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

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.