Anatomy

Understanding human musculoskeletal anatomy is crucial in providing high quality muscle therapy to clients.  This course will teach students an understanding of muscles, joints and connective tissue.

No Prerequisite

70 clock hours

Required Books:

Trail Guide to the Body 3rd edition by Andrew Biel

Trail Guide to the Body Student Handbook by Andrew Biel

The Anatomy Coloring Book by Wynn Kapit/Lawerence M. Elson

Clay Lab

In this class students will build the muscles onto a small mannekin of the human skeleton as well as use the full-sized human skeleton model to re-create muscle movement.

Prerequiste: Anatomy I

10 clock hours

Required Books:

Trail Guide to the Body 3rd edition by Andrew Biel

Trail Guide to the Body Student Handbook by Andrew Biel

The Anatomy Coloring Book by Wynn Kapit/Lawerence M. Elson

Physiology

This course is an introduction to human physiology.  Material covers how the human body functions and relates to the anatomy of the body.

No Prerequiste

40 clock hours

Required Book: Massage Therapy Principles & Practice 3rd Edition by Susan G. Salvo

Kinesiology

Body movement and how and where muscles, bones, tendons and ligaments interact to create movement at the joints.

Prerequiste: Anatomy I

40 clock hours

Required Book: Kinesiology by Joseph E. Muscolino

Pathology

Common diseases and abnormalities of the various body systems are studied in terms of their signs and symptoms, taking into account predisposing factors, congential problems as well as infectious disease, trauma, and known causes.

No Prerequiste

40 clock hours

Required Book: Pathology for Massage Therapists 2nd Edition by Susan G. Salvo

Massage Techniques I

Massage Techniques I is the foundation upon which all other technique classes will be built.  MT I will focus on Esalen Massage with the goal of perfecting this technique.  Emphasis on using proper body mechanics will included as part of this class as well as discussions about how massage can be used as a tool for meditation and deep relaxation.  In addition, the instructor will discuss how massage not only affects our bodies, but our minds, souls, and emotions.

No Prerequiste

100 clock hours

Massage Techniques II

Massage Techniques II will expand the student's skills into Swedish Massage.  The emphasis in this class will be on learning how to feel the "wall" and work deeply into the muscle.  Students will also learn how to read a client's body in order to perform deep tissue and muscle specific massage.

Prerequiste: Massage Techniques I

40 clock hours

Outside the Box

Outside the Box fine-tunes the skills learned in Massage Techniques I and Massage Techniques II.   This class encourages the students to be creative with the skills they have learned.  The emphasis will be on supporting the students' exploration and creation of their own personal style - to work "outside the box".

Prerequiste: Massage Techniques I and II

50 clock hours

Body Mechanics

Body Mechanics will teach the students how to use their body correctly when doing bodywork - to learn how to use their body as a tool.  This will make it possible for our students to pursue their careers fulltime without damaging or hurting their bodies.

No Prerequiste

9 clock hours

Required Book: Massage Therapy Principles & Practice 3rd Edition by Susan G. Salvo

Intro to Pregnancy Massage

Students will receive an overview of what massage techniques are safe and appropriate for pregnant clients (all three trimesters).  This class includes hands-on practice with pregnant women in all three trimesters.

Prerequiste: Massage Techniques I

20 clock hours

Required Book: Massage Therapy Principles & Practice 3rd Edition by Susan G. Salvo

Geriatric Massage

Students will learn appropriate massage techniques for robust, age-appropriate, and frail older clients.  This class includes hands-on work with all three types of geriatric clients.

Prerequiste: Massage Techniques I

20 clock hours

Required Book: Massage Therapy Principles & Practice 3rd Edition by Susan G. Salvo

Adaptive Massage

Massage Therapists often give bodywork to special populations (those with mental or physical handicaps) and clients living with chronic/terminal illnesses.  Our students will learn the special needs of these groups and effective techniques to use.  This class includes hands-on work with Hiawatha Homes residents.

Prerequiste: Massage Techniques I

20 clock hours

Required Book: Massage Therapy Principles & Practice 3rd Edition by Susan G. Salvo

Business Mastery

No Prerequiste

26 clock hours

Required Book: Business Mastery 4th Edition by Cherie M. Sohnen-Moe

Marketing

Learn and practice how to build your practice - whether you are an employee, a contractor, or self-employed.  Emphasis will be on role-playing and creating "scripts" to use.

Prerequiste: Business Mastery

16 clock hours

Required Book: Marketing Massage From First Job to Dream Practice 2nd Edition by

                         Monica Roseberry

Business and Professional Ethics

Referencing the NCTMB code of ethics, participants will learn the basics of client-practitioner dynamics and why professional boundaries are so important to protect both our clients and ourselves.  Participants will learn how to create safe relationships by exploring the following topics: common dilemmas and how to solve them, dealing with sexual issues, boundaries, confidentiality, fees, draping, scope of practice and dual relationships.

