Our 750 clock-hour program is presented in the 6 courses of study and 4 clinic rotations outlined below. Each course is either 5 weeks (day program) or 10 weeks (night program) in length. Holidays are not included in the total number of instructional weeks.The Introductory Course is a prerequisite; the remaining 5 courses may be scheduled in any order. The program is divided into 630 clock-hours of classroom instruction and 120 clock- hours of clinic instruction. Students can expect to spend approximately 5 hours each week on homework assignments.

Introduction to Massage

The Introductory Course is comprised of 144 clock-hours of classroom instruction and is designed to introduce you to the field of massage therapy. It prepares you to perform full body massage and provides you with the foundation necessary for advanced study.

Introductory classes in Ethics, Anatomy, Physiology, Hygiene, Touch, Body Mechanics, Postural Analysis and Injury Assessment allow the new student to confidently step into the world of the massage therapist. This strong foundation includes a first look at the terminology commonly used in the profession, prepares you to perform Swedish massage both safely and effectively, and facilitates an enjoyable learning experience. Students develop a full-body routine specifically designed to increase range of motion, reduce stiffness and stretch connective tissues in order to help their clients achieve a greater sense of relaxation.

This course is subdivided into smaller courses:

Introduction to Anatomy and Physiology

This massage training course introduces you to fundamental precepts of the human body, with emphasis on how they relate to your practice. You will learn about hygiene, for protection of yourself and your client during massage. Directional terms and basic definitions allow you to communicate intelligently with other healthcare practitioners. Levels of organizational complexity, characteristics and basic needs of life will be reviewed, as will organ systems directly related to massage (integumentary, skeletal, muscular, cardiovascular and lymphatic). Basic gross anatomy of bony landmarks and superficial muscles will be covered to provide a foundation for the detailed gross anatomy that will be presented in the regional courses.

Introduction to Orthopedic Assessment

Orthopedics is the medical specialty devoted to the assessment, treatment, rehabilitation, and prevention of injuries and diseases of the body's musculoskeletal system. This massage training course covers massage theory, interview and documentation skills, postural analysis, fundamentals of kinesiology, and an introduction to the rationale and methods of orthopedic assessment. When determining a course of treatment, it is imperative to match the physiological effects of various treatment options to the physiological processes occurring in the body. Without a proper assessment, treatment given will be less effective, or maybe even harmful to your client.

Swedish Massage

Students begin this massage training course by learning body mechanics that assist in minimizing wear and tear on the body. Body mechanics are reinforced throughout the entire course. Classical Swedish massage technique is the primary focus, incorporating effleurage, petrissage, friction, vibration, tapotement, and joint movements. Students develop full-body treatments specifically designed to increase range of motion, reduce stiffness, and stretch connective tissues in order to help their clients achieve a greater sense of relaxation.

Deep Tissue and Other Modalities

The superior Swedish Massage skills you develop enable you to advance to our next level of massage training, an Integrated Approach To Deep Tissue Therapy, the Signature Style of Bodywork developed at Atlanta School of Massage.

• The style Atlanta School of Massage introduced to Georgia in 1980
• The style we've perfected over the last 30 years
• The style that over 13,000 clinic patrons requested from us last year alone
• ...and the core of our massage therapy training and certification curriculum.

The primary goal of any Deep Tissue style of massage is to restore balance to the body by affecting the deeper layers of muscle and connective tissue. While techniques may vary, the objective remains the same: to relax and lengthen restricted tissues. By combining superior technique with our Client Centered Approach, Atlanta School of Massage takes Deep Tissue Therapy to another level. The following advanced massage techniques are included in our Integrated Approach to Deep Tissue Therapy:

• Cross Fiber
• Deep Transverse Friction
• Assisted Massage (combines massage with movement)
• Deep Tissue (gliding style)
• Connective Tissue Bodywork

Ethics

A subject of critical importance in massage training our ethics course consists of 6 clock-hours discussing issues like boundaries, scope of practice, the therapeutic relationship, transference, counter-transference, and professional conduct.

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The Wellness Massage and Spa Therapies Certification Course

Massage training at Atlanta School of Massage prepares you to enter the fastest growing area of the massage therapy job market. The 90 clock-hours  of classroom instruction offered in spa therapies classes teach you to develop individualized massage and spa treatment sessions. Spa history, theories, and therapeutic benefits will be discussed along with promotion and pricing. You will learn to operate and care for spa equipment, develop treatment plans, and practice creating custom treatments and corresponding spa menus.

Spa Therapies

This course includes hands-on practice designed to train students in a comprehensive selection of body treatments. You will review indications, contraindications, therapeutic effectiveness, and treatment protocols for the most popular spa therapies offered in the United States.

