Do you know the feeling of walking up to a buffet and not knowing where to start? My stomach starts to grumble and my mouth waters and I try to decide if I should eat dessert first, or actually get some protein and veggis.  I love to start at the salad bar because it’s always so colorful and healthy looking.  However,  once I see the soft serve machine it’s all over!

This is a similar feeling to the first time I looked over my list electives when I became a student here. A scoop of this, a heaping helping of that.  I appreciated how this started me thinking about what I wanted to specialize in and what other things I could try, to see if they suited me too.  The further you go in the program the more elective options you have open to you.  This is a nice way to take tastings of classes that you may know little about, or increase your passion for something you already know and love.

*As a beginner,  you have some interesting options of things you can take in your first quarter here.  Polarity Therapy works with the body’s energy and Chakra system.   So if you want to work on your sensitivity to energy this can be an open door. Pair it with Vibrational Medicine for a more work with the energy systems. Reflexology is a classic.  I know a woman who does this work exclusively and she has shared with me the amazing stories of this powerful way to access the body entirely through the feet and hands.

*Now after you have completed the fine art of Zen Shiatsu, you can try your hands at seated massage.  Being able to take your chair with you anywhere, can turn even a small space into your clinic.  It’s also quite helpful with relatives and friends that “just need a little work “ when your table is not handy.  Sometimes sports events, fairs and other events only want chair massage.  I was in a mall in Las Vegas, NV, and they had chair massage.  I had been walking like crazy and had a major neck and headache.  Fifteen minutes and I was so much better, which was good because I was going to a concert that night. (my head-ache didn’t come back).  There are also more advanced classes for training in Zen Shiatsu to further your knowledge in this field.  The more information you have the better.

*If you have glided your way through Swedish you can start the “labor” of learning Prenatal and Postpartum massage.  Then stay with your client as you use your “new-born” skills in Infant massage.  What a gift it is to be with a woman as she embarks on the journey of pregnancy, childbirth and motherhood.  The extra perk?  A new baby client, get them started young, and keep ‘em for life.

*Once you complete your Anatomy and Physiology, Anatomiken and are enrolled in Normalization of Soft Tissue, you can “sprint” into Sports Massage. What is the difference between Pre, during and Post event massage?  Why is injury prevention  a must for you and your clients?  Do you know what  D.O.M.S.  is?  Are you brave enough to administer and receive ice massage?  Find out the answers to these questions and more.

*When you have completed all the above and a few more classes, maybe you want to explore Orthopedic massage.  When you see people walking around with postural dysfunctions such as Kyphosis, Lordosis and Scoliosis,  you know you can work with them.  That is great feeling!  Pain management is a major reason people seek out massage.  If you really feel like “getting in there” pull on some gloves and explore the inter-oral work beneficial for TMJ dysfunction.

Can you believe I did not even name all the electives BCMT offers.  So, do you see what I mean?  Is your mouth watering and your tummy grumbling, are you running straight towards animal massage? Well fear not once you are enrolled in the 1000-hour program you can fill your plate with as many electives as you have time for.  If you can’t get to them all, just come back after graduation and take a few more.  We are all so different, and our interests vary, isn’t  it nice to have a place that appeals to your passions and ambitions. BCMT offers an open buffet to what you want to learn.