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First Things First….What Is Massage Therapy? 

So, What Is It ...Exactly?          

Who Are Bear Heart Students? 

What Will Our Students Be Doing After Graduation?          

Why Attend Massage or Natural Health School?
 

WHAT TO THINK ABOUT WHEN CHOOSING YOUR SCHOOL  

Many definitions and preconceived ideas come to mind when this question is asked. Here is some history, benefits, and definitions about massage therapy for clarification. Massage is one of the oldest healing arts. Chinese records dating back over 3,000 years document its use; ancient cultures applied forms of massage for many ailments; and Hippocrates wrote papers recommending the use of rubbing and friction for joint and circulatory problems. Today, the benefits of massage are varied and far-reaching. As an accepted part of many physical rehabilitation programs, massage therapy has also proven beneficial for many chronic conditions, including low back pain, arthritis, bursitis, fatigue, high blood pressure, diabetes, immunity suppression, infertility, smoking cessation, depression to name a few. Many millions will attest that massage also helps relieve the stress and tension of everyday living that can lead to disease and illness. There are more than 250 variations of massage, bodywork, and somatic therapies and many practitioners utilize multiple techniques. The application of these techniques may include, but is not limited to, stroking, kneading, tapping, compression, vibration, rocking, friction, and pressure to the muscular structure or soft tissues of the human body. This may also include non-forceful passive or active movement and/or application of techniques intended to affect the energetic systems of the body. The use of oils, lotions, and powders may also be included to reduce friction on the skin and therapeutic effect.  Massage, bodywork and somatic therapies specifically exclude diagnosis, prescription, manipulation or adjustments of the human skeletal structure, or any other service, procedure or therapy which requires a license to practice orthopedics, physical therapy, podiatry, chiropractic, osteopathy, psychotherapy, acupuncture, or any other profession or branch of medicine.

So, What Is It ...Exactly?

Massage, bodywork, and somatic therapies are defined as the application of various techniques to the muscular structure and soft tissues of the human body. Specifically: Massage is the application of soft-tissue manipulation techniques to the body, generally intended to reduce stress and fatigue while improving circulation. The many variations of massage account for several different techniques.  The term bodywork includes various forms of touch therapies that may use manipulation, movement, and/or re-patterning to affect structural changes to the body. Somatic means “of the body”. Many times this term is used to denote a body/mind or whole-body approach as distinguished from a physiology-only or environmental perspective.

Who Are Bear Heart School of Massage Students?

Bear Heart School of Massage students share a common desire to improve their lives through the study of massage therapy and other holistic health practices, many in pursuit of this as a profession. Our students are interested in securing meaningful employment in the alternative health care industry, being self employed, creating their own alternative healing business, and are passionate about self improvement and their own growth. Drawn from all walks of life, they range from recent high school graduates to single parents, corporate employees, personal trainers, teachers, entry level employees, retired seniors, alternative practitioners of another discipline, individuals who feel a “calling’ to do healing work, and much more.

What Will Our Students Be Doing After Graduation?

Our graduates will literally make the world a healthier place by empowering and teaching their clients about: nutritional and herbal support for pain and stress, holistic and natural health choices that really work, Mind-Body interactions and healing, the benefits of stress reduction and practice, healing movements like Yoga, posture awareness, taking responsibly for their own health choices in the past and choosing better from now on just to name a few.

Who will you empower? Who will you teach? Who do you want to help?

Our graduates will also create businesses like: owning and operating a massage business, healing, and wellness centers, yoga instruction studios, natural retail and much more!

What will you create? What does your dream practice look like? Where will this knowledge take you?

Why Massage or Natural Health School?

It important for all students of healing modalities to first clearly define for themselves why they want to pursue a career in the healing arts. Helping others to heal and feel better is a wonderful way to make a living. Each student has their own reason to look into healing as a career: some have had a personal experience with it themselves or a loved one, some have a deep spiritual calling, some think it’s cool and can’t define why?, and others have no idea why they just know they don’t like where they are and it sounds good right now. There are many different ways to have a job or career in healing. Some professionals are full-time, some part-time, some are self-employed, some own healing centers of one kind or another, others are employed by day spas, physical therapy clinics, wellness centers, and the like. Healing practices of any kind are a challenging and very rewarding way to make a living. Whether a student is self-employed or employed by others there a few qualities that will greatly improve your success in the field. Successful professionals will be able to promote themselves, their services, and products they might carry or suggest. Having confidence in your abilities and being able to express that to potential clients is essential to building a meaningful, professional practice. Additional internal and personal qualities necessary for success are being: generally balanced in body, mind and spirit, self-correcting, self-initiating, self-directing, and self-adjusting, compassionate, and being personally and internally aware and growing, curious, explorative, risk taker, problem solver etc….does this sound like you?

Answer these questions about why for yourself:

Is this a short term job or is it a career path for me? How many of the qualities listed do I possess? How many qualities do I need to cultivate? Will my school of choice enhance my natural healing abilities and teach me technique? What is my inner motivation to do this work? What else?...       
                                

WHAT TO THINK ABOUT WHEN CHOOSING YOUR SCHOOL 

What should you look for?

The first step in selecting a training program is to ascertain the reason you are seeking training. Determining your purpose will assist you in evaluating the cost, value, length, and content of the specific courses you are considering. Where do you plan to practice? What are the regulatory requirements there? This information may help determine what type of program you consider and will be successful in. There are many schools to choose from with more opening everyday. How is the new student of massage and holistic health supposed to decide which one is best for them? Here are a few ideas about what you should ask yourself, think about, and questions to get answered to help find the best program for you.

