Spa Tech Massage School Maine

The Journey to Prosperity Starts Here

2019-12-02T20:27:00Z

The world is an abundant place, waiting to give you what you desire.

Your beliefs and thoughts are the only things preventing you from receiving this abundance. To succeed in anything, you must master prosperous concepts and behaviors. This should be obvious but experience has shown that most people never consider this. They may only be aware of what they lack. But they never consider that the results of their life are a reflection of their inner state of focus.

This is your journey. My job is to give you the best trip-tic or map possible. This includes tips on the route, important steps along the way, where to stop, things to see and how to find what you are looking for.

As with any journey, there are always unexpected detours and problems that are not on the map. The key is to learn to enjoy and learn from everything that happens on this journey. Everything that happens is synchronous with your inner development. Pay attention to everything that happens and use everything to advantage to move you forward. Keep your eyes WIDE OPEN!

I look forward to supporting you on your journey into prosperity. Your questions and comments are appreciated as you attain a prosperous new future.

Thank you for reading. The more prosperity there is, the more successful everyone will be.

Sincerely,

Kris Stecker, President

�鶹ԭ�� Schools of Massage, Aesthetics, Polarity and Cosmetology

Massachusetts and Maine

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Graduate Spotlight May 2019 Zowi Woodman

2019-05-17T14:48:00Z

My overall experience at �鶹ԭ�� was great! I am a huge believer that the work you put in will pay off in the end! My favorite classes were the color classes and styling! I loved when the teacher would give us the freedom to try something new on our mannequin, it really helped me feel comfortable trying a new technique out on a client! My favorite part about school was being on the clinic floor, I wouldn’t be able to do what I do now without all of the practice I got!

Zowi knew from a very young age that being a part of the beauty industry was what she was meant to do. During high school she encountered many questions about whether she would be attending “real school” or taking “real classes(college)”. With a supportive family at her side,Zowi graduated high school and began the Cosmetology program �鶹ԭ�� in Westbrook, MEin September of 2017.

Cosmetology Educator Sherry Libby shares that “from day one, Zowi had goals in place to be successful. She knew exactly where she wanted to go when she graduated. She marketed herself and pushed herself to learn as much a possible as a student.”

After graduation, Zowi made the decision to accept an opportunity with Goldie’s Arrow in Wells, Maine and at 19 years of age had the confidence level with her skills to be self-employed and booth rent. Zowiis also doing freelance work in the bridal industry. She is accepting new clients and can be contacted at (603) 502-6949 or on Instagram zowi.beauty.

Zowi’s best advice for prospective and new students would be to never get discouraged and to always push yourself. Remember – you are students and still learning and it is ok to make mistakes!

Inspiration

2019-05-15T17:32:00Z

Get Motivated Seminar

This valuable information is being shared with you to help you succeed.

20 people from the Institute attended the Get Motivated Seminar with Zig Ziglar, Mayor Rudi Giuliani, General Tommy Franks and 5 other outstanding performers from many walks of life. The theme was leadership and success.

The seminar was a wonderful display of leadership, self-determination and initiative. Almost all the speakers were excellent and made important points. A number of them were selling additional training which is a natural extension of the purpose of the seminar. They are providing tools to use after the seminar is over. If a person wants to move forward in their life, these vehicles are there to help.

The comments on the links on the left do a great job of capturing many of the important concepts that were shared with us. It also captures the energy of the seminar. You can feel the focus and enthusiasm that people got from the seminar.

Enjoy and learn. Then take action and be successful.

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Policies

2019-05-15T17:24:00Z

It is vitally important that you fully understand policies at the school that affect you. The policies are here for your protection and to facilitate your success as a student and after you graduate. Please review the policies and access them as needed.

By posting the policies on the website you are able to locate the most up to date version of any policy. Please review these policies as needed.

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Professionalism

2019-05-15T17:21:00Z

Professionalism is the Mark of Quality

Being a successful professional requires focus, dedication, strength and a constant state of improvement.

The amount to learn about being a successful professional is endless. It is also an amazing journey of self development. Your limitations or flaws are the source of your failures. If something isn’t working out it’s always because it’s something in you.

Success comes quickest to those who are capable of taking full responsibility for their actions. It is the prerequisite to making the changes needed to succeed.

The articles and other information is this section as well as what you can find at http://prosperityschool.Spa Tech.edu will assist you in reaching your goals more quickly. And be sure to check out http://students.Spa Tech.edu/inspiration for additional inspiration.

We all wish you success and will do whatever we can to support you in your quest.

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Dangers

2019-05-15T17:19:00Z

Awareness of Dangers and Scams

Whether you work for someone else or have your own business, as a successful professional you have to develop a sixth sense for areas

that can cause problems.

This section is designed to raise your awareness of areas that could hurt you.

Common Sense is important but as a trusting, healing and idealistic person (which describes pretty much anyone who is in business) you are a particularly good target for people who make a living by taking advantage of people.

It is important to remember: If you have assets, there will always be people that are figuring out how to take them away from you. It is sad but it is reality. It is important to be vigilant but not to allow it to make you cynical.

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Graduation Policy

2019-05-15T17:17:00Z

It is the policy of the school that the student must complete all requirements prior to graduation. These include:

Attend all required hours

Complete all tests and academic requirements

Complete all tuition obligations or be in good standing on any payment plans or agreements

Be in compliance on any additional requirements such as having a current CPR/First Aid certification for bodywork programs

Agree to notify the school of employment and state or federal test results

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Leave of Absence

2019-05-15T17:14:00Z

Your schedule has been carefully designed to give you the optimal learning experience so consistent attendance is basic to doing well. Given the design of the schedule, any interuption in attendance is very difficult to make up for.

However, at times life events can come up that you have no control over. In these cases there are alternatives to withdrawing from your program of study.

In these situations a Leave of Absence (LOA) may be requested by a student for a number of reasons as an option for taking a temporary break from class attendance. The request must be in writing and must be for a very good reason.

It’s important that the reason is legitimate and the leave is short term and temporary. An LOA must be approved by the Director of Education so please be sure to present as much information as possible including:

The reason for requesting the LOA. (It has to be a very good reason or it won’t be accepted. Feeling stressed or wanting to have the summer off to go to the beach are not going to be acceptable.)

The date that you will be returning to classes (this may need to be worked out with the Director to determine when the classes you need will be offered again.)

What will be changed by taking the LOA. (What remedies will the LOA allow you to put in place so when you return you can successfully complete your training.)

What classes (if any) might you make up during your LOA.

Submit your written request to the Director of Education at your campus. The Director will meet with you to review the request and get any additional information they need in their decision.

If you do not return from your LOA as planned, the school must (by law) terminate your enrollment. You may request an appeal of the termination. The sooner the appeal is made the more likely it is to be accepted. The appeal must be made in writing.

Our goals is to have you graduate and find an excellent job. This process may be needed to achieve the goal.

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Consultants

2019-05-15T17:11:00Z

Whether you have your own business or work for someone else, you will probably work with at least one consultant.

There are many good consultants if you use them correctly. However, there are also many consultants who are primarily self promoters and sales people who may take advantage of your vulnerabilities.

Most successful businesses are grown by people who have high standards and never think they are good enough. They also are typically people who are good at something and as a result, find themselves with a growing business that exceeds their skill set. The combination of self-doubt and the constant changes that go along with growth creates the market for consultants.

Ideally, a consultant should be someone who understands how to manage change, where you are at and where you want to go. But the good consultants will also understand what you can do and what will be too much for you given the various aspects of who you are and what you are personally capable of doing.

