School was Basic Training - Continuing Educaton and Work creates Polished Therapists

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Mike Hinkle on July 31, 2009 at 11:34am

All great comments, guys, I guess we'll find out what the MTBOK Committee comes out with in May 2010. Because until the guidelines are set, we're just blowing in the wind. Keep 'um coming though, there is still a lot of questions and ideas out there.

Gloria Coppola said:

Shawn
Thanks for your input and I am glad you mentioned your training was 8 months.

My argument Mike, was that these 6 month programs don't give the time for students to absorb most of what they need to 'master' their basic training. I personally hate them!

Yes, perhaps the cost might be a little higher. However, in listening to people complain about the pricing for continuing education and not being able to 'afford' it because it usually requires travel expenses too. I don't feel the slightly higher pricing is necessarily a bad idea. Many individuals are also receiving grant monies, loans etc, that weren't available many years ago.

I personally would want the 'better' education, more informed, more hands on practice etc. I have listened to alot of students post trainings that were shorter and Most of them did complain and wish they had more time to practice and get the confidence they lacked. It's like choosing a home study course vs. a university in a sense.

I feel the more we decrease the time/hours and keep it so simple , personally it is a disservice to all of us.
I feel this is a health care profession and health care professionals have much more extensive training.

I have seen even spa therapists not know how to handle problems, ailments etc., and cause harm.

I want my students to be confident, knowledgeable, skilled and prepared.

I also love Shawns comment about the intent of healing. This is so true. Many "tech" schools do not even address this aspect.

Just my feelings of course!

Shawn Maria Brinza said:

I came from a 600 hour requirement school and I was released into the world filled to the gills with information about so many modalities, enthusiasm about being free to learn about anything I wanted, confidence from those 8 months of training. We practiced and recieved massage every single day. We had out-reaches every weekend. We left prepared... but knowing that our education was just beginning. The problem was the cost of the classes that I wanted to take. Being a single mother of 3. The World Massage Festival has made a big difference to people who needed a break in overall cost. Lets face it, most 2 day seminars are around $275. than if its out of town you have hotel and food. Now if you only make 1500. per month and it takes 1200 to run your house, it doesn't work..Mike Hinkle has put together a festival and shown the entire profession how it can be done at a reasonable cost to us. Associations PLEASE TAKE NOTES.....Those who have paved their ways in life and can afford to pay, bless them but lets not make it hard for the loving caring souls who have not had such financial blessing...
I have only been in this fabulous profession for 5 years. I too find that at renewal time I have way over the amount of credits needed. With the exception of course, ethics, law,,,,,those I usually have to refresh a bit...BUT, my point here is that some teachers and / or curriculums infuse the true joys of our work. In taking the healing intent and spiritual linage out of the school curriculum, I am not speaking religion here but truth about the powers of intent. It seems in many cases health care professionals are all about the money.. not healing.
Making the basic program 2000 hours wont help if we arent teaching our students to love learning what it is that we all do... Learning, expressing through touch

Being able to move across the country and support my journey as I go with massage has been and is a dream for me..To touch, teach and expand the universe one person at a time. Just think how much more sharing of knowledge from state to state. So many who have never had a massage might be exposed, or introduced to something new... All of us vote away our rights every day by making things so complicated... if we could shed the great american way of making 100 new laws to cover one small topic.

KEEP IT SIMPLE, KEEP IT INEXPENSIVE, Please, this could be quite simple. Resiprocity, can't spell it but I like the sound of it...

I would like to be able to travel from place to place and legally massage as I go... why not.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Mike Hinkle on July 31, 2009 at 12:09pm

And she's a GREAT lady too. Gloria is a true bidgebuilder!

Gloria Coppola said:

Shawn
Thanks for your input and I am glad you mentioned your training was 8 months.

My argument Mike, was that these 6 month programs don't give the time for students to absorb most of what they need to 'master' their basic training. I personally hate them!

