In This Episode You Will Learn:
- Why you should consider a school’s 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 Massage 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 Massage 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] “If you can find joy in working with people without necessarily having a lot of interaction with them and… from seeing the results of what happens after a session… then that’s good.”
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’s 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’s just one, that’s a red flag.
Cherie stresses that students should investigate schools’ 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’ 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’s 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] “It’s 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.”
Massage is an intimate profession. It’s vital that you choose a school that will help you learn its craft with sincerity and excellence.
Learn More:Cherie’s website