Jul 25
Those who are interested in learning the art of massage will find many opportunities in Massachusetts Massage Therapy Schools to prepare for various massage therapy professions. Aspiring massage therapists can study for certificates or diplomas, or advance their studies to obtain two-year Associate of Science (AS) degrees or four-year Bachelor of Science (BS) degrees.
The courses taught at all massage schools are geared toward helping students prepare to successfully pass national certification exams. They offer courses designed to develop skills in sports massage, prenatal massage, neuromuscular therapy, lymph massage, therapeutic massage, reflexology, acupressure, and kinesiology. Many of the various massage therapy schools in Massachusetts will even provide courses to facilitate smooth client relations, as well as client assessment and communications.
All massage therapy schools, in every state, have the option of becoming accredited, and students should consider only those schools that are accredited by state and national organizations. Affiliation with various massage and bodywork organizations can also give massage therapy programs and massage therapy institutions credence. Accredited massage schools assure that students will receive a quality education leading to a successful employment path. The basic training received in massage school can also be a stepping stone to advanced natural healing studies, such as acupuncture or chiropractics, to name just two exciting possibilities.
Massachusetts massage therapy schools (and others, for that matter) provide students with classroom and hands-on training to qualify for positions at the entry level. Courses in anatomy, physiology, pathology, nutrition, health, and hygiene provide students with basic knowledge to help manage pain and prevent physical incapacity due to injury or disease. Later, students will take courses in theory and practice of massage, hydrotherapy, and reflexology to provide additional skills. Hands-on massage experience in a clinical setting will round out the students’ preparation for serving clients in athletic organizations, spas, and medical facilities. Some massage therapy schools even provide courses in management, marketing, accounting, and business ethics that give students the complete set of business skills for operating their own massage therapy practice.
Demands for the services of qualified massage therapists will continue to escalate in the U.S. as well as Canada. Graduates of massage therapy schools in Massachusetts should find numerous employment opportunities, as the industry is expected to grow steadily for the next several years. Massage practices in Massachusetts may be regulated by state statutes, and individual towns and municipalities may also regulate massage practices; however, many areas have no licensing requirements. The savvy massage therapist will carefully check with state and local governing bodies before beginning a practice.
Would you like to learn more? You can get more in-depth information about Massachusetts Massage Therapy Schools and other Massage Schools and Massage Therapy Schools by visiting our website today!
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Mar 09
Being a Massage Therapist I give a lot of massages to all sorts of people at my San Antonio, Texas practice. Like my clients I love to get a wonderful therapeutic massage as often as I can. However, like many other people I sometimes have a problem with sinus congestion while lying face down during the massage session. There are number of causes for the sinus congestion such as seasonal allergies, and irritants such as smoke, pollution, dust and molds. The sinus congestion makes it difficult to breath through the nose and properly enjoy the massage.
There are many things that Massage Therapists like myself do to assist clients with sinus congestion during the massage therapy session. Adjustments to the face rest are helpful as are acupressure points that help to relieve sinus pressure. Other things that are helpful include the use of essential oils like pine, eucalyptus, or peppermint to open up sinus passages. Less commonly used breathing aids include cold gel-filled face masks or nasal strips. The problem with all of these measures is that they’re somewhat hit-or-miss, the best way to combat sinus congestion during massage is to prevent it in the first place.
My favorite method of preventing sinus congestion is sinus irrigation. Sinus irrigation is actually a very old way of coping with congestion, allergies, and post-nasal drip. Simply, sinus irrigation is exactly what it sounds like -using a saline solution to gently wash out mucous, dust, pollen, and other irritants. A popular method of sinus irrigation is to use a “neti” pot. It’s a small pot that looks somewhat like a small teapot or gravy boat. To use the neti pot you fill it with a warm saline solution which is made with chlorine-free water (distilled or purified drinking water) and a packet(s) of pure salt. It’s important that you don’t use table salt to make your saline solution because table salt contains iodine and anti-coagulants that wouldn’t be good for you. Once you’ve made your solution and filled the pot you will need to pour it in one nostril and let it run out the other. To perform the irrigation without swallowing the solution or feeling like you’re drowning follow these steps:
1. Bend at the waist over a sink;
2. Rotate your head as though you’re looking up at the ceiling;
3. Keeping your forehead down and chin up toward the ceiling, place the spout of the neti pot gently into the upper nostril allowing the saline solution to flow into your nose and out the lower nostril;
4. Allow the contents of the neti pot to wash out your sinus passages;
5. When the neti pot is empty keep your head down and forcefully exhale through your nose to blow out any excess saline solution, do this without holding your nostrils closed;
6. Repeat as necessary.
Performing sinus irrigation an hour or two prior to your massage can effectively reduce or eliminate sinus congestion so you can enjoy your massage more. In addition to removing mucous and irritants that cause congestion from your sinuses, the salt in the saline solution is also effective in relieving swelling of sinus membranes.
