BCMT alumna, Jessica Shada, funded her education through the AOS Degree program with outside scholarships – rather than financial aid. “I wanted to graduate debt-free”,  explained Jessica. And she did! Jessica has been generous enough to share her experience and expertise. With her help BCMT has developed a scholarship workshop and accompanying scholarship starter kit to help applicants and enrolled students secure funds to pay for their schooling.

So here are some hot tips from Jessica for getting ready to apply for “free money” for your education:

#1.  Save your BCMT/massage school application essays. You’ll be able to incorporate them into a “master essay” for all your scholarship applications.

#2. Save/get extra copies of your letter of recommendation for school. Again – to reuse for scholarship applications.

#3. Get organized: gather financial information (what you compiled to apply for financial aid!), write out significant volunteer work and job experience. Most scholarship applications will ask for information about one or more of these topics.

Finally, get started on your master essay. Jessica recommends you draft a 1500-word essay from which you can cut and paste relevant answers for scholarship “personal statement” questions. Answering these questions will provide you with ample material that is specific to you and your career goals.

Master essay questions

Here are questions you should answer:

• How have your life experiences (family, employment & volunteer work) contributed to your present goals and/or hindered your ability to reach them?

• How will your education/career benefit you, your family, and your community?

• What was your relationship to massage when you were younger?

• Why have you chosen to pursue this career?

• What are your career goals?

• What is the future/employment trends for this career?

For more information about how to win scholarships, request a scholarship starter kit today: admisssion@bcmt.org

Reiki is the “art & science” of energy healing. It’s a natural method of healing that channels energy through a practitioner to restore health and the natural healing energy of the individual client.  The Japanese word “Reiki” translates to “Universal Energy Life-Force”.  Reiki practitioners learn to utilize the life force energy rather then their own energy to bring healing to the whole person and themselves.  It does this in harmony with the natural intelligence of the mind and body, which work together to preserve and protect health and increase well-being.

By channeling the universal energy life force, you are able to connect on a much deeper level with the client or family member that your are healing.  Once you are able to channel the energy, the recipient will be able to break through old wounds (emotional,physical or spiritual) and open up to receive the healing is taking place.  It is a great modality for anyone seeking a greater level of healing or a time to find peace.

There are no contraindications when practicing Reiki.  As a body worker, I start and end every session with Reiki.   Starting  a session with Reiki grounds the client from the day and prepares them to receive the work through their body and mind connection.  Ending a session with Reiki gives the client a chances to reconnect and find the perfect balance within, leaving in  a state of bliss.

I hope you’ll join me for my upcoming Reiki I-II Level. It’s always tons of fun!  We spend most of the time practicing Reiki, so everyone is totally buzzed by the time they leave in addition to the attunements, which usually have a profound effect on each person in  heightening your senses and intuition.–Dona Hittinger, Reiki Master Teacher, BCMT instructor

Note: There are no prerequisites for this course.

BOULDER COLLEGE OF MASSAGE THERAPY’S NEW DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION EXEMPLIFIES SCHOOL’S SPIRIT OF SERVICE
Joni Masse brings passion for veteran recovery and over 26 years of holistic healthcare and education experience to lead educator position

BOULDER, Co. (August 4, 2010) — The Boulder College of Massage Therapy (BCMT) today announced Joni Masse as the school’s new Director of Education. Masse brings over 26 years of holistic healthcare and education experience to BCMT, along with a passion for treating veterans and other trauma victims.

Masse began her healthcare career in 1984 as a registered nurse. After receiving a psychology degree from the University of Massachusetts in 1985, Masse extended her passion for healing by adding certified massage therapist to her resume with a certificate from the Sarasota School of Massage Therapy (SSMT) in 1990. In 2009, Masse received a master’s degree in somatic counseling psychotherapy from Naropa University, where she simultaneously completed training from the Sensorimotor Psychotherapy Institute specializing in trauma recovery work for body therapists. Throughout the last two decades, Masse has served both as a faculty member and administrator at SSMT where she taught Swedish massage, ethics, pathology, communication courses, and served as SSMT’s Education Director for 13 years.