The danger is that many consultants are primarily sales people who have had some success working for other people and they are better at selling themselves than they are at doing what they say they can do.

The following items may help you to avoid this.

Remember that no one knows your business better than you.

Don’t let anyone tell you that you don’t know what you are doing.

Don’t let them play on your insecurities or self doubt. There is a reason you have gotten as far as you have. Don’t ever forget that and don’t ever give up control.

Listen to your gut. Consultants are often very talented at gaining your trust, finding out what you dream is and then selling you on how they are going to help you realize your dream. The problem is, there is a difference between saying you can do this and actually making it happen. Make sure they can make it happen.

Set short term goals and benchmarks (weeks, not months) and then stick to them. If they are not met or exceeded, there is a reason. Don’t ignore the results. If they can’t deliver, pull the plug or renegotiate a more appropriate contract.

Never set up an open ended or long term contract. Consultants should never be allowed to run your business. They should only be contracted to come in, do a specific job for a specific result, and then they should leave. Many consultants will get the short term result and use that to try and turn it into a long term contract. The reason is simple; It’s easier to stay with one business rather than having to constantly generate new business.

Never trust the stories or references the consultant gives you. Ask for the reference of at least one company that had a bad outcome. If they don’t have one, they are probably lying. That should be all you need to know. You can also ask them about a time that did not work out and find out why they think it didn’t work out. Do they take responsibility or do they blame the client?

Never give up control or give them access to financial decision making. They will spend your money like water. This is because they are probably more familiar with working in a bigger company that had more resources. It is seldom that they have had a business where they have had their personal resources at risk. No one knows the value of a dollar as much as you. Don’t let them call the financial shots. It’s your money. Never forget that.

Get a copy of their Errors and Omissions Insurance binder to make sure that they are legitimate. If they don’t have this, then there is a good chance they are not a professional consultant.

Document everything. Make sure that you keep all contracts, that they are fully reviewed by your attorneys and that they are fully executed. Make sure they have specifics about the job that is going to be done, how it will be accomplished, the budget and the benchmarks for performance throughout the project. Make sure it has language for terminating the contract for low performance that is suitable to you. If everything goes well you won’t need it. If there are problems you will be glad you have it.

That is basically it. I hope you have the perfect business for you.

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Phishing

2019-05-15T17:06:00Z

Phishing takes many forms but usually attempts to get some sort of meaningful data about you that can be used for identity theft.

Primarily you will get emails that appear to come from banks, credit card companies, security firms, software vendors or many other sources that appear to be legitimate. In particular, the email address will look like it is coming from a legitimate source. The problem is, email addresses can be spoofed to look like something other than what they are.

The most insidious ones will appear to show that your account has already been hacked and you need to login to the security section to reconfirm your information. Even by responding you are signaling that your email address is valid and this will help them to refine their future attacks and scams.

The proper response is to delete the email. Don’t click on any of the links. The links can be disguised and may actually run a program on your computer that does many bad things, from using your computer as a zombie to taking important information from your cookies and sending it to other hacker sites.

Always remember, if any email or website is asking for any information including your date of birth, you are giving out information that may lead to identity theft. Be very certain of the source and be sure to validate that it is legitimate.

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Toner Scam

2019-05-15T17:02:00Z

Toner Scam and other supply scams

The toner scam has been around for a long time but a lot of people don’t know about it. Knowing about it can save you a lot of money.

A person calls the company, says they are from the copier company, that they are making sure that their records are up to date and then asks you to verify the make and model of the copier. Often a receptionist or another person takes the call so they may not realize that this is a scam.

After a few weeks another person calls and says that they are from the copier company and that they wanted to let you know that the price of toner is going to increase soon and would you like to place and order to beat the price increase. If you say yes, they take that as an authorization and send you toner after they confirm your address and copier.

Next the bill arrives in accounting. A lot of times the person paying the bills doesn’t know that the toner is included in the copier contract, they have a packing slip from the toner that was received and they pay the bill without question. In effect, the company has now paid for toner twice; once under the contract and again from the scam company. This can continue for an extended period of time until someone realizes that they are purchasing the toner twice. By this time, there is no way to recover the money paid to the scam toner company. The company accepted the toner, used it and paid for it.

If you are alert and catch this scam when it is happening, your employer will love you. If you work for yourself you will save thousands of dollars.

If you are on the receiving end of one of these scams, tell them you will have to check on the model number and call them back. Usually when you ask for the phone number and their address, they will hang up. If not, check with your copier company to find out if it is a legitimate inquiry.

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Overpayment Scam

2019-05-15T13:41:00Z

Internet Scams Target Massage Therapists

Massage therapists are now on the receiving end of a variation of an online con. Here’s how it works: An out-of-town “client” contacts a practitioner via e-mail wanting to schedule appointments for a time in the future when he/she will be visiting the area.

The appointments and times are scheduled. Shortly thereafter, the practitioner receives a cashier’s check for these services, but it’s generally for much more than the originally agreed upon price. The alleged client or a secretary of the client contacts the therapist, explains the mistake, and asks the therapist to deposit the check and simply refund the balance. The check appears to clear and the practitioner sends the overage back to the client only to learn two weeks later that the check was a fraud. Now the practitioner is out whatever the overage was.

Using caution and common sense will help you avoid the pitfalls of Internet scams. For more information, visit http://www.snopes.com/crime/fraud/cashier.asp.

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Inside Scoop and Deals

2019-05-15T13:38:00Z

Inside Scoop and Deals

Keep checking back as we build this insiders list of deals that can help you build your business or find great opportunities to learn new things.

If there are any deals that you have found that you feel others would like as well please email them to kstecker@Spa Tech.edu and I will add them to the knowledge base.

Thank you.

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Success Tips

2019-05-15T13:30:00Z

Student Success Tips

The trick to being successful is to constantly learn the best way to do things. As a student, how you study becomes a critical part of getting the most out of your training. Good study habits are deliberate skills that are learned. Some schools teach study habits. Most do not.

For our purposes we expect you to have basic study skills which is why we require that you have a high school diploma or GED. However, we also want you to be incredibly successful. Therefore we share additional skills with you to help you succeed. They are not difficult but they do take commitment.

Here they are. We look forward to seeing you put them into practice.

Also, if you have any additions to this section that you think would help your fellow students, please let your teachers know so we can continue to give you the very best education possible. Thank you.

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Successful Students

2019-05-15T13:28:00Z

Being a Successful Student and Graduating on Time!

This may be the most important part of the program for you. It’s great to learn the technical skills, but learning basic success skills and strategies can change all aspects of your life.

Being a successful student, or person for that matter, isn’t something that just happens. It’s something you choose to do. Some students learned this at an early age and they wake up every morning programmed to succeed. Others need to learn and hone the skills of success until they become second nature.

There are three major components that you need to master to succeed.

1. Develop a plan to finish school on time.

2. Identify strategies for making satisfactory progress.

3. Develop coping strategies for the demands of student life.

These items are adapted from the USA Funds’ Life Skills Curriculum and is used with their permission.

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Feedback and Criticism

2019-05-15T13:25:00Z

Learn to Love Feedback (Criticism)

This is a big one. If you master this, you are guaranteed to succeed.

Nobody loves to be criticized. Even when your goal is to be as successful as possible, feedback or criticism is often incorrectly associated with punishment or being wrong. It is natural. Most of our lives we have received feedback in ways that were tied to being bad or being punished. It is the legacy of the behavioral scientists who designed the educational and socialization structure of our society. Do something good and get a reward. Do something bad and get punished.

