Archive for the 'continuing education' Category

Massage Schools and Continuing Education (Part 2)

Published
by
Terry
on February 18, 2010
in continuing education, massage school, massage school locations, massage techniques, thai massage and trigger point massage
. 0 Comments

Let’s look at a few more massage schools with continuing education courses or at least have programs closely tied to continuing education.

Seacoast Career Schools in Maine

Seacost Career Schools with branches in Manchester and Sanford offer the Massage Therapy Program which focuses on “classical massage techniques, advanced therapeutic procedures and soft tissue manipulation.”  The program prepares students for the National Examination.  While the school’s web site does not have a section specifically for continuing education, you click on the “Accreditation” link at the bottom of the home page and you’ll see that Seacoast Career Schools work with the Accrediting Council for Continuing Education and Training (ACCET) which involves the Department of Education of Maine, the Postsecondary Education Commission of New Hampshire, the Approving Agency for Veterans Education in Maine and the State Agency for Veterans Education in New Hampshire.

Seacoast Career Schools in Maine also have what they call “externships” aimed to provide students with opportunities to apply what they learned in a business, legal or medical setting.  This must be the school’s version of continuing education – instead of sitting in a classroom, you’re sent out “to the world” to learn some more.  Unfortunately, these externships are unpaid, although the school will assist you in obtaining an externship.

MTTI WellSpring (Center for Natural Health and Wellness) in Kansas City

MTTI WellSpring offers continuing education courses that are offered in the evenings and on weekends so that workers can fit the course of their choice into their busy work schedule.  Some of these courses are:

- Corrective Exercise Training (NASM Certification)
- Introduction to Energy Balancing
- Reiki I
- Lessons from Esalen (Introductory course)
- Advanced Esalen Massage
- Massage for People Living with Cancer

All the above courses are taught in MTTI’s Kansas City campus at 9140 Ward Parkway.  We were curious about Esalen and MTTI says that it’s based on Swedish massage although it borrows freely from Trigger Point, Thai massage and Energy massage.  The instructor is Ed Odell and the approach is described as a massage that “is done in a reverent manner and consists, in part, of long, flowing, rhythmic strokes combined with specific detail work, as well as elegant stretches and rotations. Emphasis for the therapist is on developing intuition when working with the client rather than performing a set routine.”

Given the growing popularity of massage therapy programs, it is no wonder that schools enthusiastically offer continuing education courses that are as valuable and stimulating as those offered in the regular programs.

Massage Schools and Continuing Education (Part 1)

Published
by
Terry
on February 15, 2010
in Uncategorized, continuing education, massage school and massage school locations
. 0 Comments

In previous blogs, we talked about how one’s education continues after massage school.  Experienced massage therapists strongly recommend that graduates should make the time to take continuing education courses.  Some states in fact require it.  But consider continuing education not as just another requirement to comply with but as a promising channel for learning the latest trends and coping with career challenges.

We did some research and it looks like a significant majority of massage schools offer continuing education courses.  Let’s look at a couple of them:

Virginia School of Massage in Charlottesville, Virginia
You’ll find an interesting array of continuing education courses here at the Virginia School of Massage.  Judging from their 2008 continuing education calendar, they include courses that could potentially attract a large number of massage therapists who are keen on upgrading their skills:

- Lomi-Lomi
- Hot Rockin/Sweet Feet Reflexology & Aromatherapy
- Creative Touch
- Japanese Zen Facial w/Aromatherapy

The courses range in price from $150.00 to $280.00, and some are taught on weekends.  The Virginia School of Massage in Charlottesville also offer reviews for the National Certification Exam.

National American University (NAU) in Bloomington, Minnesota
NAU in Bloomington offer the Associate of Applied Science in Therapeutic Massage Degree and the Diploma in Therapeutic Massage.  Although not specifically stating that it has a continuing education department, their program goals show that graduates can continue learning.  Their two specific goals relating to continuing education are:

- “prepare professionals who value education and recognize the importance of lifelong learning through participating in professional research, continuing education activities, and involvement in professional memberships and organizations.”
- “qualify graduates to pursue higher education in related areas of study.”

