Posted by Sean Miller on Tue, Feb 26, 2013 @ 05:35 PM
Welcome to Seattle's most personalized massage therapy school - Choosing between educational paths can be overwhelming and time consuming. Therefore, we put together this chart to show the benefits of choosing massage therapy school as your educational path.
If you have questions about massage therapy as a career option, please let us know. We would love to schedule a time for you to tour the school and meet with our director of admissions.
We look forward to meeting you!
Sincerely,
Northwest Academy Staff and Faculty
nw-academy.com | Download Our Catalog| ph: 206-932-5950
Posted by Sean Miller on Tue, Aug 07, 2012 @ 02:42 PM
Massage school is a personalized experience. You will get to know your instructors and they will get to know you. Because graduating classes of private massage schools are small, you have the opportunity to build professional relationships with other students and mentor relationships with your instructors. With personalized instruction, your program will help you meet your career goals and encourage you to prosper.
The campus environment is professional but comfortable, creating a community of like-minded individuals who all work hard to succeed and help each other succeed. Individual diversity is celebrated and contributes to the overall success of the whole. Each person brings a unique experience to the education process.
In large higher education programs you are just a number, another face in the crowd, but at a small personalized massage school you are part of the team. Students participate in classes, workshops, and clinical labs, maintaining a high level of participation in the education process. Staff and instructors take the time to get to know you and are available to help you accomplish your goals and feel confident in your knowledge. The goal is not to have students compete with each other, but to learn together and be better massage therapists because of your personalized training experience and campus community support.
Massage school is condensed into a full-time, fast paced program to keep you interested and engaged in the learning process. With more time in class on a daily basis, you finish in a matter of several months rather than years, which means you can start your career sooner. The relationships built in a small program lend to more meaningful reference letters and personalized career guidance, helping you make the right choices for your future.
Without a doubt, the benefits of choosing a small personalized massage therapy school far outweigh any larger massage therapy program. Success rates are phenomenal and graduating students feel empowered in their career choice.
Posted by Sean Miller on Mon, Feb 27, 2012 @ 04:35 PM
The positives and the negatives should
be considered when applying for any type of school, massage therapy being one of them. Although massage has been around for hundreds years, it is becoming more available and more popular.
The positive aspects of massage therapy seem to take precedence in this career. From client interactions, making your own hours, to massage business related advancements, massage therapy is a great career. Your clients can create their own experience by asking for a specific massage. The more you learn, the more versatile you can be which will make you more profitable. You will be able to work from home, go to your client’s home, or work in a plethora of locations designed for either medical or relaxation massages.
The negatives side to becoming a massage therapist is it may be physically challenging. Although most schools will teach body mechanics to prevent injury. If you already have a wrist injury or any form of carpal tunnel syndrome, this career path may be more difficult for you in the long term.
Most of the aspects of becoming a massage therapist are positive ones. There is always room for advancement and there is always a job opening. It would be a great idea to visit the massage schools you would like to attend first, before enrolling. You would want to ask questions regarding program hours, structure, advanced career and job placements, and tuition. Once you’ve narrowed down your massage therapy school, and you have decided that this is the field for you, go for it. You can never go wrong having a licensed career trade in any economy.
Posted by Sean Miller on Wed, Feb 22, 2012 @ 04:44 PM
Graduates of a Seattle massage school can expect to earn between $21,000 and $51,000 upon graduating from massage therapy school. The information comes from payscale.com, a national website that tracks employment trends and salaries in all types of fields.
Earnings in the first year after massage school depend a lot on the type of employment. Some massage therapists have other employment and work part-time in massage therapy. Those who choose to work as a full-time massage therapist can make more money. It also depends on the type of establishment where a massage therapist chooses to work. They can work out of their home or at a spa, hotel, resort, sports clinics, hospital or health club. Privately, massage therapists usually charge by the 30, 60 or 90 minute session and can sometimes target specific areas of the body. Those who specialize in a specific region, modality, or sports injury, can earn even more money as a massage therapist. Having repeat clients is also very important to the financial success of a massage therapist.
The coursework to become a massage therapist in Seattle, Washington requires at least six months of school (full-time). Students will learn about the human anatomy and a variety of massage therapy techniques, all of which is needed in order to provide quality and safe massage therapy services to their clients. Their education also helps them prepare for a state licensing exam so they can practice massage therapy in the state of Washington.
Posted by Sean Miller on Thu, Dec 01, 2011 @ 10:17 PM
Here are 8 marketing tips for massage therapists after graduating massage school:
Social Media
Make use of social media websites such as Facebook, Twitter and networking groups to promote yourself and your business.
Printed Materials
Print well-designed business cards, flyers and brochures with contact information and rates; place flyers in local businesses, especially where people might know you or your work.
Websites and Internet Marketing
Create a website complete with contact information, photographs and even customer reviews; in the massage business, referrals are one of the most important marketing tips for massage therapists.
Secondly, there are many free online marketing options that every business should take advantage of. All major search engines offer free local business listings. Check out Google, Yahoo, Bing and Yelp for more information about their free marketing opportunities .
Gyms and Health Clubs
Visit a gym or health club where people might be looking for massage services and inquire about a job or passing contact information along to their customers.
Wellness Stores
Contact wellness stores that sell health food or offer classes where customers might be interested in receiving a massage as one of 8 marketing tips for massage therapists after graduating school.