The point is: If you can learn to love criticism or feedback, and see it as a gift that is being given to you to help you succeed, you will be extremely successful.

For instance, are you paying us to make you feel good about yourself or to help you succeed? Think about it. If all we did was give you compliments, no matter what you were doing, how much would you improve. Right. You would not improve much at all. However, if we show you better, easier and more efficient ways to do things, you will get progressively more successful.

But most of all, if you learn to love criticism, you will be incredibly successful because you will learn from every client who you work on. Once they know you are open to feedback, they will tell you things that will help you to improve.

The people who plateau or fail in their work are the ones who avoid feedback. They are what we call losers.

So learn to love feedback and criticism. It is your biggest gift.

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Clinic Scheduling

2019-05-15T13:22:00Z

In preparation for working in a spa, salon or clinic, the art of getting a good clinic schedule starts with what you do in school. Although the cosmetology salon is done on a walk-in basis only, getting to work with clients in all settings requires some thought and action on your part to get the prime opportunities.

First, once you are scheduled, be on time, every time, to ensure that you will continue to get the best times. If you miss one of your scheduled times, you will have a difficult time finding good times to make it up and it can delay your graduation. This is also what will happen in real life. If you do not show up for a time when you are scheduled, you will either be fired or at least moved to times that are less critical and not as lucrative.

To succeed you want to be in the best time slots. So be prepared and fully ready to hit the ground running.

It is important that you get your hours and individual clinic practice time done as soon as possible. The students who are ready first will have the best selection of clinic times to choose. So be sure to get those practices done as quickly as possible.

If for any reason you have a conflict and will not make a scheduled time, notify the teacher as quickly as possible. It’s all about communications. If you just don’t show up or call at the last minute, there is very little time to correct the situation. This leads to stress for teachers and other students who have to cope with the situation you have created. When this happens, you will find it erodes support for you and you will find it increasingly difficult to succeed. This is also exactly what happens in real professional life. You must communicate as quickly and clearly as possible to avoid creating stressful situations.

Volunteer to be available on short notice if someone else does not show up. (Of course you can only do this if you are truly available to help.) If you life close by or you know you are going to be at the school doing additional studying, be sure you bring your supplies so you can jump in if the opportunity opens up. You will gain an amazing level of respect and support from everyone who sees how you were prepared and “saved the day.” In spa’s, salons and clinics there is a special term for people who do this: Super Star Employee. When opportunities for promotion or prime schedules comes up, managers remember and reward the super stars.

If you follow these tips you will find that you will be extremely successful in completing your clinics and in your professional life.

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Practice Sessions

2019-05-15T13:21:00Z

Tips for Completing Practice Sessions – Module 1 Massage/Level 1 Polarity

As a student enrolled in a Massage Therapy Program or the Polarity Therapy Career Program, you will complete 30 practice sessions during your first module or level of your program. While the actual sessions are not turned in until the first block of clinic, you are encouraged to have all or most of the practice sessions done by the Peer Review final exam class.

The reason for this is simple: The sooner you apply the work the better you will learn each new piece of work. Often students make the mistake of waiting until they have learned more information and can do a full session. They think this is more effective when, in fact, it slows them down in learning new material. So avoid this simple mistake. Take action to set up your session times ASAP.

Your teachers will talk to you about the specifics of the requirement and will emphasize the importance of these sessions. The purpose here is to provide tips for getting the most from your practice sessions and for getting them completed on time.

Prior to or immediately following your first class develop a list of people who you can practice on. Include their name and their phone number or email on your list.

If you have difficulty identifying people to practice on, speak to your instructors and classmates for ideas. Focus on creating solutions rather than on the problem. Here are potential resources for practice people: family, friends, coworkers, church members, neighbors, graduates of school, professional therapists in your area, advanced students, students from your class, practitioners of allied modalities in your area, local firemen, nurses at nursing home, etc.

Put your class schedule and approaching clinic schedule into your planner. Put other mandatory commitments into your planner. Identify blocks of time for practice and for studying in your planner. Block off the practice time in your planner/scheduler book or device.

Contact people on the list by email or by phone with your available “practice” appointment times. Schedule people in your planner in and ask if they have recorded the appointment in their planner.

If you schedule all 30 practice sessions in advance, this will prevent the stress of feeling like you do not know or remember the work. Imagine how good it is to eliminate unnecessary stress from your life.

Send email/voice mail “courtesy reminder” for person about approaching appointment about 24 hours prior to appointment.

Explain to practice people that initially you are looking for feedback around things like causing pain. It is important that your practice people realize that you value the specific issues they may have and eventually you will address them but that initially practice is about only doing the pieces you have learned in class.

Use the practice verification form in your workbook to record the practice session, questions, and the client feedback. Bring questions to your classes and check with teachers.

Do not delay starting practice sessions. After the first 8 hours of Module 1 Swedish Massage or after Level 1 Polarity you will definitely have enough material to start practicing after the first 8 hours of classes. Do not wait longer than that. It will make subsequent practice sessions harder.

As you move forward with your classes, keep adding the new work to the work you already know. In other words practice session is cumulative.

30 practice sessions is the minimum that needs to be turned in. Some people do more to improve their skills.

When practicing use your book. Start by using the long description in the workbook and over time you can switch to the highlight sheets. The goal is not to merely memorize the work. You want to integrate it fully into your understanding. This comes from repetition and practice.

A music stand works great to hold your book while practicing.

Speak with classmates about doing a practice party on a Saturday or Sunday where 4-6 people get together at someone’s home and set up tables and practice on each other.

After your thirty practice session are completed to finish mod1, level 1 and start clinic you will not need to document practice sessions. This does not mean stop practicing. If you want to be a successful therapist it will be important to have dates and times blocked out to practice the many other things that you will be learning in your program. Looking ahead on your program schedule to see what items you will be learning will help you to determine when you should have blocked out time in your day planner and schedule times to practice. Doing practice for your advanced classes will enrich and increase your understanding and aid you in being a successful professional.

An additional tip for practicing body mechanics when you don’t have a person to work on is as follows:

Do a practice sessions “tai chi” style. This means doing a session with a make believe person. Set up table and still do draping and body mechanics as you simulate giving a session. Move around the table and do all the strokes as you would if a real person were on the table.

Note: This would be in addition to your 30 practice sessions.

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Appearance Matters

2019-05-15T13:17:00Z

Like it or not, your appearance has a huge impact on your success. The cliché that, “You only get one chance to make a good first impression” is even more important in the industries of beauty and health than in almost any other profession other than sales (and let’s face it, whether you are a realtor or a parent trying to get your kids to do something, we are all in sales on one level or another).

So why does it matter?

You are a walking advertisement for what you do. In cosmetology and aesthetics it should be obvious that how you look shows your standards of appearance. If you fabulous, your new clients will see the possibility that you can make them look great as well. In bodywork it is more subtle. Studies have found that healthy people are more attractive. If your appearance is tired or sloppy, the subconscious message is that you are not as healthy. Since you are selling the intangible (something that the client cannot actually see or touch) the new client’s impression of the quality of your work will be based on how you and your work space appear.

You are constantly meeting new clients for the first time. This should be happening daily. It should be happening every time you leave the house. You need to make sure your appearance says, “I am a professional with high standards.” Then when you start a conversation with someone at the grocery store or gym (and give them a business card) they will have the impression of a well put together, healthy and attractive person. You become the standard that they would like to achieve in their life.

