by Shannon Traphagen
Your back curls like a question mark as you hunch over the keyboard or pour over spreadsheets. As the hours wear on, your shoulders begin to tire and your neck aches. You need a massage!
Massage therapists are in high demand. Whether it’s to relieve sore and stiff muscles, loosen muscles that can control pain, lessen the chance of a work- or sports-related injury, or to treat soft tissue injuries such as whiplash and sprains, massage can alleviate a host of issues. It can also help alleviate pain due to osteoarthritis, and generally support overall health.
No one knows the importance of cultivating highly-trained massage therapists better than Trocaire College, which has had a massage therapy program since 1998. “Getting certification or a degree in massage therapy is very rewarding,” says Dr. Rachel Ersing, Director of Trocaire’s Massage Therapy (M.T.) Program. “Students see the benefits right away because they get to be directly involved in the physical and emotional healing of patients.”
According to the Mayo Clinic, massage helps improve sleep, eliminate toxins, improve flexibility and circulation, and reduce stress and fatigue. Ersing adds, “Massage is also beneficial to the nervous system and can significantly help with issues related to diabetes and neuropathy.”
Ersing says the field has evolved over the last ten years. “More awareness of the versatility of M.T. and its overall health benefits have translated into increased job opportunities. Massage therapy franchises have cropped up all over Western New York.” Trocaire’s M.T. offerings include Associate’s degree and certificate program options. Each can be completed in two years; however, the certificate program offers a ten-month option that allows students to receive their certification and take their board exams in less than one year!
“What’s great about our programs is that no matter which path you choose, you can take courses in the time span that is most convenient for you. And, if you aren’t sure you want the degree, you can get your certification, and those credits will apply toward a degree should you decide to pursue one in the future,” says Ersing, also noting that a degree in M.T. offers a variety of career options for students. Massage therapists are finding opportunities in medical and chiropractic offices, holistic medicine practices, in massage therapy franchises, and in starting their own businesses.
Trocaire has established partnerships to provide massage therapy to patients at Sisters Hospital, Hospice, Roswell Park, Spa 400, People Against Trafficking Humans (P.A.T.H.), and many other local sites where students complete externships, gaining real-world experiences.
Trocaire students are also introduced to several different therapeutic modalities such as hydrotherapy, hot stone massage, reflexology, essential oils, and several others. Ersing says, “Touching on topics in Eastern therapies complements our M.T. program. We see it as a great blend of science and art.”
To learn more about Trocaire College’s Massage Therapy degree and certificate programs, visit www.trocaire.eduor call 716-827-2545 to connect with Admissions.