• Exfoliation: Body Polish / Salt Glow
• Aromawrap
• Body Masques: Thallasotherapy / Pelotherapy
• Back Facial Treatment

Additional classes in aromatherapy round out your spa therapies training. Aromatherapy classes present the art and science of using natural essential oils to aid health and beauty. You will examine the benefits, effects, and individual healing properties of each essential oil so that you can safely create custom-aromatic blends for calming or energizing effects.

Reflexology

The reflexology certification course is included in your massage training as part of the wellness and spa therapies course. It introduces you to a 5,000-year-old method of treatment that is becoming increasingly popular with today's massage and spa clients. Skillfully applying thumb and finger pressure to the feet creates reflex effects that stimulate the natural tendency of the body to rebalance and heal itself. Restoring balance to the body can help relieve stress, relax tension and improve circulation. You will learn to perform a comprehensive reflexology routine, an aromatic reflexology treatment and to integrate the skills into full body massage sessions.

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Regional Courses: Axial Skeleton, Upper Extremity, and Lower Extremity

A prime example of our integrated approach to massage training can be found in our regional sequence. We present structure, function, palpation, and assessment methods as you study each joint, prior to integrating massage techniques for that area of the body. Three of our six courses address bodywork using a regional approach, dividing the body into three sections for easier study – the axial skeleton, upper extremity, and lower extremity.

Each of the three courses provides you with a comprehensive education in the growing field of medical massage. Massage training at Atlanta School of Massage delivers an in-depth look at the numerous soft tissues of the body and the damage caused by excessive mechanical stress. You learn how the body repairs itself and examine the role that massage can play in influencing this process. You will study the most common injury conditions that affect each region of the body and learn the orthopedic assessment techniques used to identify them.

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The Axial Skeleton Course

The Axial Skeleton Course is comprised of 90 clock-hours of classroom instruction. Co-requisite to this course is a 30 clock-hour clinic rotation. Students develop in-depth knowledge of the lumbar spine, thoracic spine, cervical spine, head, face, and temporomandibular joint as each body segment is presented in our regional sequence.

A central component of each of the regional courses is orthopedic physical assessment. Orthopedic assessment is a systematic method used to evaluate clients who present specific complaints. This course is designed to provide you with all the skills necessary to Determine, Choose, and Refer:

• Determine whether it is advisable to work with the client
• Choose a treatment approach that is safe and effective
• Refer to another healthcare practitioner for complementary care when appropriate

Massage training at Atlanta School of Massage delivers an in-depth look at the numerous soft tissues of the body and the damage caused by excessive mechanical stress. You learn how the body repairs itself and examine the role that massage can play in influencing this process. Each region is explored in a series of classes focusing on a single joint or set of joints, beginning with anatomy, or joint structure, followed by a discussion of kinesiology, or the movement patterns available at that joint. The lecture series culminates in a presentation of common injury conditions and differential assessment of that joint. Two practical classes round out the series. One fine tunes the students’ therapeutic application of various techniques for the limb in question, and another one aides the students in session planning.

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The Upper Extremity Course

The Upper Extremity Course is comprised of 90 clock-hours of classroom instruction. Co-requisite to this course is a 30 clock-hour clinic rotation. Students develop in-depth knowledge of the shoulder, elbow, forearm, wrist and hand. Additional classes in therapeutic skills, hydrotherapy and massage history round out the course.

Hydrotherapy

Hydrotherapy introduces students to the effects of heat and cold on local tissue and systems function. Understanding hydrotherapy theory and application will allow students to use cold and moist heat to both maximize the results of their treatments and properly advise their clients on the appropriate use of hydrotherapy for self care.

Massage History

As part of your massage training program, we will examine the historical development of massage techniques.

Therapeutic Skills

 Our experience has shown that you can greatly enhance the results of the deep tissue technique by using the client centered approach.Therapeutic Skills classes provide students with the communication skills necessary to achieve this level of client/therapist interaction. Increased awareness and attention to detail allow the client-centered therapist to detect the subtle changes many therapists miss. Clients report increased relaxation, pain reduction, better posture and more flexibility as some of the long lasting benefits provided by this style of massage.

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The Lower Extremity Course

The Lower Extremity Course is comprised of 90 clock-hours of classroom instruction. Co-requisite to this course is a 30 clock-hour clinic rotation. Students develop in-depth knowledge of the hip, thigh, knee, lower leg, ankle and foot as each body segment is presented in our regional sequence. Additional classes in Business and Marketing and Seated Massage round out the course.