You are selling the intangible. I know I’m mentioning this again. This is incredibly important. unlike a car or clothing that you can see and touch, the quality of service cannot be previewed. Until your clients are confident in your work quality, they project the quality of what you do from your appearance and your work space.

When you look good, you feel good. It is a fact. When you have higher self esteem you are more likely to talk to people and project a higher level of confidence. This is the hallmark of a successful person. This is what will attract clients.

Take control of your appearance:

Always make sure that your clothing is clean, in good repair and fits well. If your lab coat has a stain, only wear it at home. (Is a single new client worth a $30 lab coat? Every new client can be worth $500 to over $3000 per year. Every new client that is referred is worth the same. So how much is a $30 lab coat worth to you?)

Spend the money to get your hair and skin looking as good as possible. You are a walking advertisement. Make sure that it says, “I am healthy and successful.” Clients want to go to someone who can take them to the next level.

Don’t get lazy. Make sure you look your best every day. Remember, you only get one chance to make a good first impression.

Name Tags

Be sure to have a professional looking name tag prominently displayed whenever you are at school or at work. It makes an important statement about your self-worth and is part of your presentation as a professional. It also makes the client more comfortable if they know your name. The easier you make it for them to know your name, the more likely they are to talk about you to other people who could become your clients.

By following these tips, you could increase your annual revenues by several hundred dollars a year to over $10,000 more a year than if you forget to follow these easy rules for success.

Systems and Tracking

2019-05-15T13:14:00Z

Every sport maintains careful and complete statistics on their performance and use systems (training, warm up, diet, body mechanics, etc.) to improve performance. The pros monitor the stats RELIGIOUSLY. They know their numbers inside and out. Why? Because the numbers are their tool for monitoring performance. It is the only way they can get to the top of their game. And they follow their systems RELIGIOUSLY because they know it is the only way to improve performance. Spirit and enthusiasm are important, but without the stats and the systems, they will not reach their goals.

Do you think there is any successful athlete who does not study their numbers and follow systems? I don’t think so.

Is tracking and studying your numbers or following a system something that is easy or front of mind? No. It’s a learned discipline. People would much prefer to follow their preferences and feelings.

As an individual professional you owe it to yourself to track and study your statistics and develop and use systems for running your business.

As managers, you owe it to your people to teach them to interpret their stats effectively and maintain the tracking systems. The irony is this: When people do this, their performance and end result improve and their stress levels go down. When they forget to do it, things get sloppy and their effectiveness goes down which increases their stress. As a manager, your job is easier if your people know their stats and use the systems.

The discipline of business is the art of living. The little things ignored turn into the big problems. Statistics are the earliest data you have of when a change begins to happen. The stats will start to show a shift before the shift shows in the result. Following systems is your best insurance of knowing that things are on track and moving towards the desired outcome.

Keep this thought right beside Evolve or Perish: Maintaining good records won’t guarantee success but bad records will guarantee failure.

Make sure that you are doing weekly updates and going over the numbers in detail. Teach your people how to get the most out of understanding their data and using their systems. If you do this effectively, you will see constant improvement and everyone will have more fun.

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Coping Skills

2019-05-15T09:02:00Z

Develop coping strategies for the demands of student life

Manage your time instead of time managing you.
=Determine first how much time you have and how you spend it now.
=Which activities support your educational goals and which do not?
=Which activities are the most and the least important to you?
=Do you spend more time engaging in social or work activities than in school activities?
=Are you spending sufficient time engaging in activities that support your educational goals?

Manage your time wisely.
=Plan your time.
=Buy and use a day planner, PDA or scheduler.
=Avoid “time bandits.” These are people who consume, waste and eat up your time.
=Discuss your commitments to school and success with family, friends, and children.
=Don’t procrastinate. It is always easy to do yet difficult to recover from.
=Delegate work and chores where you can to family and friends.
=Plan social time. Curb spontaneity and value your personal time by planning it.
=Plan alone time. This can even be a five minute walk around the block once a day.
=Make lists and use them.
=When possible schedule time for phone calls.
=Screen your calls. Set a time limit for being on the phone and let the person know how much time you have available.
=Use e-mail and fax instead of the telephone as it consumes less time.
=Schedule priorities first.
=Find simple ways of making your family and friends feel special other than time. (A flower, a hug, a written note, a quotation, a poem, or a balloon can do wonders.)

Reduce or learn to cope with stress.
=Identify the things that increase your stress and write down strategies for addressing it.
=When you complete a task, reward yourself!
=Take frequent but scheduled breaks from work, studying.
=Exercise regularly.
=Manage your time effectively.
=Eat and sleep regularly.
=Be positive about yourself.
=Try to identify and address time wasters in your life like TV.
=Use the student clinic to receive stress reducing sessions.
=Get professional sessions from instructors and graduates.

Seek personal and professional help from a variety of resources.
=Professionals in the field.
=Instructors.
=Successful graduates.
=Prospective employers.
=Chamber of Commerce
=SCORE (Retired Executives)
=Education Directors, Department heads, Senior Education Director.
=Job Counselors.
=Professional life coach.
=Campus chaplain, minister, or rabbi.
=Friends.
=Family.

Connect with others who will support your educational goals.
=Students driven to success.
=Family members or partners who want you to succeed.
=You (in a journal or during structured meditation).
=Friends who are successful in their chosen life.
=Pastor.
=Professional life coach.

The corollary to this is, identify and isolate people who are negative about or don’t support your educational goals.

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Success Skills

2019-05-15T08:58:00Z

Identify strategies for making satisfactory progress

Learn and practice classroom success skills.
=Instructors evaluate positively those students who participate in class and demonstrate an interest in the subject.
=Successful students know how to communicate interest, commitment and motivation toward school.
=Ask pertinent questions in class
=Actively answer questions.

=Sit in the front of the room.
=Have the materials you need for class and leave other things in a locker or on storage rack.
=Ask for feedback and areas to improve instead of worrying about the grade.
=Make sure your seat is comfortable with a pillow or blanket if needed.
=Have plenty of water for the classroom.
=Plan healthy snacks for breaks or meals.
=Be in dress code with visible nametag. You want the teacher to see and use your name.
=Always be on time for class and from breaks, ready to start class.
=Strive to be the most committed student you can be and that will translate into habits or success in your new career.
=Remind yourself regularly about your goals and your commitments to achieving them.

Master essential study skills in class.

Use a highlighter in your book.

During demo write additional comments, phrases or draw pictures to help with retention.

Ask teacher for help when needed.

Ask for additional tutoring if needed

Master essential study skills.

Find outside study buddies such as family, kids, co-workers, church members, friends.

Plan to avoid traffic and arrive to school early. While having breakfast or dinner at school you can find “extra” study time.

This decreases the stress of possibly being stuck in traffic.

Learn how to study for and take tests. =Study now, for exams later.
=Do not cram for tests.
=Study each day.
=Check with your instructor for past sample tests.
=Do a search on the internet for sample tests.
=Ask other advanced students who are doing well and have taken the class for tips.
=Ask your instructor or check your textbook for a study guide.
=Make copies of our self assessments prior to doing them for class. These can be used at a later date for studying.
=See if the publisher of your textbook has an online study guide or practice test for the book.
=Study the book and notes, keeping in mind three common types of questions that instructors ask:

Seek help from your instructors.

Seek help from your peers.
=Identify other students who are striving for a successful experience and have a positive solution oriented attitude.
=Socialize on breaks with students who maintain a positive solution oriented attitude.
=During practice times, work on a variety of students and be very professional.
=Ask more senior students for tips about being successful with studies.

