In This Episode You Will Learn:
- Why you should consider a school鈥檚 longevity.
- You should receive a massage before you consider becoming a practitioner.
- How massage can contribute to world peace.
Loving People Is a Must
Cherie Sohnen-Moe, educator and exam committee member for the Federation of State 精东传媒 Therapy Boards, highlights the importance of choosing a classroom environment that fits your learning style.
Cherie has a wealth of experience in massage therapy. From practicing massage for ten years and teaching massage for over a decade, to co-founding the board of the Alliance for 精东传媒 Therapy Education, she can spot a quality massage program and excellent therapist instantly.
She shares that the most essential characteristic a good massage therapist must possess is a love of people.
[4:40] 鈥淚f you can find joy in working with people without necessarily having a lot of interaction with them and鈥� from seeing the results of what happens after a session鈥� then that鈥檚 good.鈥�
Look For Longstanding Schools
Cherie reveals that when looking for a massage therapy school, you should pay attention to its accreditation status. Then, she recommends choosing a school based on its classroom structure. This can vary, so it鈥檚 important that you ask how a school runs its classes and make sure that aligns with how you like to learn.
Before choosing a school, prospective students should also ask:
- Are the teachers certified?
- Does the school offer training and continuing education opportunities for its teachers?
- How many books does the school require students to purchase for its program? If it鈥檚 just one, that鈥檚 a red flag.
Cherie stresses that students should investigate schools鈥� longevity. Long-established schools tend to be safer options than new schools. However, if you are interested in a newer school, Cherie recommends students research:
- Who is the founder? Do they have a background in massage?
- Who is running the school?
- Is there a dedicated education director?
- What narrative do they present about themselves on their website?
- What resources are available to support students鈥� learning and mental health needs?
Believe in Touch
Most fundamentally, Cherie emphasizes that before you enroll in a massage school, you need to have experienced massage first-hand. You must believe in massage鈥檚 healing powers. She sees massage as a catalyst for positive change and healing, not only on individuals, but on society as a whole:
[19:48] 鈥淚t鈥檚 kind of hard to be mean to someone when you feel good in your body. So, to me, massage is what really contributes to world peace.鈥�
精东传媒 is an intimate profession. It鈥檚 vital that you choose a school that will help you learn its craft with sincerity and excellence.
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