A veteran herself, Masse has always been committed to serving the health needs of the veteran community. During her massage therapy training, she served as an intern at the Boulder Vet Center and her massage specialization is trauma recovery. Masse regularly offers a continuing education course, Touch for Trauma, in Florida, and recently established a new service learning internship with the Boulder Veterans Counseling Center to work with Iraq veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

“I am proud to be a member of the BCMT staff and community. I was encouraged by the mission statement and values of BCMT and the school’s commitment to community service, as it is in alignment with my core principles,” said Masse.
In addition to an internship with Boulder Veterans Counseling Center, BCMT offers students a variety of other community service internship opportunities through its Service Learning program. Designed to enhance student education through the integration of academic learning in courses and related service experiences in the community, the program also allows student to explore a variety of specializations, environments and clientele. Through the program students have the opportunity to work with local preschools, hospitals, universities, rehabilitation centers and animal rescue organizations.

For more information about the Boulder College of Massage Therapy, visit BCMT’s:
•    Website
•    Green Chi Blog
•    Facebook
•    LinkedIn
•    Twitter

About Boulder College of Massage Therapy
Founded in 1975, the Boulder College of Massage Therapy (BCMT) is an independent, not-for-profit massage therapy college offering an internationally recognized Massage Therapy Certificate Program, an Associate of Occupational Studies (AOS) Degree in Massage Therapy, advanced certificates and continuing education courses. More than 4000 graduates in fifty states and 31 different countries turned to BCMT to help them achieve their career goals. As a not-for-profit organization, BCMT believes in educating people on the therapeutic benefits of massage therapy and giving back to the community. As part of their training, BCMT students participate in service learning, providing thousands of hours of massage therapy services a year to individuals and organizations including the elderly, hospice and AIDS patients, breast cancer survivors, healthcare workers, rehabilitating animals, teachers, firefighters, and low-income individuals. In addition, BCMT’s student clinic offers more than 7,000 discounted massages every year. The Boulder College of Massage Therapy is accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges a member of the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA), and approved and regulated by the State of Colorado Department of Higher Education. Additional information on the college and its offerings can be viewed online at www.bcmt.org.

We would like to introduce you to the new Naropa interns who have joined us in the counseling center. All interns are working toward their masters degree and will be with us for one year.
Tammy Lea McKaskle: Tammy enjoys hiking, cooking, reading, camping and watching movies. She is well-travelled and is looking forward to meeting the students.
Molly Olk: Molly moved to Colorado from the Midwest to study counseling at Naropa. Molly loves Boulder and is looking forward to the opportunity to build meaningful counseling relationships with the students at BCMT.
Kelly Hill Ritchey: Kelly has been in Colorado since 2004 and enjoys kayaking and many other outdoor activities. She is the mother of three children and loves being a parent. Kelly is excited to be interning at BCMT and looks forward to meeting the students.
Wes Rosacker: Wes is one of four brothers who grew up in Florida, Connecticut and Colorado. Wes is passionate about cultivating wisdom and love, while maintaining his fiery spirit in competitive sports.
Kathy Naman, MALPC: Kathy is the counseling center supervisor and a 1982 graduate of Naropa with a masters in contemplative psychotherapy.

We encourage all BCMT students to take advantage of this excellent and very affordable ($5 per session) service.

I love to read.  I read a ton: novels, nonfiction, the morning newspaper with my coffee and muffin. But I can honestly say I have never, ever cracked a Harlequin romance. Don’t get me wrong. I am a romantic, but I find the covers kind of cheesy. At least I did until my friend, Sean, was hit up to model for a cover.  He’s still weighing the offer, but I can tell you he fits the bill. (See sample cover above – looks a lot like Sean.)