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Plan to Succeed

2019-05-15T07:56:00Z

Develop a plan to finish school on time

Set realistic goals for completing your program of study.
-How many months do you plan to spend in school?
-When is your last scheduled class?
-Do you want to finish on time?
-Are you committed to not missing any classes or clinics?
-Are you monitoring any missed classes or lateness and making them up promptly?
-Do you know all the requirements that you need to complete in order to graduate?
-How many hours will you need to complete per module of classes and clinics?
-Have you scheduled adequate outside time for studying, projects, and practice?

Plan your program of study.
-Begin by understanding the program’s curriculum, approaching classes, assignments, and homework.
-Schedule time to read the applicable section of the book prior to the class.
-Determine if you are a full time or part time student.
-Chart your program by tracking your hours completed.
-For massage and polarity students, schedule your CPR and First Aid class at least 4 months before graduation.
-Schedule only what you can realistically handle in your outside life.
-Find people willing to help with practice sessions, studying, and chores. Schedule and utilize these people.
-Use a day planner to schedule your time for classes, clinic, studying, projects, practice, and personal activities.
-Schedule adequate time for studying and time for practice; 8-16 hours per week full time, 4-8 hours per week part time
-Use your scheduler to record clinic dates; about 8 hours per week full time, 4 hours per week part time.

Consult an adviser (Teacher, Education Director).
-Find one right away. They want to help you. That’s why they are here.
-Solicit feedback from teachers on areas for improvement after practical areas.
-Prepare in advance for meetings with your adviser, teacher or education director.
-Obtain, read, and keep your school catalog and program schedule
-Don’t rely on students and friends for academic advice. Although talking to senior students or students who are driven to excel
in the program can be helpful. Students who enjoy complaining but do not try to improve things may not be the best person to take advice from.

Keep life simple.
-Over-committing yourself socially and financially takes its toll mentally and physically.
-Learn to say no socially.
-Learn to say no financially.

Stay focused on your educational goal.
-Resist temptations that will distract you from your goal.
-Resist temptations to forgo your scheduled practice or study time.
-Resist temptations to take a “day off” from school.
-Resist temptations to overspend or keep up with others who have more money.
-Resist temptations to use and abuse credit cards.
-Resist temptations to not study and prepare for class.

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Expert Advice

2019-05-15T07:49:00Z

There is so much to learn to be a successful professional. The training is designed to give you the most important skills you will need to move on to your next steps. However, to attain success you will need to continue to learn everything you can.

This section is designed to give you additional valuable information to increase your success. It is based on professional experience that supplements the valuable information in your training. By using this resource effectively you will find yourself better prepared to deal with the broad range of situations that occur.

Work and career are rich microcosms of life. Everything that can happen usually will happen in this setting. It is an adventure. Get the most out of it you can and you will have a full and interesting life.

If you have questions, please email them to your director of education so we can create the most appropriate answer and post it on this site. We will all improve together.

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Retail

2019-05-15T07:36:00Z

Retail made Easy

By Amy Rolnick, LMT

Would you like to easily increase your income? Are you using products you and your clients absolutely love? Would you like to make things easier for clients with “one stop shopping”?

Don’t wait years to take advantage of this great way to increase your income, offer MORE of you to your clientele, and create a win/win environment for everyone.

BENEFITS OF PRODUCT SALES

HOW

GET STARTED

SIGNING UP for a Maine Sales Tax ID

It’s that simple, now both you and your clients can benefit more year-round.

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Dealing with Mourning

2019-05-15T07:27:00Z

You will frequently encounter people who are in mourning. It can occur after many events such as loss of a loved one, including pets, relationship breakup, job loss, loss of physical or mental ability due to accident or illness, and many other situations. As a professional it is important to understand that behavior by clients in mourning may be surprising. It is important to not take it personally.

The five stages of mourning are:

1. Denial and Isolation: The first reaction is to deny the reality of the situation. It is a normal reaction to rationalize overwhelming emotions. It is a defense mechanism that buffers the immediate shock. We block out the words and hide from the facts. This is a temporary response that carries us through the first wave of pain.

2. Anger: As the masking effects of denial and isolation begin to wear, reality and its pain re-emerge. We are not ready. The intense emotion is deflected from our vulnerable core, redirected and expressed instead as anger. The anger may be aimed at inanimate objects, complete strangers, friends or family. We feel guilty for being angry, and this makes us more angry.

3. Bargaining: The normal reaction to feelings of helplessness and vulnerability is often a need to regain control. If only …… Secretly, we may make a deal with God or our higher power in an attempt to postpone the inevitable. This is a weaker line of defense to protect us from the painful reality.

4. Depression: Two types of depression are associated with mourning. The first one is a reaction to practical implications relating to the loss. Sadness and regret predominate. We worry that, in our grief, we have spent less time with others that depend on us. This phase may be eased by simple clarification and reassurance. We may need a bit of helpful cooperation and a few kind words. The second type of depression is more subtle and, in a sense, perhaps more private. It is our quiet preparation to separate and to bid farewell. Sometimes all we really need is a hug.

5. Acceptance: Reaching this stage of mourning is a gift not afforded to everyone. The end may be sudden and unexpected or we may never see beyond our anger or denial. It is not necessarily a mark of bravery to resist the inevitable and to deny ourselves the opportunity to make our peace. This phase is marked by withdrawal and calm. This is not a period of happiness and must be distinguished from depression.

By fully understanding these stages you will be better equipped to give people the emotional support and space to go through their process. It is not appropriate to counsel your clients. It is appropriate to respect their process and let them know that you care.

Remember, it is impossible to understand how they feel, even if you have been through a similar situation. The mourning process is based on the sum total of that person’s life experience so unless you have had an identical life, which is highly unlikely, you cannot possibly know how they feel. However, you can let them know that you are comfortable with anything they would like to express.

By being 100% present for them during their time of crisis, you will make a tremendous contribution to their healing process. This level of compassion will generate good will and future success as well as a great feeling of having done something worthwhile.

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Real World

2019-05-15T07:24:00Z

Words of Wisdom from Charles Sykes from “Dumbing Down our Kids”

The things that your education failed to teach you that you absolutely needed to know.

Rule 1: Life is not fair – get used to it!

Rule 2 : The world won’t care about your self-esteem. The world will expect you to accomplish something BEFORE you feel good about yourself.

Rule 3 : You will NOT make $60,000 a year right out of high school. You won ‘t be a vice-president with a car phone until you earn both.

Rule 4 : If you think your teacher is tough, wait till you get a boss.

Rule 5 : Flipping burgers is not beneath your dignity. Your Grandparents had a different word for burger flipping: they called it opportunity.

Rule 6: If you mess up, it’s not your parents’ fault, so don’t whine about your mistakes, learn from them.

Rule 7: Before you were born, your parents weren’t as boring as they are now. They got that way from paying your bills, cleaning your clothes and listening to you talk about how cool you thought you were. So before you save the rain forest from the parasites of your parent’s generation, try delousing the closet in your own room.

Rule 8: Your school may have done away with winners and losers, but life HAS NOT. In some schools, they have abolished failing grades and they’ll give you as MANY TIMES as you want to get the right answer. This doesn’t bear the slightest resemblance to ANYTHING in real life.

Rule 9: Life is not divided into semesters. You don’t get summers off and very few employers are interested in helping you FIND YOURSELF. Do that on your own time..

Rule 10: Television is NOT real life. In real life people actually have to leave the coffee shop and go to jobs.

