Cortiva Institute

I became unemployed after working for a college as an Admissions Representative and Community Liaison. I decided at that point to apply a state grant to receive retraining. I fought to be able to use this grant to pay for massage school because the State typically does not allow this type of training due to the difficulty in finding FULL TIME employment after program competition. I chose to attend Cortiva Massage School in Scottsdale Arizona. Upon enrollment the staff rushed to get me admitted. Allowing me to start prior to any financial aid being received or the grant monies from the state. In which they provided a voucher for until the school submitted and invoice. In fact I started class over 1 week later than my peers.
Cortiva did not submit the request to the state for grant funds in a timely manner. It was never received until after my disenrollment/​drop. This verified by the agent who oversee the grant administration. The grant was to be applied to my tuition FIRT and any federal aid to be applied secondary. Instead they processed and retained federal funds in lieu of not receiving the 4k grant due to the institution NOT submitting a proper invoice to the state. I have yet to receive an correct in ledger as they routinely sent and have sent me docs only to resend «corrected» Versions” multiple times. Furthermore, they initially did not certify my attendance correctly to the Department of Veterans Affairs Education Department and I personally had to place numerous calls to track and correct the problem.
I experienced unforeseen circumstances which caused me to take a leave or absences and I was not able to return on the anticipated restart date. My husband is a disabled army veteran and wheelchair bound and I had to care for him, all of which was substantiate with documentation. The school opted to drop me from the program per policy yet the date immediately following my restart date. This did not only shock me but alarmed and shocked the Agent whom was overseeing the grant monies and retraining. In defense of Cortiva they did lead me to believe that reenrollment was possible, via email communication and even when I appeared in person to discuss reenrollment. I reapplied via there policy and procedure only to be told 3 week after the reapplication they have decided to deny my ability to reenroll. Citing they had an administrative meeting with staff and it was mutually decided I would not be permitted to return. Please note I had filed a grievance and had meetings about the conduct of an instructor and was not exactly a favored student. I am familiar with admissions process and the rights of the student and as a result of retaliation have I have been left with a 2000+ balance, a balance that would be paid if the school submitted an invoice to the state for grant funds correctly. I even offered to pay said balance in lieu of the grant being received and was still told they did not want me a student.
Cortiva is a practicing bias and discriminatory practices in there admittance process. I did address any and concerns in a professional manner per the grievance policy and in the end despite communications that speak to the contrary they have opted to NOT allow me to complete my education, though I have jumped thru all there obstacles. There sure we not any obstacles with starting a student late and taking her Federal Funding! Please note the representative through the state was CC on all correspondence and under the impression re-​admittance would be approved as well. I have no reason to fabricate any of this and retain all records.
Apparently bring attention to the discrepancy and flaws in the instruction and or conduct of its staff and student body ie, misrepresentation and violation of policy is grounds for being black balled from the institutions and denied admissions based on personal attitudes. After 10 years in High Education working in student services, FA and admissions I have never been more disappointed in an institutions inability to accommodate a student in the students best interest.. This school provide options with regards to starting me late and «assisting» me in coughing me up purely with the intent of having me sit in class long enough to collect tuition based on attendance and refund policy. Shame.
I will file a complaint with the Department of federal aide, Department of Veteran Affairs Education Departing, BBB, AZworkeforce, and every other outlet available. As a minority women, Military spouse and Advocate I will not allow Cortiva to continue to manipulate and mislead students at their Scottsdale campus.

