August 2010

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Dual-Modality CMT Massage School Opens in Northwest Denver, LoHi Thai Yoga Massage Meets Western Massage Styles

08/25/2010 in CMT School

August 25, 2010 – Denver, Colorado – Thai Yoga Massage, it’s IN – and fast becoming one of the most popular massage modalities to study in North America.  Massage therapists are flocking to learn Thai Yoga Massage, and most massage schools only offer Thai Yoga Massage as a Continuing Education class.  Massage students have options in Colorado on where they decide to study, and Denver Integrative Massage School offers a completely unique Certified Massage Therapy program that integrates Western styles of massage along with all Anatomy, Physiology, Kinesiology, and Pathology requirements within an Asian Energy Bodywork framework of 180 hours of Thai Yoga Massage studies.  Denver Integrative Massage School has JUST OPENED and offers a Dual-Modality CMT program that focuses 320 hours on Western Massage and 180 on Thai Yoga Massage.  The instructors at Denver Integrative Massage School include a Doctor of Physical Therapy (with 18+ years experience), a Registered Nurse (with 25+ years experience, and one of the first instructors to introduce Thai Yoga Massage to the Rocky Mountain Region (10+ years ago).

Denver Integrative Massage School offers innovative massage therapy training because it offers a Dual-Modality approach to a CMT education—both Eastern and Western modalities ALL at ONE school.  The school’s location reflects it’s unique and contemporary massage curriculum—it’s located in the heart of one of the coolest, hippest parts of Denver—the LoHi area—Lower Highlands along 32nd Street, which houses an eclectic mixture of new and old architecture, business, houses, and ideas.  The school is located at 2416 W. 32nd Ave. Denver, CO 80211.

Why Thai Yoga Massage? Thai Yoga Massage is an ancient modality (2,500+ years) that is now finding it’s way within spas, clinics, and the Western medical community.  Thai Yoga Massage is following the same path as Yoga—a venerable healing art that resonates with a modern audience because it incorporates assisted, passive, yoga-like stretches, reflexology, acupressure, aromatherapy, and a sacred sense of the spirituality within each person.   In this form of bodywork, usually performed on the floor, practitioners hold yoga postures while palming and thumbing along the body’s energy lines and pressure points.  Together these actions result in a comprehensive, holistic, full-body Thai Yoga Massage treatment that relieves muscular tension, improves circulation, boosts the immune system, and balances the body energetically.

Potential massage therapy students are excited to have an option to study both Western and Eastern massage modalities from a State and Nationally-Approved massage school in Denver that meets Colorado’s regulations for massage therapy certification.  Typically, massage schools in Colorado range from $9,000 – $12,000, and Denver Integrative Massage School has chosen to make their education affordable at $5,800 for their 600-Hour Certified Massage Therapy program.  The other programs include a 320-Hour Western Therapeutics module that solely focuses on Western massage—this program is perfect for current Thai Yoga Massage and Yoga Therapy practitioners who wish to use their previous training in other Thai Yoga Massage and Yoga Therapy schools as “Previous Credits”, so they can receive enough hours to qualify for the NCBTMB board exam, as well as qualify for State Regulation in Colorado.  This 320-Hour Western Massage program is priced affordably at $3,400.

In addition to these 2 programs, Denver Integrative Massage School also offers ala carte courses in Thai Yoga Massage for current CMTs that wish to add Thai Yoga Massage to their practice as Continuing Education.  Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3 Traditional Thai Yoga Massage courses provide the student with a solid foundation in the amazing healing art of Thai Yoga Massage.  The courses are priced respectively at $850, $850, and $700.  The next Thai Yoga Massage courses start SOON on September 10th, 2010.

Potential Massage Students, current Massage Therapists, Yoga Therapists, Yoga Instructors, Acupuncturists, Personal Trainers, Physical Therapists, Registered Nurses, and Occupational Therapists are choosing to enroll at Denver Integrative Massage School so they can learn both Western and Eastern Massage Modalities at ONE massage school.  These students are excited to have the opportunity to learn over 180-Hours of Thai Yoga Massage so they can learn how to effectively treat patient issues with stretching techniques and learn how to give a deeply therapeutic massage with areas OTHER than the hands and fingers.  Forearm, elbow, knuckle, knee, and foot pressure are used more often in Thai Yoga Massage than in other massage modalities, saving the massage therapist from typical wear and tear and allowing the massage therapist more longevity.

Our students are also excited to learn the basics of Anatomy, Physiology, Kinesiology, and Pathology from our Doctor of Physical Therapy, Registered Nurse, and Massage Therapy experts.  Our programs place a strong focus on the assessment aspect of massage therapy—knowing how to assess a patient’s physical issues before beginning the massage therapy.  In addition to the assessment focus, students at Denver Integrative Massage School will have the knowledge necessary to give patients take-home exercises and stretches to complement and extend the massage benefits at home in between massage sessions.

Meet us in person at our Open Houses!! Meet the Instructors, Receive Free Thai Yoga Massage Demos, Taste Yummy Treats from the Wooden Spoon Bakery next door, and Envision yourself Attending our School.  Friday, October 15th, 6:00p – 9:00p and Friday, December 3rd, 6:00p – 9:00p.  2416 W. 32nd Ave. Denver, Colorado 80211.