Rule 11: Be nice to nerds. Chances are you’ll end up working for one.

Additional insights: http://kids.niehs.nih.gov/graduation.htm

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Articles

2019-05-15T07:21:00Z

The following articles have been chosen to help you in your professional development.

Questions about Bodywork Employment and Professionalism http://sohnen-moe.com/articles/qandas.php

Models of Mentoring for Success http://sohnen-moe.com/articles/mtj-vol41-2.php

Marketing Tips http://www.sohnen-moe.com/marketing.php

The Invincible Bodyworker http://mokshacenter.com/articles.html#winter

Additional Articles of Interest http://www.Spa Tech.edu/Articles/articles.htm

Prosperity Blog http://prosperityschool.Spa Tech.edu

Body World: A&P Super Learning

2019-05-15T07:19:00Z

Do you want to dramatically build your understanding of the body. A great place to do that is at Body World.

Keep your eyes open for this amazing

display. It is an experience you will remember for a long time.

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Attitude Determines Altitude

2019-05-15T07:18:00Z

Unlike some things in life, we can choose our outlook. Sometimes we just need a reminder that happiness can often simply be a result of choosing attitudes;

I woke up early today, excited over all I get to do before the clock strikes midnight. I have responsibilities to fulfill today. My job is to choose what kind of day I am going to have.

Today I can complain because the weather is rainy or I can be thankful that the grass is getting watered for free.

Today I can feel sad that I don’t have more money or I can be glad that my finances encourage me to plan my purchases wisely and guide me away from waste.

Today I can grumble about my health or I can rejoice that I am alive.

Today I can lament over all that my parents didn’t give me when I was growing up or I can feel grateful that they allowed me to be born.

Today I can cry because roses have thorns or I can celebrate that thorns have roses.

Today I can mourn my lack of friends or I can excitedly embark upon a quest to discover new relationships.

Today I can whine because I have to go to work or I can shout for joy because I have a job to do.

Today I can complain because I have to go to school or eagerly open my mind and fill it with rich new tidbits of knowledge.

Today I can murmur dejectedly because I have to do housework or I can feel honored because I have been provided with shelter.

Today stretches ahead of me, waiting to be shaped. And here I am the sculptor who gets to do the shaping. What today will be like is up to me.

I get to choose what kind of day I will have!

– Author Unknown

Anticipate the Unanticipated

2019-05-15T07:16:00Z

Wow! What an awesome time! I’m very excited about applying the strategies I learned, personally and professionally.

1) My favorite piece came from Rudolph Giuliani. Always anticipate the unanticipated. Wow, how true is that?! Knowing that you’ll always be ready for anything that comes your way. I have not got those words out of my mind since, and have already put this into action professionally and personally.

2) The art of questioning. This piece from Tom Hopkins was particularly fascinating to me because I used to use my own strategy when selling cars. His words simplified it for me. I realized I need to listen more to peoples’ needs. Then “isolate areas of interest.” Wow, the art of questioning is so neat!

3) Peter Lowe struck me when talking about physiology. I never realized our words control our mind and body. Learning about breathing patterns and how our words effect ourselves and everyone around us is incredibly important.

How could I not use this always?! These three pieces will stay with me. I will use them always to live happy, healthy, and to reflect on others.

I really enjoyed attending!

Tracy

Focus

2019-05-15T07:14:00Z

Another short one but also right to the point and on the money. (Editor)

Three things I learned:

1. Work everyday like the day before vacation.

2. Take action–Even if baby steps at the time.

3.Have a plan.

I thought most of the speakers were very good and I have taken something from each of them. It was UNBELIEVABLE.

Teri

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Delegation

2019-05-15T07:10:00Z

This is short but it is right on the mark. (Editor)

1) Put people in key positions that they are talented in.

2) Recognize your weakness and get talented people in those departments

as well as work on them.

3) Delegate AND verify that the work is being done.

4) Always encourage development and praise it.

Peggy

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Learn from Mistakes

2019-05-15T07:08:00Z

1) I learned that the speakers all used techniques in their speeches to establish trust and a sense of ease with the audience before getting into their topics. Usually through humor.

2) This approach continued and, the speakers would also find ways to make themselves identifiable, but not controversial. General Franks, I believe had to walk this the best in order for his messages to get a chance at being heard. He knew where the “hot” spots were going to come up for people in the audience ahead of time, and worked on communicating in a disarming way, he also made sure he was disarming in speaking about himself, and he would use the common thread of being an American in these times as an irrefutable place of common ground between himself and the audience. By preparing for places that the audience might reject his messages, and by working on making himself a likeable figure, he was able to stay on topic, and gave himself as much of an advantage as he could on getting his messages heard.

3) The speakers I heard, all decided for themselves what success was to them, and set goals to achieve that success. They all pointed to mistakes they made along the way, in helping them redefine what was important.

In conclusion: 3 things to work on.

Let some humor in

Find common ground

Recognize mistakes and redefine what is important in keeping with goals

Thank you,

Liz

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Honesty

2019-05-15T07:05:00Z

The following struck home for me:

1) No matter the circumstances, remain positive and stay encouraging to yourself and to others. Nothing goes un-noticed, so remain grounded and others will follow your model. Be a good role model, you never know who is looking at you as their mentor.

2) Zig Ziglar was inspiring when it came to yourself as a human. Remain honest with your character, your goals, and your passions; the rest will slide into place and your leadership role will rise to higher levels.

3)Communication is key on every aspect with each employee. In regards to our particular business this means we all need to be making sure that education, admissions and financial aid are on a communal understanding of files, students, etc. We do this now but since the seminar I see that it is required at all times.

4) To be a leader you need to have courage and heart.

5) Recognize what your weaknesses are and embrace it and change it.

6) If you invest enough money in real estate you wont have to work another day in your life.

Liz

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Knowledge and Action

2019-05-14T18:34:00Z

Phil Towne made what I believe was the most important point of the seminar.

There are two steps to success. The first is gaining knowledge. The second is putting it into action.

Gaining knowledge may change us a small amount. But It is acting on the knowledge that requires that we change and grow. This is why many people can take the first step of acquiring knowledge but are unsuccessful because they are unable to make the required changes to put it into action.

There are many reasons why people can’t change and most of them are based on fear, real or imagined and most of it is imagined. The rest of the workshop was about getting the motivation to overcome the fears that hold us back and when we overcome the fears, how to work effectively to get the best results possible.

Tommy Lasorda, the coach of the Boston Red Sox, talked about how they won the World Series: “They did not concentrate on each game, each inning, or each out. They concentrated on every pitch and every play.” That is a winning attitude. It takes tremendous leadership and commitment to keep the attention on the right thing for that long. The way to accomplish that is to prepare, have everyone know what the goals are, have the right people in the right positions and then let them do their job without interference.

Zig Ziglar was phenomenal. His energy at 78 years old is still going strong. His focus on goals, values and discipline are manifest in his actions. He is one of the originals in the industry and his life is a testimony to following what he teaches. His books are readily available.

Mayor Rudi Giuliani and General Tommy Franks were incredible. They exemplify leadership. Clarity, goals, intelligence, consideration, decisiveness, love of people and a sense of humor are all essential. They also demonstrate a high degree of courage when doing what needs to be done in the face of fear. As Rudi put it, brave men and women do not have an absence of fear. They do what needs to be done in spite of their fear. That is what makes what they do so incredible.

Another major key was looking around at the 12,000+ attendees. Most were there because someone, either themselves or an employer, understands that to be great, you need to be exposed to greatness. It is not something we are born with. It is something that we acquire.