Cost & What’s Included

What most students think about in the beginning is “how much is it going to cost?” a natural first question. Let’s look at the facts about cost: If it costs more, it must be better...right? WRONG!  The more a program costs does not necessarily mean it is a better program. The cost of a program has little to do with the quality of the instructors, the depth and breadth of the material covered, and the passion of the instructors about their profession and teaching.

Answer these questions about cost for yourself:

What do I get for the money and what is included? How much can I put down? How much can I afford to pay monthly? How much can I borrow? How much do I really need to borrow?  What kinds of costs will come up when school starts? Gas, child care…? Am I willing to relocate or change residences temporarily to save money for school and graduate with as little debt as possible? Am I ready for a change? What else….?

Curriculum & Instructor Qualifications

All programs should include a well rounded education, one that draws from the rich history of healing and blends with contemporary allopathic and holistic theories on healing and health. Instructors should have a solid education, a passion for teaching, have studied to teach, and have currently or have had successful practices themselves for many years.

Answer these questions about curriculum and instructors for yourself:

What kinds of textbooks, supportive material, and study guides are included?  Who are my instructors? When did they study? What are their specialties?  What are the instructor requirements? Does this program prepare me for today’s market for healing as a profession? What else….?

Location & Campus

The campus should be a reasonable travel distance for you. The facility needs to be safe, attractive, clean, and contemporary, with plenty of parking, and classrooms with everything you need to apply the practical skills you will acquire.

Answer these questions about campus and location for yourself:

What kinds of equipment do they have? What will it be like to study there? Is there flexibility to enhance my clientele building during school? What else….?

Schedule & Hours

Scheduling is a large piece of deciding where to go. All students want to get the most out of their education and their schedule can play a significant role in getting the best education for them. Students will want to verify what they are getting in terms of supervised and supported education. It is important to know what the professional standards are and research your prospective schools’ hours of education in comparison. Do they meet or exceed professional standards?

Answer these questions about the schedule for yourself:

What are the class and practical hour’s schedule? Are they flexible? Does it seem that the school cares about my life outside of class? Can I finish my education in a timely manner according to my vision of what my career will be? What will my life outside of class be like during school? What else….?

Integrity

One of the most difficult things to measure is the integrity of an institution. Integrity is can be defined as: “the quality of possessing and steadfastly adhering to high moral principles or professional standards and the possession of firm principles that are evident in action and deed”. Integrity is also known as an inner guidance system that motivates individuals to do the right thing for all concerned and not only acting for their own profit and reward, but helping others, the environment, and inspiring a community connection to uplift all, and seeking the greater good. The integrity of your school choice will not only define and shape your school experience it will contribute to your professional reputation.

Answer these questions about integrity for yourself:

Have I asked people who are in contact or have been in contact with this school what their experience was like? What is their local reputation, do they have credibility? How do they show that they care about their students and their clients? Are they honoring of other programs? Do they give back to the community? Are they environmentally conscious and spiritually respectful? Are the owners, directors and administrators connected to this profession or is this just a job? Why do they have a school? Do they walk their talk? What else….?                                                     

Accreditation

What accreditation is, and is not, is often misunderstood. Accreditation occurs when a school goes through an independent and voluntary process to qualify for Federal Financial Aid-Title IV funding. Typically schools have to be open and be operating for 2 years before they can apply for accreditation. It is not the same as being a state approved school and has little to do with the quality of education.  There are no known reasons why graduating from an non-accredited school will affect anything other than financial aid.Many poor and average schools have achieved accreditation and many excellent schools never seek it. It is important to choose your education programs based on what your vision of your employment and career are, references from qualified people you trust, and high, relevant educational standards for the profession.  The Council on Higher Education Accreditation- United States Department of Education web page states:

“CHEA recognized organizations must meet CHEA eligibility standards Accreditors exercise independent judgment about whether to seek CHEA recognition. For USDE recognition, accreditation from the organization is used by an institution or program to establish eligibility to participate in federal student aid or other federal programs Some accreditors cannot be considered for USDE recognition because they do not provide access to federal funds. Other accreditors have chosen not to pursue ESTE recognition. Because CHEA affiliation and USDE recognition depend on a range of factors, readers are strongly cautioned against making judgments about the quality of an accrediting organization and its institutions and programs based solely on CHEA or USDE status. Additional inquiry is essential.”

(www.chea.org/recognition/recognition.asp)
(www.ed.gov/about/office/list/ope/index.html)

Professional Association
Bear Heart School of Massage is constantly on the look out for professional groups and organizations that support, educate, standardize, and certify in the holistic health fields while honoring the art of healing and the individual therapist. These organizations function in various capacities from being a clearing house for health information to protecting freedom of choice in health care to promoting standards of education in training in the various fields. With these memberships and support BHSOM endeavors to support those who strive for excellence in education and for a holistic way of life. Once approved, Bear Heart School of Massage graduates may be eligible for membership and/or testing in the following associations and certification boards upon successful completion of the individual program requirements & to verify the program is approved before enrolling if it is a condition of your enrollment:

ABMP- Associated Bodywork and Massage Professionals

AMTA-American Massage Therapy Association

IMA-International Massage Association

AOBTA-American Organization for Bodywork Therapies of Asia

IFA-International Association of Aromatherapists

AIA-Alliance of International Aromatherapy

NAHA-National Association of Holistic Aromatherapy

RAA-Reflexology Association of America

ARC-Associated Reflexologists of Colorado   

ACARET-American Commission for Accreditation of Reflexology Education & Training

Yoga Alliance

Massage Doula Network

ACSM-American College of Sports Medicine

NCBTMB- National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork

ARC-Aromatherapy Registration Council

NCCAOM- National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine

ARCB-American Reflexology Certification Board