Looking into masage school and I have some questions

[Avondrow]

what are important things to look for in a good school?

Has your school experience been a pleasant one? What are some of the more challenging things about massage school?

If you could do it all again would you? And what would you do differntly?

 

[Baby #2 Coming!!!]

We will be able to give you better answers if we know what state you are in - they are each regulated differently.

When I went to school, I ultimately picked the one that was accredited. I didn't want to spend all that money and not be eligible to test for nationals or be licensed, if I choose to do that. (Not required in WI, but I always like to keep my options open, and there is no guarantee that that it will never be required.) I also preferred the school I chose because it was more science heavy and less energy work heavy, and that is my particular bent.

I loved school. It was hard work and at times very intense, but I expected that and enjoyed the challenges very much. Outside of raising my kids, it's the most fun I've ever had in my life.

If I could do it again, I definitely would. I'm pretty sure I would have followed the course I took. Just gather the info about the available schools and go slow making your decision. Once it is made, jump in with both feet and don't look back.

 

[ablex]

Hmnn. . . things to look for. All schools in Oregon must meet minimum standards so for me the decisive thing was a visit. I looked at several schools but I knew the instant I visited mine that it was right for me. I instantly felt at home. The atmosphere, instructors, classrooms, the other students I met, everything just felt right. It was a decsion I've never regretted.

The best thing about school was the friends I made and the camaraderie we had. I still keep in close touch with several special friends. :

The hardest thing for me was getting in the habit of school and studying again after a 20 year hiatus. Memorizing muscle Origins and Insertions and anatomical landmarks was especially hard. For some reason my memorizing skills just aren't what they were 20 years ago, hmnn. . . : :?

The only thing I would do different would be to skip the week vacation I took near the end of school. It was great but it put me behind and forced me to graduate a term after all my friends. That was kind of a lonely term.

Massage school was with out doubt one of the best things I have ever
done. Would I do it again? You bet, in a New York minute! :

Good luck, I envy you the start of your new journey.

 

[Jay B]

I had no choices, so attended the only massage school in my small Florida town. It was inexpensive - $3,600, and I believed the quality of the education reflected it...That is, until I met others who went to more expensive, “prestigious” schools and found they were no more prepared or knowledgeable than I was!

The good: As a working adult, my school’s flexible schedule was the only one that worked for me. You could start at any time and attend any day or evening class, at your convenience. We were basically ‘taught the test’, so there was a high NCBTMB exam pass rate.

The bad: The school’s flexible schedule meant you always missed out on more basic information and developed bad habits at first.

I personally regret my decision to attend massage school. But if someone REALLY, REALLY had her heart set on it, I would recommend a similar path as I took.

My actual learning didn’t even begin until I started working, so I’m glad I didn’t spend more on school. But I immediately took several CE classes after graduation, which gave me skills that have been the key to my over-success as a bodyworker.

 

[Ashlee]

Looking into masage school and I have some questions

what are important things to look for in a good school?

Has your school experience been a pleasant one? What are some of the more challenging things about massage school?

If you could do it all again would you? And what would you do differntly?

I decided early on that I wanted to focus on injury care and treatment of musculoskeletal problems. I have an analytical nature and wanted to properly understand the science behind the methods I would use. Last, I had/have lofty long-term ambitions, and wanted to have the best schooling possible. After looking at all the options in my area, there was really only one choice (http://www.nwhealth.edu) that fit what I was looking for. The program became COMTA-accredited (the only one in MN) shortly after I started, and I was happy to have top-notch training that included heavy anatomy & physiology training and frequent cadaver labs.

From the first day, I was in love with the schooling!! It was an overpowering sense of being the right person in the right place at the right time!!

The program I attended had very high standards, and the coursework was no joke. You studied hard and practiced frequently to do well, or suffered the consequences. The instructors went out of their respective ways to help each person overcome their particular hurdles, but at the end of the day each student had to put in the effort necessary to pass each class. There were NO free passes, and sometimes balancing the coursework with my need to make a living was tough. For most people, the A&P coursework was the hardest, and I saw a number of people drop out because they didn't want to do what was needed to learn it.