The lesson is, attend events and create situations that put you around people that are achievers so you can pick up the skills and the attitudes that lead to success. You can also read books by successful people to prepare you for success. “Think and Grow Rich” by Napoleon Hill is a classic.

The other great thing about all the presenters are their values, sense of mission and ability to act. The lesson is always the same: Know and live by your values, have something that is more important than your personality, and stretch to constantly go to the next level.

I hope everyone who can attend future seminars will make a point of doing so. There is so much to learn and such a shortage of leaders. Humanity needs everyone to step up to the plate and make their contribution.

Kris

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Believe

2019-05-14T18:30:00Z

Have a plan – This is probably the most significant thing I heard, as I am terrible at planning. Having a plan and visualizing it is part of the process to making your plan become a reality. The small steps you take towards a goal are just as important as the goal itself. Envisioning this plan and taking small steps will help my goals become a reality. Plans are not set in stone; I can change things as I go along.

Stress steals energy. Zig Ziglar spoke of recognizing stress early and putting a stop to it. Peter Lowe enhanced on this when he spoke about the body and physiology and the importance of breathing. The noticing stress early was particularly important to me because I never notice if I am stressed until I feel like pulling my hair out.

Have strong beliefs and know what I believe. I tend to be fairly opinionated anyway, however, it is important to have these opinions and be able to lead people from them. I think, in terms of admissions, that if you really believe that people will benefit from our school and that it will help them achieve their goals, and then they will recognize this and in turn will realize that this school will help them fulfill what they are seeking.

Of course I know there’s more that goes into it, but I think this is important thinking.

Thank you,

Katie

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Planning is Key

2019-05-14T18:24:00Z

1. To be successful:

a. Identify your plan/what you want to achieve. Writing it down is extremely helpful.

b. Stay laser focused no matter the obstacles you encounter. You will encounter them. Keep on track.

c. Act as if you already have/own it. Use your senses to make it real. SEE/visualize yourself having it; sense how you FEEL having reached your goal, (feel your excitement, pride, confidence, peace, etc.).

2. Goals are not achieved due to lack of passion and/or commitment.

3. The words you speak create your reality. If you are not happy with what you have created thus far, stop and pay close attention to your daily “self-talk”, and the words you use with others. Here lie the clues. Change your words, change your reality.

Dot

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Universal Observations

2019-05-14T18:20:00Z

I have to say that the conference was a lot more than I expected. I learned much more than 3 things, but here is what I will share:

Corinne

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Optimism

2019-05-14T18:13:00Z

This is short, to the point and spot on, By Carol Marvelley. (Editor)

The discussion about leadership made me think about optimism and encouragement. And the line about being calm and resolving problems is perfect. People work hard for leaders with these qualities.

My favorite suggestion was about working every day as if it is the day before vacation. I know that I go into super mode then and it really would be amazing if I could keep that attitude of getting everything done, in front of me. I do try but could probably step up my pace.

Thanks a lot.

Carol

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Health and Hygiene

2019-05-14T18:11:00Z

Health and Hygiene are important issues for service and personal care professionals. It applies to both your own health and hygiene as well as that of your clients.

As a professional your personal health and hygiene are critical to your success. You are selling the intangible. This means that unlike selling a tangible product like a piece of jewelry or a car, the consumer has no way of seeing what you are selling directly. Therefore, they form their opinion of the quality of your work by their first impression of you.

This may be obvious to some people but it has not occurred to others. You only have one chance to make a good first impression. And most people will make up their mind about you within the first 10 seconds of meeting you. Therefore, as a professional in your community you will always to remember this fact every time you leave your house: You never know who you may run into who could become a future client.

If you are sick, disheveled or unclean, people will be put off. You rarely get a second chance to make up for the first impression.

This may seem unfair, shallow or even revolting, but it is reality. Every professional understands this and presents themselves accordingly. So to increase your professionalism and success, please follow the links for basic and important information on how to be and look your best.

From School Nurse

The additional links on the left menu are advisories from the school nurse. Please review these periodically to make sure that you are up to date on all health and sanitation issues of the school and are in compliance with the school standards.

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Flu and Colds

2019-05-14T18:08:00Z

Flu and Cold Advisory – Tim Starkey, School Nurse

Any season can be Flu and Cold Season.

Please remember that this does NOT need to sweep through the staff, students, and instructors of your sites.

Please make sure to stay on top of hand washing and infection control at all times. Remind each other to wash your hands. During clean up, make sure you are using the disinfectant spray on tables, doorknobs, handles and all equipment and furniture that is touched. Wipe door handles, counters and faucets with disinfectant spray.

Stay well and be healthy.
Tim Starkey
School Nurse

Here are some additional tips…

Wash your hands frequently. This is often your best defense. Wash the entire hand using warm water and soap. Don’t forget to clean under fingernails. Wash for 10-30 seconds. Do this SEVERAL times per day. Soap, water and friction are necessary. Anti-bacterial soap is NOT needed and can dry out your skin more.

Avoid putting your hands near your eyes, nose or mouth, unless you have washed. Most bacteria and germs are spread from a surface to your hands to your face. Few germs are transmitted through the air. Make sure tissues are available for people to use.

Clean your ‘shared spaces’ more often than other times of the year. Remember phones, keyboards, steering wheels, office equipment and other items used by several people during the day. At home. wash children’s toys when they are sick. At home, frequently change hand towels when people are sick.

Stay warm. Recent finding have shown a heightened correlation between catching a chill and getting colds and flu. Get enough sleep. During sleep, your body’s immune system goes into high gear to protect you from illness. Lack of sleep can reduce immune functioning making you susceptible to sickness.

Drink more water. In the fall and winter, it is easy to overlook your thirst and get dehydrated. Make sure you consume at least 8 glasses a day. Wash your water container regularly.

Get regular moderate exercise

Eat healthily.

Limit intake of any dehydrators. Caffeine, sugary drinks, and alcohol can be dehydrating which, in turn, may decrease your resistance to bacteria.

Finally, listen to your body. If you are less than 100% you will feel better and recover faster if you let yourself rest.

A related question that arises from time to time….

Is it the flu or a common cold?

Although often confused with the common cold, influenza is more severe and poses a greater health concern. Every year, an estimated 17 million to 50 million cases of influenza are reported nationwide—many of which occur in otherwise healthy people.

Similar to the common cold, the flu can produce respiratory symptoms, such as runny nose, coughing, and sore throat. However, the influenza virus typically causes more intense symptoms, such as sudden onset of fever, chills, headache, and muscle aches in children, adolescents, and adults. Unlike symptoms of the common cold, the fatigue and cough caused by the flu can last more than two weeks—lingering long after other symptoms subside.

Differences in symptoms between the flu and common cold

Fever COLD: rare in adults and older children

Fever FLU: usually 102° F, but can go up to 104° F and usually lasts 3 to 4 days

Headache COLD: rare

Headache FLU: sudden onset and can be severe

Muscle aches COLD: mild

Muscle aches FLU: usual, and often severe

Tiredness and weakness COLD: mild

Tiredness and weakness FLU: can last two or more weeks

Extreme exhaustion COLD: never

Extreme exhaustion FLU: sudden onset and can be severe

Runny nose COLD: often

Runny Nose FLU: sometimes

Sneezing COLD: often

Sneezing FLU: sometimes

Sore throat COLD: often

Sore throat FLU: sometimes

Cough COLD: mild hacking cough

Cough FLU: usual, and can become severe

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Infection Control

2019-05-14T17:59:00Z

Body workers, Cosmetologists and Aestheticians, due to the physical connection with others, can be at risk of spreading infections. As well they can be susceptible to receiving infections from their clients. It is imperative that students and professionals be familiar with basic infection control principles in order to protect themselves and others.

