Twenty-five states, the District of Columbia, and some cities require massage thera-
pists to have 500 or more hours of education from a recognized school and some
states also require the passing of a licensing exam. The curriculum consists of 300
hours of massage theory and technique, 100 hours of anatomy and physiology, and
100 hours of additional courses to meet the school’s specific program objectives.
Additional states are expected to adopt licensing acts in the near future. The
American Massage Therapy Association accredits 60 programs throughout the
United States. Curriculums must consist of 500 or more hours and include specified
hours of anatomy, physiology, massage theory and practice, and ethics. The
National Certification Exam was first administered in 1992, and by 1997, 27,000
therapists were certified. The International Association of Infant Massage certifies
instructors who take four days of training, read course material, and pass a take-
home exam.How Does Massage Work?
Touch is the fundamental medium of massage therapy. It is, however, more than
just mechanical manipulation. Touch is a form of communication, thus one of the
most significant benefits is the comfort of human care conveyed by the therapist.
Massage communicates gentleness and connection, trust and receiving, and peace
and alertness.
Massage helps the body to heal itself and is aimed at achieving or increasing health
and well-being. Only now is science beginning to catch up with people when it
comes to appreciating the importance—and the power—of touch.
The stronger, sustained touch used in massage can have an even greater effect than
other forms of touch. A skilled massage therapist not only stretches and loosens
muscle and connective tissue, but also greatly improves blood flow and the move-
ment of lymph fluid throughout the body. Massage speeds the removal of metabolic
waste products resulting from exercise or inactivity, allowing more oxygen and
nutrients to reach the cells and tissues. The release of muscular tension also helps to
unblock and balance the overall flow of life energy throughout the body known as
qi, prana, or subtle energy. In addition, massage can stimulate the release of endor-
phins and serotonin in the brain and nervous system.Skin: The Organ You’re In
In many ways, human beings are wired for touch. The skin is the body’s largest
organ, covering almost 20 square feet and accounting for nearly one-quarter of the
body’s total weight. As many as five million touch receptors in the skin—3,000 in a
fingertip—send messages via the spinal cord to the brain. The sense of touch is the144 ABSOLUTE BEGINNER’S GUIDE TOALTERNATIVE MEDICINE