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Ayurvedic Massage: A Nourishing Approach to Balance

2026-04-18T20:46:33-07:00April 18th, 2026|

Ayurvedic Massage offers something many students and clients don’t realize they’re craving until they experience it: warmth, rhythm, nervous system support, and a more connected way of caring for the body. Rooted in Ayurveda, the ancient healing system of India, this work invites a different perspective—one that focuses less on chasing symptoms and more on restoring balance, building awareness, and trusting the body’s own intelligence.

Offered as an elective at East West College of the Healing Arts, Ayurvedic Massage introduces students to foundational Ayurvedic principles through Abhyanga, a gentle, choreographed warm-oil massage designed to calm the nervous system and support the […]

Craniosacral Therapy: The Power of Subtle Work

2026-04-18T19:58:46-07:00February 22nd, 2026|

Craniosacral Therapy has a way of surprising people — in the best way. Many students are amazed by how much can happen when they slow down, tune in, and bring focused attention to the nervous system.  As one student put it: “Wow! I didn’t expect that to be so powerful.” 

Offered as an elective at East West College of the Healing Arts, Craniosacral is a favorite for students who want to deepen presence, build confidence, and refine intuitive listening. In this Q&A, our Craniosacral Therapy instructor, Cyr Zeeberg-Foote, breaks down what it is, how it’s different, and how the elective strengthens […]

How to become a Licensed Massage Therapist in the State of Oregon

2026-02-13T08:44:27-08:00February 13th, 2026|

Massage therapy training requirements vary state to state. Here in Oregon, massage schools must provide hundreds of hours of classes to each student, and those hours must fit into different categories of knowledge. As one of several massage schools in the Portland, Oregon area, we are careful to ensure our program meets the state’s requirements for becoming an LMT. If you’re looking into massage therapy training, it’s necessary to understand Oregon requirements for body workers in massage.

Portland, OR Massage School on State Massage Therapy Licensure Requirements

Here are the critical components of earning your massage therapy license in […]

How Massage Can Assist PTSD & Trauma Healing

2025-07-09T10:13:43-07:00July 9th, 2025|

Exposure to frightening, shocking, and/or dangerous events such as combat, abuse, or disasters can result in the experience of trauma and development of Post
Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). At any given time, about 24.4 million people are struggling with PTSD (McCafferty, 2016). While trauma is a universal experience, those with PTSD experience ongoing trauma reactions, leaving them feeling out of control and perpetually unsafe. Today we’re reviewing how individuals who have experienced trauma and PTSD can benefit from massage therapy.

How might the experience of trauma manifest in the mind/body? Here are a few common symptoms of PTSD:

Hypervigilance may show up as holding […]

How Does Massage Reduce Pain? The Gate Theory and Vagal Pathways

2025-01-15T10:49:43-08:00January 13th, 2025|

During the initial courses at a massage therapy school like ours in Portland, Oregon, students focus on gaining the baseline knowledge and technical prowess to deliver a delightful massage. Once they learn the basics of giving relaxing treatments, our students begin to explore why massage therapy is so effective for pain regulation. Let’s examine two prevalent theories on how the brain perceives pain, and why massage helps reduce pain.

The Gate Theory of Pain Perception

This theory posits that the brain processes pain only if the nerve gate in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord is open. Imagine […]

Prenatal and Postnatal Massage Reduces Maternal Depression

2024-08-26T12:59:51-07:00August 26th, 2024|

Massage is known to increase neurochemicals associated with improved mood, such as serotonin and other endorphins. So it shouldn’t be surprising that it can help alleviate depression. Today we’re examining this healing relationship between massage and depression for one special group: mothers.

In two previous blog posts, we examined the benefits of receiving prenatal massage and postpartum massage. Today we’re diving deeper into one major benefit of massage: Decreased likelihood of maternal anxiety and depression. As we’ll see, this also leads to improved health outcomes for infants.

The Importance of Maternal Mental Health

Before birth, depression and anxiety can […]

Cancer Care for LMTs: What you Need to Know to Help Clients Going through Chemotherapy

2024-08-22T14:52:16-07:00August 22nd, 2024|

A desire to help others is a common reason to become a massage therapist, and giving healing touch to cancer patients is certainly one way to help. During chemotherapy, cancer patients are dealing with physical, emotional, and mental challenges, from loss of taste and appetite to gastrointestinal challenges such as vomiting, constipation, and diarrhea, not to mention the bone-deep fatigue following an infusion. Even a few minutes of comfort can make all the difference in a cancer patient’s day and well-being. Massage therapists can have a hugely positive impact on cancer patients by providing this comfort. To safely deliver […]

Why Massage is an Excellent Second Career, or Why You’re Not too Old for Massage School

2023-08-07T12:04:02-07:00August 7th, 2023|

Our massage school admissions office sees certain concerns again and again from applicants. For those who are curious about massage school midway through their working years, it can be intimidating to think about pursuing massage dreams alongside younger students. Thoughts may arise such as Can I keep up with 18 year olds in the classroom? and Will I feel out of place as a more mature student? We’re here to quell your fears. Careers in massage therapy begin from innumerable starting points. Each massage school story is unique, and yet many […]

Long-Haul COVID Patients: A New Kind of Massage Client

2023-07-03T11:37:58-07:00July 3rd, 2023|

While society seems to have moved on from COVID, some patients still battle with it. These “long-haulers” face a unique set of symptoms. According to medical journal The Lancet, long-haul COVID symptoms usually last for more than seven months. Let’s define long-haul COVID (formally known as post-COVID syndrome), examine common symptoms, and review how massage therapy can help. We’ll also include suggestions for therapists hoping to serve clients with long-haul COVID.

What is long-haul Covid or Post-COVID Syndrome?

According to the September 2021 Journal of the American Medical Association, about 10% […]

What’s Cool About Side-lying Treatments?

2024-02-25T14:09:32-08:00April 26th, 2023|

Massage therapy images typically show clients on their backs or bellies, but a side-lying position provides many unique advantages. For instance, those who suffer back or neck pain may find the side lying position to be the most comfortable option for massage treatment. After reviewing the benefits of this underutilized massage treatment position, we suggest practical tips for LMTs who would like to offer side-lying positioning to clients.

6 Benefits of Side-Lying Position for Massage Therapy

1. Client Comfort. Many clients, particularly those with back pain and/or large, sensitive breasts will feel most comfortable lying on their sides. Offering […]

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