Choosing the Right Massage Therapy School for Yourself

Massage therapy is the manipulation of the soft tissues of the body in particular spots for the purpose of normalizing those tissues and improving the flow of energy, or qi throughout the body. In the recent years, the public’s interest in such modes of natural healthcare has increased steadily, allowing for massage therapy to become the rapidly growing field that it is today. To complement the demand, more Massage Therapy Schools are being established nationwide to train massage therapists and prepare them for licensing.

Which Massage Therapy School is Right For Me?

Primarily, it is beneficial to decide what atmosphere you would like to be employed in once you are a licensed massage therapist. For instance, if you strictly want to practice in a medical practice, it best to find a massage schools that offers that type of training program. If you are looking for a more general training, it would be suggested that you find a Massage Therapy School that will train you in various methods of massage therapy. Some schools even offer business management courses as part of the program if you are looking to own or manage a massage therapy practice or spa as well as be licensed in the field.

It is also important to consider the variety of massages the school’s massage therapy program offers as well as how in-depth these techniques are taught. Because massage therapy is a highly competitive field, it is best to know as many techniques and types of massages as possible. While each school has a different curriculum, massage techniques taught in schools nationwide usually include Shiatsu, Swedish, Tui Na, myofascial, prenatal, relexology and chair massage. If you are thoroughly knowledgeable in such techniques, you are more likely to have a successful massage therapy career.

Lastly, research the Massage Therapy School’s affiliations and network. If they are accredited by governing bodies and are connected with well-known medical establishments such as nearby hospitals, they are most likely able to help you establish yourself as a successful massage therapist. Well-connected schools often offer externships, supervised clinic hours and other real-world training, which is crucial to an understanding of what it is to be a massage therapist.

New York College of Health Professions is an example of a Massage Therapy School that is exceeding expectations in massage therapy education. With four locations in New York City and on Long Island, New York College is convenient to most students living in New York’s tri-state area. Their nationally recognized and institutionally accredited Massage Therapy Program is highly selective, requires hands-on interniships and classes in T’ai Chi Chuan, Qi Gong and Yoga to help their students understand their own body’s mechanics. Such knowledge readies graduates to succeed in the competitive field of massage therapy.

What is Asian Bodywork Therapy?

Asian Bodywork Therapy (ABT) is a form of natural treatment through manipulations of the human body. Dating back 5,000 years, Asian Bodywork Therapy is part of Oriental Medicine, which includes Massage Therapy, Acupuncture, and Herbology. Similar to those treatments, Asian Bodywork concentrates on treating the body, mind and spirit in its entirety, which aids the patient in achieving overall balance and health.

While there are numerous forms of Asian Bodywork Therapy, all of them involve touching to some degree. To practitioners of the Asian Bodywork, the touch is believed to have healing properties. At the beginning of the treatment, the therapist gathers information on the patient’s health through the review of information provided by the patient, tongue and pulse diagnosis, observation of the patient's signs and symptoms, listening to the patient's complaints, and palpating the body. The therapist then determines the proper treatment.

In this article, we will discuss three popular forms of Asian Bodywork:

Acupressure:

This is the application of pressure to specific points in the body (acupuncture points) for the purpose of relieving tension. This further enhances the flow of qi (“chi”) and blood throughout the body.

Shiatsu:

A Japanese form of rigorous massage that uses fingers and palm pressure to apply acupressure to points along the body's energy pathways.

Tui Na:

This method combines manipulation of soft tissues, applying pressure at acupuncture points and realigning the spine and other structures to treat musculoskeletal and internal conditions.

Although Asian Bodywork Therapy has been around for over 5,000 years, it is not until 1996 that the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM) developed the first certification program in Asian Bodywork Therapy. Today, it is a rapidly growing field fueled by the public’s interest in natural, complementary treatments. For individuals who are looking to pursue Asian Bodywork as a career, it is important to get an education that exceeds standards.

New York College of Health Professions is one of the few schools in the United States that offers a Bachelor of Professional Studies in Advanced Asian Bodywork. During the 120-credit, 10-trimester program, students complete their Associates of Occupational Studies (AOS), which includes basic massage therapy skills, and 60 degrees of in-depth assessment and practical study in Advanced Asian Bodywork Techniques such as Tui Na and Shiatsu.

Holistic Nursing Clinics and Holistic Nursing Programs

Holistic nursing is defined by American Holistic Nurse’s Association as “all nursing practice that has healing the whole person as its goal”. Based on oriental medicine ideas, holistic theories and practices that seek to establish balance within the patient to promote overall health. Unlike many regular RN’s, holistic nurses are able to address the emotional and spiritual state of their patients in addition to their physical health. To train these professionals, several Holistic Nursing Programs have been established nationwide for both introductory courses and Continuing Education certification courses.

Introductory courses into Holistic Nursing include a system of therapies which combine the use of Traditional Chinese Medical principles in Acupuncture, Western Bodywork, Asian Bodywork, Physical Arts, Herbalism and Nutrition with a Western approach to organ dysfunctions. These holistic modalities restore, promote, and maintain optimum health through the treatment of the physical body, the bio-energy, and the emotions, which reflect and are bound into the neuromuscular system. This combination of knowledge of treatment of the physical body as RN’s, along with holistic treatments, broadens the career options for nurses. After graduation, many holistic nurses become employed in hospitals, private practices and clinics while others become wellness coaches or go on to specialize in complementary modalities such as massage therapy or acupuncture.

An important part of holistic nursing education is practice. New York College of Health Professions in Syosset, NY has established a Holistic Nursing Clinic for students that are part of their Continuing Education in Holistic Nursing Program to be able to practice on patients, while providing discounted treatment to the public. In the clinics, students are able to perform modalities such as Asian Massage and holistic nutrition counseling while supervised by licensed practitioners.

The Continuing Education Holistic Nursing Programs at New York College consists of a 412.5 clock-hour program and a supervised, 50 hour clinical internship over a time span of 4 terms. Open only to Registered Nurses in the State of New York, students learn to integrate holistic nursing theory with Oriental clinical assessment and diagnostic techniques. Also included are courses in T'ai Chi Chuan, Western Bodywork, Asian Bodywork and implementation of holistic nursing theory to clinical practice. Graduates of this program are eligible to take the NCCAOM exam for National Certification in Asian Bodywork. On successful completion of the NCCAOM exam, the candidate is granted the title of Diplomate of Asian Bodywork. Many nurses choose to acquire holistic nursing education to further their careers and to improve their ability to care for with many more modalities.