The Core Curriculum: 540 Hours

Our Core Curriculum is designed to give you all the hands-on training for Therapeutic, Swedish and fundamental Deep Tissue Massage, that you would need in any professional setting; plus the sciences and legal, ethical and business training vital for success.

The Core Curriculum consists of:

  • Therapeutic Massage Series: 156 Hours
  • Anatomy: Bones and Muscles: 48 Hours
  • Physiology: 56 hours and Pathology 44 hours
  • Kinesiology: 52 Hours
  • Business/Marketing/Essentials/Chair Massage: 56 Hours
  • Pro-Style Student Clinic: 128 Hours

Therapeutic Massage Level 1 (52 Hours)

Therapeutic Massage Level 1 presents a powerful and fluid massage sequence that integrates Swedish, Esalen and Deep Tissue techniques with stretching sequences and Polarity Therapy energy work. Comprehensive fundamentals of professional bodywork including evaluation, applied anatomy, proper body mechanics, and focused intention, sensitivity of touch, and communication skills are integrated into each practice session.

Students are trained to use leverage through proper body mechanics, and movement from their center to achieve deep pressure instead of effort, so that their work is as much a joy to give, as it is to receive. A rich foundation is laid that honors the intuitive and creative, as well as an anatomically precise approach to therapeutic massage.

This course is NOT about memorizing a set routine, but rather allowing the dance of your hands to evolve with confidence and grace. You will learn how to adapt a sequence to best meet your client’s needs from over two hours of innovative strokes and stretches.

With such a strong emphasis on hands-on skills, this course provides an outstanding foundation for the motivated beginner and will also provide inspiration to the practicing therapist.

A comprehensive manual covering all the course material complete with photographs of techniques is included.

No Prerequisites – Excellent Entry Course

Therapeutic Massage Level 2 (52 Hours)

Therapeutic Massage Level 2 continues to build on the approach learned in Therapeutic Massage Level 1 with expanded treatment options for neck, shoulders and lower back.

The advanced work in Therapeutic Massage Level 2 includes: advanced stretching routines, functional assessments and evaluations, range of motion techniques, Hydrotherapy and Deep Tissue Massage. A key element of this course is the development of palpation skills, the ability to locate and assess individual muscles, as the basis for doing specific work on muscles, tendons and ligaments.

The course also deepens training from the previous course for effective communication and interaction with the client and other professionals, and starts to prepare students for our pro-style student clinic.

A comprehensive manual covering all the course material complete with photographs of techniques is included.

Prerequisite: Therapeutic Massage 1 or equivalent

Therapeutic Massage Level 3 (52 Hours)

Therapeutic Massage Level 3 presents an advanced massage therapy sequence, taught primarily in the side-lying position, that gives you new tools to address your client’s most common complaints. The side-lying position is ideal for the neck/shoulder and hip/low back regions, for treating pregnant clients and for anyone who doesn’t enjoy face cradles.

This course continues to refine many of the techniques taught in Therapeutic Massage Level 2. Palpation, evaluation, assessment skills are taken to the next level; and all of the Deep Tissue sequences from Therapeutic Massage Level 2 are adapted to the side lying position, including specific work to release restrictions in neck, shoulders, lower back and hips. In addition, students are introduced to the most commonly used modalities, including Trigger Point Therapy, Positional Release and advanced stretching techniques.

Near the end of the training, students will have the opportunity to fully integrate all the techniques learned in the Therapeutic Massage Series, Levels 1 through 3, into custom-designed sessions. Assessment, evaluation, developing a treatment plan and choosing the best techniques and modalities, will be the steps you follow to meet the needs of your fellow “student” clients.

A comprehensive manual covering all the course materials, complete with photographs of techniques is included.

Prerequisites: Therapeutic Massage Levels 1 & 2

Anatomy: Bones and Muscles (48 Hours)

At Body Wisdom you won’t be bored out of our skull studying and learning anatomy with a traditional “2-D approach” of books and videos, like most colleges.

Specifically created for Massage Therapists, this course is taught in a highly experiential format with 80% hands-on training that will transfer directly into your massage practice. In fact, meeting cutting edge research and latest developments in the bodywork industry, we go beyond static muscle understanding with muscle action & function, and palpation & assessment skill training.

