Curriculum

Vancouver Massage School Curriculum

MASSAGE THERAPY CLASS SCHEDULE

Morning Class Start:
January 9, 2024

Evening Class Start:
March 4, 2024

The Bodymechanics curriculum is designed with the students success in mind. Our layered approach to teaching engages students and facilitates learning. A sample schedule would have 1 day of the week learning Anatomy, Physiology & Pathology; 1 day of the week learning Kinesiology; and 2 days of the week learning massage theory and practicing the techniques with our instructors. Each class builds off the day before, and students have access to instructors the length of the program.

Vancouver

Our staff have active massage practices, and enjoy bringing sample scenarios and client cases into the classroom. Combined, our staff have over 100 years of massage practice and students are sure to learn from each instructor.

Additionally, our staff are trained in teaching methodologies via our Massage Therapy Instructor Training program.

Our curriculum is designed to meet the needs for Oregon Massage Licensure.

Anatomy, physiology & pathology

Includes a tour of the body, chemistry, cells and covers in-depth all the systems of the body. Includes: Study of Disease in relation to bodywork, indications and contraindications for bodywork, appropriateness of massage for specific medical conditions. Students will understand the importance of modifications to make depending on any disease process clients may present with during a massage session.

Anatomy instructors have a passion for teaching about anatomy and maintain active massage practices – bringing a relevance into the classroom.

Kinesiology

Includes muscle identification and understanding; origin, insertion and action, bones, ligaments, tendons, joints and more. We utilize a wide variety of methods addressing all learning styles to ensure a complete understanding of the muscles – including coloring activities, clay and skeletons, flash cards, muscle palpation, cadaver videos and more. Through thorough understanding of muscles in function, we are able to identify muscles in dysfunction more easily and thus, develop treatment protocols.

Instructors in Kinesiology are passionate about muscles! The variety of learning styles students possess and our approach to teaching muscles makes understanding movement patterns engages students and thorough knowledge is gained.

Massage Theory & Practice

The majority of the curriculum hours are spent in massage theory and practice. Topics include: the history of massage, equipment, self-care, postural analysis, basic and advanced techniques (trigger point therapy, myofascial release, manual lymphatic drainage, and soft tissue release). Additional modalities taught include pregnancy massage, sports massage, chair massage, outside athletic events (such as local marathons or fun runs), and other specialized techniques are included. Students practice massage techniques outside of school on friends and family to develop exceptional skills.

Our exclusive 16-hour Psychology of the Body segment offers a student a deeper understanding of the body mind connection in relationship to how clients hold deep trauma in the brain and offers tools to help clients overcome these long held injuries. This program was developed exclusively for Bodymechanics School of Myotherapy & Massage by the creator and founder of the BodyMind Bridge System of Deep Healing Shuna Morelli, BS, LMT, CH and one of our lead instructors at Bodymechanics School.

In MTP, students gain confidence through practical exams and evaluation from professionals throughout the program.

Pathology & Treatment

Bodymechanics curriculum includes specialized injury treatment and pathology classes that you won’t see offered at other massage schools. This is where you will build upon the kinesiology & anatomy concepts and will see the synergy between theory and practice that will get your clients out of pain, back to work, and rebooking for regular massage. You’ll learn how the body functions, what causes dysfunction and how to return it to regular function again. Taught by Shari and her designated team of treatment therapists, the pathology & treatment segments of our education are truly a game changer.

Our program is designed to create critical thinkers who integrate advanced theory across the healing spectrum – incorporating knowledge learned in Kinesiology, Anatomy and Massage Theory to bring lasting results to clients. We believe this work is vitally important in todays environment in healthcare.

Clinical Business, Ethics & Communications

We not only prepare you to be a great massage therapist, but we provide you with the skills you will need to have a long and prosperous career in Vancouver, Portland, surrounding cities – or wherever! We support students who plan to be self-employed as well as those who plan to work in a private clinic. We offer opportunities to meet with and mentor with practicing, successful massage therapists with strong marketing and business backgrounds. Course work includes boundaries, ethics, marketing, insurance billing, laws and financial management.

Additional business mentoring classes are available from school owner, Shari Aldrich, LMT, at no additional cost for those students who are interested in launching their private practices and would benefit from additional mentoring. Through our Network of Businesses, we seek partners who work with our students in externship opportunities and for job placement potential.

Mandatory State Required Courses (MSR)

The Student Clinic

The student clinic offers the public a chance to experience our student massages at a discounted rate, while allowing the students a real-life simulated clinic experience under the guidance of their clinic instructor. Additional specialized clinics include the opportunity to work on clients with specific injuries to really dive deep into the healing aspect of the Bodymechanics advanced program.

We offer different clinic opportunities through the year with morning and evening appointments available depending on where the students are in their training.

Please call 360-350-0015 to schedule your 60 min massage for our low rate of $40.

externship program

The goals of the optional Externship Program, in conjunction with our proprietary Bodymechanics Training Center, are to help the student apply and integrate their education into different workplace settings. Overseen by the program mentor, students will participate in a 50-hour externship. The program mentor will meet with students throughout the program to help them identify their strengths and weaknesses in each area – as well as to help them realize their niche audience.

VANCOUVER

MYOTHERAPY & MASSAGE

7723 NE Fourth Plain Blvd Van Square Mall Vancouver WA 98662