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Mar 11, 2019

What to Expect When Starting National Holistic Institute Massage School

Massage therapy is a great career for people who want to have meaningful work helping others, but before you become a professional massage therapist comes the journey of massage school. Enrolling in massage therapy school is a big decision and you may be wondering what it will be like. Here are some tips on what to expect when starting massage school.

 

Hands-on Training

The majority of your time in massage school will be spent giving and receiving massages. You may feel a bit shy or intimidated when beginning to learn bodywork, but you will soon learn to appreciate both the experience of giving and of receiving massage. If you have any concerns about technique, don’t worry! Everyone is in school to learn and there is plenty of support to guide everyone. Your hands-on experience working on your classmates is rewarding and valuable. Plus, receiving so many massages during your time in massage school is amazing and can be life changing in of itself.

At NHI you will also have the added real-world experience of massaging the public in our on-campus training clinics. Your clinic experience helps prepare you for another unique and valuable NHI opportunity, your externship. During your externship, you will be given the opportunity to network with potential future employers and clients while you hone your skills as a massage therapist.

 

More Than Just Massage

To complement your hands-on massage therapy training you will learn anatomy, physiology, and kinesiology. These classes will help you better understand the human body, locations of bones, muscles, and organs; it’s your GPS to the body! This information will be critical for your career as a Health Educator and massage therapist.

In addition to learning the physical aspects of massage therapy, you will also study business, ethics, and marketing so you feel fully prepared to begin your new career. These classes may seem irrelevant at first, but it’s important to remember that being a successful massage therapist is about much more than just the massage itself. You will learn key skills like building great relationships with your clients, co-workers and/or employers and employees. You will also learn the ethics of running a business and dealing intimately and professionally with your clients.

Although classes like anatomy, physiology, kinesiology, business, ethics, and marketing are taught in a traditional classroom setting; at NHI we recognize everyone learns differently. Our massage therapy program employs multiple methods of teaching, including Audio, Visual and Kinesthetic, to make classes fun and multi-dimensional while also ensuring you learn the material you need to be a successful massage therapist.

 

Hygiene, Kindness, and Communication

It’s part of a massage therapist’s job to help ensure their clients feel comfortable. In massage school, you’ll learn self-care techniques that will prolong your career as a massage therapist, including the importance of maintaining good hygiene. Taking care of your hands, body, and massage equipment is taking care of your tools of the trade. At NHI we practice “truth with compassion” to offer constructive feedback and practice reflective listening. You develop better communication skills as you work with your teachers, classmates, and clients with the respect and kindness they expect and deserve. You become a better listener and a better communicator.

 

Friendship, Culture & Community

One of the best and often unexpected benefits of attending massage school is the friendships you’ll make and the camaraderie you will feel by being a part of a connected, purposeful community. You will develop close relationships with your classmates through laughter, and sometimes tears. You will not be alone on your journey through massage school; you will be joining a vibrant NHI community of caregivers. Take advantage of all of NHI’s resources to help you succeed. If you need help, reach out to your mentors, teachers, NHI Staff, and classmates. And remember, we are here to support you each step of the way, from study labs and tutors while you are a student to career placement after you graduate.

Massage therapy can be a great career and there are many opportunities for licensed massage therapists. It will take hard work and dedication to achieve your goals, and it will also be fun and rewarding along the way. Embrace the journey and enjoy the ride!  We are happy to have you join our NHI family!