Curriculum

History of Massage and Bodywork - 2 hours
The history of massage will familiarize you with the past, present and future of massage and bodywork. Understanding history helps to develop professional identity and a sense of pride. The relevance of history to the present day activities of massage and bodywork is the main focus of this course.
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Getting Ready to Touch - 8 hours
No matter where a massage or bodywork session is done the most important aspect is to deliver the highest standard of professional care to your client. This course will cover equipment, the massage or bodywork environment, how to determine the clients expectations and outcome of the session, pre massage and bodywork procedures, positioning and draping the client and exercises to develop intuition.
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Designing the Massage or Bodywork Session - 10 hours
The information needed to provide holistic massage and bodywork can be gained through proper assessment skills. Learning how ask questions, paying attention to the information given, touching with expertise and understanding, blending intuition with knowledge, will be the focal points of this course. Students will learn how to tailor the session to the individual, and not simply follow a routine that addresses general conditions.
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Effects, Benefits, Indications and Contraindications - 15 hours
The physiologic and psychological effects of massage and bodywork are covered in this course. The instructors will discuss how the effects of massage and bodywork differ from one client to another depending on the needs of the individual and the goals and intentions with which the session is administered.
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Massage Manipulations and Techniques - 105 hours
This core course will cover massage theory, massage manipulations, quality of touch, basic flow, regulating the depth of therapeutic massage techniques and integrating stretching and joint mobilization. Students will learn by practical demonstration and hands-on exchange with each other to gain proficiency in these movements. Students will develop a mastery of strokes, palpation skills, draping and other professional procedures. Techniques taught will be applied to each of the major muscle groups of the body. How to use your whole body’s strength and energy will be covered including avoidance of repetitive motion patterns in your work. Indications and contraindications will also be covered in this course.
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Advanced Massage Techniques - 25 hours
Side lying massage, advanced head and neck work, client positioning, advanced palpation and hands-on techniques including using forearms, elbows, and knuckles will be covered in this course to enhance the skills learned in Massage Manipulation and Techniques.
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Structural Integration - 30 hours
The Rolf Method of Structural Integration is the format used in this course to communicate the principles of Structural Integration. Each student will receive the basic ten session series as developed by Dr. Ida P. Rolf and currently practiced by certified Rolfers. Students will partner with another massage students to receive and watch the ten session series with a certified advanced Rolfer, Also included in each session is body reading for the session, movement awarness, energy exercises and understanding on the different dimensions of the healing process of the physical and emotional bodies.
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Intern Program - 100 hours
After reaching a certain level of proficiency, students will be assigned times to work in the College Massage & Bodywork Clinic as a student massage therapist under the supervision of a state registered massage therapy instructor. Students work with clients much as they would in their own professional practice. The Internship is designed to provide growth experience by encouraging students to work with a variety of people with different needs.
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Lymph Massage - 10 hours
Through demonstrations, practice and lectures, this course will cover theory, effects, and the general principles of manual lymph drainage and circulation massage. Students will learn how to incorporate these principles into a basic massage or bodywork session.
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Reflexology - 25 hours
Students will learn how to access the entire body using specific finger and thumb techniques on the hands, feet and head. Reflexology is based on the belief that certain areas on the feet and hands correspond to different parts of the body. This course includes history, zone theory, contraindications, therapeutic relaxation and self help techniques. Reflexology can be a treatment in itself or an effective tool to enhance a massage therapy or bodywork session.
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Connective Tissue Approaches - 12 hours
The principles of deep traverse friction massage and modification of massage and bodywork methods to address more specifically the connective tissue will covered in this course. Various structural and postural pathologies and their treatments will be explored.
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Face and Scalp Massage - 7 hours
Students will learn the correct procedures for cleaning and massaging the face, and for giving a basic scalp massage. Selection and preparation of the appropriate products and items needed to give a basic scalp and face massage will be covered. Preparation of natural products used in these techniques will be covered in the Herbology and Herbal Body classes.
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Shiatsu - 10 hours
Course will provide a usable introduction to this intricate traditional Oriental healing system. Utilizing palms, forearms, fingers and elbows students will experience and practice various pressure and breath techniques with the client lying in side, prone, and supine positions. The class will include discussion of Shiatsu's theoretical and philosophical approach to the body, as well as hands on supervised practice. The techniques are designed to be used on their own or incorporated into existing table disciplines.
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Spinal Release - 15 hours
Spinal Release is an approach to bodywork in which the client is the recipient of gentle, rhythmic, non-intrusive rocking movement with pressure that increases the range of motion and flexibility .The rocking penetrates deep into the mind and body, relieving mental and physical fatigue as well as chronic tension and pain.
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Trigger Point Therapy - 12 hours
Trigger points form in response to the twists, turns, and the stresses and strains each of us place on our muscles during the course of a full active life. Once activated, trigger points force the muscle to shorten and remain that way, often for decades. In this course you will be taught how to use direct pressure to specific areas of the body to aid in the removal of contractions in muscles and blockages in energy pathways.
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Voice Therapy - 8 hours
Voice can be use to simulate, ease, and "tone" the body. In this course exploration of hands-on healing with sound is the focal point. Students will delve into the use of the voice as a vibrational healing through basic toning, chakra toning and Taoist healing sounds. Historical and folkloric use of voice for emotional and spiritual health will be reviewed.
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Energy Work - 15 hours
Healing can be assisted by recognizing, strengthening, developing and balancing the body's energy. We will explore techniques of grounding, centering, sensing and sending energy and emotional and physical body balancing. Students will become conscious of the energetic space they open in their lives for healing and how they can become responsible for what enters or leaves that space. Healing the evolving emotional body, by understanding the role it has in creating disease in the body, will be one of the focuses of this course. Students will be introduced to a variety of subjects designed to enhance their own personal growth and healing process. The magic of finding emotional and physical balance in our hearts is sought through movement, understanding, sensory awareness, guided imagery, vocalization, group discussion and touch.
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Anatomy and Physiology