With massages costing $ 80+tip these days, I found that Cortiva Institute is a great (less expensive) alternative for someone saving money or wanting to get more regular massages without breaking the bank!
The receptionists are very friendly, facility is clean, and I had a student who did a great job. I plan to request her next time but the only bummer is she is about to graduate! :P
Another little tip– you get a $ 5 discount for booking online, so a student massage is only $ 25 if you do it that way. For that price, I wouldn’t even consider a «decent» massage a «waste of money!» Also, they have frequent massage cards so after 9 massages your 10^th is free! :)

I have been to Cortiva now on two separate occasions and have had GREAT service. I decided to go with a professional instead of a student because of having some major injuries from an accident last year and before we started the massage my therapist sat with me for about 10 minutes to go over my injuries and what I was looking for out of the session. My therapist was Sanatakumari and she was AMAZING! I had a 90 minute massage the first time, and this time I had a 60 minute (wanted more but they didn’t have an opening). Sanatakumari remembered everything from my last massage/​consult which was 5 months ago and we worked on the same areas. While I was sore the next day (which I expected) I feel so much better. I have already scheduled my next massage for the end of the month. I am a HUGE fan of Cortiva and Sanatakumari!!!

I absolutely love being a student at Cortiva Institute. Being one of only 20 students in a classroom really allows me to get to know the faculty and seek out the help and support I need when I need it. No matter what obstacles come up there’s always someone to talk to who is happy to help you and support you. I have never learned in such a supportive environment.

Got a massage here last night. I’ve had a massage one other time at a school and it was very light pressure so I wasn’t expecting too much. However, I was surprised and pleased with the massage. They start off with a quick paper to fill out and the massage student asking you a few questions. The person I had was knowledgeable and did well on the pressure. I was very relaxed during the massage and felt good after. $ 30 and only $ 20 if you have a student Id. I might come back but I personally prefer the acupuncture/​Reflexology places. But if you prefer the Swedish relaxation massage come here instead of massage envy or another fancy overcharged place… you’ll get the same experience.

Cortiva is a huge value if you’re looking for an affordable massage therapy session. I’ve had at least four student sessions here, and all but one was great. One was better than the typical massages I’ve received at Massage Envy. And at $ 30 (which is sometimes discounted even further) per session, there’s little risk – especially since you’re not even allowed to tip the student massage therapists. One drawback: Sometimes you’re in a room with a door. Other times you’re behind a curtain divider where you can hear the adjacent treatments.

I couldn’t have chosen a better place to further my education. I have a greater understand and respect for the human body. It’s amazing. The staff is unbelievably supportive. If you need ANYTHING they are there for you. I attended a 4-​year college for undergrad and have never received such care, concern for your well-​being, and guidance in my career choice like I’ve received at Cortiva. You aren’t just learning techniques. You’re being trained for a career. You’re preparing for a life as a holistic health practitioner and I mean it when I say I enjoy every minute of it.

If you haven’t been to Cortiva, you are missing out!
Top ten reasons you should immediately go to Cortiva:
1. The massages are wonderful
2. Massages are affordable here ($ 20 – 30 /​hour, YES!)
3. With a few days notice there are usually appointments available when you are looking for them.
4. There are weekend appointments open (and you can book online!)
5. If you’re on their mailing lists, they have frequent deals/​discounts (from already great pricing).
6. The student massages are good, the licensed massage therapists are PHENOMENAL!
7. The center is really nice, rooms are private (even shared student space is much more private than SWIHA)
8. The receptionist is super friendly and always remembers my name!
9. It’s comprehensive and holistic, they will give you stretches/​exercises to do when you leave.
10. Because it’s so affordable, you can go more often!
I simply love Cortiva! I have been going here for many, many years and have brought many family and friends here over the years. Whether it’s «me time» or I’m hanging with my family or friends, this is the perfect place to relax and unwind!

I’ve had better experiences here. Usually, i do last minute calls when i finish work early or get called off. sometimes there is availability, sometimes not. when i called this time, no student times were available, so i was booked with a licensed therapist.
the student massages can be hit or miss, but that’s understandable and why they are so cheap. i was not impressed with my LMT this visit. it felt rushed and didn’t seem to have any flow to the technique. i just wanted a simple relaxation massage, nothing fancy. instead, i received a robot, just kind of squeezing a little here, squeezing a little there. the massage didn’t have that nice, relaxing touch to it. and it’s 50 bucks as opposed to 35 (i think) for student massages.
i don’t want to give fewer stars because my experiences here have been good in the past. but i’ll probably come back here when work allows.

