From business and technology to nursing and counseling, the range of course topics available for online learning is vast. In fact, e-learning colleges have even made it possible to acquire undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees all through online education. These days, professional massage therapists and bodyworkers are beginning to benefit from the growing number of distance learning programs as well.
Given the nature of touch therapy, it makes sense to think that the basic foundation of a massage or bodywork education will probably continue to take place in a bricks and mortar classroom. However, for those practitioners who have graduated from massage school, the ability to build on one’s skill set and learn more and more advanced methods of manual therapy can be accessed without setting foot in a traditional classroom, through quality distance learning programs.
In many cases, massage therapists who are searching for quality e-learning courses are doing so, at least in part, because they would like to earn the necessary massage therapy CEUs to renew and maintain their licenses or certifications to practice. The fact that these continuing education credits are required in so many states and regions serves as a strong motivating factor when it comes to seeking out massage therapy workshops that go beyond the basic bodywork education.
For those manual therapist who would like to use continuing education classes to make the transition from the standard relaxation model of massage into the more clinical realm of deep tissue work for pain management, earning the right massage therapy CEUs can streamline that transition—and much of the process can take place from the comfort of your own home or office with the convenience of distance learning classes.
With advances in technology and the widespread acceptance of online education, there is no longer a stigma attached to taking classes via the Internet. In fact, the top educators in the field of massage therapy and bodywork have developed e-learning programs. This means that practitioners around the globe now have the opportunity to learn from the best in the business, with no need for the high costs associated with travel and lodging.
One of the top-notch teachers who has taken the time to develop a quality distance learning program is Erik Dalton, founder of the Freedom From Pain Institute and creator of Myoskeletal Alignment Techniques. By providing continuing education that takes place totally online, Dalton aims to increase opportunities for those manual therapists who do want to take their careers in the direction of pain management. In fact, enrolling in and completing Dalton’s distance learning program on the topic myoskeletal alignment allows touch therapists to earn the title of Certified Myoskeletal Therapist.
The growing availability of e-learning programs such as those developed by Dalton and his team means more options and greater convenience for manual and movement therapists. These classes take place totally online, so attending can be as simple as turning on a computer and connecting. In the end, both practitioners and clients stand to benefit from the increased access to worthwhile education.
