Curriculum / Hours / Grading
Students may complete their full massage therapy education requirements on- site at the Therapeutic Bodywork Learning Center. Hours mentioned below are for the entire program of 500 hours of in- class training.

Customized programs: Students determine (with the help of staff) on the onset of their course, how many hours of hands- on training are needed to acquire their educational goals. Hours needed are determined by the customized training program signed up for.

* NOTE:See MIM's; the National Certification Board in Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork (NCBTMB); or the Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards MBLEx) catalogues for a fuller explanation of creating customized programs.

All students are given practical evaluations as well as written or on-line tests. A letter grade is given based on the ability to understand and apply the techniques taught. Students must maintain a "C" (2.0) above to pass.

I. Anatomy, Physiology & Kinesiology (125 hours)

1. General Knowledge of the Body systems: integumentary (skin), skeletal, muscular, nervous, endocrine, cardiovascular, lymphatic, urinary, respiratory, gastrointestinal, reproductive, craniosacral, energetic, meridian, chakras
2. Anatomical positions & terminology ( e.g. planes, directions)
3. Individual muscles/ muscle groups
4. Muscle attachments
5. Muscle fiber direction
6. Tendons
7. Fascia
8. Joint structure & movements (e.g. flexion, extension)
9. Ligaments
10. Bursar
11. Dermatomes
12. Response of the body to stress
13. Basic nutrition principles
14. Types of muscle contractions (e.g. eccentric, concentric, isometric)
15. Proprioception

II. Pathology (40 hrs.)

1. Medical terminology
2. Etiology of a disease
3. Modes of contagious disease transmission (e.g. blood, saliva)
4. Signs & symptoms of a disease
5. Effects of psychological & emotional states (e.g. depression, anxiety, grief, trauma)
6. Indications for massage therapy
7. Contraindications (cautions) - Students are expected to know precautionary conditions and complete contrary health situations to massage therapy. They learn to retrieve this information by learning the proper questions to ask on the initial phone call, how to create and take an initial intake form, keep client records, and how to observe for contraindications.
8. Principles of Injury Care: (acute versus chronic conditions)
9. Basic pharmacology
10. Effects of life stages (e.g. childhood. Pregnancy, geriatric)

III. Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork Applications

(100 hr.) Therapeutic Massage: A study of basic Swedish massage theory, techniques, pathology, proper draping of clients, assessing clients’ needs and expectations, and appropriate interaction between practitioner and client. Lecture, demo, instructional, and practical applications.

(15 hr.) Postural Evaluation: More skills in accessing & balancing clients stress by observing their posture and gait patterns. Information can be used to determine appropriate treatment of musculature.

(20 hr.) Body Mechanics: Self-assessment skills for the therapist to determine how to use their own body safely while performing bodywork sessions. Techniques include concepts from Yoga and Tai Chi. This study contributes to better client postural assessment skills as well.

(20 hr.) Infant /Pregnancy/ Geriatric Massage: The student gains an understanding of benefits, contraindications and how to apply technique and pressure in each situation.

(20 hr.) Sports Massage: The focus is to help with pre-event and post- event activities on athletes and instruction on injury pathology.

(20 hr.) Hydro/ Cryo Therapy: Instruction on the local effects of heat and cold for the rehabilitation of muscle tissue. Includes Aromatherapy & Hot Stone Massage

(8 hr.) Aromatherapy: The safe utilization of essential oils for medicinal topical skin lubrications, disinfectant sprays, etc.

(8 hr.) Hot Stone Massage: Creating a spa like experience utilizing hot stones safely in a dry room (no sink).

(10 hr.) On-site Massage / Head- Neck Techniques: Focus on seated massage techniques easily used in the executive office or employee work setting. Specialized head and neck techniques that can be integrated into a therapeutic massage for a more localized massage.

(5 hr.) Therapeutic Spa Facial Massage: How to create a spa like experience with a dry room (no sink). This includes knowledge of skin conditions & pathologies, with both massage indications & contraindications.

(8 hr.) Foot Massage & Intro to Foot Reflexology: Basic intro to Ingram Foot Reflexology Theory and how to access and treat body energy through specific points on the feet.

(8 hr.) AcuTherapy: Light touch techniques working with the golgi- tendon reflex that are great for the client who has an issue with disrobing or for those extra tight muscles that a deeper tissue massage is not appropriate for.

(16 hr.) Reiki I & II Certification Course: Usui/ Tibetan healing practices utilizing meditation, assessment, symbols, attunement and distance healing techniques. Energy Healing

(20 hr.) Intro to Oriental Acupressure: Basic intro to Chinese Yin / Yang and elemental theory, and general knowledge of meridians and points. Focus is to give practitioner more skills in assessing and treating clients. Light touch energy healing that can easily be integrated into a Swedish Massage.

(13 hr.) Intro to Polarity: Basic intro into another modality of light touch energy/massage techniques developed by Dr. Randolph Stone, D.O. that can easily be integrated into a Swedish Massage. By understanding the hand positioning it will help better understand how energy moves when giving a Swedish massage.

IV. Professional Standards, Ethics, Business & Legal practices (60 hrs.)

1. Maintaining professional boundaries while responding to clients emotional needs
2. Client interviewing techniques
3. Communication with other health care professionals
4. When to refer clients to other health care professionals
5. Verbal & nonverbal communication skills
6. NCBTMB Code of Ethics & Standards of practice
7. Issues of Confidentiality
8. Scope of Practice
9. Planning strategies of single & multiple sessions
10. Session record keeping
11. Basic business & accounting practices
12. Regulations pertaining to Federal Income taxes
13. State & local credential requirements
14. Legal entities (e.g. employee, independent contractor)
15. Liability insurance (e.g. need for, where to get)
16. Marketing Strategies

V. Two private tutorials will be provided to each student as part of their training hours.

NOTE: Donna Kraft- Smith, LMT is your primary instructor for most in – class training. Other instructors will be brought in periodically.