I went to school here and graduated.
I would not recommend this place for any reason. A few of the teachers are priceless and would do better if they could teach somewhere else. Don’t attend here. Aside from meeting some fantastic people It just wasn’t a good experience. As students we felt as though we were being micromanaged at all times. There was no internet service for those depending on the computer lab to complete homework. We weren’t told that Scottsdale is the only town in the area that won’t allow tips to students working in the clinic and the tips that were donated were given to some mystery charity.
The jobs that are so readily available are pretty much entry level pay. The career services are b.s. too. Getting bombarded with emails of jobs I could find on my own is not my idea of employment assistance. It was not a good experience working with an administration who says they care then acted completely opposite. Student appreciation night was a joke. We didn’t feel appreciated, we felt as though we were being laughed at. I have no intention of ever attending any continuing education classes there and will never recommend them as a school to anyone.

I have been to this place a few times for massages (always done by students) and it’s legit. I don’t get massages too often, but enough to be able to compare this place to others, and although from a pure massage/​relaxation standpoint I’d probably prefer to go to a spa, for the price I’ll take Cortiva (and don’t even get me started on Massage Envy… I’ll take a student from here over one of there licensed massage therapists any day).
I’ve been to a couple other massage schools (and even to the place in this same location before it became Cortiva), and this place is much nicer IMO. It’s clean, they at least try and make the waiting room & massage rooms feel like a spa of some sort, and as far as I know all massages are done in private rooms (others massage schools I’ve been to have large rooms where areas are separated by curtains).
Although I’ve certainly had some students who were better than others I’ve never had a «bad» massage here, and never walked out feeling like I just wasted $ 30. If you’re someone who’s extremely picky about massages I probably wouldn’t recommend this place (or ANY school for that matter), but if all you care about is getting a good, decent (and at times completely FANTASTIC depending on who you get) massage at a MUCH lower price than a spa/​place that has only licensed therapists you should give this place a try.
Also, get on there email list. They send out promotions I’d say every 3 – 4 weeks for $ 10 off (w/​either students or licensed therapists who are normally $ 50 for an hour) on certain days.

OK, I am rating this based on the professional massage. Brianna is the gal! The massage I received is priceless. I’ve had knots in my shoulders for quite some time and my job promotes knotty back and shoulder muscles. Brianna did a full body massage & massaged the muscle around the knots. Oh man, I just can’t speak highly enough about the massage she did. It is going to take some time to get all the knots out. I am opting to go every other week to let Brianna work her magic. $ 50.00 bucks for an hour. I can deal with that. It is body health.
I have also had a student massage. You have to keep in mind, «student». The massage felt good, well it was more of a relaxation thing. I did tell the student not to be afraid to apply more pressure. Maybe she didn’t understand or maybe she didn’t have the strength. She asked her instructor about the knots. He gladly came in to explain and show her what to do. The student was interested but did not apply the technique she was shown. Today, I opted for the a professional. I’m so glad I did!

I go twice a month and really enjoy it. The massages vary depending on the student. I’ve had some that were better than others, but I haven’t yet had a bad massage. The students encourage feedback during the massage (they’re there to learn after all) so ther will change their pressure or technique if you ask them to.
I’ve had several professional massages before and they’re great, but they’re also very expensive. My back is completely jacked up (technical term) from office work, so I need regular massage therapy. At $ 45 (plus $ 5 off when you book online) for 90 minutes, this is an great, affordable way to get myself un-​jacked.

Went there more than a few times. Can’t beat the price, but quality really varies. I had one student who was so bad it seemed like a joke. For some reason long periods would go by when he stopped massaging. The times he did massage it was annoying and repetitive in the same area. When I left, I felt that I didn’t even have a massage. It wins as the WORST massage ever. (I had hundreds — and many, many students at other schools)
I have been tentative to go back because you don’t know who you will get. I also found the office to be disorganized and the paperwork to be onerous (had to fill out twice since they had no record of original).

