Bellevue Massage School focuses on providing you with a solid education in touch medicine. As part of your training, our student clinic provides an excellent opportunity to implement skills the that you have learned in a professional setting with constant support. Upon graduation, you will be well prepared for the Massage Licensing Exams offered. Course subjects are listed below. We offer full units on Hydrotherapy, Sports Massage, and introductions to Reflexology and many other topics. Classes are held on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays in either the morning or evening. The morning class time is 8:00am-12:50pm and the evening class time is 5:25pm-10:15pm. On every other Saturday, both evening and morning students join together for an 8 hour class from 9:00-6:00 with a one hour lunch. Our Student Clinic runs for about 8 weeks during the latter half of the program on Tuesdays and Thursdays for approximately 4 hours per day.
 

CORE SUBJECTS

Anatomy & Physiology (A&P)--Covers the systems of the body, the functions of the organs and glands, as well as the various parts of the skeletal and muscular systems. Studies of the following systems of the body are included: circulatory, respiratory, urinary, reproductive, digestive, nervous, endocrine, muscular, integumentary, and skeletal.

Pathology--Common diseases and abnormalities of the various body systems are studied in terms of their signs and symptoms, taking into account predisposing factors, congenital problems as well as infectious disease, trauma and known causes. In addition, the relationship of massage to the various diseases is covered, including when massage should and should not be used.

Kinesiology--Covers body movement and how and where muscles, bones, tendons, and ligaments interact to create movement at the joints.

Massage Theory & Practice (MT&P)--Covers the practical applications and theory of Swedish Massage. Some subjects included are hydrotherapy, endangerments, client positioning, draping, indications and contraindications, and practitioner body mechanics. Related techniques such as strain-counterstrain, muscle energy technique, and Manual Lymphatic Drainage are also taught.

Clinical Practices--This course covers human behavior and effective communication skills for the practitioner in relation to working with clients. Specific information is covered on laws, professional ethics, hygiene, business practices, record keeping, and medical terminology.

Student Clinic--Integrates both the practical and theoretical aspects of giving massage. A supervised atmosphere provides students with a practical working situation and includes massage, completing forms, and getting feedback from clients and staff.

State Required Classes--Includes CPR, First Aid, and HIV/AIDS awareness.

Faculty -- Many are graduates of other massage schools with varied training, several staff members are naturopathic doctors, and all have expertise in various bodywork modalities. Staff backgrounds include naturopathic doctors, Sports Massage, energy work and other body work modalities. All LMPs in teaching positions have been practicing for at least 3 years.

Detailed Descriptions of Massage Theory & Practice Classes:

Physiological Effects-the science of why massage has numerous positive benefits. Introduction to the gate theory with a thorough introduction to the nervous system of the body.

Contraindications-introduces the basic understanding of when massage would be counter-productive and best avoided. Discussion of pathologies as they relate to the limitations of touch therapies.

History of Massage-a timeline journey of the development of touch therapies around the world. Healing through touch is innate to life.

Carpal Tunnel Prevention & Self-Care-a thorough introduction to proper body mechanics as a way of guaranteeing a long and fruitful career. This class is offered in the beginning of the program to promote proper alignment throughout.

Ethics, Boundaries & Sexual Issues-a tasteful presentation of special concerns related to the intimacy of touch therapies. Designed to promote professionalism and educate therapists about psychological concepts that have a huge impact on the progress of therapy.

Aromatherapy & Flower Essences-the use of essential oils in massage therapy adds a powerful new dimension to bodywork. History, safety, contraindications, blending and much more is covered in this initial journey into the healing power of smell. The other portion of this eight hour class is devoted to exploring vibrational medicine and particularly flower essences. Learn how flower essences support soul growth and why they are considered primary medicine for the future.

Touch For Health-a modality using muscle testing, acupressure, massage and meridian theory integrating Eastern and Western approaches to wellness.

Reflexology-discover how the entire body is mapped onto the feet and how to incorporate a great foot massage routine into your massage session. Reflexology can be used to treat areas of the body that may be inaccessible to touch.

Chair Massage-many therapists begin their practices doing on-site seated massage. This class gives an overview of how to maximize body mechanics for optimal performance and ideas for routines to be used on seated clients.

Washington State Laws-the WAC’s and RCW’s governing the practice of massage therapy. Important points will be highlighted promoting preparedness for the licensing process.

Thai Massage-an introduction to “yoga for the lazy person.” This modality is done wearing comfortable clothing and takes the client into many stretches performed to increase the flow of vital force throughout the body.

SOAP Charting-covers the basics of charting a massage for review within the healthcare industry. Essential for insurance payments, SOAP charting documents the progress of healing sessions and charts goals and special concerns by the client.

Sports Massage-pre-event and post-event massage are covered at length. This curriculum meets the requirements to become a part of the Washington Sports Massage Team.

Side-Lying Massage-our bodies are not like a piece of paper-front and back-the sides are very important to massage. For pregnant women, it’s impossible to lie on their stomach and side-lying is necessary. This class introduces routines to comfortably place the body in new positions and introduces body cushions.

Inflammation Response-the first class in the treatment series presenting the stages of inflammation. This class presents the model that is used to evaluate the severity of an injury.

Manual Lymphatic Drainage-in the acute stage of inflammation where the body is experience swelling, heat, a loss of function, redness and pain, many massage techniques are contraindicated before the swelling decreases. MLD is used to reduce swelling and can be a powerful adjunct to any surgery.

Deep Tissue Theory-this class presents the theory and practice of accessing the innermost layers of muscle and fascia. Relaxing the superficial tissues is a must and respect for pain tolerances is stressed.

Hydrotherapy-an important healing tool, the use of water in massage is critical for injury treatment. Learn the many applications of hot and cold for increasing flexibility, reducing inflammation and pain as well as moving lymph.

TMJ Dysfunctions & Headaches-a comprehensive look at the dynamics of the jaw and the correlations between headaches and misalignment. A discussion of the many different types of headaches is included.

Whiplash-the dynamics of this acceleration/deceleration injury are discussed with treatment protocols given depending on the stage of inflammation. A review of the muscles of the neck is given in the context of this injury placing many in spasm.

Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue-these two pathologies are profoundly affected by massage. This class discusses the dynamics of how to effectively treat each of these pathologies for optimum recovery.

Craniosacral-an introduction to the subtle art of applying corrective pressure to the cranium and spine. Practitioners claim that the cranial rhythmic impulse affects every cell in the body.

Osteoarthritis & Inflammatory Arthritides-discusses the dynamics of these inflammatory conditions, when to avoid treatment or adapt the application, how to enhance recovery and alleviate pain, etc.

Neuritis & Neuralgia-this class teaches the difference between nerve inflammation and nerve pain and how to treat each. Many common pathologies are discussed including Carpal Tunnel, Thoracic Outlet Syndrome, Piriformis Syndrome, etc.

Lomi Lomi-brings the essence of Hawaii to bodywork. The strokes of Lomi are intended to mirror the rhythmic waves of the ocean. Lomi utilizes many varied body parts to support self-care and proper body mechanics.

Sprains & Strains/Tendonitis & Bursitis-inflammation of tendons versus ligaments is discussed providing evaluation techniques for determining levels of severity and then proper treatment for the stage of inflammation.

Business classes cover the following topics: taxes, business expenses, marketing, medical & liability insurance-how to succeed at the business of massage.

State & National Exam Review-the final class before graduation, this required class covers the licensing process, testing strategies and a thorough review to prepare for a successful outcome to the National Exam.