One of the best ways to pay for massage school is to earn a scholarship (or several scholarships) to help cover the costs of tuition, fees, and supplies. Scholarships, which don’t have to be repaid and are usually offered based on financial status and personal....
In a time when the economy continues to be difficult to navigate and many people are considering their career options, you might be wondering if it’s the right time to start massage school. While there is always a benefit to increasing your education....
By Lana J. Russell, RMT While massage therapy school may seem like time to explore a diverse field, it can also be a good time to specialize. Narrowing down a massage therapy specialty can begin with choosing the massage school that is right for you. Not all schools offer uniform training in every modality of massage therapy, so choosing the right school can be integral to your specialty. It might seem like a paradox; how can you know what you Read More…
by Lana J. Russell, RMT Massage therapy school might be a unique educational experience, but it still requires that you tap into certain learning styles. There are several tests for students that can identify specific learning styles, and these are no less helpful in massage therapy. Personally, I’ve found the 4 learning styles identified by the VARK or VAK model to be the most useful, also the most commonly found. The interesting thing about these 4 learning styles is that Read More…
We have just posted a new article about Craniosacral Massage on our main website at Massage Schools Guide. Craniosacral massage is a type of therapy that focuses on the head, neck, spine and sacrum. By manipulating these specific areas the theory is that it will promote optimal function between the brain and spinal cord. This in turn helps the body to “heal from within.” Some of the conditions that benefit from craniosacral massage are sleep issues, chronic pain and mood Read More…
Running is one of the hardest sports on the body. Although there are great health benefits, the continual jarring of the body can do quite a big of damage to the muscles, joints, and spine over a matter of just a few weeks. That’s why many runners pay attention to their bodies, being sure to stretch prior to running and buying the right shoes and gear. One way in which runners can get even greater benefits is to regularly seek Read More…
After graduating from an accredited massage therapy school, many professionals go on to work in spas, healthcare centers, nursing homes, sports training facilities, cruise lines, and hotels. There are many different types of massage jobs available in both large and small cities, and finding a good one could set you up for a great, life-long career. However, one reason many massage therapists get into the profession in the first place is to build a small business in which they get Read More…
At Massage Schools Guide, we want to bring you a broad range of perspectives from those active in the massage industry or in massage training and education. We are pleased to welcome Lana Russell, a licensed and practicing massage therapist to Massage Schools Guide. Lana will be frequently contributing her insights and sharing her expertise about preparing for and becoming active in a career as a massage therapist. By way of introduction, we have asked Lana to share a bit Read More…
Most people will agree that there is no “bad” time to get a massage. This most exalted of all the pampered treatments is something that most people are only too glad to participate in, whether they’re looking for a traditional Swedish massage or want something a little unusual in the shape of deep, body-altering structural integration. However, one way to maximize the massage experience (and for massage therapists to market themselves to increase business) is to tailor massages for the Read More…
There are many different ways to make your massage therapy practice successful, including everything from upgrading your massage table to offering advanced massage techniques. In today’s competitive market, anything you do to make yourself more marketable as a professional can help you to succeed. One way in which to do this at a low cost and low time investment is to incorporate scalp massage into your repertoire of services. What is Scalp Massage? Massaging the scalp is much like massaging Read More…
by Tiffany Cox, LMT I used to think working in a spa was the most definitive statement of “selling out” a Professional Massage Therapist could make. I was, happily, very mistaken. When I started my career as a therapist, I was driven by a newly-found interest in science. I wanted to know all there was to know about anatomy, physiology, etiology, kineseology…if it there was an “ology” in the name, I wanted to know all about it! Okay, maybe it Read More…
The very definition of traction reads like instructions for a torture technique. Terms like prolonged pulling and adhesive friction conjure up thoughts of a painful afternoon spent with a cantankerous therapist named Helga, which I’m sure is no one’s idea of a good time. Traction Therapy is most often associated with Sports & Injury Therapy, generally administered by Medical Massage Therapists, Osteopaths, and Physical and Occupational Therapists. It is thought to be one of those “no pain, no gain” style Read More…