My school had a dynamic student body that also included a college of oriental medicine and a chiropractic college. I was active in Student Senate and various student organizations too, and this really enriched the whole experience for me. It also helped me make some great connections outside the MT program, including some good friends that have become chiros and doctors of oriental medicine. I also made some great professional connections with faculty in all three programs (massage, chiropractic, oriental medicine) and some interesting doors are starting to open for me now. Though juggling the additional responsibilities of the extracurriculars was challenging, I feel it was more than worth the extra effort, especially as my practice is growing.

Since graduating, I have been very actively pursuing carefully-selected continuing ed modalities. When offered at my old school, I go there because they ALWAYS make a point of including cadaver labs as part of the training, which makes it easier to understand the practical applications of the new materal.

The best part (by far!) of attending the school that I did is that I met the love of my life there. t057 She also graduated from the massage therapy program :massage: , and she is the most wonderful person I could ever hope to be with... *sigh* t058 She's my partner, both personally and now professionally, and with her in my life I feel there is nothing I can't do.
t052 t055

I can't think of anything significant I would change. It all seems to have worked out great as is!

 

[Taylor S]

I would personally attend a school that is COMPTA accredited. I know being accredited maybe isn't that hard to do. But at least they took the effort to do it.

Jason

 

[lovelylady]

Looking into masage school and I have some questions

what are important things to look for in a good school?

Has your school experience been a pleasant one? What are some of the more challenging things about massage school?

If you could do it all again would you? And what would you do differntly?

I guess it all depends on what your looking for in a school. If you want to get in, get out and spend more time taking CEU's to get your specialty training, you can do that. If you have any medical/anatomical background at all, are pretty competent with the intuituve part of massage and don't have a lot of time, I'd suggest this route, as you'll probably get a little less on the education, but it won't be hard to fit the pieces together.

Massage, in my opinion, is not a difficult thing, but the intuition and knowledge of anatomy are the two items that you really should have. If you don't have them, you will really need good mentors, a good background and to be taught well. Especially if you are not a "do it yourself" type.

There are fancy schools out there. I don't think they are necessary for everyone, but I do think they can help the average massage student that is going into this field nowdays. The competency level of massage students (at least what I have seen) is somewhat comprimised. I say this because for a number of years I taught anatomy and physiology for two massage schools and a few junior colleges along the way.

If I could do it again, I would. I enjoy massage. I used it as an add on to my "main" profession and in doing so, eventually came to a point where I have transferred my practice to house mainly massage clients now.

I also went the slam-bam-thank you-ma'am route of massage school. I doubled up days & nights, and finished in a very short amount of time. I already had my anatomy, so I basically comped out of that on top of it. I didn't have much time to lolligag around, as I had a short window of time where I could step aside from my normal practice and do this. It worked for me. It was an "ok" school, on a not so "ok" side of town. My main goal was to get the license and do what I am good at. I also had some background in trigger point and other muscular work, so there wasn't much of a need for extensive training for myself from an institution.

If I had the time and ability to move, I would have gone and also studied Rolfing or Feldenkrais.

My massage school experience was not exactly pleasant, but then, I didn't expect it would be. I was working and going the doubled up route, so, it really was: in class, out of class, back to office, back in class, back out of class, back to office and then go home and start over again the next day.

I wasn't particularly challenged by massage school. I will say I was good friends with a lady in my class who was challenged by the anatomy. But, it all worked out in the end. She was by far one of the best students in the class. She was in her late 40's at the time (I am 41 now), and this was something she had always wanted to do. We took the board exam together. We were the only 2 people from our class who even took it.

Enjoy! Massage can be a wonderful adjunct to your life. And remember, you can trade massage for bread. You may need to someday! :shock: