Back to Basics: How does massage work, exactly?

The term massage alone brings to mind thoughts of relaxation and stress relief. Researchers are now discovering the science behind how massage works to relieve pain, reduce stress and promote healing.


Researchers at McMaster University in Canada found that massage affects the activity of certain genes which reduces inflammation in our muscles. This is the same result you would get by taking aspirin or ibuprofen.


Massage not only alleviates pain, but it also improves our mood. Massage reduces levels of the stress hormone cortisol, which makes us happy and lowers our blood pressure. It also boosts the neurotransmitters serotonin and dopamine, which are involved in depression. Also, it just makes sense that when you are extremely relaxed, the world around you seems more wonderful and less stressful.


Massage also promotes healthy sleep. A number of studies have concluded that massage has positive affects on our delta waves- brain waves that are connected to deep sleep.


Decreased cortisol levels accomplishes many positive changes in our bodies; stronger immune systems, lower blood pressure, lower heart rates, better memory and more alertness, just to name a few.


There have also been studies that have shown that giving a massage can also have some of the same benefits as getting one! Immediately after giving a massage, a therapist also has less cortisol levels!! It just stands to reason that helping others makes us feel better about ourselves. Could there be a better reason to call us today??

Fastest Growing Career Fields

1. Service Unit Operators 6. Human Resource Specialists
2. Petroleum Engineers 7. Coaches & Scouts
3. Music Directors & Composers 8. Personal Finance Advisors
4. Interpreters & Translators 9. Personal Care Aides
5. MASSAGE THERAPISTS 10. Skin Care Specialists

Above, is a list of the top 10 fastest growing jobs released by 24/7 Wall St., a data analysis company. 24/7 Wall St. compiled the list using figures reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (www.bls.gov). The report states the number of massage therapists grew by 162% from 2002-2012, landing massage therapists at #5 on the list. Currently, there are 71,040 employed massage therapists in the United States, with the majority of them being self-employed. Also according to the report, massage therapists make a median annual wage of $35,970.00 and the median hourly wage of $17.29. 

The report claims the reason for the surge in massage therapy jobs is the rise in spas and massage clinics in our country during this 10 year time period. The Bureau of Labor Statistics also refers to the increase in our nation’s elderly population as another factor in the demand for qualified massage therapists.

Here at IoTM, we believe there is also a growing acceptance of massage therapy as a legitimate form of pain and stress relief. More and more people every day are discovering the numerous benefits of massage for themselves. Massage is not only a form of pampering, it is an important component of overall health and wellness. 

You too can be a part of one of the fastest growing career fields! Please find our contact information below and act now! New classes begin the week of January 6th, so call, go online or stop by and see us today!!

Call: 866-897-0949
Go Online: www.iotm.edu
Stop by: 311 E. Market Street on the 3rd floor in Downtown Lima

Details People Care About

Here at the Institute of Therapeutic Massage, we like to think we offer more than just a diploma. There will be many elements in your IoTM experience that will not only make your time with us more enjoyable, but your life after school more successful. The following are just a few examples:


Class Schedule & Program Length: New classes begin every 6 weeks, so your first day of school is never far away! We also offer convenient morning and evening class times that should easily fit anyone’s schedule. Another way we try to accommodate our students is with the length of your education. For our more daring students we have a 9-month program. This is a very challenging pace, but we have had students that have completed the program successfully. If you have a full-time job and/or a family, you could choose the 18-month program, but most students choose our 12-month program. You can also switch program lengths any time you feel it’s warranted.


Business Class: This class includes topics such as: interviewing skills, how to run a business and marketing. It’s full of real-world scenarios that will teach you how to survive after you graduate and receive your massage license.


State Licensure Preparation: IoTM boasts 100% EMBLEx passage rate! This is mostly because of the achievements of our students, but also because we provided them with the tools to succeed. We offer a class geared towards the test and we also provide our students a computer program with over 4,000 questions aimed to prepare them. The program helps the students and instructors find any weak points and areas that need further study.


Job Placement: While we cannot guarantee you a job, we will do everything we can to help you find one. Currently we have a 92% job placement rate, which means 92% of our graduates are working in some area of massage. We have a closed Facebook group for alumni only, where we post job leads as we receive them.

The Not So Known Benefits of Massage

Most of know the obvious ways massage therapy can help our bodies; alleviating pain, 

reducing stress, increasing joint flexibility, etc., but do you know some of the often unfamiliar benefits of massage? We’re about to share these well-kept secrets with you!

Massage can make you more productive- regular massage lowers the body’s production of cortisol, a stress hormone which suppresses the immune system. The lower the levels of 

cortisol in our bodies means less colds and more work days!

