4 Reasons Why Massage Therapists Need Continuing Education
Alicia Priebe | NHI graduate and instructor provides bodywork for a client
Alicia Priebe, alumnus of the Core Massage Therapy and Advanced Neuromuscular Therapy (ANMT) programs at NHI shares her thoughts on the importance of continuing education for massage therapists.
Learn more about Alicia by checking out her staff spotlight, and discover her 4 reasons why massage therapists need continuing education below.
Practice Makes Perfect
You may have heard the term, “Practice makes Perfect”. It leads me to ask – what is perfect? And more specifically, what does it mean to give the “perfect massage”? How much practice does it take to finally find that “perfect” session in the career of a massage therapist?
Consider a few interesting statistics for professionals who practice their craft regularly:
- The average professional athlete is said to dedicate over 10,000 hours to practice!
- Professional dancers – practice 5-6 days a week.
- Professional Musicians – between 4-8 hours a day.
- Professional writers – they write daily, even when they don’t feel like it!
On average across the US, the American Massage Therapy Association reports that Massage Therapists are required to take 24 continuing education hours every 2 years – 3 hours must be in ethics.
It is common for graduates of NHI’s Core and ANMT programs to think we have the knowledge needed to start a great career – and you are not wrong! However, once our careers in massage therapy begin, the focus shifts to how to keep the practice going and how to keep learning to better assist our clients.
Continuing Education for Massage Therapists
This is where continuing education (CE) or continuing education units (CEUs) for massage therapists come into play. Thankfully, NHI has stepped in to help fill the gap for those in California by helping Massage Therapists with more information and knowledge with one day events throughout the state!
Throughout the year, 8 hour workshops have been happening in many cities around California. These have been hosted at NHI campuses and taught by Cynthia Ribeiro, the founder of the ANMT program. Cynthia takes time to share her wisdom and bring more collaboration to those who are currently students as well as those who have been working in the industry for many years.
I have been a massage therapist since 2016. I have been certified in California as well as licensed in another state that required CEs to keep my practice open. Over the years I have taken several forms of classes and recently I have been making it a goal to attend as many NHI workshops as possible. Below are 4 reasons why massage therapists need continuing education.
4 Reasons Why Massage Therapists Need Continuing Education
Reason #1 | Massage Therapy Knowledge with Facts
The information being taught from Cynthia Ribeiro is based on studies done over the years and medical results. These classes are years in the making and take loads of education and research in the mix to help introduce new and long practicing Massage Therapists to topics of importance.
Cynthia Ribeiro demonstrates neuromuscular therapy bodywork during a CE massage class
I am a graduate from both the Core and the ANMT programs and I can tell you – these are not just an NHI class! Cynthia has shared information from her own research and as medicine changes, she has shared those updates in regards to the massage industry. I have come to classes prepared to “know it all” and walk away with pages of notes on things that I learned during each class!
Reason #2 | Massage Therapy and Bodywork Practice
Each continuing education massage therapy class is broken up into a time of learning about anatomy, common causes of pain and how we can help with massage or who to collaborate with in the medical field. The rest of the time is to practice the bodywork in a safe environment.
Each class has multiple instructors who help with the hands-on time and offer ways to help the “practice” become easier. Just as I stated above – the techniques shown at these workshops are not the same as in NHI classes!
Cynthia Ribeiro provides an interactive neuromuscular therapy bodywork demonstration for a CE massage class
I’ve had the opportunity to watch live assessments for real issues, and then see Cynthia do a live demo of the bodywork she would do for that person. During the live demos, you are free to ask questions and get clarification on each technique. This bodywork is made to help coach to give you as the MT and your client the best results in the session!
Reason #3 | Networking with Massage Therapists
The ability to meet other Massage Therapists from all over California by attending these workshops is not to be overlooked. Being with others who are excited to learn a new skill, challenge their bodywork and to have fun while learning – those are my kind of people!
Alicia Priebe along with other massage therapists at a recent CE massage class
I have left each class feeling like I have a new contact in the industry, while also growing my network for clients in the future.
Reason #4 | Keeping up with the Massage Therapy Industry
The world of medicine and science is ever changing – which means we are learning more and more about how massage has massive value in the world of health care and pain management!
As research changes and grows, these classes help give me more information at how I can help those around me. Attending these continuing education classes also keeps me focused on the reason for why I chose this career – to have work I love while helping others around me!
When I have a client who needs additional techniques beyond what I already know, it brings me great joy in learning and practicing those techniques so I can better help them in their wellness journey.
Practice makes perfect… or is it perfect to practice? I think practice is a part of the journey and it is the joy of learning that helps bring us farther in the art of practice. If you have the same joy to learn, I look forward to meeting you at the upcoming CE massage classes!
Find an upcoming neuromuscular therapy CE class near you by visiting the NHI Continuing Education page. These classes give you a glimpse into NHI’s Advanced Neuromuscular Therapy Program.
Ready for more? Get all the details about NHI’s Advanced Neuromuscular Therapy Program now. Complete this form to connect with an Admissions Representative.