• Advanced Neuromuscular Therapy Program
• Amazing Alumni
• Core Massage Therapy Training Program
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NHI Studio City graduate Ashlee Adams’ journey is a testament to the strength of the human spirit and the transformative power of finding one’s calling. A survivor of unimaginable hardships, including chemical dependency, human trafficking, domestic violence, and racism, Ashlee’s path to healing took an unexpected and ultimately empowering turn when she found the National Holistic Institute (NHI) in Studio City.

As a single, neurodivergent mother to a nonverbal, neurodivergent son, Ashlee faced significant challenges. The pain of temporarily losing custody of her son fueled a deep depression. Her healing journey was arduous, yet a persistent presence in her digital life offered a glimmer of hope.

Continue reading to discover the details of Ashlee’s story.

A Sign in the Scrolling | The Persistent Call of NHI

“At first, I did not want to go to college because I did not think I was good enough or smart enough,” Ashlee admits. But for three months, an ad for Natural Holistic Institute in Studio City seemed to follow her everywhere online. “It kept popping up out of nowhere for about 3 months. Facebook, Instagram, X, and even on YouTube.”

Intrigued by this persistent digital nudge, Ashlee finally called. A conversation with a woman named Genevieve led to a campus tour. Hesitant but hopeful, Ashlee brought her parents and son along. The experience was eye-opening. “I asked financial aid and some teachers that walked by many questions, and I could not believe the answers I was getting. I felt full of hope at the end of the tour and thought this is my chance to try to do something that I could be good at.” Her mother’s lifelong affirmation that Ashlee was “good with her hands” also resonated deeply.

Finding Belonging and Belief Amidst Trauma

The initial transition to school wasn’t easy. Ashlee’s past trauma created trust issues and a tendency to push back. “I was a bit aggressive and had trust issues, I did not like my first mentor until I loved her a lot.” However, the unwavering faith and belief of her teachers and mentor became a turning point. “I could not believe all my teachers and my mentor had so much faith and belief in me to succeed and then made me realize I still had low self-worth, and my journey of healing wasn’t over.”

Being surrounded by others on their own healing and transformative paths was comforting. “Dealing with different people, places and things and their desire of healing and transformation to help others in the world was comforting to my soul, and I was happy to be a part of a school full of people like me.” NHI provided the accommodation, care, and gentle push Ashlee needed to believe in herself. “I was accommodated, cared for, and pushed when I couldn’t believe in myself.”

Through her time at NHI, Ashlee gained profound self-awareness. “Going to NHI taught me so much about my inner being needing to be at peace so that I can transfer that to my clients and to people in the world. Being that I’m already a people person and I love to be in crowds and bring the joy, I did not realize I could also give off negative energy just as strongly as I do when I’m happy. NHI taught me how to control that.”

Empowered to Serve | Core and Advanced Neuromuscular Therapy

Graduating from both the Core Massage Therapy and Advanced Neuromuscular Therapy (ANMT) programs, Ashlee emerged with newfound self-confidence and a clear mission. “I graduated Core and ANMT, and now I can be a service to people who really need it. I left NHI with such self-confidence that I strived to meet goals that I could.”

While currently focusing on building her practice through word-of-mouth referrals from her time at NHI, Ashlee’s passion lies in creating a safe and relaxing space for her clients. “What I love most about what I do is being able to give a person that moment in time to relax and breathe and have a safe space. Not everyone is able to have a safe space to relax.”

Honing a Gift | The Impact of NHI and Neuromuscular Therapy

NHI played a crucial role in helping Ashlee harness her innate abilities. “NHI was able to help me mold around what I do best with my personality, my hands, and my energy, being able to control that and give people a warm relaxing feeling when their session ends is amazing. I had a gift since I was a kid, I just wasn’t sure how to use it, thank you NHI for helping me with that.”

The ANMT program further empowered her to address deeper client needs. “I chose to take the ANMT program because I felt like I could do so much more to help those who have been through the traumas that I have been through, I had a yearning to learn more about how I can help. The advanced program definitely helped with that, and it helps me gain more knowledge and sensitivity toward the body and depth. Now I appreciate my body more than ever before, and it amazes me how our bodies work, and to be able to share that with others is a blessing.”

The advanced training allows Ashlee to provide more in-depth explanations to her clients, fostering a sense of being heard and understood. “The advanced program helped me better manage client issues by being able to explain more in depth what I’m working with on a client specifically. I’m able to give my clients more information and have been told that it makes them feel heard, appreciated, understood, and more in tune with their own bodies. It helps them realize the certain things that they can change in their everyday life and why.”

This advanced knowledge has also broadened her career horizons. “Taking the advanced program allowed me to expand my career options because I can work in more places than just a spa, and I have a wider bracket of things that I can do to be of service to others.”

Key Takeaways | Active Listening and Self-Compassion

The most significant lessons Ashlee learned in the ANMT program were the importance of active listening and self-compassion. “The most important thing I learned in the ANMT program is that it’s okay not to know something, asking questions is okay, and crucial to being in tune with your client, yourself, and what’s around you. To put it shortly, active listening is very much a crucial thing to show someone that you care.”

Her advice to those considering NHI or massage therapy is a reflection of her own journey: “The advice I would give someone interested in attending NHI or pursuing massage therapy as a career would be: Show yourself grace and always ask questions, even if you think it’s stupid, because someone else might have been thinking the same thing.”

Ashlee Adams’ story is a powerful reminder that healing is possible, and that even through immense adversity, one can find purpose and the ability to serve others. NHI provided not just an education, but a supportive community and the tools for Ashlee to transform her own pain into a profound capacity for healing.

Connect with Ashlee on Instagram, @Empiressfreckleface91 or visit her website.

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