For those non-Massage Therapists who are constantly flabbergasted by our accounts of doing five, eight, eleven massages a day, we may seem a little superhero-like to the rest of the humans. But think back to when you first started massage school, and it seemed impossible that the instructor was expecting you to go home on Monday night and do three, yes three!, massages before class on Wednesday? Is he crazy?!? Even our clinic intern hours seemed to be never-ending and Read More…
It’s Just a Tip…or is it? by Tiffany Cox, LMT Just hearing the word can make us cringe! How many times have you given what you feel is one of the best massages you’ve ever given, only to get a $5 tip on a $100+ service? Having worked in several different service industries myself over the years, I have always been a generous tipper, sometimes even to the point of protest from my wallet. Unfortunately, not all consumers are created Read More…
The use of warm stones as components of massage therapy can be traced back many centuries. Native Americans were known to use stones warmed in fire to treat illnesses and injuries. Today, hot stone massage is used in a similar manner but with slightly different goals and various techniques. The use of hot stones as a massage therapy can provide various benefits. Among other things, hot stone massage can provide pain relief, loosen muscles and improve circulation. The technique can Read More…
Dr. Ida P. Rolf received a degree in biochemistry in 1920. However, health issues experienced by Dr. Rolf and her two sons led her to conduct further research on the human body. Based on this research, Dr. Rolf developed techniques that focused on the realignment of the body structure based on manipulation of the connective tissues in the body. This approach has become known as rolfing. Rolfing techniques bear some similarity to deep tissue massage but the goals are different. Read More…
Citing projections form the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Pima Medical Institute issued a press release that identifies the anticipated increase in demand for massage therapists in the decade ahead. Representatives from Pima state in the release that available positions for massage therapists will increase by 19% through the year 2018. The school then goes on to identify the various educational programs and career counseling and placement assistance available through Pima’s massage therapy programs. Pima Medical Institute operates 13 campuses Read More…
by Tiffany Cox, LMT So, you’ve made the decision to go to massage therapy school, but you have no idea where to start. It’s a good thing you’re just a click away from some of the most valuable tools for determining the path your future will take! If you’re at the point of actually choosing your education provider, you should have already assessed that you’re: 1) Ready for schooling ~ financially, emotionally & mentally 2) Confident in your potential to Read More…
By TiffanyCox, LMT You’ve been a Professional Massage Therapist for 5 years now, so you should pretty much have it all down, right? You do? You just might be the only one! I have met therapists in their second and third decades of therapy and still not sure what type of massage they wanted to specialize in! One of the most amazing and thrilling aspects to this division of health and wellness is that you will (hopefully) never stop Read More…
by Tiffany Cox, LMT Frazzled nerves, knotted stomach, sweaty hands, frantic mind are all symptoms of: a) stage fright b) food poisoning c) test anxiety d) all of the above If you chose c), test anxiety, then I can help you! (If you chose b) you should probably see a doctor!) We all know tests can cause levels of anxiety ranging from a restless sleep the night before an exam to a complete and utter breakdown of all rational thought Read More…
We recently completed a comprehensive article explaining the philosophy and practice of acupressure and have posted it on our main website. Acupressure combines the beliefs of Traditional Chinese Medicine and the philosophies of energy flow and pressure applications similar to those used in acupuncture. From a modern medical perspective, acupuncture and acupressure are not completely understood. The existence of qi is disputed by many in the mainstream medical system; however, the benefits of TCM have been experienced for thousands of Read More…
by Tiffany Cox, LMT We’ve all seen the various acronyms: ABMP, NAMASTA, AMTA, and a few lesser-knows. They are heralding the integration of a National Massage Organization, providing valuable information for marketing and support to therapists nationwide, and…what else do they do again? Oh yeah, insurance. Hmmmm…. ‘I don’t need insurance,’ you think, ‘I work at a very elite spa, and they told me I don’t need liability insurance because they’re covered. So, anything I do is their responsibility…right?!?’ Well, Read More…
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