Yes, perhaps the cost might be a little higher. However, in listening to people complain about the pricing for continuing education and not being able to 'afford' it because it usually requires travel expenses too. I don't feel the slightly higher pricing is necessarily a bad idea. Many individuals are also receiving grant monies, loans etc, that weren't available many years ago.

I personally would want the 'better' education, more informed, more hands on practice etc. I have listened to alot of students post trainings that were shorter and Most of them did complain and wish they had more time to practice and get the confidence they lacked. It's like choosing a home study course vs. a university in a sense.

I feel the more we decrease the time/hours and keep it so simple , personally it is a disservice to all of us.
I feel this is a health care profession and health care professionals have much more extensive training.

I have seen even spa therapists not know how to handle problems, ailments etc., and cause harm.

I want my students to be confident, knowledgeable, skilled and prepared.

I also love Shawns comment about the intent of healing. This is so true. Many "tech" schools do not even address this aspect.

Just my feelings of course!

Shawn Maria Brinza said:

I came from a 600 hour requirement school and I was released into the world filled to the gills with information about so many modalities, enthusiasm about being free to learn about anything I wanted, confidence from those 8 months of training. We practiced and recieved massage every single day. We had out-reaches every weekend. We left prepared... but knowing that our education was just beginning. The problem was the cost of the classes that I wanted to take. Being a single mother of 3. The World Massage Festival has made a big difference to people who needed a break in overall cost. Lets face it, most 2 day seminars are around $275. than if its out of town you have hotel and food. Now if you only make 1500. per month and it takes 1200 to run your house, it doesn't work..Mike Hinkle has put together a festival and shown the entire profession how it can be done at a reasonable cost to us. Associations PLEASE TAKE NOTES.....Those who have paved their ways in life and can afford to pay, bless them but lets not make it hard for the loving caring souls who have not had such financial blessing...
I have only been in this fabulous profession for 5 years. I too find that at renewal time I have way over the amount of credits needed. With the exception of course, ethics, law,,,,,those I usually have to refresh a bit...BUT, my point here is that some teachers and / or curriculums infuse the true joys of our work. In taking the healing intent and spiritual linage out of the school curriculum, I am not speaking religion here but truth about the powers of intent. It seems in many cases health care professionals are all about the money.. not healing.
Making the basic program 2000 hours wont help if we arent teaching our students to love learning what it is that we all do... Learning, expressing through touch

Being able to move across the country and support my journey as I go with massage has been and is a dream for me..To touch, teach and expand the universe one person at a time. Just think how much more sharing of knowledge from state to state. So many who have never had a massage might be exposed, or introduced to something new... All of us vote away our rights every day by making things so complicated... if we could shed the great american way of making 100 new laws to cover one small topic.

KEEP IT SIMPLE, KEEP IT INEXPENSIVE, Please, this could be quite simple. Resiprocity, can't spell it but I like the sound of it...

I would like to be able to travel from place to place and legally massage as I go... why not.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Gloria Coppola on July 31, 2009 at 2:30pm

LOL
Been building Bridges for a LONG time.

FYI - My first Healing arts Event in New Jersey about 20 years ago was called "Building Bridges"
I thought it interested you use the same verbage! ;)
Ahh, those great minds!

Some organization would be good, any at all . Looking forward to the committees guidelines!

Mike Hinkle said:

And she's a GREAT lady too. Gloria is a true bidgebuilder!

Gloria Coppola said:

Shawn
Thanks for your input and I am glad you mentioned your training was 8 months.

My argument Mike, was that these 6 month programs don't give the time for students to absorb most of what they need to 'master' their basic training. I personally hate them!

Yes, perhaps the cost might be a little higher. However, in listening to people complain about the pricing for continuing education and not being able to 'afford' it because it usually requires travel expenses too. I don't feel the slightly higher pricing is necessarily a bad idea. Many individuals are also receiving grant monies, loans etc, that weren't available many years ago.

