One of the most critical aspects of any top training at a New York massage institute is the amount of time dedicated to actual hands-on practice and work. Obviously, massage therapy is a very hands-on job, but it is also includes techniques that are responsive to the actual individual, and not just performed as a routine method with each and every individual.
When there is a significant hands-on or practice component of a training students begin to develop this ability to sense the changes in the muscles and the tension within their clients. This is not something that can be trained without practice; it takes real concentration and focus as well repetition and feedback.
Student Practice
The best New York massage institute programs are designed to be progressive in nature, starting with the theory and then building up to the practice. This can often be a relatively quick step depending on the specific technique or application.
Students will first start by practicing the techniques and methods on each other. This is helpful to students to be both the client as well as the massage therapist, which is an important aspect of knowing how the client is responding to the therapeutic treatment.
Another reason student practice is important is that as the client, you know what the massage technique or method is supposed to feel like and accomplish. If the student therapist is doing it correctly or incorrectly, they receive immediate and accurate feedback.
Practice with Real Clients
Once students attending a New York massage institute have reached a certain point in their training they will have the requirement to participate in supervised massage therapy sessions with actual clients.
This is an amazing learning opportunity for the students as they have the support of an experienced therapist as well as the ability to work with a client in a therapeutic setting.
Many of the top institutes run their own clinics, and they have clients that arrive for a wide variety of reasons. This provides the same type of experience for the students as they could expect once they start out on their own.
Talking about issues and challenges during those sessions, and ensuring that the students understand the record keeping and documentation required with clients is yet another reason why this is such an important component of the top programs.
