Pre-Licensing Program

Core Class Descriptions

ANATOMY & PHYSIOLOGY I - 30 hours/10 sessions

This course introduces students to general concepts in human anatomy and physiology including basic cellular function, the systems of the body and organization. Special focus is on the muscular and skeletal systems.
Prerequisite: None

ANATOMY & PHYSIOLOGY II - 30 hours/10 sessions

This course focuses on the integumentary, lymphatic, cardiovascular, respiratory and urinary systems.
Prerequisite: AP I

ANATOMY & PHYSIOLOGY III - 30 hours/10 sessions

This course focuses on the nervous, endocrine, digestive and reproductive systems.
Prerequisite: AP I

BUSINESS OF MASSAGE - 15 hours/5 sessions

This class covers professional ethics, business planning and the role of massage in the health care field. Some marketing strategies will be discussed. We recommend you take this towards the end of the training.
Prerequisite: Massage - Upper and Lower Body

CLINIC - 45 hours/10 sessions

This class introduces the student to “real life” massage practice situations with supportive supervision. While doing supervised sessions with clients from the general public, students will refine their massage technique, practice listening skills and boundary setting, and begin to make treatment plans. Required Clinic training is held on the first day of class.
Prerequisite: Massage - Assessment & Application (may be concurrent)

COMMUNICATION/ETHICS - 30 hours/10 sessions

This course is intended as a cornerstone for communication, ethics and boundaries that will be woven throughout the program. Students are honored as life-long learners while exploring the developmental process of communication, boundaries and responsibilities involved in a massage/touch relationship.
Prerequisite: Massage - Fundamentals (may be concurrent)

DAO YIN STRETCH - 7 hours/9 sessions

This movement discipline strengthens & enhances vitality in many dimensions by opening the joints and clearing the channels of energy. Dao-Yin Stretch will also increase mobility, strength, and resilience improving your coordination, balance and endurance. Dao-Yin helps the student develop the body awareness and understand the principles of alignment for practicing Shiatsu in an efficient manner. Prerequisite: None

HYDROTHERAPY - 15 hours/5 sessions or 1 weekend

A class intended for massage students. It combines theory and practical application of therapeutic use of water in its various forms. Prerequisite: Massage - Fundamentals, AP I (recommended: AP II). Click the following link to dowload a list of supplies. What to Bring-Hydro Weekend

KINESIOLOGY - LOWER BODY and UPPER BODY -  30 hours each/10 sessions per section

These 30-hour courses continue the study of the organization of the human body and how it moves. Upper Body focuses on the torso and upper extremities. Lower Body focuses on the lower extremities. Progressing one joint at a time, students will study the joint structure and function of the specific muscles (origin, insertion and action) that act on each joint. Each three-hour class consists of lecture, demonstration, quiz/review and palpation lab.
Prerequisite: AP I

MASSAGE - FUNDAMENTALS - 45 hours/12 sessions

In this course, students will study therapeutic massage, focusing on Swedish massage strokes and general massage procedures, including sanitation and hygiene. Attention will also be given to psychological dimensions of massage. In addition to weekly classes, the course includes one Saturday class in Portland and one weekend at Breitenbush Hot Springs.
Prerequisite: None

MASSAGE - UPPER BODY and LOWER BODY - 30 hours each/10 sessions per section

This 60-hour training continues the training in therapeutic massage. It consists of two 30-hour courses (Massage - Upper Body and Massage - Lower Body), which can be taken concurrently or separately. Upper Body and Lower Body emphasize muscle specific application of a variety of Western massage procedures, a deeper understanding of related health sciences and the integration of technical bodywork procedures into a unified treatment session. Students will learn area specific bodywork. These classes include learning exercises in practitioner/client communications, practitioner self-care and body-mind integration.
Prerequisite: Massage - Fundamentals, Communication/Ethics, Kinesiology - Upper Body (for Massage - Upper Body; may be concurrent), Kinesiology - Lower Body (for Massage - Lower Body; may be concurrent)

