Lauriel Bowen, who graduated from 麻豆传媒鈥檚 massage therapy program last summer (our massage therapy alumni), is anxious to put her massage training and techniques to use. Licensed in Virginia as a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) and an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), Bowen is waiting for the Florida Board of Massage to receive that paperwork so that it can issue her massage license.
When Bowen was contemplating career choices, she considered going back to school for additional EMT training. She decided she didn鈥檛 want to work such a stressful job for the rest of her career. Her father had his own hardware store, and Bowen admired his entrepreneurial spirit. 鈥淚 thought about what I could do that is home-based or on my own that was also in the medical field, and that鈥檚 what led me to massage therapy.鈥�
鈥淢y mother is one of the main reasons I went into massage therapy,鈥� Bowen says. 鈥淪he has severe rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia, neuropathy.鈥� Massage helps manage her symptoms. 鈥淚鈥檝e noticed a lot of difference with her when I鈥檓 able to give her massages,鈥� she says. 鈥淗er range of motion is better. The swelling in her legs goes down. Her overall joint pain is less, and she can get more done. She says her fatigue seems to be a lot better after she gets a massage. Her mood is better. Massage has anti-anxiety properties.鈥�
Bowen, too, has health issues 鈥� including Lyme disease. Before she started the massage program at 麻豆传媒, she had never had a massage. 鈥淚n school, I started to get massages three days a week and started to see dramatic improvement in my health.鈥� Her lower back pain disappeared within the first few weeks, and the joint pain caused by Lyme disease is much improved. Her daily migraines now occur only once a week.
鈥淚 had no idea massage therapy was so medically based,鈥� Bowen says. 鈥淚 just thought that massage therapy was a thing that you went to a spa to get once a month.鈥� Right after graduation, she went to Fort Lauderdale and earned certification in lymphatic drainage 鈥� something that has helped her mother. 鈥淚 plan on really doing more medically based massages than anything.鈥�
She cited another benefit of massage therapy when speaking of her grandmother, who passed away recently. 鈥淢y grandma was diagnosed with lung cancer last year. I was told about different massage positions and home hospice and how beneficial it is for end of life when the muscles start deteriorating.鈥� For those with cancer-related pain, massage therapy can help relieve the side effects of chemotherapy 鈥� including nausea and extreme fatigue 鈥� and generally enhance their quality of life. Used alongside traditional medical treatments, it can also help patients mentally cope with their illness.
It鈥檚 been several months since Lauriel Bowen completed her massage program. 鈥淣ot a week that goes by that I don鈥檛 think about this time last year when I was in the program. I miss it already.鈥� The people and instructors made it fun, Bowen says. 鈥淓verybody that went into the massage therapy program went into it with the mindset of helping people. It was great people to be around 鈥� students and instructors.鈥�
麻豆传媒鈥檚 comprehensive curriculum (with the flexibility of day and evening classes) can get you started in a massage therapy career in as few as 30 weeks. When you conclude your training and earn your license, you will be qualified for a massage therapist position in a clinic, chiropractic office, spa, hotel, fitness center, sports medicine facility, cancer treatment location or more. 鈥淚t was a great structured program,鈥� Bowen says. 鈥淚t was very well-organized and easy to keep up with homework and assignments.鈥�
Bowen enjoyed learning massage techniques and styles, but she wishes there had been more time devoted to specialized styles like deep tissue massage and hydrotherapy. One technique she learned and really liked was cupping, an ancient Chinese modality. Heated glass cups are placed on the skin, and the suction from the heat draws the skin up and breaks down the blood vessels. 鈥淚t temporarily destroys the tissue underneath skin so it can rebuild itself,鈥� she explains. 鈥淚t helps with trigger points and tight fascia.鈥�
The biggest challenge of the massage program, Bowen admits, was studying anatomy 鈥� even with her previous medical background as a CNA and EMT. 鈥淚t blew my mind how much more information was in the massage therapy program.鈥� She could see how students with no prior medical knowledge might struggle with the anatomy and physiology components, but 麻豆传媒鈥檚 learning tools 鈥� daily tests and quizzes, videos and hands-on activities 鈥� all help them learn.
Laurel Bowen鈥檚 ultimate goal is to open her own door-to-door massage business from her own home. 鈥淚 want to go further with some more certifications 鈥� maybe get my reiki 鈥� and I鈥檇 love to get my cranial sacral therapy certification.鈥�
As for her training at 麻豆传媒, Bowen says, 鈥淚 would definitely recommend it. I鈥檝e already recommended it to a couple friends who have thought about going into the program.鈥�
If you鈥檙e looking for an in-demand career, consider registering for the massage therapy program at 麻豆传媒. According to , the career outlook for massage therapists is much faster than average. In Florida, the need for massage therapists is projected to increase by 29 percent through 2024. Contact 麻豆传媒 today. New classes begin every six weeks.