In addition to Bloomington, NAU also has other branches in Minnesota:  Brooklyn Center, Roseville, and Minnetonka.  All three branches also offer the Associate Degree of Applied Science in Therapeutic Massage and the Diploma in Therapeutic Massage.

It would be worth your while to take a closer look at the continuing education courses offered by massage schools because what happens after you obtain your degree is probably just as exciting, if not more exciting.  Establish a good relationship with the massage school of your choice so that you stay abreast of developments and trends that may improve your chances of opening up your own clinic or joining an organization with an impressive network of professionals and associations.

In our next blog, more school-hopping for continuing education courses!

Looking for a Massage School in Utah?

Published
by
Terry
on December 14, 2009
in continuing education, massage school, massage school accreditation and massage school locations
. 0 Comments

You may be familiar with “Yahoo Answers.”  The way it works is anyone with a Yahoo account (Yahoo mail, Yahoo messenger) can log in and post a question about any subject.  People post their answers and earn credits.  We came across one question that asked where one could find a list of the top ranked massage therapy schools.  One person posted this answer:

“Check out Utah College of Massage Therapy….they have an Arizona campus I believe…I went there. If you can ignore politics, the education is absolutely amazing.”

Out of sheer curiosity, we did.  The Utah College of Massage Therapy (UCMT for short) is a family of schools with locations in Utah, Nevada, Arizona and Colorado.  The Utah campus is located in Lindon County. It will take you seven months to complete the program on full time enrollment, twelve months if done part time. You should complete 51 quarter credit hours and 815.5 clock hours.  The UCMT in Utah combines class theory, lab work and business concepts and methods to prepare students for the market place.  This is especially useful if you’re thinking of setting up your own practice after graduation.  Because the Utah College of Massage Therapy trains health care specialists as well, it includes CPR and First Aid training and certification.  They have interesting courses like Cranial Sacral Therapy, Russian Sports Therapy and Trigger Point Therapy.  UCMT also offers the Master Bodyworker Program, which students can also take after they have completed the Professional Massage Therapy Program.

If someone were to ask us to name one USP (unique selling point) of the Utah College of Massage Therapy in Utah, it would have to be the fact that they are a part of the Steiner Education Group.  This company owns massage therapy schools and skin care schools in nine states and 17 locations.  The Group is wholly owned by Steiner Leisure Limited which provides spa services globally; two of the industries they service are the cruise ship industry (about 130 cruise ships) and the spa resort industry.

We’ve read some of the stories by graduates of UCMT.  There’s Noel Olsen who says he set up a part-time private practice and worked in the military to introduce massage therapy into the athletic programs of the military.  There’s Jay Fultz who fulfilled his dream of volunteering for the 2002 Winter Olympics and Paralymptics which to him.  He says it’s one of the best things he has ever done.  And then there’s Nicole Weston, a Canadian resident, who went to UCMT to do the Professional Massage Therapy Program.  When she returned to her native British Columbia, she thought she might have a difficult time landing a job but was surprised to learn that she was immediately hired by one of the province’s top resorts.  Her starting fee was $35.00 an hour plus tips.  That was in 1998.  Imagine what she’s making now!

Make your dream of becoming a massage therapist come true…just like UCMT graduates did!

Continuing Education Resource for Massage Therapists

Published
by
Terry
on November 19, 2009
in continuing education
. 0 Comments

Did you know that in addition to reputable massage schools, the Touch Research Institute in Florida is another possible organization that licensed massage therapists and students could consider for their continuing education plans? It is part of the University of Miami School of Medicine and was created in 1992 by Dr. Tiffany Field (Director of the Institute) with start-up funds provided by Johnson & Johnson. It is the first center in the world that is devoted exclusively to touch and its application in health and medicine.