Anatomy and Physiology & Pathology – 100 hours
This course presents a study of all the body systems with a special emphasis on the skeletal, muscular, lymphatic, circulatory and nervous systems and how there interrelate when helping the body to heal. Innovative learning methods will be used including palpation, workbooks, and hands-on activities designed to help students understand anatomy, physiology in easy understandable sections and learn to identify the basic pathological processes in the different systems of the body.
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Kinesiology - 20 hours
The fundamentals of Kinesiology and why body movement patterns occur as they do, Is the focus of this course. Through hands-on practice and discussion, students will learn the location and actions of the muscular and skeletal system and how they relate to the practice of massage and bodywork. Emphasis throughout the course is on the relation of anatomical structure to function and the role the emotional body plays in the overall function of the body. Palpation of muscles & building muscles in clay help students to learn information presented.
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Traditional Chinese Medicine - 12 hours
This introductory course will provide basic knowledge of the Eastern philosophy of healing and disease. Meridians and the five-element theory as well as energetic functions of organs will be introduced. The concept of Qi, the types of Qi and transformation of Qi will be covered. Students will learn how to incorporate the basic concepts of Chinese Medicine into massage therapy. Students will have a functional understanding of Meridian therapy.
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Nutrition - 18 hours
"Food is the best medicine," and the wholistic foundation for good health. How we nourish our body plays an important role in our overall physical well-being. This course will cover basic metabolism, the importance of food as medicine, organic foods, modern nutrition code, vitamins and mineral supplements, water intake, and the importance of water filtration. We will also discuss nutritional deficiencies and how to correct them through diet.

Hygiene, Sanitation and, Safety - 12 hours
In a massage or bodywork practice, personal health, good grooming and a safe environment are assets that the clients admire and are essential for your protection and that of the client. This course will cover personal health, hygiene, and appearance, sanitation, understanding Aids and Hepatitis prevention, First Aid and CPR.
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Professional Practice Management

