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

Holiday Stress

The holidays are just around the corner and with them brings a multitude of stresses. Wether it’s family strain, not enough time, lack of money or just the general sense of feeling overwhelmed, the holidays can do a number on us and leave us feeling not so jolly. Here are some tips from IoTM to help prevent holiday stress and depression:

1. Stick to a budget- Decide how much you can spend on food and gifts and stick to that budget.
2. Plan ahead- Figure out specific days for shopping, baking and visiting friends and family. Plan menus and make shopping lists.
3. Be realistic- You can be everything to everyone and everything doesn’t have to be perfect.
4. Don’t abandon healthy habits- Don’t let the holidays become a free-for-all. Continue to eat healthy snacks, get plenty of sleep and work out.
5. Take a breather- Spending just 15 minutes by yourself may refresh you enough to handle   everything you need to do. GO GET A MASSAGE!!

Your last chance to begin classes at IoTM in 2012 is the week of November 12th. A degree from IoTM will assist you in obtaining a lucrative new career as a massage therapist, a flexible new work schedule and many relaxing massages along the way! All these things can lead to more enjoyable holidays in the future. Call, go online or stop by today and get started on your way to relaxation!


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

Ohio State School Registration #02-0520-1636T

Form, Mold & Shape Your Future Career

This past week, 17 students graduated from the Institute of Therapeutic Massage. They were very excited and full of promise and hope for their futures. During their time with us, these students formed, shaped and molded their massage careers by choosing from many advanced massage courses, or Career Enhancement classes (CEU), that we offer. These classes will benefit our new grads by helping them determine what area of massage they want to work in and what area they will work best in. These classes also give them a competitive advantage over other applicants vying for jobs. IoTM grads will be able to boast to potential employers and clients their pediatric massage certification or stone facial massage certification, for example.

The Institute of Therapeutic Massage is the only school in the state of Ohio who offers these Career Enhancement classes. This is yet another example of how we strive to help our students prepare themselves for their future careers. Some of our more popular CEU courses include: chair massage, hot stone body massage, infant massage, pregnancy massage, reflexology and sports massage. You can select from 30 different Career Enhancement classes from both medical and spa modalities and you can also choose 100 hours of CEU classes as part of your curriculum at no extra cost.

We hope you take advantage of these courses, like our new graduates have! At IoTM, YOU have the capability to form, mold and shape your future massage career into what YOU want it to be!! Your future is truly in your hands at the Institute of Therapeutic Massage.

Our CEU classes are listed on our website here.

Our CEU schedule can be found here

Ohio State School Registration #02-0520-1636T

Be Happy and Be Lucrative

Most Massage Therapists will tell you they are very happy and satisfied with their job. They will say it is a very rewarding career because they have the opportunity to help people with stressful, demanding lives to relax and help relieve pain from those with arthritis, cancer and chronic pain, to name a few. Massage Therapists will also acknowledge they love their flexible work schedule and hours. They will also tell you that it is hard work, but because of the  personal satisfaction they gain, it is well worth it.

Some LMT’s will say they are not in it for the money, but massage therapy can be financially rewarding and we all have to earn a living, so we wanted to share with you some of the highest paid massage therapy jobs.
•The highest paid overall is the self-employed massage therapist. Overhead costs will reduce net pay, but the self-employed therapist will receive the full amount of their therapy sessions. 
•The Reflexology Specialist is on average the highest paid massage therapist for those  working for an employer. The Reflexology technique uses gentle pressure on the hands and feet based on zones to improve corresponding organs and body parts. 
•A massage therapist can also earn a lucrative career working with a Physical Therapist. The Physical Therapist Assistant helps patients regain physical function or experience pain  reduction. 
•For those who want to inspire others and help shape future LMT’s, they can become a  Massage Therapy Instructor and earn a great living while doing so. Speak with the IOTM  instructors and they will tell you they love their job!
•If working in an athletic environment is for you then become a Sports Massage Therapist. This job would require the massage therapist to massage athletes before, during or after a sports event and it also pays well.

Ohio State School Registration #02-0520-1636T

Dreaming of Starting a Massage Business? Take This Advice!

Beginning your own massage business is a dream of many massage students and new graduates. It takes hard work, dedication and a little extra know-how to launch a successful business, especially in today’s economy. The fact is that over 50% of new businesses fail in the first five years. Also, many massage businesses may not fail completely, but unfortunately, some massage therapists will not be successful at achieving their desired income. Here are a few pointers to get you started!
Create a business plan that works for your situation. Make a list of your business goals from every angle you can think of. Expenses, location, growth plans, five and ten year goals, personal goals, financial goals and ideas on how to get an edge over competitors are good places to start. Once there is a solid business plan in place, you will be better positioned for success.
Be sure to have enough capital. This is crucial. You will have many expenses before you even do your first massage; equipment, space, marketing, etc. 

Marketing your business is so important. Marketing is kind of like a massage student 
working on a muscle, but does not know what the muscle does. Until they learn the anatomy, they will not know how to work it properly. Some of the best marketing methods include;  newsletters, business cards, gift certificates and referral systems. The best way is with a website with solid search engine optimization in place, so be sure to hire a professional web designer or study SEO standards if you’re creating your own.
Don’t limit yourself or your potential. The thing that prevents you from seeing opportunities around you is not realizing your full potential. Don’t limit yourself when it comes to money, marketing abilities and how good you are at performing your job! Becoming aware of what it is inside you that may be holding you back is not easy. Discuss your business plan and what you have actually achieved from the business plan with someone you trust, and they may be able to give you some insight.
Staring your own massage business is difficult, but a solid plan will go a long way in helping you obtain your goals and become successful!

Ohio State School Registration #02-0520-1636T