Community Workshops and Seminars
Host complimentary community workshops and seminars at your massage office to education the general public about the benefits of massage therapy and how you might be able to help them reach their wellness goals.
Word of Mouth
Talk to friends, family and colleagues; often the best referrals will come from the people you already know.
Specials / Coupons
Offer massage services in the form of a ‘gift certificate,’ coupons or Groupons to first time clients or as part of a marketing campaign. Other marketing options might include charitable donations for nonprofit organizations or
Click here for more information regarding our Seattle Massage School.
Posted by Sean Miller on Tue, Nov 29, 2011 @ 08:05 PM
So, you have decided on becoming a massage therapist in Washington State, but now aren?t sure where to start. Here is a quick and simple guide to the requirements to practice massage:
First, you must graduate from an approved program for massage. A long list of approved schools can be found here. Once you?ve graduated, you will have to pass an examination to receive your license. There are two different exams to choose from: the National Certification Examination for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork, or the exam offered by The Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards.
There are certain minimum training requirements each applicant must meet before becoming a massage therapist in Washington State. The minimum 500 hours of training is divided between: 130 hours of anatomy, physiology, and kinesiology, with a minimum 40 of those hours specifically devoted to kinesiology; 50 hours of pathology; 265 hours of massage theory and practice of massage; and 55 hours of business practice, including things like proper hygiene, human behavior, proper ethics, and record keeping.
These 500 hours of training must take place within a six-month period, and most can be completed through local community colleges. In addition to training, you must be certified in American Red Cross first aid, American Heart Association cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and have taken a four-hour HIV/AIDS education class.
Training and certification can be achieved through both approved schools and special apprenticeship trainers, people who have spent at least five years as licensed massage practitioners.
For more information about massage therapy programs - click here
Posted by Sean Miller on Tue, Nov 08, 2011 @ 04:10 PM
Massage school can be a life changing experience that provides you with a rewarding career that benefits you as well as the people you are helping. Massage therapy helps people to feel their best both inside and out. The schedule is also extremely flexible and you can use massage therapy as a full time career or on an appointment by appointment basis. The average massage therapist makes approximately $35,000 per year when done on a full time basis (approx. 25 hours per week), so it is a rather lucrative business.
Working as a massage therapist can be a very low-stress job. Massage school can be life changing as it takes you out of the typical fast paced office setting and puts you in a calm and peaceful setting. The stage you set for your customers can be beneficial to you as well. Low lighting, low music and a perfect temperature makes massage therapy are great career to pursue through massage school.
Going to massage school can open up a lot of opportunities through work in physicians offices, spas and massage clinics. You can also choose to open your own location and be your own boss. Attending massage school can be a life changing experience and can also provide you with a rewarding career.
Posted by Sean Miller on Mon, Nov 07, 2011 @ 03:29 PM
Congratulations! You are now a massage therapist, trained to practice this wonderful healing art! And of course, you know there's way more to success than your talent, energy, and skill.
You are going to require some structure and function for a successful practice. Your practice will have anatomy and physiology of its own, just like you!
Here are 8 steps to building a successful practice after massage school:
1. Decide what kind of career you desire.
There are several options. The clinical/medical setting? Spa? Yoga/Pilates studio? Salon? Private practice? Partnership? Usually, some combination of these. Have an ultimate "dream practice" picture in your head, so no matter what, you are guided by a vision.
2. Get support.
Massage therapists tend to become isolated. Keep your colleagues close, give each other massage and feedback, compare notes on employment, career, clients, techniques.
3. Keep very good financial records.
If this is not your area of interest of expertise, get outside help. Use a bookkeeper or accountant. It's worth it.
4. Make sure your license, registration and insurance are all up to date.
Stay legal, above board, documented, and fully able to work in any situation at all times. Check your state regulations.
5. Keep good client notes.
Some states require you keep records of treatment for 7 years.
6. Preserve your own health.
You can't do good work if you are depleted. Tend to your physical, mental, and emotional state.
7. Refer some clients to other practitioners.
Not everyone who shows up can be your client as they may need more advanced health care.
8. Consider bringing another source of income into your practice.
Enhance your practice by including a small retail section in your office or renting out unused treatment rooms to other practitioners.
Posted by Sean Miller on Thu, Nov 03, 2011 @ 12:15 PM
Perhaps your current position is not giving you the satisfaction it once did. Or maybe your industry is downsizing, you're looking for something new, and you'd like to find a way of making a living that makes a real difference in the quality of people's lives.
You can hardly get more directly involved in a person's quality of life than performing a deeply felt personal service. Especially a service that affects a client's health and happiness in such a profound way.
Considering Massage Therapy as a Second Career?
Do it if you like to improve well being. Do it for your desire to contribute. Do it to satisfy a strong desire you have to improve the lives of those around you.
Health and happiness are measures of a meaningful, satisfying life. If you are looking to create a higher level of wellness around you, for yourself, your loved ones, and people you meet--you might take a close look at massage therapy; a second career.
What to do? Get some catalogs from some schools online. Find out what is required in terms of education and training, certification and licensing. How much will it cost? How long does it take?
Look for a school with good career counseling, support and guidance. For this field in particular, the training can be very enjoyable, a great stepping stone to a second career you can pursue full time or part time.
Find a place that offers a lot of one-on-one instruction and a small group setting. Find yourself a better life!
