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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 179 blog entries.

Why Massage is an Excellent Second Career, or Why You’re Not too Old for Massage School

2023-08-07T12:04:02-04:00August 7th, 2023|

Our massage school admissions office sees certain concerns again and again from applicants. For those who are curious about massage school midway through their working years, it can be intimidating to think about pursuing massage dreams alongside younger students. Thoughts may arise such as Can I keep up with 18 year olds in the classroom? and Will I feel out of place as a more mature student? We’re here to quell your fears. Careers in massage therapy begin from innumerable starting points. Each massage school story is unique, and yet many […]

Long-Haul COVID Patients: A New Kind of Massage Client

2023-07-03T11:37:58-04:00July 3rd, 2023|

While society seems to have moved on from COVID, some patients still battle with it. These “long-haulers” face a unique set of symptoms. According to medical journal The Lancet, long-haul COVID symptoms usually last for more than seven months. Let’s define long-haul COVID (formally known as post-COVID syndrome), examine common symptoms, and review how massage therapy can help. We’ll also include suggestions for therapists hoping to serve clients with long-haul COVID.

What is long-haul Covid or Post-COVID Syndrome?

According to the September 2021 Journal of the American Medical Association, about 10% […]

What’s Cool About Side-lying Treatments?

2024-02-25T14:09:32-05:00April 26th, 2023|

Massage therapy images typically show clients on their backs or bellies, but a side-lying position provides many unique advantages. For instance, those who suffer back or neck pain may find the side lying position to be the most comfortable option for massage treatment. After reviewing the benefits of this underutilized massage treatment position, we suggest practical tips for LMTs who would like to offer side-lying positioning to clients.

6 Benefits of Side-Lying Position for Massage Therapy

1. Client Comfort. Many clients, particularly those with back pain and/or large, sensitive breasts will feel most comfortable lying on their sides. Offering […]

Til Luchau on the Choosing a Massage School Podcast: Select a School that Aligns with your Goals

2023-02-28T11:04:39-05:00February 28th, 2023|

The Choosing a Massage School Podcast is an excellent resource for anyone wondering how to become a massage therapist. Today we’re examining the episode featuring Til Luchau, a world-renowned therapist who in 2018 was named Massage Magazine’s first Massage All-Star. Aspiring LMTs can stand on the shoulders of this massage therapy giant by attending to his advice.

The Story of Til Luchau’s Career in Massage

Til Luchau pursued several career paths prior to massage therapy; he has been a foreign car mechanic, an Outward Bound instructor, and a high school teacher. He was first exposed […]

How to Apply for Massage Therapy Licensure in Oregon

2022-09-02T11:32:21-04:00September 2nd, 2022|

While we have posted on the educational and assessment requirements for becoming a massage therapist in the state of Oregon, we’ve never discussed the actual process of applying for a license, which is complex. As this step is crucial in any Oregon massage therapy career, we encourage those working toward LMT status to bookmark this page for easy reference.

What is the process for applying for a massage therapy license in Oregon?

As in most government procedures, there are multiple steps to follow. A helpful frame of mind is to go step by step, […]

Whitney Lowe on the Choosing a Massage School Podcast: Treat your Massage School Search Like an Interview

2022-08-02T11:15:34-04:00August 2nd, 2022|

Selecting from therapeutic massage schools is no easy task, particularly when one is a newcomer to the massage therapy world. What distinguishes the best massage therapy schools? And how can one decide which schools to apply to? The Choosing a Massage School Podcast is a great resource for answering these questions and more. It features interviews with some of the most established figures in massage therapy. Because the interviews are rich with resources for the massage school aspirant, we’re examining each one in a separate post. Today’s featured speaker is Whitney Lowe.

With […]

Oregon Massage Therapy Licensure: How to Become an LMT in the Beaver State

2022-07-08T13:32:11-04:00July 8th, 2022|

The road to massage therapy licensure is rewarding, enlightening, and challenging. But for any Oregonian who wants to practice massage, Portland to John Day, the end goal is the same: successfully adding the letters “LMT” (Licensed Massage Therapist) to one’s name. If you’re researching massage therapy training in Oregon, it’s key to select programs that will empower you to gain licensure. 

To do that, you must understand what the state requires to become an LMT. It’s helpful to work backward from that audacious goal, so that every step you take in the journey leads in the direction of […]

Our COMTA Massage Therapy School Accreditation: What it Means and Why it Matters

2022-05-30T13:25:17-04:00May 30th, 2022|

From plumbing to engineering, established careers have special delegations to indicate experience and expertise. Professional organizations authenticate quality via specialized certifications. Massage therapy is no exception. For accredited massage schools, one designation stands head and shoulders above all others: COMTA accreditation.

Of course, if we’re looking at the individual level, massage therapist certification, or licensure, is the first thing to consider. LMT requirements vary from state to state. Here in Oregon, for instance, a therapist must pass a national exam (such as the MBLEX) as well as the Oregon jurisprudence (massage law) exam, pass a background check, pay a feel of […]

James Waslaski on the Choosing a Massage School Podcast: The Power of Positive Energy and Experienced Instructors

2022-04-04T15:37:19-04:00April 4th, 2022|

For fifty years, our Portland massage school has guided students to become LMTs. We know how challenging it can be to find the right massage school. So we’re thrilled to support the Choosing a Massage School Podcast, which features interviews with massage industry leaders whose decades of expertise deliver deep wisdom on the massage profession, and on how LMT-hopefuls can choose the ideal school of massage. Today we’re reviewing an episode featuring James Waslaski, a celebrated leader in Orthopedic Massage. 

James’ journey to massage therapy began thirty years ago, when he was working in medicine, and pursuing running […]

The Great Resignation is Driving People to Launch Massage Therapy Careers

2022-02-25T10:13:31-05:00February 25th, 2022|

Certain portals in history change how we think, live, and act. A world war, for instance, changes everyone who lived through it. COVID may be our era’s catalytic event. Looking back over the last two years, it is clear that many of us will never be the same. The pandemic has altered nearly every aspect of life, and the workforce is no exception. Let’s examine how the Great Resignation of 2021 has pushed many people to leave their positions, and why massage careers are attracting many to shift gears. 

What is the Great Resignation?
In 2021, millions of people […]

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