Business - 31 hours
Regardless of whether a massage therapist or body worker is self-employed or an employee, an understanding of the business practices related to the profession is important. Items covered will include basic advertising, promotion, book keeping, resume writing, interviewing skills, business structure, taxes, insurance needs, basic startup needs, and costs. The course is designed to give the students a better understanding of the workings of a small business, from the view of both employee and the owner of your own business. Students will complete their own business plan.
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Professional Ethics - 18 hours
Business and legal regulations, standards of practice, and professional behaviors are all methods of setting guidelines for cooperative professional relationships. We will discuss verbal and nonverbal alignment with our clients, study the New Mexico and National laws regarding the massage therapy profession, ethical business practices, and explore sexual ethics issues for massage therapists and body workers. This class will enable you to understand how to competently and confidently manage ethical issues when they do arise. This course will familiarize students with the different federal and state laws regulating the exchange of information and identifying data of patients between two or more professionals involved in a clients care.
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Wellness Education - 12 hours
It is important that while we are busy living we notice and understand how to make changes to balance our lives. Massage and bodywork are important parts of a wellness program because they restore body balance and connect us with other human beings. This course is designed to educate students about general concepts of wellness. During the class students will explore the basic components of wellness, locate sources to develop a wellness program, develop a personal wellness program, and learn how to provide general wellness guidelines to clients.
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Counseling - 10 hours
This course taught in a group setting, will accustom the student with the aspects of the relationship that develops between therapists and their clients; and to familiarize students with the concept and application of contact and withdrawal in Gestalt Therapy.
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Special Populations - 10 hours
It is essential that the massage therapist or bodyworker see each person as a unique individual when dealing with issues and concerns relating to clients whose profession, condition, illness, disease or injuries require special techniques and care. Health issues, contraindications, client assistance, referrals, and application of appropriate techniques will be emphasized. Guest speakers will be featured during class to present valuable information on working with special populations. Athletes, Children, Abused, Chronic Illness, Elderly, Infants, Physically Challenged, Psychologically Challenged, Pregnancy and Terminal Illness will be covered.
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Movement

Body Movement - 15 hours
This course will focus on body awareness so the students will have a better sense of themselves as they massage. Different situations require flexible styles and qualities of movement in the interaction between therapist and client, and therapist to self. You will learn how to build strength and flexibility of hands, postures and stances, exercises for strength, balance and body support, and how to prevent dysfunctions from improper body movement. Self-awareness practices include QiGong Chinese movement, Structural Integration movement, and other daily movement work, designed to balance the emotional and physical bodies, and increase energy while improving body mechanics.
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Range of Motion - 8 hours
This is a hands on class designed to give the student clinical skills that they can use in their professional practice to improve range of motion (ROM). Students will learn how to use ROM as a measurement tool for evaluation of muscle and joint dysfunction and gain a working knowledge of normal ROM. values at each joint Students will also explore the factors influencing ROM.
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Yoga - 12 hours
This course is based on the principle that changes in consciousness can be brought about by setting in motion currents of certain kinds of subtler forces in the physical body. Students will explore yoga as a practice for preventative and therapeutic functions. After completion of this course students will have an understanding of how yoga can release muscle tension, stretch and tone muscles, lubricate joints, massage internal organs and increase circulation. They will also have an understanding of how Yoga can expand and slow the breath and create more balance in the mental emotional and physical bodies.
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Therapeutic Exercise Methods and Techniques - 15 hours
This course combines the elements of anatomy, Kinesiology, body-mind therapies, and movement exercises that develop strength, flexibility and coordination while increasing circulation and body awareness. Students become more self aware, and learn valuable techniques and exercises for use with clients. Assisted “Table Yoga” stretches for various conditions will be covered.
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Herbology Classes

Herbal Medicine - 40 hours
This course is an intensive introduction to herbal medicine as a fully integrated part of wellness education. Through basic Plant Pharmacy classes, students will learn how to make a wide range of herbal medicines, body products, and learn how to use herbs in conjunction with massage and bodywork. During scheduled herb walks, students learn how to identifying and responsibly collect herbs in the field.
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Herbal Body - 25 hours
Throughout the centuries essential oils, and herbs have had healing applications in the ancient traditions. Although rooted In ancient history, they can offer revolutionary new benefits to the practice and effectiveness of, natural body care. Lab work will include making natural skin care, body care and hair care products, utilizing essential and natural oils, clays, herbs and salts. Afternoons In Herbal Body will find us immersed in the process of trading the application of our natural products with fellow students.
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Aromatherapy - 36 hours
The use of essential oils in Aromatherapy, when properly practiced, has shown successful in the treatment of muscular, circulatory, respiratory, digestive and reproductive problems as well as skin disorders and stress related conditions. Although rooted in the ancient, pure essential oils offer revolutionary new benefits to the practice and effectiveness of natural care for the body.
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Hydrotherapy - 15 hours
This course offers an introduction to the history, theory and practical application of water combined with herbs, salts and/or essential oils for healing. We will examine water treatments for the body, and whenever practical and possible, students will practice hands-on application of the therapies covered. Philosophy and principles of hydrotherapy, indications and contraindications will be covered. Further application principles will be covered in Herbal Body and Reflexology.
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