I personally would want the 'better' education, more informed, more hands on practice etc. I have listened to alot of students post trainings that were shorter and Most of them did complain and wish they had more time to practice and get the confidence they lacked. It's like choosing a home study course vs. a university in a sense.

I feel the more we decrease the time/hours and keep it so simple , personally it is a disservice to all of us.
I feel this is a health care profession and health care professionals have much more extensive training.

I have seen even spa therapists not know how to handle problems, ailments etc., and cause harm.

I want my students to be confident, knowledgeable, skilled and prepared.

I also love Shawns comment about the intent of healing. This is so true. Many "tech" schools do not even address this aspect.

Just my feelings of course!

Shawn Maria Brinza said:

I came from a 600 hour requirement school and I was released into the world filled to the gills with information about so many modalities, enthusiasm about being free to learn about anything I wanted, confidence from those 8 months of training. We practiced and recieved massage every single day. We had out-reaches every weekend. We left prepared... but knowing that our education was just beginning. The problem was the cost of the classes that I wanted to take. Being a single mother of 3. The World Massage Festival has made a big difference to people who needed a break in overall cost. Lets face it, most 2 day seminars are around $275. than if its out of town you have hotel and food. Now if you only make 1500. per month and it takes 1200 to run your house, it doesn't work..Mike Hinkle has put together a festival and shown the entire profession how it can be done at a reasonable cost to us. Associations PLEASE TAKE NOTES.....Those who have paved their ways in life and can afford to pay, bless them but lets not make it hard for the loving caring souls who have not had such financial blessing...
I have only been in this fabulous profession for 5 years. I too find that at renewal time I have way over the amount of credits needed. With the exception of course, ethics, law,,,,,those I usually have to refresh a bit...BUT, my point here is that some teachers and / or curriculums infuse the true joys of our work. In taking the healing intent and spiritual linage out of the school curriculum, I am not speaking religion here but truth about the powers of intent. It seems in many cases health care professionals are all about the money.. not healing.
Making the basic program 2000 hours wont help if we arent teaching our students to love learning what it is that we all do... Learning, expressing through touch

Being able to move across the country and support my journey as I go with massage has been and is a dream for me..To touch, teach and expand the universe one person at a time. Just think how much more sharing of knowledge from state to state. So many who have never had a massage might be exposed, or introduced to something new... All of us vote away our rights every day by making things so complicated... if we could shed the great american way of making 100 new laws to cover one small topic.

KEEP IT SIMPLE, KEEP IT INEXPENSIVE, Please, this could be quite simple. Resiprocity, can't spell it but I like the sound of it...

I would like to be able to travel from place to place and legally massage as I go... why not.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Mike Hinkle on July 31, 2009 at 3:06pm

I get mine from a poem by Will Allen Dromgoole. I accepted this as my credo in 1972 and have used it ever since in all my efforts. I have made a copy of the poem below. Keep the Faith!

It is also the name of the World Massage Festival Program. Here are our last three:

2007 http://www.worldmassagefestival.com/home1.html

2008 http://www.worldmassagefestival.com/2008/index.html

2009 http://www.worldmassagefestival.com/2009/index.html



THE BRIDGE BUILDER

An old man, going a lone highway,
Came at the evening, cold and gray,
To chasm, vast and deep and wide,
Through which was flowing a sullen tide.
The old man crossed in the twilight dim;
The sullen stream had no fears for him;
But he turned when safe on the other side
And built a bridge to span the tide.

"Old man," said a fellow pilgrim near,
"You are wasting strength with building here;
Your journey will end with the ending day;
You never again must pass this way;
You have crossed the chasm, deep and wide --
Why build you the bridge at the eventide?"

The builder lifted his old gray head:
"Good friend, in the path I have come," he said,
"There followeth after me today
A youth whose feet must pass this way.
This chasm that has been naught to me
To that fair-haired youth may a pit-fall be,
He, too, must cross in the twilight dim;
Good friend, I am building the bridge for him."