MASSAGE - ASSESSMENT & APPLICATION - 30 hours/10 sessions

This 30-hour class continues the training in therapeutic massage. Massage - Assessment & Application emphasizes the application of a variety of Western massage procedures with a variety of common immune, musculo-skeletal, inflammatory, emotional and body-mind conditions. Students will continue to gain a deeper understanding of related health sciences and the integration of technical bodywork procedures into a unified treatment session. This class includes learning exercises in practitioner/client communications, assessment, charting notes, practitioner self-care and body-mind integration
Prerequisite: Massage - Upper Body & Lower Body, Hydrotherapy, Pathology I

PATHOLOGY I - 30 hours/10 sessions

Pathology is the study of disease and/or the disharmony or imbalance of the body with its environment. This class will include indications and contraindications for massage, and cover sanitation and hygiene. It will address some of the body-mind aspects of disease.
Prerequisite: AP I (recommended: AP II)

PATHOLOGY II - 30 hours/10 sessions

This class continues the study of disease.
Prerequisite: Pathology I (recommended: AP II, AP III)

SHIATSU I - 30 hours/10 sessions or 5-day intensive

The Shiatsu program presents the theory, principles and techniques of Asian massage. In Shiatsu I, students learn a “kata”, or choreographed set of techniques for the back of the body. In addition, students are introduced to the energetic anatomy upon which Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and Shiatsu is based. Names, locations, and functions of the primary channels are discussed, as well as the five-element theory. Students also learn a self-massage sequence called Dao Yin.
Prerequisite: AP I (may be concurrent)

SHIATSU II - 30 hours/10 sessions

In Shiatsu II, students learn the kata for the front of the body, review channel locations and TCM theory. Finally, the students practice the whole “short form” kata with a focus on developing quality of touch. Students continue to do the Dao Yin self-massage exercise.
Prerequisite: Shiatsu I

SHIATSU SHORT FORM TUTORIAL - 3 hours/1 session

This is a private class in which the student practices on the instructor who provides detailed feedback on the student’s work. Following the completion of the clinic practicum, the student makes an appointment with the instructor to schedule the tutorial.
Prerequisite: Shiatsu I and II

SHIATSU SHORT FORM CLINIC - 45 hours/10 sessions

This clinic provides students with the opportunity to practice Shiatsu on the public in a supervised setting. Students sign up for a clinic shift that is four hours long for the first five weeks, then five hours for the second five weeks. During the first five weeks of the shift, two 1.5-hour appointments are arranged for them. Three 1.5-hour massages are scheduled for the second five weeks. Typically, twenty-four full-body Shiatsu massages are performed on public clients over the ten-week course. Students are expected to know the short form sequence and techniques as taught in Shiatsu I and II before entering the clinic practicum. This training reinforces the Shiatsu sequence and develops confidence, strength and efficiency. Throughout the term, the supervisor works with each student to further refine technique and body position. In addition, important interpersonal and relationship-building skills are discussed and practiced. The practicum is best taken in the term following Shiatsu II.
Prerequisite: Shiatsu II, Comm/Ethics and Path I (Path I may be concurrent)

SHIATSU III - 30 hours/10 sessions

This segment of the Shiatsu training adds to the short form by teaching students more techniques and stretching routines for all the major joints and muscle groups on the back of the body. The stretches are particularly useful for stimulating the flow of qi along the channels and through joint areas. Students will practice the Dao Yin self care stretch sequence learned in the Dao Yin stretch class.
Prerequisite: Shiatsu II and Shiatsu Clinic

SHIATSU IV - 30 hours/10 sessions

This course is a continuation of Shiatsu III, where the students will learn more techniques and stretching routines for all the major joints and muscle groups on the front of the body. The course will include time for self care with the Dao-Yin stretch kata.
Prerequisite: Shiatsu III

STATUTES CLASS - 5 hours/2 sessions

Oregon and Washington laws are covered in this fast paced class.
Prerequisite: Communication/Ethics

 

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