Holistic Massage Training Program Description
ASHA 700-Hour Holistic Massage Training Program
Albuquerque School of Healing Arts is proud to offer its Holistic Massage Therapy training program to the growing community of aspiring massage therapists, energetic bodyworkers, and natural healers. The curriculum is unique and diverse, and each student graduates with a rich blend of skills to offer to their clients.
ASHA is committed to honoring the integrity of the principles of natural therapeutics. ASHA acknowledges that the journey taken in a program like ours can be transformative and life-changing. Our school is an inclusive, supportive, and encouraging environment that nurtures our students’ growth and well-being.
Our 9 and 12 month programs meet or exceed all state requirements for licensure. (Please be sure to check with your state’s requirements if you are joining us from outside of NM.)
ASHA is now enrolling students into its two New Mexico state-accredited massage therapy training programs!
What We Offer:
Our high-quality education prepares students for a profession that reaches well beyond massage therapy. Students explore a well-rounded curriculum of integrated health approaches guided by experts who are also practicing professionals. Our comprehensive programs include units in the following natural healing practices:
- Swedish Massage
- Thai Massage
- Sports Massage
- Deep Tissue Massage
- Pregnancy Massage
- Western Herbal Medicine
- Bach Flower Remedies
- Reflexology
- Polarity Therapy
- Cranial Sacral Therapy
- Anatomy & Physiology
- Kinesiology
- Proper Body Mechanics
- Ethics and Emotional Support
- Professional Businesses Practices
Advantages of an ASHA Education:
- Exceeds New Mexico state requirements for massage training.
- 700-hour curriculum qualifies for Board Certification with NCBTMB.
- Full preparation for the national MBLex exam.
- Part-time format allows students to work, study, or care for their families while enrolled in school.
- Day and Night programs available for maximum flexibility.
- Measured approach to delivering information in a format and time-frame that takes the whole person into consideration.
- Diverse curriculum offering much more than massage therapy modalities.
- Courses taught by a wide range of practicing professionals in the industry.
- Holistic approach to education creates a supportive, nurturing environment.
Interested in joining us? Check our upcoming course schedule here!
Application & Enrollment Process
**To submit an Admissions Application, use our online application form. There is a nonrefundable application fee of $100 which will be collected at the end of the application process.
**If you would like to schedule a school tour before submitting an Admissions Application, please email info@ashanm.com to make that request.
**Once your application has been received, and upon conditional acceptance, the applicant will be contacted by phone or email to schedule an interview and enrollment meeting. This interview can be in person or over the phone.
**Enrollment in any of ASHA’s programs is contingent upon submitting a signed Enrollment Agreement, submitting signed ASHA Policy Agreements, and payment of both an Enrollment Fee and Book & Supply Fee.
If you are drawn to ASHA’s program, you are likely a great fit! The application and interview are a way for us to get to know you and to make sure that our program is well-aligned with your expectations and goals.
Curious about massage school but not ready to apply yet?
No problem — Request more information! Just fill out this quick form and we’ll reach out to chat or answer any questions you have
Course Descriptions
Swedish Massage
In this course students will be introduced to the history, theory, and practice of Swedish massage. This course prepares students to treat a wide range of conditions, disorders, and injuries through the practice of massage therapy. Techniques taught will include Effleurage, Petrissage, Friction, Compression, and Tapotement. Stretching and joint movement (Swedish gymnastics) is included in this course. Professional draping, client positioning, and healthy body mechanics will be emphasized for the comfort of both client and therapist. Requirements for practice, equipment and products, sanitation, and safety practices will be covered. Effects, benefits, indications, and contraindications for massage therapy will be fully covered. Client intake and treatment plans will be taught. Also included is the general treatment protocol for preforming a foundational massage full-body Swedish massage, neck, and facial massage. Swedish Massage is the foundational massage course upon which other modalities are built, such as Deep Tissue, Pregnancy, and sports massage. Students will learn how to integrate massage techniques with other therapeutic modalities.
Polarity Therapy
The term Polarity refers to the concept that in all of Nature there are opposites, such as, right & left, above & below, Yin & Yang and positive and negative, and that these forces, when balanced in our bodies, create a feeling of health and well-being. A Polarity treatment addresses the mental, emotional and physical bodies, allowing subconscious blockages and traumas to be processed in the conscious, and released. In a Polarity Therapy treatment the therapist uses their hands to release knots of tension, treat the Chakras and their associated 5 Elements (Ether, Air, Fire, Water & Earth) and unblock the energy currents running throughout the client’s body. The result is a feeling of deep relaxation and a nervous system reset into. “Rest and Digest” mode, so that the client’s body can heal itself. Students will learn the fundamentals of polarity therapy and how it can be integrated into their massage therapy practice.