One interesting feature is that TRI offers workshops throughout the year (except August and December) and participants receive the equivalent of 12 CEUs (continuing education units) for attending the two-day workshops.  These workshops have a research orientation, teaching participants how to use TRI methods to conduct research studies.  Each spring, TRI also hosts a symposium where massage therapists and other research professionals get together to exchange ideas on touch therapy.  This yearly symposium grants six CEUs to attendees.

The monthly workshops are for two days and cost $500.00.  Applicants to the workshops are encouraged NOT to book their flights before their place is confirmed.  There is a dress code that attendees must follow:  office clothes or scrubs with comfortable shoes (e.g. slacks and a polo top).  The reason is that workshop participants will spend a lot of time in hospital units and clinics.  The TRI therefore specifies no jeans, mini skirts, thongs or flip-flops!  Apart from hands-on training, participants will be provided information on pre- term infant massage, watch videos, lunch with the director, learn physiological measures, score and review assessments for pregnancy massage, data collection, yoga, tai-chi and a demonstration of the Brazelton method. The TRI believes that touch therapy plays a significant role in promoting weight gain to pre-term infants.  As we mentioned earlier, the TRI appears to lean heavily on research methods; this approach would be perfect for massage therapists and would-be therapists who desire to advance the field of massage therapy “by conducting research in their own community.”

Massage Schools: What’s the Curriculum Like?

Published
by
Terry
on October 24, 2009
in continuing education, health issues, massage certification and massage school
. 0 Comments

If you browse the curricula or course programs of some massage schools, you will find that course offerings are identical.  One reason is that massage schools prepare graduates for  certification and accreditation, so certain courses are obligatory.  For example, a review of a handful of massage schools show that students need to complete credits in anatomy, physiology, kinesiology, massage therapies and in other subjects.  Majority of massage schools also offer courses in business ethics, administration and client assessment methods.  If you  look at the electives, courses in aromatherapy and flower essences in some massage schools are available to students desiring to earn extra credits.  For purposes of certification and accreditation, students enrolling in massage schools will not be able to “skip” a course like physiology or anatomy because these fall under the required courses category.

Some massage schools make the effort to introduce new courses that are of interest to students looking to learn modalities off “the beaten path.”  If you’re looking for a massage school, it might be worth your while to really take the time to examine their curricula, and see if there might be a course or two that you can take as “add-ons.”  For example, the massage school in Lombard, Illinois – National University of Health Sciences – has a course called Palpation.  The school describes Palpation as the “study and application of the major superficial muscles and body landmarks.”  This is a hands-on course.  If you are one of those students who dream of opening their own massage therapy business, taking an extra course like Palpation might be a very useful tool for your practice.  This massage school in Lombard also offers a course called Massage Therapy for Special Populations and students learn how to apply what they learn in more specialized fields covering geriatric, cancer, pregnant women and infant populations.

The massage school in Manhattan, New York – The Swedish Institute - offers a course called Five Element Shiatsu.  This is a course that aims to integrate the study of Qi (energy) through the body.  A student enrolled in The Swedish Institute taking the Five Element Shiatsu course can expect to learn about another Eastern method called Tuina, and will be introduced to the approach of combining Eastern and Western modalities to further their professional development as massage therapists.

Massage Therapy is a dynamic field where new approaches and exciting concepts and methods are introduced, reason why your education never ends with your diploma.  Millions of massage therapists who love what they do make continuing education part of their routine.  As a student, you may want to take advantage of your time in school to be on the lookout for new and uncommon courses that fall outside the realm of standard curricula!

Learning Infant Massage in Massage School

Published
by
Terry
on October 3, 2009
in continuing education, infant massage, massage career and massage employment options
. 0 Comments

Carl Sandburg had a beautiful quote about babies.  People say it many times and no doubt is written on congratulatory cards for new parents.  He said, “a baby is God’s opinion that the world should go on.”  If you have an enduring love for babies, you can help them develop through the magic of touch and gentle massage.  You’ll be filled with pride knowing that the baby you’re touching will turn into a physically and emotionally balanced human being.

