful completion of the required course work and successful passage of the final examination, you will be awarded a prestigious diploma for 500 Hours in the Art of Restorative Massage. Successful completion of the 500 course will allow you to seek employment as a certified massage therapist in spas, chiropractor's offices, and medical offices. Alternately, you may choose to open your own massage therapy business. 500 hours of instruction will satisfy the licensing requirements for most cities and counties in California as well as most states throughout the United States. This completion of 500 hours also makes you eligible to join the prestigious AMTA and if you choose, take the national certification examination. The cost of the Intermediate 500-Hour Course is only $6,000
.00. The great news is that you will be given academic credit for the 250 hours you completed in the Basic course (advanced standing - once you complete the Basic 250 hour course, you only have an additional 300 hours to complete the 500 hour Intermediate course). You will also be credited the tuition you paid for the 250 hour Basic course. This means that you are able to subtract $3000
.00 if you did your 250 hour course in Napa and subtract $2,000.00
if you completed the 250 hour course by distance learning. The registration fee is only paid on enrollment in the Basic 250 hour course and cannot be credited against tuition in other courses. In this course, you will be trained as a Holistic Health Practitioner. Successful completion of the Basic 250 hour and Intermediate 500 hour courses is required before you can apply for this course. Space in the Advanced course is limited. Admission decisions are based on the student's performance in the Basic 250 hour course and the Intermediate 500 hour course. You should submit your application for admission at least one month prior to completion of the Intermediate 500 hour course. A letter of recommendation from two faculty members of the Napa Valley School of Massage is also required. Students accepted in this advanced course will be taught additional advanced massage routines including Shiatsu, Tui Na, Eagle Claw Chair Massage, Advanced Deep Tissue Massage Techniques, Pregnancy Massage and Head Massage and Traditional Medical Thai Massage. In this high level course, you will treat actual patients in the Heart Clinic and Medical Clinic under Dr. Andrews' direct instruction and supervision. You will have the opportunity to work in the Student Massage Clinic throughout your advanced massage training. By the time you graduate, you will have done at least two hundred massages in the Student Clinic.
Laurie Andrews will train you as a yoga therpist. You will work under Laurie's supervision in the Senior Yoga Play Class. In this 1000-Hour course, you will enjoy growing and harvesting your own herbs. The herbs will be grown in the school's herb garden and will be used to make your own massage liniments and salves. The online information will be available to you as a supplement for your advanced training. Upon graduating from the advanced 1000-Hour Course, you receive a diploma indicating your training in Andrews Health Culture including advanced training in Restorative Massage, Nutrition, Yoga Therapy, Herbology and Physiotherapy (1000 hours). Following graduation, you may choose to open your own massage business as a "Holistic Health Practitioner" and employ other therapists. Your expertise in massage plus your working knowledge of nutrition, yoga therapy, herbology and physiotherapy will train you to work in many health care areas such as medical offices, clinics or physical therapy facilities. You will also be trained to work in complementary health care fields such as chiroprator or acupuncture offices. With your training, knowledge and experience, you will also be in demand in gyms and other sports facilities. The cost of the Advanced 1000-Hour Course is $12 ,000.00. You will be given academic credit for the 500 hours you completed in the Basic and Intermediate courses (advanced standing - once you complete the Basic 250 hour course and Intermediate 500 hour course, you only have an additional 500 hours to complete the 1,000 hour Advanced course). You will also be credited the tuition you paid for the previous courses. This means that you are able to subtract $8
000
.00 that you paid in tuition to complete the Basic and Intermediate courses. The registration fee paid for enrollment in the Basic 250 hour course cannot be credited against tuition in other courses. The Napa Valley School of Massage is approved in the state of California by the Bureau for Post-secondary and Vocational Education. This is important to you because NVSM will uphold quality by adhering to the regulations written to protect you the student. The following policies are designed to help protect your investment in this unique educational opportunity.
You'll earn a prestigious diploma. At the NVSM you will earn a prestigious diploma from an outstanding faculty of highly trained professionals. You will be taught the art of Restorative Massage, Medical Gymnastics, Hydrotherapy, Hygiene and the underlying principles of Anatomy and Physiology. At the Napa Valley School of Massage, you will be taught by state certified teachers who are skilled in the most effective Restorative Massage techniques. You will also have the opportunity to work on actual patients in our physician directed Medical Clinic. The outstanding faculty, a great curriculum and the opportunity to work in a medical setting means that the Napa Valley School of Massage is the right choice for you.