Enroll now for our 600-Hour CMT Program and 320-Hour Western Therapeutics Program, both starting on January 8th, 2011.  Classes will be meeting 2 weekday nights per week as well as every other weekend.  Also accepting enrollment for our Thai Yoga Massage ala carte courses, starting SOON on September 20th, 2010. For more information, contact Hillary Olsen Hilliard, School Director and Program Supervisor, at Hillary@DenverIntegrativeMassageSchool.com and visit the website for course, enrollment, and payment plan options: http://www.DenverIntegrativeMassageSchool.com

Press Release for new Denver Massage School

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December Mexico Vacation

08/16/2010 in CMT School, Thai Massage

Discover Thai Yoga Massage on a Volunteer Vacation in Mexico’s Riviera Nayarit. Hillary Hilliard will be helping to lead a Volunteer Vacation to benefit Destination: PEACE.

When: December 11 – 16, 2010

Where: Punta de Mita, Mexico

Pricing: $999 Doubles, $1,399 Single (flight to PV not included)

Destination: PEACE is a Vacation for the Soul. Experience Punta de Mita, Mexico while making a positive impact on the lives of children, families, and animals who dwell there.

On this Destination: PEACE Volunteer Vacation you will: forge meaningful connections, engage in rewarding volunteer experience, luxuriate in deluxe accommodations, immerse yourself in the local culture, indulge in authentic Mexican cuisine, reunite your mind, body, and spirit through yoga and Thai massage, and earn CE credits for massage and bodywork via NCBTMB and THAI.

Sample of Daily Schedule: 7:30 – 8:00 Early Meditation, 8:00 – 9:00 Warm up with Yoga and Thai Yoga Massage, 9:00 – 10:00 Breakfast, 10:00 – 12:30 Free Time, 12:30 – 1:30 Lunch, 1:30 – 4:30 Volunteer Event OR Thai Massage Class, 4:30 – 6:30 Thai Massage Class OR Volunteer Event, 7:30 Dinner and Fun.

Link to Destination: PEACE website to sign-up for December Mexico Vacation with Hillary

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Massage Therapy–Top Job for Work/Life Balance

08/13/2010 in CMT School

Massage therapy listed as 1 of top 5 jobs that strikes that sweet balance between work and life. Here’s an excerpt: “Massage Therapy is an extremely low-pressure, relaxing career for most people. (As long as the thought of touching a stranger’s back doesn’t drive your stress level through the roof, of course.) Not only are most massage therapists self employed, but they also get to smell smoothing aromatherapy scents and listen to calming background music or ocean sounds all day while they work.

Because many massage therapists work part-time, yearly salaries vary wildly in this field. However, most of these massaging masters charge by the hour. On average, they earn between $10-35 an hour. Of course, if you take on plenty of clients, you could easily earn a salary of $45,000 or more. That kind of cash will certainly not rub you the wrong way.”

Yahoo Article

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08/07/2010 in CMT School

Wow! So my July has been a tad busy. Self-created insanity, perhaps? I decided to start a massage school. Yes, I’ve had the Denver School of Thai Massage since January 2009, but this is a different school. DSTM will be dissolving and will be turning into Denver Integrative Massage School, Inc, located at 32nd & Zuni.

Over the past year, I’ve seen a growing need for a massage school that specializes in Thai Massage but that also meets the needs of State Regulation for massage therapists. Since April 2009, Colorado became a regulated state for massage therapy, meaning in order to use the word “massage” the therapist must meet the State criteria, which is 500 hours of training plus passing the National massage board exams.

Even though Thai massage is usually categorized differently from Western styles of massage–because of the energy work, acupressure, and stretching–I believe that a massage therapist is more confident and more capable of working safely and therapeutically with clients when she/he has a background in Western Therapeutic basics (anatomy, physiology, kinesiology, pathology).

This past Monday, I turned in my school’s application with the Colorado Department of Higher Education, Division of Occupational Schools. When I met with the supervisor, she was very impressed with the amount of organization, detail, and thought I had put into the application. She said it was the BEST application she’s EVER received. I have my School board meeting on Tues, Aug 24th, and that’s when I’ll find out if I have an “Official” school, regulated by the State of Colorado!!!

I will also be applying to be an “assigned” school with NCBTMB, the national massage organization that administers the national massage board exams.

Three things that differentiate Denver Integrative Massage School from other massage schools: 1) Affordable, 2) Flexible course modules, 3) Thai massage focus.

There will be a 600-Hour CMT program, a 320-Hour Western Therapeutics program, and 3 ala carte courses: Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3 Traditional Thai Massage.

The 600-Hour CMT program will be a 6-month program that meets on Tuesday and Thursday evenings and every other weekend. 140 hours will be online, distance learning (for the introduction to anatomy, physiology, kinesiology, and pathology). The 1st 3 months will be 180 hours of Western Therapeutics, and the 2nd 3 months will be 180 hours of Thai massage and Asian Energy Bodywork.

The 320-Hour Western Therapeutics program will be held during the 1st 3 months of the 600-Hour program–and that will consist of 140 hours of online, distance learning, as well as 180 hours of Western Therapeutics. For those students that have studied Thai massage with me in the past, they will be able to use those credits towards their 600-Hour CMT.

And then the Level 1, 2, and 3 Traditional Thai Massage courses can be taken separately–as part of the 600-Hour program, or as weekend intensives. These courses are ideal for current CMTs looking for CE credit and to add some spice to their practice.

Classes begin January 8th, 2011. We have 6 total instructors for our school. Our website is not up yet–but it will be soon! I will be creating a Facebook and Twitter account for the school, so please look for that. Also, more info to come about the explanation of our logo, as well as more, fun details about why Denver Integrative Massage School will be the BEST MASSAGE SCHOOL in Colorado!

Namaste-ing more and more than ever these days! Hillary Olsen Hilliard

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