Will Allen Dromgoole

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by ASIS Massage Education on July 31, 2009 at 3:06pm

I agree with you Laura. As the workshop coordinator for ASIS Massage Education, I have people that have gone to other schools outside of ASIS signing up for workshops all the time based solely on fulfilling the continuing education requirement, rather than the desire to keep learning or to specialize. For myself, I'm more like you in that I seek out classes that make one go "hmmm" (things that make you go hmmmm, hmmm, hmmm...a little humor). This is why I try to find really interesting CE classes at our school like "ASIS Beyond the Table: Somatic Expression for Bodyworkers" or "Anatomy Trains" or "Rocking the Body" or "Transpersonal Psychology" or "Craniosacral from a Biodynamic Perspective."

We pride ourselves at ASIS in fostering therapists that are able to provide a multi-facted approach via our integrative and thorough program which gives them a solid tool box to begin their professional career right away while inspiring many to specialize by continuing their studies. Our biggest concern is seeing more folks seeking to fulfill their massage education on-line. We feel this is a greedy disservice to the potential therapist and their clients. Who is going to guide them on appropriate touch, the proprioceptive and sensory feedback via an instructor or the many bodies via their fellow students and clients in the student clinic? I'm a filmmaker myself and I know that people are making big bucks via on-line education. However, I'm a massage therapist first and I was extremely fortunate to have amazing teachers 14 years ago and throughout my career that experientially provided me with integrative tools, a masterful feedback loop and guidance which facilitated a safe space for me to make mistakes and try again.

Laura Allen said:

You're dead on the money about continuing education and work experience. School is just basic training. I am appalled at the therapists who view continuing education as some sort of burden they have to bear, and I hear that all the time. I've had people tell me they know everything they need to know and that continuing education is just a money racket for massage boards.

The more I think I know, the more I find out I don't know squat. There are some brilliant people on these pages that are so far above what I ever hope to be. And I'm not saying that lightly, because I've managed to have a few good accomplishments of my own.

I have been fortunate to take a lot of continuing education, and I have way over the hours I need for every renewal period. I want to find things that inspire me--classes that make me go, "hmmm, I should be doing that." I seek out classes that give me new ways to help clients, new ways to improve my business skills, new ways of thinking. I'm just an old dog trying to learn new tricks, and I look forward to learning them and sharing them with others. It's not a burden. It's a privilege.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by ASIS Massage Education on July 31, 2009 at 3:12pm

Great poem Mike...we'd love to share this with our teachers.

Peace to you,
Bradley Blalock LMT
ASIS Massage Education

Mike Hinkle said:

I get mine from a poem by Will Allen Dromgoole. I accepted this as my credo in 1972 and have used it ever since in all my efforts. I have made a copy of the poem below. Keep the Faith!

It is also the name of the World Massage Festival Program. Here are our last three:

2007 http://www.worldmassagefestival.com/home1.html

2008 http://www.worldmassagefestival.com/2008/index.html

2009 http://www.worldmassagefestival.com/2009/index.html



THE BRIDGE BUILDER

An old man, going a lone highway,
Came at the evening, cold and gray,
To chasm, vast and deep and wide,
Through which was flowing a sullen tide.
The old man crossed in the twilight dim;
The sullen stream had no fears for him;
But he turned when safe on the other side
And built a bridge to span the tide.

"Old man," said a fellow pilgrim near,
"You are wasting strength with building here;
Your journey will end with the ending day;
You never again must pass this way;
You have crossed the chasm, deep and wide --
Why build you the bridge at the eventide?"

The builder lifted his old gray head:
"Good friend, in the path I have come," he said,
"There followeth after me today
A youth whose feet must pass this way.
This chasm that has been naught to me
To that fair-haired youth may a pit-fall be,
He, too, must cross in the twilight dim;
Good friend, I am building the bridge for him."

Will Allen Dromgoole

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Mike Hinkle on July 31, 2009 at 3:20pm

Go For It!!! That's what we are here for, to make it easier for others. To learn something and keep it to yourself is selfish. Pass on what you learn.