At first we thought that infant massage was a course that was integrated into the curriculum of massage therapy training, worth perhaps three or six credits.  To our surprise, infant massage is a specialization in itself, and some schools across the country are now offering full training programs in this field.  This means that infant massage is important enough so that schools offer it as a special training program.

Why Choose Infant Message as a Specialty?

The first reason is summed up in three words:  touch is vital.  Infants who are touched (or massaged) grow up less irritable and are better sleepers.  From an emotional perspective, an infant who is regularly massaged has a more stable temperament and engages in more meaningful interaction.  For babies, touching symbolizes the first signs of communication and this helps them develop motor skills and reflexes at a faster rate than infants who are touch-deprived.

Second reason:  massage makes it easier for infants to breathe on their own.  While inside the womb, infants receive oxygen from the placenta.  When they come out, they have to adapt immediately to their new environment and must learn to breathe without help.  When a baby is touched and massaged, he learns to relax.  When relaxed, babies learn to breathe on their own.

Third reason:  health experts say that massage supports the endocrine system.  Valerie Voner (LMT, CRT and RMT) wrote that “infants who receive massage have greater hormonal support, which in turn increases the activity of their vital organs.”  Ms. Voner adds, “remember, a baby’s organ are still learning how to function…outside the womb, so stimulation on a hormonal level is good.”

There are definitely other reasons why students aspiring to be massage therapists should look into infant massage as a specialization.

Infant Massage School in New Jersey

As infant massage gains in importance, numerous massage schools are now offering this special training.  The massage school in Piscataway, New Jersey – Cortiva Institute (Somerset School of Massage Therapy) is an example.  It has a Maternity and Infant Massage Program designed for massage therapists who are already certified and who wish to further their careers.  Students in this program must complete five hundred hours (500) within the 10 month period of enrolment.

You may also want to visit the web site of the International Association of Infant Massage (IAIM) founded by Colorado resident Vimala Schneider.  The International Board of IAIM is composed of directors who come from Sweden, Taiwan, the UK and other countries and have an interesting structure (what it calls their flower structure).

In our next blog:  applying for financial aid.

Testing Continues Even After Massage School Graduation

Published
by
Terry
on September 21, 2009
in certification, continuing education and licensing
. 0 Comments

Sometimes it seems as though you spend large chunks of your time attending school, only to find that there are more tests in the world outside of the classroom. The massage therapy world is no different. Depending on your state of residence, and your career aspirations, you may be required to take tests after your graduation from massage school before you are legally able to practice massage therapy and body-work in the field.

Some states have their own state exam for massage therapists. These exams can vary greatly from a standardized test to a test in the massage lab. While not all states require graduates of massage therapy school to take a state-mandated exam, some states like New York and Hawaii do. It is important to follow your state’s regulations closely, and to keep in mind that the laws and rules are prone to reform and change.

Many states require massage students to take a national exam known as the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork. This exam is often abbreviated as the NCBTMB. Though not all states have their students take the exam, many students around the country decide to study for and complete the exam soon after graduating from school. It is a great idea to become nationally certified through the NCBTMB. Not only will it provide you with a greater sense of professionalism and credibility, but it will also help you follow your career path even if life takes you outside of your current state.

It is best to prepare for any necessary tests well in advance. Keep in mind that most of the tests cost a fee to take, and you are usually not permitted to re-take the exams without repaying the fee. It may also take time to schedule the exams in a location and time that works for you. Do not put off your exam preparation; instead attend to it as soon as possible.

Talk to your instructors in you massage school, and the career services department to find out the latest information on your state’s requirements. With the help of trusted mentors and teachers, you can decide which tests are appropriate for you and your goals within the field of massage therapy.