Hmmm,
I’m debating between two stars and three. Let me tell you why.
Reason number one: I was given an appointment for a specific time, then when I got there, they had a whole bunch of paperwork for me to fill out, so I got a 15 minute massage instead of 30 minutes. Why couldn’t they tell me to come 15 minutes early? Not happy.
Reason number two: I specifically told them SEVERAL times that I wanted a sports/​therapeutic massage and that I was NOT there for relaxation. I ended up with a very nice person that gave me a very nice 15 minutes of very gentle massage.
That I didn’t want.
Even after I said something AGAIN.
Update:
The owner contacted me, and informed me that she had no record of anyone with the first name Alexis – which tells me that I wasted my precious time filling out all that incredibly stupid paperwork.
She further informed me that I could have gotten the type of massage that I wanted if I had notified them in advance.
HELLO???
Did she read my whole review?
Definitely down to two stars.

Just got a massage with Blaire and she was absolutedly amazing! She did exactly what I asked for which was a back and neck massage with deep pressure. She was professional and made sure to check in with my comfort level on a regular basis. I will most definately be back soon! I love the fact that Cortiva is open 7 days a week, no membership required and very affordable, $ 30 for a student, $ 50 for a Licensed Therapist. Best deal in town.

Booked a 90 minute massage online and got $ 5 off since I booked online instead of calling so I ended up paying only $ 40. Massage was excellent and the student was very skilled and you could tell she knew exactly what she was doing. She seemed super nervous at first but then seemed to relax which helped me relax more and enjoy the massage. I’ve gotten several massages in the past at resorts and massage envy, and this is by far one of the best massages I’ve had. The massage student used so many techniques that I had never experienced during a massage and she really worked out the knots in my shoulders. One downfall is that the massage room was not private. They led everyone with the same appointment time into another office suite that only had hospital type curtains seperating each massage table. So that was a bummer because you could hear the other massage students speaking with their clients and instructor. At the end of the massage they ask that you fill out a review form to critique the student. You are not allowed to tip. I will probably be back but I do wish they had massage rooms that were a bit more private.

I heard about Cortiva after reading about it on a discussion board here on Unilocal.It happens to be very close by and a great deal at $ 30. The whole setup is very professional. You do have a student massaging you and I’ve been twice. My first experience was very positive, masseuse was skilled and I felt like she knew what she was doing. The second time was not as relaxing partly due to one of their instructors coming at the beginning of the massage, when i had my head down and was trying to relax and she was making suggestions to the student about what techniques to do. Not exactly a spa experience but after all it’s a school. The masseuse the 2^nd time wasn’t as good but maybe less experienced.
On both occasions I wanted to give a small tip, the 1^st time there was no issue, but the 2^nd time the masseuse said she couldn’t accept it so I felt a little bad.
Definitely recommend it for the price and if you’re on a budget.

This is pretty basic but then it’s only $ 30. I have been going to the school for a couple years now and I haven’t had a bad experience. It’s cheap and they have a punch card. You get one free visit for every 10. They used to have a prepaid card — pay for 5 and get one free. Oh well, times have changed.

I just got a massage from here, and I can barely keep my eyes open, I’m so relaxed.
I went here a few years back, before it was Cortiva, and it felt like getting a massage in doctor’s office. Not anymore.
For $ 30, I got an hour massage (actually about 45 minutes; they count the time they take to talk to you beforehand… whatever, it’s $ 30!!!) and I was so pleasantly surprised. The student I had was phenomenal.
I’m the first to say I’m a massage snob. I want to be pampered and drool when my face is down in the ring. I drooled. Big time.
I can’t speak for every student there, but I will definitely go back because of the experience I had today. You can’t get a better massage for $ 30. Unless you go to one of those places that just says «Massage» on it, where you get a happy ending.