Massage can make you a better driver- crashes caused by drivers not checking blind spots rose 50% between 2009-2011 because safety features on our cars made those blind spots larger. Those of us with stiff necks can attest that turning and checking blind spots can be difficult. Massage therapy improves blood flow to the stiff area, thus making it easier to turn your neck and allowing you to better check those blind spots!

Massage can help you lose weight- many times after a workout, our muscles become sore and that makes us less likely to repeat the workout. When legs are massaged after a workout, there tends to be less pain the next day and therefore, we are more likely to workout again!

Massage can improve digestion- massage has been shown to help release enzymes that aid in the digestive process. This process not only makes digestion easier, but it also increases the absorption of nutrients. Massage has also been linked to increases in antioxidants and peristalsis, which neutralizes acids in the stomach and aids in moving food through the 

intestines, respectively. 

Massage can make you smile- evidence suggests that massage therapy can decrease the symptoms of depression. This is accomplished in two ways: the bonding between therapist and client can lead to relaxation and stress reduction and massage also promotes the release of oxytocin, a hormone believed to bring about optimistic feelings and better self-esteem. Go get a massage today and smile more!

These benefits of massage, while not well-known, are just as important in our daily lives as the more evident benefits. Would you like to bring more productivity, healthier living and more smiles to the lives of your clients? Call the Institute of Therapeutic Massage today and we will start you on the right path to becoming a massage therapist, so you can be helpful to those who need it most.

What to Expect: Getting Started & Enrolling at IoTM

You have already shown interest in enrolling at the Institute of Therapeutic Massage, otherwise you wouldn’t be receiving this newsletter, so have you ever wondered how to enroll at our school? How do you get started? What are the steps you will be taken through? We want to make it easy for you with this guide through our enrollment process!

Your first step can happen a few different ways. You need to contact us! We have a handy form on our website, www.iotm.edu, and this is the easiest way to reach out to us. You can also call us, 1-866-897-0949. Dial extension 1003 for our Enrollment Specialist, Andrew Meyer. You can also visit our campus in the 311 Building in Downtown Lima (311 E. Market Street). Take this important first step today to begin your path to becoming a Licensed Massage Therapist.
After the initial contact, if you are still interested in attending our school, we will ask you to come to our campus. You will then speak with Andrew and he will assess your situation and answer any questions you have. You will then receive a tour of our facilities; the classrooms, clinic massage room, computer lab, etc. 

As you can see, the process is simple and our staff will be there to assist you every step of the way. Be sure to fill out our online form, call or stop by today and we’ll get you started right away! What are you waiting for??

Medical or Spa Massage: Which is right for you?

Lately in the massage community, many people are noticing a divide between two fields of massage; clinical, or medical massage and wellness, or spa massage. These fields, while both equally important, are fairly diverse. We would like break down these differences and also inform you of classes we offer right here at IoTM to help you decide which industry is best for you.


Spa massages taught at IoTM include: hot stone body massage and muscle toning facial massage (also with paraffin or clay). These types of massages focus on the satisfaction and relaxation of the client. The environment is private and attention must be made to details such as music, aromatherapy and high-end linens, in order to retain your client base. If you choose this field of massage, you would charge your client by a set number of minutes and tipping would be expected.


Medical massages offered at IoTM include: cancer massage and pregnancy massage. These massages focus on functional outcomes and results must be measureable. Medical massages typically occur in a doctors offices, chiropractic clinics and hospitals. Prices are typically defined by insurance companies and tipping is rarely involved.


When deciding on your future massage field, it is important to note that all areas of professional massage have therapeutic value. You will be helping people either by providing essential relaxation and stress relief or a medical necessity. Both are equally important, as stress and tension is often the root of physical pain. Which field will you choose?

The Institute of Therapeutic Massage in the Community

The students have been working hard toward their massage degrees and part of the process here at IoTM, is they participate and receive certification in specialized massage techniques we call Career Enhancements. The reason for this name is simple. These massage certifications “enhance” your massage degree, therefore giving our graduates a competitive edge while they are searching for employment. Some of these classes include CHAIR MASSAGE, REFLEXOLOGY, HOT STONE BODY MASSAGE and SPORTS AND PREGNANCY MASSAGE, which we will discuss further. Career Enhancements are only available locally at the Institute of Therapeutic Massage and our students can choose 100 hours, as part of their regular curriculum. Which classes will you choose?

IoTM students recently participated in the MS Walk in downtown Lima, where they were able to obtain their SPORTS MASSAGE certification. SPORTS MASSAGE is performed pre and post event, therefore the students massaged the walkers before they began their walk to loosen the muscles and again after the walkers finished. 


