Though massage is often thought of as simple bodywork, it is actually quite diversified and is branched into several massage modalities and techniques. When you enroll in a massage therapy school, be sure to review the hands-on curriculum. While a great number of massage therapy schools offer practical training in Swedish massage, many schools offer massage training in numerous other varieties, including chair massage, deep tissue massage and medical massage, to name a few.
Some massage therapy schools prefer to provide an array of massage techniques to better accommodate the expanding field. For example, massage instruction can include deep tissue massage, which is unique bodywork used to release chronic muscular tension. The main difference between Swedish and deep tissue (as the name implies) is that deep tissue massage is administered with greater pressure at deeper muscle layers than Swedish massage.
Another type of bodywork taught at some massage therapy schools is sports massage. Sports massage is an integration of both deep tissue and Swedish massage, but is primarily used to promote healing in athletic injuries.
Two modalities that are most often offered at massage therapy schools are acupressure and Shiatsu. Interestingly enough, both techniques are based on acupuncture points (meridian channels), whereby pressure is applied to these particular points with finger, palm and thumb as opposed to acupuncture needling. The fundamental distinction between the two is that Shiatsu is the Japanese edition, and acupressure is a generalized adaptation of the technique.
Another form of bodywork that many massage therapy schools offer is reflexology. This specific massage style is commonly applied to the feet to stimulate reflex points that correspond to particular body organs. However, reflexology is not just limited to the feet; it is also used on the ears and hands. Like acupressure, reflexology is applied with the finger, palm and thumb to reflex points on these areas of the body to release stress, improve circulation and promote balance in the body.
While there are many more massage techniques available, standard massage training will typically cover fundamentals in anatomy; physiology, organ and tissue studies, kinesiology, body and motion mechanic studies, and, of course, practical massage training.
As with most massage therapy schools, students who successfully complete their training are often encouraged to take the national certification examination, which is given by the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCBTMB). Prospective massage therapists should review requirements for becoming Nationally Certified prior to enrollment, as this may vary from state to state.
Due to society's awareness of the beneficial health aspects of massage therapy and an increased interest in alternative medicine and natural healing, massage therapy schools that provide hands-on training in assorted massage techniques are gaining headway in today's educational system. In addition, many graduates will opt to continue their natural healing education, and specialize in a related field, such as chiropractics or acupuncture.
To learn more about Massage Therapy Schools, or even Online Massage Therapy Schools, we invite you to visit our Natural Healing Directory to find more in-depth information and resources.
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