Business and Marketing

Business and Marketing prepares the student to secure employment or ownership of a massage therapy practice. Class discussions, lectures and experiential exercises are designed to expose the students to a variety of business practices, scenarios and ideas.

Seated Massage

An American Massage Therapy Association poll of its members revealed that seated massage represents the largest untapped area of the massage market. Atlanta School of Massage has included a comprehensive certification course that teaches you to integrate the skills you learn throughout the program into a seated massage routine. Seated massage is portable and allows you to work in a wide array of public settings:

• Trade Shows
• Salons
• Airports
• Malls
• Outdoor Festivals
• Corporate Offices

Seated massage gives you the opportunity to revisit techniques previously mastered in your massage training and explore new ways to apply them. It provides you with access to clients who do not receive table massage and expands your ability to earn money. Atlanta School of Massage teaches you how to tap into the corporate market. A seated massage contract with a business, rather than an individual, can provide you with a steady stream of clients to bolster your revenue.

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Health Sciences

The Health Sciences Course is comprised of 126 clock-hours of classroom instruction and is designed to broaden your knowledge of the human body.It also provides you with additional practice in neuromuscular therapy and a survey of shiatsu and Thai massage. This course focuses on Anatomy and Physiology, Clinical Neuromuscular Therapy, First Aid, HIV/AIDS Awareness, Illness Care, Sports Massage, and Asian Bodywork.

Anatomy and Physiology

While the anatomy and physiology presented in the other five courses focuses primarily on musculoskeletal anatomy, this course is concerned with the body’s systems with consideration given to implications for massage. Topics covered include chemistry, cells, tissues, integument, muscle physiology, metabolism and energy, nervous system, endocrine system, the remaining systems, and pathology.

Illness Care explores a variety of medical conditions that you may encounter. Class discussion will focus on indications and contraindications for massage and explore strategies for adapting your session to clients with special needs, such as those with as well as the emotional implications of chronic disease, chronic pain, and terminal illness.

HIV/AIDS Education class is designed to give you a comprehensive and medically accurate view of working with chronically ill individuals, including those with AIDS. Emphasis is on issues relating to HIV infection, AIDS, and how these conditions impact massage therapy care.

First Aid

A six clock-hour course in basic first aid rounds out our health sciences course with practical knowledge of first aid skills.

Clinical Neuromuscular Therapy Certification Course

Neuromuscular Therapy is a system of soft tissue manipulation that addresses the underlying causes of pain, not just the symptoms. An accomplished neuromuscular therapist interprets the effects of the following internal and external factors, which often create irregular activity in the central nervous system that leads to pain and dysfunction:

• Postural Distortion/Dysfunctional Biomechanics
• Reduced Circulation
• Trigger Points
• Nerve Impingement/Tension
• Somatovisceral/Viscerosomatic Reflexes
• Trauma

In this massage therapy certification course, you will study the physiology of each of the factors on this list.  You will learn how to match the physiology of each condition with the physiological effect of your technique. The ability to choose the appropriate massage technique allows our graduates to maximize the effects of their treatment.

Sports Massage

In the sports massage training course, you will learn pre and post-event guidelines including basic first aid techniques for thermal injuries commonly seen during athletic events. Instructors will demonstrate primary sports massage strokes, combine these strokes with active and passive movement, and illustrate how they may be applied in clinical and athletic settings.

Asian Bodywork

The Asian bodywork course provides a brief introduction to the methods of Shiatsu and Thai massage.

Shiatsu is a Japanese style of massage therapy based on the acupressure system of points and meridians. Pressure applied to specific points on energy meridians effectively release muscular tension. Students learn a basic full-body Shiatsu routine as well as the art of blending these techniques into an integrated massage session.

Thai Massage includes energy balancing with muscle, tendon, ligament, and joint stretching, in addition to practitioner-assisted yoga-type postures with deep pressure massage. Most Thai Massage stretch postures may be integrated into massage therapy given on the massage table.

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Clinic Internship

The purpose of our 120 clock-hour clinic internship is to provide students the opportunity to hone their skills under the guidance of faculty members while in a professional working enviroment, SensAbility sm, our student clinic. The program fosters the fine tuning of skills and techniques learned in the classroom. Examples of such skills include interviewing, orthopedic assessment, SOAP note documentation, massage technique, body mechanics, and professionalism.
Interns practice massage on the general public under supervision in a clinic setting. There are a total of 20 public clinics, which are divided into four rotations of five clinic shifts each. Each rotation is assigned to one of four courses: Axial Skeleton, Spa Therapies, Upper Extremity, and Lower Extremity. The clinic shift for each rotation is determined by the course it accompanies and whether the student is in the day or night program.