Question: How do you choose the program or school that best meets your needs and interests?

This question deserves careful consideration. How you start frequently has a pro-found influence on all of your subsequent experiences in the field.  A good start is always important to the overall dynamics of what you manifest in your future.

The difficulty of this choice is compounded by several factors.  First, there are many good schools to choose from.  Second, most schools have different approaches or philosophies as regards the fundamentals of the art of bodywork. Third, there are different levels of quality in both instructor and curriculum development and implementation which affect the quality of the education you receive.

It is easy to be overwhelmed by the options that are presented to you. After a while the advertisements all look the same and the proliferation of fabulous new approaches can make you dizzy. So how do you decide?

We have found that the best way to find what is right for you requires a multidiscipline approach in selecting a school or program.  Although some people are blessed with the clarity of intuition to simply “know” exactly what they need and who they can get it from, there are many others who need to examine this choice in depth. It begins by knowing the right questions to ask to determine what your needs are and which school or approach will work best for you. 

In addition to the questions of whether the school meets your location and scheduling needs, the following questions should also be answered.

What type of work will give you the most success? This is important as you will always do best at what you love to do. Are you interested in a specific area or field such as energy work or sports massage? Is the holistic approach to bodywork more exciting to you than a traditional or conventional training? Do you prefer to work in the etheric realm, the physical realm or a combination?

After you determine the general type of work you are most interested in learning, the next question is, what school best meets your individual needs?  This requires some additional questioning as to what your objectives are and what works best for you. 

Do you perform better in a smaller school with more personalized attention or do you prefer a large school with a lot of students that you can interact with? Does the school schedule offer you the flexibility you need or do you prefer a more rigid schedule to keep you on track? Is it affordable and are there payment plans? How much will the financing add to the total cost of your program?  Your answers to these question are also important because it will influence your ability to graduate and  successfully begin your practice.

If you are thinking in terms of starting a professional practice at the end of your training, you will want both the bodywork and business skills but also a level of financial support to build your business.  If your education has put you in debt with loans to be paid back, you will have less money available to invest in your practice.

The final and probably most important set of questions deal with the intrinsic or energetic quality of the school.  With the influx of business opportunity driven schools, workshops and seminars that are proliferating at this time, it’s important to be more careful than ever in your selection. Many of these programs are not always well thought out or competently presented. It is amazing the number of under qualified individuals who take a course and then decide they can duplicate it. What they don’t realize is the depth of knowledge and experience required to offer a truly superior educational experience.

This is where the experience and reputation of the school is an important consideration as a guideline. It is always a good idea to check with past graduates as well as other practitioners to find out about the quality of the programs. Also check to be sure that the instructors have successful professional practices.  After all, how else can you learn to be successful except from people who have done it themselves already? Receiving sessions from students in the student clinic is another great way to learn about the quality of the school and the programs. You will want to ask the student how they like their training and if they feel the program is preparing them to be successful.

 However, even if a school has a great reputation, that does not necessarily mean it is the best place for you and your learning style or interests. It is useful to know if the curriculum and teaching approach is designed for both left and right brain dominant people or is it based on only the traditional academic left brain dominant approach? Does the school honor the balance of female and male energy or is there a bias toward one or the other? Does the training focus on learning theory first or does it use a more hands on approach to the teaching? Is
the program very structured with a lot of clinic
time or does it offer a large selection of classes with a broad base of information?

 The final issue is the alignment, balance and energy that is present in the school. Your intuition is very important in this part of the evaluation. If you feel a connection with the people you meet at the school, there is a good chance you will do better than somewhere else. This is because the resonance is the best measure of where you belong. 

Since there may be very deep and transformative issues that come up as part of your experience, you want to feel safe, respected and supported.  If you feel protected and well taken care of, then your education can be a high point of your life. If you have a great time at school you will feel more open and will learn more easily. 

So when you visit the school, notice the attention to quality of the people, the setting and the presentation materials. These should be consistently high and should all communicate a level of respect for you and your process.  If these requirements in addition to all the other considerations are met, then you are probably in the correct place for you.

We wish you the best of luck in your education and look forward to helping you in the future.