Anyway, Sean may or may not embrace a modeling career, but he is a shoe-in for a career in massage therapy . Yes, he’s got strong arms, but that’s not really what makes a great therapist.  Sean is a great hugger, a touchy-feely person, and he really, really, loves to help people and animals.  And he’s superfit, kind of scary fit. You know the type: kettle ball, bike rides straight up a canyon, protein shakes.  You’ll think I’m making this up, but Sean is also a tiger tamer – handler is probably the correct term. He has volunteered at a rescue in Colorado for years, and has a giant scar on his arm from a “love bite” to prove it.

So I convinced Sean to take a two-day basic Swedish massage class,  that’s offered several times at year at BCMT, to see if massage really did appeal to him. We took the class together, and I can honestly say Sean’s got massage chops. His touch is confident, firm (a bit too firm on my calves, but I felt great later), and he holds a very caring, calm space.

So how does this romance story end: did Sean fall in love with massage therapy? Yes and no. He’s still exploring career options, maybe even pursuing a nursing degree. I really hope he chooses massage. He’d love it, and he would be such a great asset to the community. The most important thing is he’s determined to keep doing work that he’s passionate about. Thinking massage might be a passion for you? The next intro class is July 17-18. And if you take it with a friend–tiger tamer or not–you’ll also get a nice discount.

By Carol Brunelli

Have you always wanted to go to massage-therapy school, but didn’t think you could afford it? Is your dream of becoming a massage therapist clouded by the thoughts, “How will I pay for school? Will I qualify for financial aid? Is my credit good enough?” These are great questions, but don’t worry! Almost everyone is eligible for financial aid regardless of one’s credit history, income, marital status or filing of a tax return.

Here are the facts about funding your massage-therapy education—and the three most important steps for how to get started with your financial aid research.

Step 1-–Verify that the massage school you are looking at is accredited. View and search the Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions.

Step 2-–Use the Federal Student Aid forecaster online tool (called the FAFSA4caster) to learn about the financial aid process and get an early estimate of your eligibility for federal student aid. With this tool, you can answer the questions, “What is federal student aid? Who qualifies? How do you apply?”

With the FAFSA4caster you can:
• Calculate your eligibility for federal financial aid, including grants
• Reduce the time it will take to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), the qualifying form for all federal student financial aid

Step 3-–Find out if you qualify for financial aid. Submit a FAFSA. To start the FAFSA process, visit http://www.fafsa.ed.gov and apply as early as possible beginning Jan. 1 of each year. Schools and states also have their own deadlines, so be sure to contact the school you are interested in for exact deadline dates. (NOTE: The first “F” in FAFSA stands for “Free” and it has a “.gov” Web address. If you go to www.FAFSA.com, you can access the information, but will be charged a fee.

Most financial aid packages offered by massage-therapy schools include various types of aid, including:
• Scholarships or grants (money that does not need to be paid back)
• Loans (money that is paid back, usually at lower interest rates than other types of loans)
• Work-study (a job on campus)

Federal Student Aid, an office of the U.S. Department of Education, provides financial assistance for individuals wanting to pursue education beyond high school. Federal Student Aid administers the federal student financial assistance programs, authorized under Title IV of the Higher Education Act (HEA) of 1965. In 2006 alone, Federal Student Aid provided approximately $80 billion in new aid to nearly 10 million postsecondary students and their families.

Accredited massage therapy schools may offer the following financial aid:
• Need-based grants for students who have not earned a degree (associate’s, bachelor’s, etc.)
• Federal Student Aid
• Academic Competitiveness Grant
• Pell Grants
• Stafford Subsidized Loans
• Stafford Unsubsidized Loans
• PLUS Loans (Loans for parents of dependent students)
• In-house Financing
• Access to Scholarships

In addition, students may also qualify for:
• Veterans Administration benefits: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
• Vocational Rehabilitation funds: Vocational Rehabilitation State Offices
• Workforce Investment Act (formerly Job Training Partnership Act) programs: U.S. Department of Labor—Employment & Training Administration

Other sources of financial aid include state loans and grants, depending on the student’s state of residence. Your employer may also be a source of financial aid. Individual employers frequently offer education funds for employees or for retraining of employees.