ASIS Massage Education said:

Great poem Mike...we'd love to share this with our teachers.

Peace to you,
Bradley Blalock LMT
ASIS Massage Education

Mike Hinkle said:

I get mine from a poem by Will Allen Dromgoole. I accepted this as my credo in 1972 and have used it ever since in all my efforts. I have made a copy of the poem below. Keep the Faith!

It is also the name of the World Massage Festival Program. Here are our last three:

2007 http://www.worldmassagefestival.com/home1.html

2008 http://www.worldmassagefestival.com/2008/index.html

2009 http://www.worldmassagefestival.com/2009/index.html



THE BRIDGE BUILDER

An old man, going a lone highway,
Came at the evening, cold and gray,
To chasm, vast and deep and wide,
Through which was flowing a sullen tide.
The old man crossed in the twilight dim;
The sullen stream had no fears for him;
But he turned when safe on the other side
And built a bridge to span the tide.

"Old man," said a fellow pilgrim near,
"You are wasting strength with building here;
Your journey will end with the ending day;
You never again must pass this way;
You have crossed the chasm, deep and wide --
Why build you the bridge at the eventide?"

The builder lifted his old gray head:
"Good friend, in the path I have come," he said,
"There followeth after me today
A youth whose feet must pass this way.
This chasm that has been naught to me
To that fair-haired youth may a pit-fall be,
He, too, must cross in the twilight dim;
Good friend, I am building the bridge for him."

Will Allen Dromgoole

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Michelle Burroughs on August 2, 2009 at 10:11am

While schools are designed to be basic training perhaps we could look into the quality of instructors providing the education. We had insturctors with no "how to educate" training. Much of classroom time was spent discussing stories of similarities between the subject and the "real life experiences" of the instructors had come to be. With the emphasys being on the stories not the text. Many of us would sit in bewilderment as to how we could have invested this much time and money into something that was so unorganized. During the time when we would practice technique, it was ever apparent that some people were just not cut out to be therapists. They lacked the basic skill of being able to touch someone and feel the tension. They lacked the basic understanding of what a specific muscle did and how it should function. They lacked the ability to assess the restriction and provide an educated guess on how to help release it. As I completed the school going part time at night because I had a day job, it became more and more appearant that reading the text provided would be more beneficial than the classroom work. Having completed my required 650 hours of school training and graduating (along with those that seemed to lack key skills), I studied for 3 days solids before taking boards. I went over everything technical the science, the anatomy, physiology, and psychology. I reviewed solidly. I took and passed my boards ironcically with questions like what color is associated with grief. I didn't pay attention to that in school as that wasn't anything that I was intretested in pursuing. But I passed with high marks and unfortunately give little credit to my schooling. Since graduating I have opened my own business - my intent all through school. I had my business plan ready to go early on. I am now celebrating two years of successful practice and have grown much faster than anticipated. I have saught out continuing education that is guided toward the type of work that I prefer to do. I after working with my clients for a few months I began to pursue courses that would help me to help them. I have been focused on medical and oncology. I conitnue to base my continuing ed on my clients. I know that there are schools set up that do a fabulous job educating the students. I wish I could have attended one of those. Until there is uniformity in instruction unfortunately there will be too many book smart therapists out there with poor practical skills.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Gloria Coppola on August 2, 2009 at 3:13pm

Michelle,
You are so correct - many schools hire instructors aka baby sitters right out of studying massage. They have never taught anything and some never even practiced successfully.

There should definitely be some requirements there. I agree!

While not everyone may have a college teaching degree and do not necessarily need it to be an effective teacher; they should have at least 5 years in the business, in my opinion. They should apprentice with an effective instructor before being allowed to teach anything. They should be required to put together a lesson plan and demonstrate their abilities to organize, present and provide a hands on demo. Colleagues should interview them and throw out questions to challenge them and situations. If they can't handle an hour interview set up in this format, how will they be able to handle a class.

