550 Hours Massage Therapy
650 Hours Advanced Massage Therapy
All Programs certified to operate by SCHEV – State Council of Higher Education for Virginia
Basic massage therapy program outline as below:
ANATOMY & PHYSIOLOGY
In Anatomy, students learn about the structure of the human body in a
detailed study of the skeletal system, joints and major muscles, especially in
application to massage therapy. Physiology covers all body systems including
function and ability to carry on life processes in health & disease,
indications/contraindications of different pathologies and their relevance to
massage. Class presentation is through lecture (audio/visual aids), group
discussion and hands-on palpation using skeletal/muscular models.
PATHOLOGY
In Pathology, the student studies medical terminology, signs and symptoms
of disease, indications and contraindications, as well as pharmacology
(medications). The student will gain confidence in their approach by using
appropriate massage techniques and staying within their scope of practice.
MASSAGE THEORY & PRACTICE
This course examines the history of massage from the beginning to the present day. It includes the theoretical aspects of Swedish Massage including the psychological impacts of touch, self-care, hygiene, the benefits of different techniques, and the physiological effects of massage. The practical hands-on aspects of Swedish and Deep Tissue Massage Therapy. Applicable aspects of providing a full-body, one-hour wellness massage and/or therapeutic massage are taught while incorporating body mechanics, client positioning and draping, and client/therapist communication skills.
ADJUNCT MODALITIES (Allied Massage Modalities)
These individual classes provide general study and applied hands-on techniques including Asian body therapy, chair massage, prenatal massage, reflexology, hydrotherapy, massage therapy business practices and regulation, and health hygiene and universal precaution. The student clinic is also included in this section. Students are required to give practical massages in our faculty-supervised student clinic. Client progress notes and feedback are kept in student journals and need to be completed for grading before graduation. Through this supervised student clinic, students are able to review all the foundational knowledge, summarize experiences of the student clinic, and expand advanced skills, and strategies.
ETHIC
This course focuses on establishing a successful and ethical massage practice.
Topics include characteristics of a profession, education, body of knowledge,
scope of practice, code of ethics, and standards of practice. The codes of ethics of the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork (NCBTMB), the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA), and the Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals (ABMP) are presented, along with the AMTA’s Standards of Practice document.