Taking the time to research your financial aid options could open the doors to massage school. Believe in yourself, and make your dream of going to massage-therapy school happen.

Dearest BCMT at 2010 Bolder Boulder,

It never ceases to amaze me the gratitude I feel for human kind after the BB and that is because of all of you who participate. Some of you come year after year!!  Please recognize your greatness!  The BB went off without a hitch this year and it was incredible to see all of your hard work and energy.  I thank each of you from the depths of my heart for your willingness and passion to touch so many lives with this gift called massage and teaching/supervising students!  You are wonderful!

Many Blessings,

Aspen, Service Learning Manager

Help the Boulder College of Massage Therapy win a makeover and become eligible for other prizes, too! Starting May 1, 2010, alumni, students and schools can go to massagetoday.com to nominate and vote for BCMT to win a makeover valued at $28,000 and growing! All nominated schools will be given a Free “ALL ACCESS PASS” to the World Massage Conference Online, and other prizes to be announced along the way.

And, just for voting or nominating BCMT, we will be registered and eligible to win $100 Massage Warehouse gift certificates, products from our growing list of Professional Product Partners and free access to the World Massage Conference Online, the largest massage education event in the world!

We can’t win without your help! Schools! Nominate Yourselves. Students and Alumni! Nominate and vote for your school at www.massagetoday.com/msm.

Sponsored by Massage Warehouse, Massage Today and the World Massage Conference, this event is made possible through the generous donations of our Professional Product Partners – and all from the desire to educate massage and bodywork professionals on the need to use only Professional Grade Products and Equipment in our schools and in our practices.

Massage Today

This newsletter was sent from MPA Media, 5406 Bolsa Ave., Huntington Beach, CA 92649.

Electives – Spring Quarter

There is still space in the following electives:  reflexology, postpartum, Tail of the Tiger (shiatsu) and Thai massage. Contact Judy Stattine (jstattine@bcmt.org) to register.

Service Learning Opportunity: Avista Adventist Hospital

Work with patients in the therapy center and/or in the main hospital on the medical/surgery, ICU, cardiac and OB floors.  Students may also provide chair massage in the lobby to families, or work on hospital staff.
Where:  80 Health Park Drive Ste 50, Louisville, CO, 80027
Supervisor:    Carrie Mirfield: 303-673-1240 (hospital)

Peer Tutoring

A list of BCMT students ready and able to help you is posted on various bulletin boards around the school. Be sure to take advantage of this great BCMT benefit.

Map of Bali

For most of us, the word “Bali”  conjures up visions of paradise.  The last paradise, the dawning of the world, and the center of the universe are yet more names for this beautiful tropical island inhabited by artistic people who have created a dynamic society with unique arts and ceremonies. BCMT’s very own Becky Little has just returned from Bali (via Brisbane), and we look forward to hearing her stories.

Becky made her way to Bali via a 3-month sojourn in Brisbane, Australia. While the focus of her stay was to help her daughter set up a bookkeeping system for her interior design company, she took time out to expand her massage training. She made the wise choice to take advantage of cheap, direct flights from Brisbane to explore Bali’s ancient tradition of massage. Over a thousand years ago, merchant ships regularly travelled through modern day Indonesia. Hindus from India brought healing massage techniques and oil massage as well as herbal treatments. Buddhists from China brought acupressure techniques.

During her stay in Bali, Becky visited two of Bali’s most famous villages:  Sanur and Ubud.  Ubud is located inland, and is known for its fine arts, dance and music; while Sanur is a coastal village famous for its black sand beaches. Keep a look out for future blogs from Becky about what she studied, and how she’s incorporating it into her private massage therapy practice in Boulder. Oh, and I almost forgot: Happy Birthday Becky.–Carol Brunelli