The Napa Valley School of Massage is very proud to list our faculty:
The Mission of the Napa Valley School of Massage is to teach Restorative Massage Therapy, in an academic environment, to the next generation of massage health care professionals. This education will be accomplished with a 250-Hour , 500-Hour, and 1000-Hour courses. This will lead to massage certification and will allow Napa Valley School of Massage graduates to obtain employment as certified Restorative Massage Therapists. The Napa Valley School of Massage was founded in 1998 by Daniel and Laurie Andrews to teach Restorative Massage. The school has operated continuously in the Napa Valley since 1998. The Napa Valley School of Massage enjoys an international reputation having trained students from far corners of the globe including the U.S.A., Canada, Mexico, Europe, Asia and Africa. The Napa Valley School of Massage is non-discriminatory institution including (but not limited to) race, gender, religion, nationality, age, disability, and sexual orientation. Course work at the NVSM may be completed by the student in a variety of ways. The school is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 A.M. to 8:00 P.M. Weekend classes are also available. Students may start at any time but must stay with the prearranged schedule. Training in the educational courses at the NVSM is done in 2 ½ hour segments, 5 hour segments or 10 hour segments. The evening course is taught Monday through Friday from 5:30 P.M. to 8:00 P.M (2 ½ hours). The 250 hour course done in this manner will be completed in four months. Students may elect to study twice as long (five hours per day) and will complete 250 hours in two months. Alternately, the intensive program allows the student to study ten hours per day and complete the 250 hour program in one month. Students in the distance learning format will be able to complete the 27 lessons online and will receive 100 hours of credit toward the 250 hour certificate. The distance learning students will then receive an additional 100 hours of credit in their intensive massage internship. These two educational activities will lead to a 250 hour diploma in Restorative Massage (pending successful passage of the final exam). Advanced credit is awarded to the graduates of the 250 hour program for the 500 and 1000 hour courses. Likewise, advanced placement for 500 hours will be awarded to students entering the 1000 hour program who hold a 500 hour diploma from NVSM. The NVSM is open year round, seven days per week. The school is closed in observance of major national holidays and for two weeks over the Christmas holiday. Applicants wanting to study at the NVSM must apply by completing an application. They are encouraged to come to the school for an interview. At the interview, the applicant will be given a tour of the schools facilities and will be provided with a copy of the rules and regulations of the school. The NVSM does not accept advanced standing or transfer from any other massage schools. All students, regardless of previous training or experience will be asked to start in the Basic 250 hour course in Restorative Massage. The NVSM is proud to be a member of the prestigious American Massage Therapy Association. All the programs taught at the NVSM have been approved by California's Bureau of Private Postsecondary and Vocational Education. Satisfactory progress is determined by attendance, class participation and review of the written materials such as completion of the anatomy coloring book. The final exam (both written and practical) must be successfully completed prior to receiving the diploma in Restorative Massage. The teacher to student ratio at the NVSM is very favorable. Students in the lecture will have a ratio of approximately one teacher to 10 students. In the clinic the students will be supervised in a ratio of one teacher per five students. The practical massage training is taught in a ratio of 5 students per one instructor. Learning in the distance learning module is one student to one professor. Students are encouraged to pay their tuition in advance. Students may wish to seek private educational loans. On special occasions, a payment plan may be set up between the NVSM and the student. Students must maintain a 90% attendance rate (see attendance policy). Make up classes are charged to the student at a fee of $12 .00 per hour. Students may review their personal school file at a pre-arranged time. This will be done in the administrative office of the NVSM. Records may not be removed from this location. A faculty member will be present during the student's review of his or her file. Student records are confidential. They may only be released to another person on the written request of the student. Napa Valley School of Massage campus consists of three buildings including the Pinewood Building located at 901 Trancas St., the Heart Clinic located at 1131 Trancas St., and the Heart House is located at 1139 Trancas Street, Napa CA 94558. The course curriculum is designed to allow students to work at all three of these outstanding facilities. Below is a description of each facility and the activities that take place in each building. The Pinewood Building This building houses the Dojo and the Natural Healing Center. Basic 250 hour classes are