There are some schools now offering teacher training programs. If you have never taught, this would be a good idea too!

So Yes - whoever creates the standards "one day", should definitely make sure teachers have some basic training/experience before throwing them into a new class.

I've been involved in many schools across the US. I got hired to basically undo the damage done . I was thrown literally into the lions den, very often with very angry students. So unfortunate! I have seen this all too often. I was the peacemaker and the supporter and eventually they got to learn something after the anger dissipated.

I am on a committee currently with individuals who are in the process of getting a massage school approved.
I had a huge influence in its curriculum, but more importantly I am adamant that they DO NOT hire anyone without experience. I personally want to be involved in the interview process and not just take someone to teach because there is no one else...which, again unfortunately happens ALOT!

I was hired by a school in my region a few years ago. They needed an A&P instructor DESPERATELY. They Begged me literally, I repeatedly said NO, it is not my forte. I got several phone calls 'pleading'. Finally, I said I will fill in and do my best with no guarantees, as they find someone else. I knew in my heart, however, that I would put my ALL into this and make sure I could provide the students with the training the expected.

Due to my personal committment, the students loved the course, successfully passed and we had FUN too. I taught for a few semesters, altho hands on is what I love most and I found a way to bring this into the A&P class. Unfortunately the school owner preferred someone who would just sit there and read from a book. We parted our ways and the class was furious, because they could read the book at home themselves.

So sad! So it is not only the instructors, it is the owners too! They want the programs set up like a cookie cutter program, no creativity, no interaction, no participation. Just show up and be a robot. Get 'em in, get 'em out. And by the way - I have heard owners say that.

So people, if you think you can teach or would like to...apprentice with someone...go for a training. Take a few years to learn the "Skills" required and how to work with individuals on all learning levels....then bring your passion to us and share your knowledge and love of massage! We are waiting for YOU!

Michelle Burroughs said:

While schools are designed to be basic training perhaps we could look into the quality of instructors providing the education. We had insturctors with no "how to educate" training. Much of classroom time was spent discussing stories of similarities between the subject and the "real life experiences" of the instructors had come to be. With the emphasys being on the stories not the text. Many of us would sit in bewilderment as to how we could have invested this much time and money into something that was so unorganized. During the time when we would practice technique, it was ever apparent that some people were just not cut out to be therapists. They lacked the basic skill of being able to touch someone and feel the tension. They lacked the basic understanding of what a specific muscle did and how it should function. They lacked the ability to assess the restriction and provide an educated guess on how to help release it. As I completed the school going part time at night because I had a day job, it became more and more appearant that reading the text provided would be more beneficial than the classroom work. Having completed my required 650 hours of school training and graduating (along with those that seemed to lack key skills), I studied for 3 days solids before taking boards. I went over everything technical the science, the anatomy, physiology, and psychology. I reviewed solidly. I took and passed my boards ironcically with questions like what color is associated with grief. I didn't pay attention to that in school as that wasn't anything that I was intretested in pursuing. But I passed with high marks and unfortunately give little credit to my schooling. Since graduating I have opened my own business - my intent all through school. I had my business plan ready to go early on. I am now celebrating two years of successful practice and have grown much faster than anticipated. I have saught out continuing education that is guided toward the type of work that I prefer to do. I after working with my clients for a few months I began to pursue courses that would help me to help them. I have been focused on medical and oncology. I conitnue to base my continuing ed on my clients. I know that there are schools set up that do a fabulous job educating the students. I wish I could have attended one of those. Until there is uniformity in instruction unfortunately there will be too many book smart therapists out there with poor practical skills.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Mike Hinkle on August 3, 2009 at 12:52pm

Good points Michelle!