This course lays the foundation for your comprehensive understanding of the human body and its musculoskeletal function, and how to assess its mobility and range of motion. This is crucial in clinically addressing a client’s condition to restore health and wellness, as well as communicating with other healthcare professionals they consult.

A comprehensive modern textbook aids this course in addition to a variety of multi-media learning resources.

No Prerequisites – Excellent Entry Course

Kinesiology (52 Hours)

Simply put, Kinesiology is the study of human movement. In-depth understanding of how muscles function as movers, antagonists, and stabilizers in the human body is critical to the clinical reasoning and assessment process as well as the application of advanced massage and bodywork rehabilitation techniques.

This advanced-level Kinesiology course provides an overview of clinical applications related to the concepts presented as well as an explanation of the anatomical and physiological terminology needed for work in the musculoskeletal field.

Advanced concepts taught, include the effects of micro-anatomy and physiology, as well as neurological affects on fascia in conjunction with human function, movement performance, and mobility.

Prerequisites: Anatomy: Bones & Muscles

Physiology (56 Hours)

A comprehensive introduction to physiology covers crucial knowledge of the body’s systems and their functions, especially in relationship to the practice of massage. While this course is less hands-on, we use a variety of teaching tools to assure that the material is palatable for every learning style. In fact, some of our students have claimed this course to have been a favorite. Students are to gain a deep understanding of the structure and health of the human body.

Prerequisites: None

Pathology (44 Hours)

This course builds on ‘Physiology’, and you will learn about health conditions and imbalances as well as diseases and their signs and symptoms. You will explore the etiology and progression of such pathologies, the standard medical approach to diagnosis and treatment, as well as the indications and contraindications for massage.

Prerequisites: Physiology

Massage Business, Marketing and Chair Massage Course (56 Hours)

Our approach to massage business building caters to the specifics of today’s market. Students will explore a long list of career settings, to broaden their horizon and ignite their passion. They are then guided in the discovery of their own unique ideas, establishing a solid career path to pursue. Each participant is encouraged to incorporate their goal for part- or full time employment, private practice, larger endeavors or specific settings.

Course Highlights:

  • Professionalism & Communication
  • Legal and Ethical Matters, including Licensure
  • Taxes and Investment Strategies
  • Health & Liability Insurance
  • Finances
  • Insurance Billing
  • Interviewing Skills
  • Business Plan
  • Employment Issues
  • Comprehensive Business and Marketing Tools
  • ‘Trouble Shooting’ – Solutions for Common Problems

Chair Massage and Promotion:

Public and private events, as well as corporate massage, are excellent promotion and marketing occasions. You learn clinical and practical massage techniques for seated massage. These are short, yet effective treatments, and can also be practical within your regular work environment. We show you how to best present yourself, your skills and your touch; not only for the benefit of the client, but also to display and market your services.

Developing Your Vision and Promotional Materials:

Students will have ample time to explore their goals and aspirations with respect to their new career. There will be small group discussion time to help the students envision their perfect practice setting. The creation of a logo, brochure, business card, and other materials will be facilitated during class.

Creating a Business Plan:

Students will have the opportunity to work on their business plan in class and to get feedback from their classmates and instructor. Students can expect to leave class with a working plan for starting their business.

Prerequisites: “Your Commitment to Your Own Success”, however, we do recommend to take this course later on in your program.

Student Clinic (128 Hours)

In the Student Clinic Course, students put into practice what they have learned within their core program and some of their elective courses. The student clinic models a real-life setting. Sessions are performed on the general public allowing students to acquire a greater sense of confidence and proficiency and become familiar with professional business standards and procedures.

Each student has the opportunity to work on a clinic instructor for detailed feedback on their unique and specific touch, applied pressure, and flow of performance.

AAt times the clinic instructor observes students during an official client session to assess how they apply technique, communication skills, standards, ethics, and other aspects of professional practice.

Students receive one-on-one feedback and instructions related to their hands-on performance, body mechanics, ability to develop effective session and client treatment plans, modify sessions to the client’s requests, proper draping, client record keeping, and display of growing professionalism to meet the school’s expectations and standards.

Emphasis is also placed on reliability, follow through, internal communication with school staff and fellow students, and co-operation with clinic logistics and management.

All clinic course hours take place on-site in the student clinic, which is generally open 6 days a week - Monday though Friday 9:00 AM to 9 PM and Saturday 10-5 PM - for student’s scheduling convenience.