Another group of students got the honor of massaging volunteer moms-to-be and earned their PREGNANCY MASSAGE certification. PREGNANCY MASSAGE is performed in the expectant mom’s most comfortable position, on her side and with a multitude of pillows and blankets. 


As you can see, students at the Institute of Therapeutic Massage truly get a hands-on education and have the opportunity to learn an assortment of massage techniques. Our goal at IoTM is to provide our students with the best education possible and Career Enhancements are one way we obtain this goal.

IOTM Graduates

Recently, 11 of our students graduated and received their shiny, new IoTM diploma. Remarkably, 7 of these students have already passed the Massage and Bodywork Licensing Examination, or MBLEx, given by the state of Ohio. How did these exceptional students achieve this, you ask? To simply answer your question, they were trained well while attending our school and met or exceeded all of our expectations.


The Institute of Therapeutic Massage developed standards for our students to participate in the Ohio licensing examination. These standards are based largely on a review class that we offer in our student’s last grading period. This thorough review class is not offered at other area massage schools in the same way that we test our students and the overall content that is provided to our students. Our review class has proven time and time again to be first-rate, as we boast a 100% passage rate on the state’s licensing exam for the last 3 years running.


IoTM would like to extend our warmest congratulations to the following students on this wonderful accomplishment: Melissa Clark, Megan Davis, Ellen Marie Gilfillen, Erin E. Knott, Vanessa Saenthavisouk, Holly Denise Workman and Angie Marie Yaeger. 


Good luck in your future endeavours!! 

Ohio State School Registration #02-0520-1636T

The Growing Acceptance of Massage in the Medical Field

    Across the globe and locally in our area, massage is gaining more and more acceptance by the medical community as a legitimate option to address health concerns. In a study conducted by the American Massage Therapy Association, they concluded that 50% of their respondents claimed they were “encouraged by their doctor to receive a massage” and 61% said their doctor “recommended they get a massage1”. Furthermore, an increasing amount of doctors, chiropractors and hospitals are hiring massage therapists because of demand and also to supplement their income by offering additional services to their patients.

    

   Physicians and hospitals are looking for massage therapists who have graduated from an accredited massage school, has completed their state licensure and has up-to-date career enhancement credits. Fortunately for you, the Institute of Therapeutic Massage meets and exceeds all of these qualifications and we can provide you with the education needed to compete for these sought-after jobs. 

   

   We are working on updating the Career Enhancement section of our website with easier navigation and more information. Please visit our site at  www.iotm.edu/workshopceu.html for a detailed explanation of the classes we offer. Remember, these classes are not offered at any other area massage school and we offer 100 hours as part of your core curriculum, at no extra cost.

Author: Katie Gerdeman

1Consumer Survey Fact Sheet" American Massage Therapy Association. n.p., n.d. Web.

Ohio State School Registration #02-0520-1636T

The IoTM Difference

Our mission is to provide each of our students a quality education that will prepare them for their future career. We take great pride in this simple philosophy and believe we offer many clear distinctions from other massage schools in order for us to achieve our mission.

1. Well Rounded Curriculum- We exceed all state requirements in our 900-hour program. We offer not only massage courses such as Anatomy & Physiology, Muscles and Massage Theory, but we also offer Ethics, Study Skills and Business Mastery. Perhaps the most exciting opportunity we offer our students are our Career Enhancement Courses. These classes include Sports Massage, Cancer Massage, Reflexology and Chair Massage and grant our students a competitive advantage in their job search.
2. State Licensure Preparation One of the Career Enhancement Classes we make available to our students is Certification Prep era ti on. In this class, we help prepare our students for MBLEx (Massage & Bodywork Licensing Examination), which is the exam now given to all graduates from massage schools in the State of Ohio.
3. Accreditation- IoTM is accredited by the Accrediting Bureau of Health 
Education Schools. Both our institution and our massage program is evaluated by ABHES through strict and rigorous standards. Be aware that all accreditation standards are not equal and should be looked at closely when selecting a massage school.
4. Convenient Schedule- Classes at IoTM begin every six weeks, so your first day of school is always quickly approaching! We offer morning and evening class times that should fit in anyone’s busy schedule.
5. Quality Instructors- IoTM Instructors are second to none! Each of our Instructors are Licensed Massage Therapists with added certifications in the classes they teach. Take a look at our website and click “Instructors” under the “Staff” tab and see for yourself!

Call us at 1-866-897-0949, stop by the 3rd floor of the 311 Building (311 E. Market St.) in downtown Lima, visit us online at www.iotm.edu or at Facebook.com/IOTM.Ohio to see the IoTM difference for yourself! 

Author: Katie Gerdeman

Ohio State School Registration #02-0520-1636T