Sinus irrigation is a simple and safe method of reducing sinus congestion and post-nasal drip but there are some conditions which might make it contraindicated for you. Please check with your doctor prior to performing any sinus irrigation.
Feb 26
In the most recent term of the Texas Legislature the legislators finally took positive action regarding the laws governing Massage Therapy in the state. Many Massage Therapists and Massage Therapy associations in Texas have been asking the legislature to increase the number training hours required for massage therapy licensure in the state. Prior to this legislation only 300 hours of training were required for massage therapy licensure in the State of Texas.
On June 17th, 2007 Texas Governor Rick Perry signed House Bill 2644. The bill amended Texas Massage Therapy law in a very positive manner. Effective September 1, 2007, candidates for massage therapy licensure must now have completed a more comprehensive training program of at least 500 hours in length, a significant increase over the previously required 300 hours. The new 500 hour training programs will meet the following requirements:
1) 200 hours taught by a licensed massage therapy instructor and dedicated to the study of massage therapy techniques and theory and the practice of manipulation of soft tissue, with at least 125 hours dedicated to the study of Swedish massage therapy techniques;
2) 50 hours of anatomy;
3) 25 hours of physiology;
4) 50 hours of kinesiology;
5) 40 hours of pathology;
6) 20 hours of hydrotherapy;
7) 45 hours of massage therapy laws and rules, business practices, and professional ethics standards;
20 hours of health, hygiene, first aid, universal precautions, and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR); and
9) 50 hours in an internship program.
Additionally, the bill eliminated the practical (hands-on) examination requirement. The elimination of the 6-minute practical exam eliminates the requirement for all massage therapy licensure candidates to travel to Austin to take the exam. Therefore, all massage therapy licensure candidates may take the written licensure exam near home instead of having to travel to the state capitol.
As written, the new law’s requirements do not affect any of the approximately 20,000 currently licensed massage therapists. The law also does not affect any massage therapy student pursuing a massage therapy training program provided the student was enrolled in the program before September 1, 2007.
The new requirements are meant to improve the quality of massage therapy provided in the State of Texas and to improve the professional image of Licensed Massage Therapists in the state. The new requirements also bring Texas’ massage therapy regulations more in line with other states regulating massage therapy and with the National Certification Exam for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCETMB). So, it is likely that the new laws will improve license reciprocity, allowing Texas Licensed Massage Therapists to more easily relocate to other states and separately licensed municipalities.
Dec 18
Most massage therapists receive Codes of Ethics and Standards of Practice from various sources. These lists of guidelines and rules are helpful in setting the professional standards for massage therapy. Yet, the “rules” can be slightly different from one organization to another and, like anything in life, external rules need to be supported by internal values to be successful. When we notice ourselves in the gray areas where the rules don’t seem to work, it’s a good time to look inward to see what’s going on.
Take, for example, the rule “don’t accept gifts from clients.” A lot of times we will ask, “why not, what’s wrong with that?” or “do we really want to become so impersonal that we can’t accept a gift?” Good questions. In a situation where a client is offering a gift and we recognize the standard of not accepting gifts, yet we want to anyway, it’s time to look at ourselves. Is the desire to accept the gift based upon our perceptions of what the client needs to enhance the therapeutic relationship? Is it based upon our own needs to feel special, appreciated, or wanted? The notion that if our motivations are client based it’s less of an ethical dilemma than if they are personally based may or may not apply in all situations.
So this rule (“don’t accept gifts”) is pointing to the emergence of transference and countertransference issues, which are rich ground for healing. When we delve into our countertransference, we often discover unmet needs, unexplored fears and desires. This is healing because when we bring them to consciousness, we have the ability to grow and transform.
While ethical dilemmas usually aren’t very comfortable, if we approach them with the willingness to look inward, we can bring a lot of healing to ourselves–a true gift!