Thai Table Massage
In a traditional Thai massage the client remains clothed in comfortable clothing and the therapist uses their hands, thumbs, elbows, forearms, and their feet to create stretch, apply pressure, and reduce tension in the muscles.Thai massage is based on the idea that energy moves through the body in predictable energetic pathways, known as Sen lines. Students will learn how to address opening these pathways through applying pressure in specific areas and will learn how to safely move their client through a series of yoga-like stretches. While traditionally practiced on the floor, this course will introduce students to modifications and Thai techniques and stretching for the client on the massage table. This course also teaches stretching for the seated client as well as self-stretches for the massage therapist. Certain stretches will also be demonstrated and shown how to be properly incorporated into a more traditional Swedish massage treatment where the client is not clothed. Contraindications and safety will be covered.
Cranial Sacral Therapy
In this course students will be introduced to the history, theory, and practice of Cranial Sacral Therapy. Cranial Sacral Therapy (CST) is a gentle hands-on treatment that may provide relief
Herbal Medicine
This course will explore the historical, spiritual, and cultural aspects of herbalism, with a strong focus on building relationships and remembering our innate connection with the living world. Students will learn how to use plants to promote overall health, to identify certain plants that grow in our bioregion, and to incorporate herbal medicine into daily life and bodywork practice. Some of the class time will be hands-on, learning how to craft remedies and properly extract the medicinal properties of herbs using different methods.
Chinese Medicine
This course will introduce students to Chinese Medicine as it applies to understanding health and illnesses. Students will learn the foundations of Traditional Chinese Medicine in aspects of basic diagnostic theories, elements of a diagnostic interview, and common TCM interventions for treatment ie. acupuncture, acupressure, Chinese therapeutic massage, herbal medicine and Chinese nutrition. This course will provide the basic framework for understanding TCM as a holistic approach to wellness and an integral system in Complementary & Alternative Medicine (CAM) as practiced in the West.
Reflexology
Reflexology is a body work technique based on the theory that there are specific reflex points on the feet that correlate to specific organ/body systems. This course will cover a brief history of Reflexology, the leading theories of how and why Reflexology works to affect the body, and the techniques of applying pressure on specific points in the feet to bring about those changes. Practical applications and indications and contraindications will be covered. A review of Anatomy and Physiology will be included with emphasis on specific body systems and how Reflexology can be used to affect those systems.
Essential Oils and Essences
This course will introduce students to the basis of working with essential oils in their massage practice. Topics covered will include: how our sense of smell works, how essential oils are made, and safe and unsafe uses of essential oils, distillation ratios and sustainable oil choices, and different ways to derive scents from plants. We will also discuss accessibility considerations, including fragrance-free practices and allergies. Students will get a chance to work hands-on with creating and formulating different oils to use in their practice, including infused carrier oils and salves. This course will prioritize a safety-focused and conservation-focused approach to essential oils.
Core Synchronism
Core Synchronism is an advanced palpitation-based technique used to help restore balance in the physical, mental, and emotional aspects of the body through alignment with the core current. The health and wellbeing of the body depends on the free circulation of the Cerebral Spinal Fluid (CSF) which carries Core Current.
Bach Flower Remedies
Flower essences have been used in healing for centuries, but the practice was most recently brought to light by Dr. Edward Bach. Flower remedies are extremely diluted extracts from flowers that are used to improve the emotional, spiritual, and physical health of people and animals. This type of treatment falls under the umbrella of vibrational medicine. Rather than using the herbal properties of flowers for healing purposes, the process for preparing the flower essences imbues the tinctures with the energetic signature of the plant. Students will learn the history, theory, and effects of flower essences. Students will learn about Dr. Bach, the modern pioneer of flower essences, and how he developed the first remedies. The course goes in-depth to describe each of the standard flower essences, and includes Dr. Bach’s own words when teaching how to utilize the energies of each flower. The course will cover practical advice on a variety of problems that are often treated with flower essences. Client intake and suggested treatment with flower remedies will be covered.
Hydrotherapy and Colon Health
The therapeutic treatment known as colonic therapy, colonic irrigation, or colonic hydrotherapy has been practiced in some form for thousands of years. Since the 19th century, it has gained popularity in Europe and the United States, and it is increasingly used to treat health conditions such as incontinence, contribute to ostomy care, and to cleanse the colon prior to surgery. Practitioners with appropriate colonic therapy training use specialized equipment to administer gentle infusions of warm, purified water into the colon. This helps to remove toxins and waste products, and it may even improve overall immune wellness. This course is designed as an introductory course in the practice of colon hydrotherapy. Students will focus on a more in-depth study of the anatomy of the colon and how its health affects our overall health. Digestion and elimination will be discussed as well as issues that arise when these systems are not working properly. Indications and contraindications for this type of therapeutic treatment will be covered.
Sports Massage
This course provides students with a basic knowledge of sports massage and prepares them to work with athletes of all levels. Students will develop a basic knowledge of pre-, inter-, and post-event protocols, contraindications, common sports related pathologies, hydrotherapy, and postural assessment.
