Added: 09/26/2005 |
What makes good massage schools?As greater numbers of people integrate complementary health care modalities into their lives, the demand for massage therapy continues to grow. Massage Therapists are enjoying wider application of their skills than ever before, working in both traditionally alternative and allopathic venues. It can be frequently heard from graduates that practicing massage has offered them the option to work their own hours in stimulating health care settings, work at home, or otherwise create more satisfying lives, with time for family or other pursuits.
With the growing demand for masseurs a lot of massage schools pop up everywhere. So, whether you're looking to start a new career, gain a new skill to improve your health or lifestyle, or benefit the lives of others, you have a wide range of schools to choose from looking for a massage course which suits your needs.
But finding a good school is not an that easy. Unfortunately, there are a great many of schools offering long-time but ineffective courses. As it does, quantity does not mean quality. A good massage school should concentrate not on learning massage jargon that is not relevant to the real world practice of massage. Another common fault is that many massage schools concentrate on only teaching hundreds of hours of anatomy and physiology and long drawn out routines of Swedish massage. Though, lots of professionals do not agree that this is what makes a good massage therapist. They believe, a good massage therapist is able to seek out the muscle tension in a patient and get rid of it, which often involves knowing the meridian lines of acupressure and acupuncture, the reflexology zones of the feet and other advanced massage concepts, and putting them all together to make a wholistic massage therapy treatment. A good massage therapist is a person, who likes to work with people on a one to one basis. It is a person who enjoys working with one's hands as well as with one's mind and who receives personal satisfaction in helping people. These people can be prepared by good massage schools, that train people to access the deeper layers of tight muscle tissue and block "chi" that a good massage therapist achieves.
The curriculum of good massage schools should include a sufficient amount of class hours in massage practice, including: touch sensitivity; building trust; safe touch; practitioner self care and body mechanics; client communications; charting; Swedish massage strokes and physiological effects; Swedish gymnastics; draping; hygiene; indications and contraindications for massage; Shiatsu Touch; Seated Shiatsu treatment; Sports Massage; trigger point work; advance Swedish massage, reciprocal inhibition; pregnancy massage; hydrotherapy; myofascial release; injury treatment; deep tissue, medical treatment integrative whole body massage and other academy massage techniques. There is no substitute for caring, sensitive touch in healing work. It should be taught how to initiate and complete a touch as a sacred moment and how to establish and maintain physical trust throughout the entire massage session.
According to the leading massage therapists, science classes should include: Anatomy, Physiology, Neurology, Myology (the study of Muscles), Physical Assessment and Pathology, Business Management, and Health & Hygiene (including CPR and 1st Aid certification) and some other theoretical courses considered to be important by any particular school.
The great (and constantly growing) number of massage schools, offers you a new topical and profitable career. Depending on the course length, the subjects studied, the staff and the goals set, the costs vary greatly. As well as the diplomas they give a chance to obtain - from certificate in amateur massage to a professional diploma in academy massage, opening great career opportunities.
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