The Power of Touch

All human beings, from infant to elderly, need the power of touch to sustain us. So many of us go day to day, living our lives and not touching or being touched by others. You will not notice the effects right away, but lack of touch will eventually negatively effect your mood, confidence and even your health.

As a baby, you required touch from your mom and dad to develop both psychologically and physically. Infants who are touched on a regular basis gain weight and grow at better rates than those that do not. Massaging your baby can lower the levels of the stress hormone cortisol. At the Institute of Therapeutic Massage, we teach Infant Massage and you can become certified after enrolling and participating in this 7 hour career enhancement class. Infant Massage will be taught on June 3rd, and again on November 8th this year.

Adults also need to be touched, but it can be difficult to find the time. Touch can reduce your anxiety, lower your blood pressure, improve your outlook on life and bond you to your loved ones. All the more reason to get regular massages. The added bonus is that, as a Massage Therapist, you also benefit from giving the massage. The power of touch benefits the therapist in much the same ways as a massage client.

Our older population, unfortunately, receives the least amount of touch. Touch deprivation in old age is a very real problem and can lead to feelings of isolation, anxiety, pain, loneliness, boredom and helplessness. Perhaps you can make a difference in the life of an elderly person? IoTM also offers a Geriatric Massage Career Enhancement course. This 7 hour class is offered on March 4th and again on August 23rd this year.

As a Massage Therapist you can help people in so many ways with just the power of your touch. Start on the path to your new career in helping others today! There are many ways to contact us; call us at 866-897-0949, go on-line and fill out our form above or stop by today at the 311 Building in Downtown Lima.

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?