Michelle Burroughs said:

While schools are designed to be basic training perhaps we could look into the quality of instructors providing the education. We had insturctors with no "how to educate" training. Much of classroom time was spent discussing stories of similarities between the subject and the "real life experiences" of the instructors had come to be. With the emphasys being on the stories not the text. Many of us would sit in bewilderment as to how we could have invested this much time and money into something that was so unorganized. During the time when we would practice technique, it was ever apparent that some people were just not cut out to be therapists. They lacked the basic skill of being able to touch someone and feel the tension. They lacked the basic understanding of what a specific muscle did and how it should function. They lacked the ability to assess the restriction and provide an educated guess on how to help release it. As I completed the school going part time at night because I had a day job, it became more and more appearant that reading the text provided would be more beneficial than the classroom work. Having completed my required 650 hours of school training and graduating (along with those that seemed to lack key skills), I studied for 3 days solids before taking boards. I went over everything technical the science, the anatomy, physiology, and psychology. I reviewed solidly. I took and passed my boards ironcically with questions like what color is associated with grief. I didn't pay attention to that in school as that wasn't anything that I was intretested in pursuing. But I passed with high marks and unfortunately give little credit to my schooling. Since graduating I have opened my own business - my intent all through school. I had my business plan ready to go early on. I am now celebrating two years of successful practice and have grown much faster than anticipated. I have saught out continuing education that is guided toward the type of work that I prefer to do. I after working with my clients for a few months I began to pursue courses that would help me to help them. I have been focused on medical and oncology. I conitnue to base my continuing ed on my clients. I know that there are schools set up that do a fabulous job educating the students. I wish I could have attended one of those. Until there is uniformity in instruction unfortunately there will be too many book smart therapists out there with poor practical skills.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Brenda S. D*** on August 3, 2009 at 2:08pm

Mike, first let me say how great it is to have this site to communicate thoughts and ideas with one another. I believe education is vital to our profession. I agree with you that a student needs to understand that it is up to them to be willing to get the knowledge to be a part of any profession. Which, in my opionion, means being willing to take what ever classes in what ever time-frame necessary to achieve optimum knowledge. When I first gratuated from OSM, I went to a therapist just up the street from me. I was having trouble with my anterior tibialis and asked her if she would work in this area. She looked at me puzzled and asked where this muscle was? I was floored as she had been out of massage school just 2 years. I think it is so important, especially today, with the intergration of medical massage, that educational schools provide a strong foundation to prepare a student for all of the opportunities available to them which means taking time to make sure that a student truely knows their profession. I am so excited about the massage profession today with all of it's opportunities. I like how we have evolved from a questionable profession to an important part of the total intergrated healthcare system.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Mike Hinkle on August 3, 2009 at 3:18pm

I agree. I would love to see students, well educated and ready to go into any aspect of our profession, with "mastered" skills. But no matter how many hours you set on a school, that are privately owned, they will do basically how they will.

We have a chance now, with so many states at the 500 hour mark, that there is a chance for reciprocity. I think if we go changing our hours in different states or put more restrictions on schools, it will make the effort take years longer.

The goal set by everyone was to get everyone to at least 500 hours. Most are, we have met the challenge. Let's get reciprocity in place and go from there.

Brenda S. D*** said:

Mike, first let me say how great it is to have this site to communicate thoughts and ideas with one another. I believe education is vital to our profession. I agree with you that a student needs to understand that it is up to them to be willing to get the knowledge to be a part of any profession. Which, in my opionion, means being willing to take what ever classes in what ever time-frame necessary to achieve optimum knowledge. When I first gratuated from OSM, I went to a therapist just up the street from me. I was having trouble with my anterior tibialis and asked her if she would work in this area. She looked at me puzzled and asked where this muscle was? I was floored as she had been out of massage school just 2 years. I think it is so important, especially today, with the intergration of medical massage, that educational schools provide a strong foundation to prepare a student for all of the opportunities available to them which means taking time to make sure that a student truely knows their profession. I am so excited about the massage profession today with all of it's opportunities. I like how we have evolved from a questionable profession to an important part of the total intergrated healthcare system.

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