held on Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings in the Pinewood building. Students also work in the morning Student Clinic in the Natural Healing Center during this time period. The Natural Healing Center is located in the Pinewood Building and is approximately 1,000 square feet of clinic space. There is a steam room for hydrotherapy and four treatment rooms. Advanced Restorative Massage students work in the Natural Healing Center under the supervision of Angela Peters, L.Ac. Angela teaches theories of Oriental Medicine including meridians and acupressure. Advanced Restorative Massage students work in the Pinewood building on Tuesday and Thursday mornings under the supervision of Laurie Andrews C.M.T., who is the Yoga Instructor. At this time they will learn to treat patients with Restorative Yoga. Some of the patients who exercise in the yoga programs also receive Restorative Massage in the Student Clinic. The Heart House Practical Massage/Practical Massage Training, video education and the Student Massage Clinic are done at the Heart House. Two Treatment Rooms are available for use in Massage Training or in the Student Clinic. Students also enjoy watching videos or working in the lab preparing oils and herbal liniments. Interesting lectures for Restorative Massage students are provided daily at the Heart House. The Napa Valley School of Massage offers a small library of educational materials in the Heart House. This library contains books and videos on anatomy, physiology, different massage techniques, careers in massage and related topics. The videos are part of the class curriculum. The books are the sources for all of the text assignments. Students are encouraged to research any area of massage that interests them using the Napa Valley School of Massage's library. The online distance learning format is available through the Napa Massage School's web site at www.napamassageschool.com. Distance Learning Students must study the 27 online lessons and e-mail their answers to professor@napamassageschool.com for grading. This Distance Learning format is one way to complete the Basic Course and earn the 250 hour Diploma. Distance Learning students in the Basic 250 hour Course must complete the two week Intensive Massage Internship in Napa. Completing the 27 online lessons is also a requirement in the 500 Hour Intermediate Course and the 1000 Hour Advanced Course. Students may study these online lessons from home or during school hours. The online lessons are available at a computer station in the Heart House. Students may also access this information on the Internet from their home, office or library. The Heart House has a dorm room that is used by Distance Learning Students during their Intensive Massage Internship. Length of stay in the Heart House dorm room is limited to a two week stay. Out of town students who wish to stay longer than two weeks are encouraged to rent a room or an apartment near the NVSM. Heart Clinic In the Heart Clinic, patients are treated throughout the day and early evening. Dr. Andrews is the Medical Director of the Heart and Health Center. During the operation of the clinic, Dr. Andrews supervises Intermediate and Advanced Restorative Massage students as they give treatments to actual patients.. This is your opportunity to treat actual patients under the direction of a physician.. One room in the Heart Clinic is used during the Student Massage Clinic. This building also serves as the administrative office for the NVSM. Employers contact NVSM to notify students of job opportunities. The NVSM will post these job opportunities for the benefit of the students. The NVSM does not guarantee job placement. The state of California does not regulate massage at the state level. Massage therapists are licensed by individual cities within the state of California.
To enroll at the Napa Valley School of Massage, please call, visit or sign-up online: To take advantage or these outstanding courses, there are three easy ways to enroll. Go to our web site at www.napamassageschool.com and look for the blue border at the top of the page. Click on the menu item titled "ENROLL". Print the enrollment pages to sign and return to us along with a check for your tuition to the Napa Valley School of Massage, 1131 Trancas St., Napa, CA 94558 U.S.A. The second way to enroll is to call us at (707) 253-0627. We can take your credit card by phone and will mail you the enrollment papers. You will be glad you did! Your rewarding career in Restorative Massage therapy awaits you. We look forward to helping you start or advance your career in Restorative Massage Therapy. If you are in the Napa area, you can visit us at 1131 Trancas Street, Napa and enroll in person. The Napa Valley School of Massage Phone: 1 (707) 253-0627 |
Following graduation, you may want to undertake further study in the 500-Hour Intermediate or 1000-Hour Advanced Course. With your 250-Hour Diploma, you will receive advanced placement in these course. 
In addition to the great massage routines taught to you in the first 250 hours, you will be taught additional massages including the Japanese Towel Massage, Restoration Foot Massage, Granny's Facial Massage and Granny's Side Massage Technique. These massage routines will add to your depth of knowledge and experience. 