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East West College of the Healing Arts

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So far East West College of the Healing Arts has created 181 blog entries.

Criminal Background Checks: Required for Massage Licensure in Most States

2014-07-07T16:17:13-04:00July 7th, 2014|

Massage standards vary significantly from state to state. Massage schools in Michigan face different standards than those in our home state of Oregon. As of March of 2014, twenty-six states required fingerprinting and background checks for massage licensure or certification. On July 1st, Florida joined this group, passing a law to set up fingerprinting for massage therapists. Today we’re taking a look at which states require criminal background checks.

Our home state of Oregon requires fingerprints for first-time licensure applicants, but it does not currently require additional rounds of fingerprinting for renewals. The exception is coming back from inactive status—then the state […]

10 Ways to Gain New Massage Clients

2014-07-05T16:15:25-04:00July 5th, 2014|

You’re entering your massage therapist career. The education is done, you’ve passed state licensing, and your new massage space looks perfect. Now for actually getting a client in the door for a massage! Portland, OR is a haven for health nuts who love taking care of themselves with massage, so it’s not too tough to begin building a client base. Regardless of whether you’re in the Rose City, the following ten approaches will win you new massage clients.

  1. Volunteer at Athletic Events. Post-run, post-triathalon, post-ride: Massage never feels better than after a long athletic event. Contact event organizers and inquire about […]

Massage Career Preview Event on 7/19

2014-06-25T11:52:57-04:00June 25th, 2014|

Curious about a career in massage but not sure where to start? We’ve got the perfect event for you—our Portland massage career preview event on 7/19. Whether you’re actively seeking a medical massage certification, or just interested in learning more about massage careers, this event will provide the experience and information you need.

Each month, we hold a massage career preview event to get the word out about our program and why massage is an excellent career. Here’s how the day’s schedule will go:

10:00am to 12:00pm – Massage Career Preview
This Q&A session will cover all of your burning queries about massage careers. […]

How to choose Continuing Education Courses to Build your LMT Business

2014-06-16T11:51:18-04:00June 16th, 2014|

When it comes to selecting continuing education for massage therapy, different therapists have different goals. Some take CE classes simply because they must to renew their license. (Here in Oregon, the state board of massage therapists requires 25 hours of continuing education at the time of license renewal.) Others enjoy the support and camaraderie of learning with other LMTs. Today we’re examining a third motivation for massage therapy continuing education: Building your massage business.

For those with stable positions in spas, hospitals, or chiropractic offices, managers will likely recommend CE classes that will suit the position. Therefore, freelance massage therapists with […]

Anatomy & Physiology: The Backbone of a Strong Massage Program

2014-06-12T11:49:18-04:00June 12th, 2014|

If you’re shopping west coast massage schools, we recommend checking out each institution’s anatomy and physiology classes. These courses are the backbone of any strong massage certification program. Together, Anatomy and Physiology inform therapists on how the body is structured (anatomy), and how it functions (physiology). When working as a massage therapist, Anatomy and Physiology is a must-have. Otherwise you can’t have a good map of the body, nor an understanding of how different parts work together.

One reason why we’re consistently chosen as the best massage school in Oregon—and one of the top schools in the nation—is that our anatomy and […]

Interviewing Tips for Landing a Massage Therapy Job

2014-06-05T11:47:36-04:00June 5th, 2014|

When it comes to job openings, East West grads often find their applications at the top of the pile, since our school has a reputation for academic excellence. We have even heard of students getting jobs on the East West College name alone. We’re a top Oregon massage school, and many feel ours is one of the top massage therapy programs in the country.

So if you’re an alum of our school, you can feel confident entering a massage therapy interview. Your East West College classes and clinic experience is excellent preparation to become a massage therapist. Even so, you should prepare […]

Massage Career Preview Event on 6/21

2014-05-20T11:38:16-04:00May 20th, 2014|

Do you find yourself browsing the web for information about massage therapy careers? If so, there’s a good chance that you could have a future in massage. We are a leading Northwest massage school—indeed, we’re one of only 4 schools on the West Coast to have COMTA Accreditation. And we’d love to help you explore potential careers in massage therapy. Our Massage Career Preview events are intended to give you the answers and perspectives you need to decide whether earning massage therapy licensure is the right path for you.

At our Massage Career Preview, you can also check out our school’s […]

Oil vs. Lotion: Which is better for massage?

2014-05-12T11:35:50-04:00May 12th, 2014|

It’s a question you hear in the clinics of all massage schools, Portland, OR to Portland Maine: Do you prefer lotion or oil? If you visit our massage clinic, you will definitely be asked this question. So today we’re taking some time to explore the pros and cons of each.

From the perspective of skin health, oil and lotion each offer benefits—assuming that your therapist selects lotions free of petroleum products and other noxious chemicals, that is. Many of us love our over-the-counter creams and lotions to create soft, touchable skin. But here’s the rub: Many of those trusted lotion brands […]

The Benefits of Touch across the Human Lifespan

2014-05-09T11:32:29-04:00May 9th, 2014|

Michelangelo said, “To touch is to give life.” Today we’re exploring how science proves him right. We’ll explore findings from researchers like UC Berkeley professor Dacher Kelter, who has overseen experiments on how well humans can convey emotions to each other through touch alone (about half of the time, it turns out.) Beyond expression of compassion and other emotions, we’ll find that touch can improve health and activate brain centers for reward and compassion.

Primates spend 10-20% of their waking time grooming each other—that’s time spent touching family members and peers. Yet many people in the West go days on end without […]

A Look inside the Craniosacral System & How Massage Therapy Helps

2014-05-05T11:30:36-04:00May 5th, 2014|

Craniosacral therapy, sometimes called cranial osteopathy, is massage that focuses on the skull and sacrum. It is rooted in the idea that the health of the craniosacral system is central to our overall health.

To understand this type of therapy, it’s helpful to have a basic grasp on how the craniosacral system works. Basically, this system provides a healthy environment for the central nervous system. The craniosacral (CS) system is composed of membranes and fluid that protects the brain and the spine. The membranes of the craniosacral system stretch from the bones of the skull and face down the spine to the […]

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