Massage therapists often help only the individuals they treat, but Carol Carpenter had a broader vision than that. She copied the notes she took when studying massage therapy and opened her own school in Oakland, elucidating Eastern styles, Western styles, and kinesiology alike. Eventually, the school was supplied federal financial aid through the U.S. Department of Education and became one of the first accredited massage schools in California. Today, it spans seven campuses and has garnered a mention in the book The History of Massage.

The school aims to prepare students for careers they’ll love, and the program boasts an 88% job-placement rate. The curriculum demands that students complete a 900-hour program, which includes anatomy study and hands-on practice with real clients.