No Prerequiste

27 clock hours

Required Book: Ethics of Touch by Ben E. Benjamin, Ph.D., And Cherie Sohnen-Moe

Chair Massage

Students will learn the proper way to give a seated massage with an emphasis on the skills needed to give a "marketing style" chair massage.

No Prerequiste

9 clock hours

Required Book: Massage Therapy Principles & Practice 3rd Edition by Susan G. Salvo

Chair Massage Practicum

Students will provide chair massage at local community events.

Prerequiste: Chair Massage

5 clock hours

Self Care

Students will learn how to take care of themselves so they can be successful in this profession for a lifetime career if they so choose.  Includes proper use of massage tools, stretching, yoga poses, Chi Quong, Meditation, diet, breathing exercise and more.

No Prerequiste

14 clock hours

Intake and Charting

It is critical for a Massage Therapist to know how to interview her/his clients and how to collect applicable health information, as well as how to keep accurate records of client visits.  This class will explore and explain different options of charting and discuss and practice how to do intake and charting.

No Prerequiste

6 clock hours

Required Book: Massage Therapy Principles & Practice 3rd Edition by Susan G. Salvo

Assessment and Treatment Planning

Students will learn how to "read" their client's body as well as plan how to most effectively treat the issues/problems in all the Technique classes.  This class will "pull it all together" in teaching students how to put all that information to use in making recommendations to their clients about long term treatment plans and referrals to other health care practitioners.

No Prerequiste

6 clock hours

Required Book: Massage Therapy Principles & Practice 3rd Edition by Susan G. Salvo

Aromatherapy

This class will focus on the application of essential oils in the bodywork practice, including a historical perspective on the use of essential oils in healing.  It will include information on the production, purchase and use of essential oils with emphasis on quality of oils and to choose appropriate oils for client needs.  Contraindications and safety precautions will be demonstrated and discussed.  Students will get hands-on practice with creating essential oil blends for specific body systems and conditions.

No Prerequiste

20 clock hours

Required Book: Aromatherapy for Massage Therapists

Hydrotherapy

An important healing tool, the use of water in massage is critical for injury treatment.  Learn the many applications of hot and cold for increasing flexibility, reducing inflammation and pain as well as moving lymph.

No Prerequiste

7 clock hours

Required Book: Massage Therapy Principles & Practice 3rd Edition by Susan G. Salvo

Massage Therapy Research

Students will discuss the value of research to the massage profession, learn how to find sources of published reasearch and critically read and evaluate a published research article.

No Prerequiste

6 clock hours

Required Book: Massage Therapy Research by Tiffany Field

Massage Clinicals I

This class will be scheduled in conjunction with MT I to enable our students to consistently and regularly practice the skills they are learning.  The requirements and policies for successful completion of the Clinical are quite specific and strictly enforced.  Copies of the "Clinical Requirements and Policies" are available upon request at the school office.

Prerequiste: Massage Techniques I

30 clock hours

Massage Clinicals II

This class will be scheduled in conjunction with MT II to enable our students to consistently and regularly practice the skills they are learning.  The requirements and policies for successful completion of the Clinical are quite specific and strictly enforced.  Copies of the "Clinical Requirements and Policies" are available upon request at the school office.

Prerequiste: Massage Techniques I; Massage Clinical I

31 clock hours

Massage Clinicals III

This class will be scheduled in conjunction with Outside of the Box to enable our students to consistently and regularly practice the skills they are learning.  The requirements and policies for successful completion of the Clinical are quite specific and strictly enforced.  Copies of the "Clinical Requirements and Policies" are available upon request at the school office.

Prerequiste: Massage Techniques II; Massage Clinicals II

31 clock hours

Mentorship I

This class will be scheduled in conjunction with MT I to enable our students to consistently and regularly practice the skills they are learning.  The requirements and policies for successful completion of the Clinical are quite specific and strictly enforced.  Copies of the "Clinical Requirements and Policies" are available upon request at the school office.

Prerequiste: Massage Techniques I; Massage Clinical I

6 clock hours

Mentorship II

This class will be scheduled in conjunction with MT I to enable our students to consistently and regularly practice the skills they are learning.  The requirements and policies for successful completion of the Clinical are quite specific and strictly enforced.  Copies of the "Clinical Requirements and Policies" are available upon request at the school office.

Prerequiste: Massage Techniques II, Massage Clinicals II; Mentorship I

6 clock hours