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Online classes - good or no good?

I live in CA, and have taken 275 hours of training, going for 500 hours. I've just given birth to my first son, however, and can't be away from him for as many hours as the classes take, so I've thought about taking classes online. What is the attitude towards on-line classes in the field, and does anybody know of Institute of Somatic Therapy? I can't see that they are included in the list of Private Postsecondary & Vocational Education Information (PPVEI) and I'm not sure whether the hours are accepted by AMTA and ABMP although they claim it. Any recommendations on how to proceed?

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Permalink Reply by Gloria Coppola on July 25, 2009 at 11:06pm

Hands on classes online - a no go. There is nothing like a live training and "receiving" the work too. No one to monitor to see if you are doing things correctly either.

Informational aka Ethics - works ok online.

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Permalink Reply by Lisbeth Geertsen on July 26, 2009 at 2:39pm

Thanks for your reply.

Gloria Coppola said:

Hands on classes online - a no go. There is nothing like a live training and "receiving" the work too. No one to monitor to see if you are doing things correctly either.

Informational aka Ethics - works ok online.

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Permalink Reply by Elena Barrioz on July 26, 2009 at 5:39pm

Congratulations on the birth of your child and you're right about needing to be close by for him. They go through so many changes, especially that first year.

I agree with Gloria, there's nothing like receiving to give you better insight on how a technique feels. Also an instructor and other classmates can give great feedback as to whether the stance is right, the firmness of touch, etc., plus you can tell for yourself if the position you're using for the technique is awkward or free flowing.

I haven't looked into Somatic Therapy so don't know too much about it, but I would highly recommend that you talk with someone at AMTA and/or ABMP (make sure to get their name) to verify the claim that the hours are accepted by them for classes taken at Institute of Somatic Therapy.

Best of luck -- Elena

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Permalink Reply by Kevin M. Deighan on July 26, 2009 at 5:56pm

Hi Lizbeth,
Congrats to the new addition to your family!
While I can agree that there is no subsitute for instructor & hands on training in a clinic setting, I also feel that most on-line courses are great for education and experiencing new modalities. I only can speak for myself as I have taken several courses on line due to my heavy workload ( my massage business is full time), but I have found it to be a great alternative to compliment my lifestyle. Everyone is different, some require instructor/hands on...but if you have a good basic knowledge of massage, bodywork, anatomy, etc learning a new modality on-line is a great way to expand your offerings.

Best of luck with your newborn and be well!

Kevin Deighan

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Permalink Reply by Susan G. Salvo on July 26, 2009 at 6:02pm

Online classes are GREAT as a supplemental learning tool. I’m developing online courses now and I am amazed what can be done with digital technology.

SO, I write a paragraph and then add a popup feature to define thixotropy. Oh, hard to pronounce? No problem, I can add an audio glossary in English AND Spanish. Oh, forgot what where piriformis is? No problem, I can add a popup graphic illustration to show it and it’s relationship to the sciatic nerve. Oh, can’t remember how to do skin rolling? No problem, I can embed a video of that technique.

And then there are the photo galleries --- they are awesome. Try to image 25 photos of diabetic complications or 25 skin lesions you will see in your practice.

It feels like wikipedia for massage therapists and bodyworkers.

And then there are the online discussion boards and webquests and case studies where you can use the web to research medication side effects (on reliable sites, of course). Or network with other students, educators, authors, therapists, researchers… We’ll look at where we are right now; using online resources to discuss important topics.

Not to mention massage youtube videos – oh yes – last spring I’m supervising student clinics and we haven’t had pregnancy massage in several months. Your next client is 8 months pregnant and you’ve forgotten how to bolster and drape a lady in advanced pregnancy. Quick solution? Go on youtube and view a video on the topic posted by your instructor last month so you could have this valuable resource. Graduates LOVE the review videos of chair massage and foot massage. Oh, then there is the “Ms Susan, my client has a headache. What do I do?" Let me introduce (or re-introduce) you to youtube.

I LOVE having, using, and creating online resources. The future is bright and is getting brighter. It is limited only by our imagination….

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Permalink Reply by Amy - LMT & Licensed Esthetician on July 28, 2009 at 7:30am

I am currently enrolled in an online program in OH. One of the toughest states for their state board. Ohio College of Massotherapy.

It is an Associate Degree 2 year program. 1100+ hours. Anatomy & Phys are online. The hands on classes are done in weekend seminars. Since you are from CA this probably wouldn't work for you in the seminars but this has been a very rewarding experience for me. Since the classes are online you have to work harder since you don't have the interaction that you get in a "live" classroom.

Good luck to you!

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Permalink Reply by Mike Hinkle on July 28, 2009 at 7:54am

Hi Susan,

Does the translation aspects work well with your software into Spanish? When I was in Florida at the state convention, I noticed a huge language barrier for most of the kids just getting into massage. If you could get programs into that area, there is a huge market. The schools teaching these kids could help train them afterwards with them returning to the school for these cont. ed. classes. Hope all is well.

Susan G. Salvo said:

Online classes are GREAT as a supplemental learning tool. I’m developing online courses now and I am amazed what can be done with digital technology.

SO, I write a paragraph and then add a popup feature to define thixotropy. Oh, hard to pronounce? No problem, I can add an audio glossary in English AND Spanish. Oh, forgot what where piriformis is? No problem, I can add a popup graphic illustration to show it and it’s relationship to the sciatic nerve. Oh, can’t remember how to do skin rolling? No problem, I can embed a video of that technique.

And then there are the photo galleries --- they are awesome. Try to image 25 photos of diabetic complications or 25 skin lesions you will see in your practice.

It feels like wikipedia for massage therapists and bodyworkers.

And then there are the online discussion boards and webquests and case studies where you can use the web to research medication side effects (on reliable sites, of course). Or network with other students, educators, authors, therapists, researchers… We’ll look at where we are right now; using online resources to discuss important topics.

Not to mention massage youtube videos – oh yes – last spring I’m supervising student clinics and we haven’t had pregnancy massage in several months. Your next client is 8 months pregnant and you’ve forgotten how to bolster and drape a lady in advanced pregnancy. Quick solution? Go on youtube and view a video on the topic posted by your instructor last month so you could have this valuable resource. Graduates LOVE the review videos of chair massage and foot massage. Oh, then there is the “Ms Susan, my client has a headache. What do I do?" Let me introduce (or re-introduce) you to youtube.

I LOVE having, using, and creating online resources. The future is bright and is getting brighter. It is limited only by our imagination….

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Permalink Reply by Punkie Spelts on July 29, 2009 at 4:32pm

Hi Lisbeth,
Congratulations!!!

I too live in California. Online accredited courses are accepted as well as in house courses as long as you can get your hands-on time in with an instructor. Keep in mind that the new SB 731 law is taking effect as of August 1, 2009. You can apply for your Certified Massage Practitioner license through CAMTC, The California Massage Therapy Council, their web site is www.camtc.org. Check the site to see if your curriculum meets the requirements. CMP starts at 250 hours with certain course requirements. If you are unsure if you meet the curriculum requirements you can fax a copy of your transcripts for pre-approval after August 1st. I also agree with everyone about looking into the AMTA or ABMP, their web sites offer a great deal of info.
Good Luck...