Education for Massage Therapists Continues After Massage School

Published
by
Terry
on August 14, 2009
in continuing education, massage career and massage licensing
. 0 Comments

By Courtney Slivka, LMT

So you are enrolled in massage school, and counting down the days until graduation. Sure, you have enjoyed your academic journey, your time in the massage lab, and getting to know your classmates and instructors. But you are feeling more confident by the day, and you are ready to get out into the field. You are ready to say goodbye to school, and make the transition to working professional. Congratulations! But do not get too comfortable outside of the classroom because chances are, you will be returning to the world of academia sometime within the next two years.

Depending on the state in which you are looking to obtain your massage therapy license, you may be required to take continuing education classes on a regular basis. The requirements regarding the continuing education for massage therapists vary greatly from state to state. Some states, like Arizona, may require a set number of hours to be completed every two years. Yet other states, like Nevada, may require a yearly continuing education requirement. It is important to inform yourself of your state’s rules, and to stay up to date on any changes in the rules over the years

Even if you happen to reside in a state that does not require massage therapists to enroll in continuing education classes, it is in your best interest to take an extra class here and there. The classes will be able to help you stay fresh in your skills. You will also be able to network with other massage therapists, which can be beneficial to your career path and make your life more fulfilling.

Luckily most of the continuing education requirements are flexible, and you are able to choose specific classes that appeal to your interests. It is a great idea to look into potential  continuing education massage classes even before graduation, so that you can prepare and make plans for your future in massage therapy.

Massage Therapy and the Elderly

Published
by
Terry
on July 20, 2009
in continuing education, massage specialties and types of massage
. 0 Comments

massage-elderlyBy Courtney Slivka

When most people think about massage therapy, they picture the relaxing oasis of a spa. Though it is becoming increasingly popular as a therapeutic practice, some still view it as a luxury meant for those with extra time and money. However many nursing homes, hospitals, and doctors are recommending that the elderly get regular massages. Not only does it help to enhance their overall physical health, but it can also assist them emotionally in going through life changes as they enter the most mature stage of their lives.

Working with the elderly presents new challenges but also many rewards. Therapists must be careful to use less pressure so as to not injure their clients. It is important to remember that you are most likely working with a more sensitive individual. Often times, a very light effleurage is the most that one can do in a massage session with an elderly client. Sometimes this means that the therapist must exercise their creativity in order to keep the session from feeling monotonous for both the client and therapist.

It is also important to remember that many people lose mobility as they age. Be sensitive to your client’s abilities, especially when getting on and off of the table. Also take care to keep your client comfortable throughout the session, which may mean extra pillows or bolsters to support the joints. More mature skin may be more sensitive than that of younger clients, so take that into consideration when choosing an oil or lotion for the session.

While all clients need to fill out an intake form, informing the therapist of any medical conditions, this is oftentimes more significant with elderly clients. It is best to receive the approval of one’s doctor before beginning any sort of therapeutic routine. It will be most ideal for you and your client if you stay in contact with their doctor, especially if they are receiving medical attention for any conditions.

Geriatric massage is part of many massage schools’ curriculum but in order to work with the elderly, consider enrolling in classes beyond your primary massage school. There are many benefits to working with the elderly population, but there are many different things to learn and take into consideration before embarking on such a path.

Massage School Accreditation Explained

Published
by
Terry
on May 13, 2009
in continuing education, massage certification and massage school accreditation
. 0 Comments

When a prospective massage therapy student is investigating massage schools, invariably they will be advised to determine whether a school under consideration is accredited or not. One question I rarely hear in response to this advice is , “What difference does accreditation make?” It is not that the student doesn’t care to know but, more often than not, the assumption is that accreditation is mandatory if a massage school is to be considered.

Not necessarily.

We explore the accreditation process, the benefits of accreditation, the reasons why a massage school might not pursue accreditation (yes, there are valid reasons) and the considerations a student should make when making a determination about an accredited or non-accredited massage school in a new article about massage school accreditation on our website.

It may not change your mind about the necessity of accreditation but you will definitely be better informed.