Massage Therapy Study Abroad Programs

Massage therapists are partners in a person's overall wellness. Rather than being exclusively for the relief of aches and pain, massage is also important in preventing certain conditions from happening. It’s good for every anatomical system in the body, from the skin to the heart, from the muscles to the connective tissue. Students of massage therapy learn how the body works, what gets things out of whack, and what the best ways are to prepare the body to heal itself. Massage theory and technique are obviously fundamental parts of any massage training, but did you know the importance of these other subjects?

An understanding of Anatomy & Physiology is crucial to being a trained massage therapist. Anatomy is the study of the structure of body parts, while physiology is the study of their relationship to one another. Similarly, Myology is the study of the muscular system and how muscles form, function, and become impaired. Without a solid base in these systems, it can be very difficult to understand how working with one part can help fix another. These are often understood differently in different cultures, with Western medicine emphasizing fixing the problem at its location and Eastern medicine seeking to understand its root, which may be in a different part of the body entirely. 

Neurology is important because massage is more than simply the point of contact; it’s a whole-body healing that realigns entire systems to help your body perform the way it was designed. Your brain plays an important, if not yet fully-understood, role in creating health and happiness when the body is functioning normally. The immediate benefits of a massage reduce the levels of cortisol in the brain, and studies are ongoing about the full breadth of physical responses to touch and relaxation.

Because certifications are required in all professional practices, and are often preferred by individual clients, learning Ethics in healthcare is crucial for developing and maintaining a career beyond your schooling. These will vary based on your location, but a general understanding of autonomy, beneficence, confidentiality, and justice as they apply to delivery of healthcare. Ethical reasoning skills are developed using real life case studies through analysis of authentic cases. There may be ongoing courses to maintain your license that will consistently review these policies.

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