More Than Just Massage: Continuing Education

Many people, when they think of massage school attendants, think of people who are learning massage for the first time. These new students spend hours each week pouring over anatomy books, learning every muscle and joint as comprehensively as they can so that it translates not only into excellent grades on their tests, but also into a solid knowledge base out of which to practice the healing art of massage. The friends of those in massage school- whether a North Carolina massage school or elsewhere- tend to get pretty lucky as students need to practice on live humans. What could be better than free massage, knowing that by playing lab bunny, you'll help your friend to develop their skills, and you'll get some bodywork done in the process!

Of course, this image is only part of the whole. Many practicing massage therapists return to school for massage continuing education classes. It might be that there is a new modality that they desire to learn, either as a separate healing practice, or to use in conjunction with massage. Popular modalities in this range include reflexology, cranial sacral massage, cupping, etc. Other potential fields of study include Asian bodywork, such as shiatsu, or other massage techniques such as Ayurvedic massage. There are so many different ways to bring healing to people, that is is completely unsurprising that those already working in that field might seek to learn more such ways.

When it comes to finding the right space to learn in, there are several things to keep in mind. One is the environment in which you want to learn. The school's environment is a very important part of this equation, and the only way to really know how you mesh with a school is to go there and see for yourself. Interview with some of the teachers, see the school, interact with some of the students, see what you like and don't like about the school. Secondary to that, but similarly important, is how you feel about the location of the school. Do you like the city that it is in? If you are considering living someplace for the duration of school, of visiting there for a few weeks to take a few courses, it's generally best that it be some place you enjoy being, especially for long term study. Your outside environment affects you heavily, and if you are unhappy and uncomfortable, you probably won't bring your very best to what you want to learn.