Rikki Garcia’s Childhood Dream Becomes Reality at NHI Sacramento
Rikki Garcia NHI Sacramento Graduate
Content Summary
- From Childhood Passion to Career: Rikki turned a lifelong dream of becoming a massage therapist, which started with giving her grandparents foot massages, into a professional reality.
- Turning Challenges into Fuel: Rikki enrolled at NHI Sacramento at age 30, channeling personal obstacles, including grief and a journey into sobriety, into motivation to succeed.
- Community and Purpose: As a proud Core Program graduate, she now works at Asha Urban Baths, finding community and fulfillment by using her NHI skills to help clients heal and find peace.
Long before she officially became a Certified Massage Therapist, NHI Sacramento Graduate Rikki Garcia was planting the seeds of her career. As a kid, she’d read her mom’s massage books and taped little “sign-up sheets” to her bedroom door, offering foot massages to her grandparents, who became her very first clients.
“Sometimes your passions are written into your story long before you realize it—they’re just waiting for the right moment to grow,” Rikki reflects. For her, the moment was turning 30, grieving the loss of her dad, and finding her footing in sobriety. These challenges became the unexpected fuel for her transformation.
The Universe Said, “The Time is Now”
Rikki chose the National Holistic Institute (NHI) Sacramento campus because it offered her a way to channel her grief into purpose and her passion into a career. She was drawn to how NHI balances “structure and heart,” providing not only rigorous training in anatomy and techniques but also the community and support needed for personal growth.
Her commitment was instant. When she walked into the school, she thought she was just there to enroll, but that same day became her very first day as a student. Rikki remembers telling herself, “Let’s go all in.”
Rikki Garcia (front right) with her classmates and their mentor, Dante Clark (front center)
Through the Core Program, she carried the unwavering spirit of her father, who always told her, “You got this.” Even without him here to celebrate her milestone as a proud NHI graduate, Rikki knows he was right: “I do got this. I got this diploma.”
Healing and Connection
Today, Rikki is a working CMT demonstrating how NHI helped her have a career she truly loves.
She works at Asha Urban Baths, a place she describes as more than just a job—it’s a community and a place of healing. “Every client comes in with intention, and being part of their journey reminds me why I chose this path,” she says. “It’s community, peace, and purpose all in one.”
Rikki credits NHI with giving her more than just an education; it provided the confidence and community she needed to step into this role. The training prepared her with the technical skills, but just as important, it helped her grow as a person, allowing her to now help others find peace and reconnect with themselves.
Trust the Pull, Go All In
Rikki’s journey is a powerful example that sometimes, the biggest obstacles in life lead us to our deepest passions. For anyone who feels the pull toward NHI or a career in Massage Therapy, Rikki’s advice is simple and inspiring:
“Trust the pull, go all in, and be open to the journey. It’s not just a career—it’s growth, healing, and community.”
Want to connect with Rikki? Follow her on Instagram! @avirgostouch_mt
Like Rikki, are you ready to transform your life and build a meaningful career in massage therapy? The National Holistic Institute offers the training, community, and support to help you achieve your goals.
Explore the Core Program at the NHI Sacramento campus today!
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