IOTM Graduate Jamie Hernandez, LMT

Jamie is IoTM's Administrative Assistant and she recieved her massage therapy diploma in March of 2008. Not only does Jamie assist in the day to day needs of IoTM's administration and instructors, she also performs the majority of the massages in our Professional Clinic.

While attending the Institute of Therapeutic Massage, Jamie became certified in Chair Massage, Pregnancy Massage, Reflexology, Infant Massage, Nerve Entrapment, Hot Stone Body Massage, Sinus Treatment Massage, but her real passion is Sports Massage. This passion brought her to the University of Northwestern Ohio, where she is currently working with the Athletic Trainers to gain experience.

Her love of massaging athletes also led to her to take required classes so that she can apply for the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio. Some of the classes she has completed are CPR and AED (Automated External Defibrillator). One more required class, First Aid, is needed and then Jamie will be able to submit her application to the Olympic organization. She has also been trained with Kinesiotape with The American Kinesiotaping Association and is working on getting certified.

Recently, Jamie was also selected as an Alternate Delegate to Ohio AMTA (American Massage Therapy Association). Her responsibilities include reviewing position statements made by the AMTA regarding policy and legislation. It involves research to be able to thoughtfully and critically review the position statements and getting feedback from other members. A well informed position statement allows AMTA to promote the massage profession, using scientifically based facts.

Jamie is asking for help to fund her travel expenses to and from the Olympic training and to Rio in 2016. You can donate by clicking HERE.

Jamie is a Thyroid Cancer survivor, so if her plans change and she is not able to use these funds or if there is more than she needs, she will donate the remainder to the Thyroid Cancer Survivors Association.

The Institute of Therapeutic Massage is proud of Jamie and all her accomplishments. We wish her much success during the Olympic interviewing process and wish her good luck in all her future endeavours. Great job Jamie!

Career Enhancement Classes at IoTM

IoTM offers our students a variety of classes, where you can learn advanced massage techiniques and give you a competitive advantage when you're searching for your future career. These classes can be tailor made to fit your future career goals. For example, if you want to work in a nursing home after you graduate, you would probably want to sign up for our Geriatric Massage and Cancer Massage CEC class. If your goal is to work in the spa environment, some classes you might want to take are: Hot Stone Body Massage, Chair Massage, Clay or Paraffin Muscle Toning Facial Massage and Reflexology, like the students pictured below.

During our Reflexology class, students learn to "map" the feet. Each foot contains 7,200 nerve endings. These nerve endings have extensive interconnections through the spinal cord, brain, and, throughout the body. When your feet are massaged in certain areas, it has positive effects in other areas of your body. This explains why it feels wonderful to have your feet massaged.

Reflexology is just one of the many CEC classes you can experience while attending the Institute of Therapeutic Massage. IoTM is also the only area school that offers our students 100 CEC hours included in the program. Please take a tour of our Advanced Spa Massage CEC Classes and our Advanced Medical Massage CEC Classes and see which classes will fit best with your future career!

IOTM Student Clinics

Once a week on Wednesday, our students and instructors open our doors to the public and hold Student Massage Clinics. Times of the clinics are 10:15-11:30 AM and 7:45-9:00 PM. The clinics are held at our school and all of the clients are supplied for the students; they do not have to find a location or their own clients. Keeping the clinics on site also allows for supervision by the instructor.

Our students start participating in clinics at week 12 or their education, after learning a full body therapeutic massage. Clinics are a great learning tool for our students, as they learn to ask medical questions and interact with the client during the massage.

We would love for you to attend our Student Massage Clinics and get a feel for what you may soon be taking part in at our school! Call 419-523-9580 to schedule your Student Clinic massage today!

From a Student's Perspective

Recent IoTM graduate Dorothy Daniel wrote a nice letter to our school that we would like to share with all of you. We hope it gives a little perspective about different aspects of our school and adds clarity to help you make an informed decision about where you should attend massage school.

“My experience at IoTM was the most exciting, life changing experience since I become a mother. From my first meeting with the enrollment officer to meeting new classmates, I knew IoTM was the school for me.
 
When I needed to take two weeks off prior to finals, the administration’s willingness to help me, enabled me to graduate on time. When I wanted to change my program length, they changed it with no problem! 
 
The classes were both enjoyable and challenging. I was impressed with the range of required classes- they covered more than just the basics of massage. The student clinics were invaluable to me. They not only allowed me to practice on real clients, they also allowed me to incorporate what I was learning into the massage I was giving and I also got client feedback.
 
The CEC’s* offered at IoTM are also impressive. They also give you a valuable edge over your competition. The instructors make the classes fun, so it seemed like I was there for fun- not for class!

When it comes to the instructors, I can’t praise them enough. Their passion for massage and massage education shines through in their teaching styles. They encourage and engage you. They take the time to make sure you understand the concepts being taught both during hands-on and lecture.
 
I was blessed to have some of the most thoughtful, helpful and wonderful classmates. They helped make my time at IoTM unforgettable.
 
If anyone is considering massage for a career, IoTM will give you the education you need-- and more!”

*Career Enhancement Classes

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