What are infections and their cause?

Germs – living cells known as microorganisms – are at the root of infections. Although many germs live naturally on the skin and in the body and cause no problems in a healthy person, they can cause infections when a person is sick or rundown. When microorganisms are present and replicating in or on the body, the condition is called an infection. Signs and symptoms for an infection can vary greatly. They can include draining wounds, rashes, flu like symptoms, fatigue, elevated temperature, and complaints of pain/illness. Infections can be local, affecting one area of the body or systemic, affecting the whole immune system.

What kinds of microorganisms are responsible?

There are four common types. Viruses, such as those that cause the common cold, are one. Bacteria, such as staph or strep, which can cause sore throats and skin infections, are another. Fungi, such as that responsible for athlete’s foot, make up a third kind. And parasites such as lice and scabies are the fourth.

How does a person get these infections?

The body has two natural defenses. Your skin is the body’s external defense, which protects you from microorganisms that enter from outside the body. If there is a break in the skin, microorganisms can enter and cause infection or they may enter through mucous membranes or natural body openings (eyes, ears, mouth, etc.). The second natural defense is internal and consists of white blood cells that fight off disease-causing microorganisms once they enter the body. In some people, the body’s internal defenses don’t function well and therefore leave the person more susceptible to infection.

The Chain of Infection (Source, Means, Host) helps us understand the spread communicable (infectious) diseases. If we can control any one of the links in the chain, that is, if we can “break” just one link, then we have broken the chain and stopped the spread of a communicable disease. A source is a person, environment, food, water, animal, insect, soil carrying or infected with a pathogen or microorganism. A means is the method or mode of transmission of the pathogen. The means can be direct or indirect contact. Some methods of transmission include airborne, contact, vehicle. A host is a susceptible/ highly susceptible person. Infections are more likely if the agent comes in contact with breaks in skin or with the mouth, eyes, or nose. Factors included in susceptibility are your general health, strength of the infectious agent, ability of the immune system to fight the infection. Some factors that can leave a person vulnerable to infection are age, poor nutrition, poor personal hygiene, poor hydration, chronic disease, and stress.

How can infections be prevented?

– Hand washing is the most important step you can take to prevent infections. The most important aspect of hand washing is the action of rigorously scrubbing your hands with soap under running water.

– Keep fingernails short, trimmed, and clean. Fingernails can harbor a lot of microorganisms.

– Broken skin should be avoided on clients. Therapists should always keep cuts and scrapes covered while working.

– Jewelry – should not be worn while working as much as possible. If wedding rings/engagement rings will be worn during work because someone is uncomfortable with removing, always wash hands with the ring on. Be sure to wash ring and under ring. If wearing rings with sharp edges and settings use great care to not scratch others with the ring.

– Liquid soap is hygienically easier to dispense than bar soap.

– Keep clothing, uniforms, and aprons clean. Use care not to have a client come in contact with uniform or apron that may have come in contact with the previous client.

– Clean the outside of oil and lubricant containers between clients to prevent the spread of microorganisms.

– If using a tub for cream or lotion, dispense what will be used during the session into a paper cup using a spatula or spoon before the session. This will prevent contaminating the inside of the container during a massage.

– Use clean linens for each client.

– Properly clean and disinfect all equipment between each session.

– In addition to wearing gloves for anticipated or potential contact with mucosal surfaces, blood, non-intact skin, and other potentially infected material (OPIM), always wear gloves when coming in contact with urine, feces, vomit, and sputum. These fluids do not transmit blood borne diseases such as HIV or hepatitis B but can transmit other types of infections.

– Staying in good health to avoid passing germs to others is important. Remember that pathogens and microorganisms travel both ways. Both the client and the therapist can transmit them to each other unless appropriate precautions are maintained. The following symptoms may indicate a need to stay out of work: fever, frequent sneezing/coughing, a sore throat, diarrhea, or a draining skin wound.

Additional information?

Up to date and accurate information can be obtained by contacting the Center for Disease Control (www.cdc.gov) or a local health department.

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General Precautions

2019-05-14T17:50:00Z

The floor in a treatment area, is always considered a “dirty” surface. Place things like bottles of oil, jars of cream, bolsters, or even linens on the floor is placing them on the dirty surface and thereby contaminating them. Using these items then transfers the the contamination to the practitioners hands and then to the client. At no time should anything that is going to be used in a session be placed on the floor.

Lubricant bottles need to be in student apron or holster. This means making certain that massage and polarity students have and use either an apron or a holster with them as part of their dress code.

Towels, capes, tables, chairs and all tools for each modality must be handled carefully to make sure it is not placed on “dirty” surfaces. If any tools or equipment is in contact with a “dirty” surface, it must be sterilized and the practitioner must thoroughly wash and sanitize their hands before continuing to work on the client.

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Universal Precautions

2019-05-14T17:37:00Z

Massage therapists Cosmetologists and Aestheticians are not at great risk for occupational exposure to blood borne pathogens. Because of our work with the human body it is important that the basics of the Blood borne Pathogen standard and Universal precautions as set forth by the Center for Disease Control and the Occupational and Safety Health Administration are reviewed and understood.

Common blood borne pathogens include hepatitis B, hepatitis C, syphilis, malaria, and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Blood borne pathogens are very small , so small you can’t see them without a microscope. Blood borne viruses live in certain body fluids like blood, semen, vaginal fluids. You can only get these diseases if you get someone’s infected body fluids into your body. Things can get into your body through cuts, scrapes, your eyes, nose and mouth and sexual intercourse. You can’t tell by looking at people if they have an infectious virus or not, so it is best to assume that anyone could have it.

Since routine testing, medical history, and examination cannot reliably identify individuals who are infected with blood borne pathogens (bbp), it is imperative that consistent controls be in place to prevent the spread of blood borne infections. Based on recommendations from the CDC and OSHA regulations, clinicians should adapt to the following Universal Precaution guidelines, as applicable to the job guidelines.

The basic Principles of Universal Precautions include:

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Transfers

2019-05-14T17:31:00Z

There may be times when you question if you are in the right program for you and think that by transferring to another program in the school you will be happier. This is usually not a good idea for the following reasons.

Sometimes it may be that there is another issue at play. Talk to your teacher and the Director of Education and tell them you are thinking of transferring and see if they can help you identify any underlying issues that may be causing this desire.

A lot of times it is the “Grass is greener on the other side of the fence” syndrome

You are better off finishing what you started. Transferring is equivalent to quitting and often is part of a pattern that comes from commitment issues. By facing this issue head on and completing the program you started it can actually help give you a more productive behavior pattern for your future.

Often times it will cost you more money. This happens due to refund policies that affect students loans.

It may also postpone your graduation date.

So if after reading this you still want to transfer to a different program, talk to your Director of Education. They will be able to help you gain clarity and direction.

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Attendance is Vital

2019-05-14T17:25:00Z

Those with the best attendance are the most successful.

Why? Because the most responsible people are never late or absent. They know how to control time and personal health. They have also mastered personal accountability. These traits make them successful. It also ensures that they have the optimal learning experience because they never fall behind and they build momentum.

Because it is our mission to make you a successful professional, we put a lot of pressure on you to become personally accountable and develop the skills of time and resource (your health) management. Therefore we expect you to be on time, every time.

This is why if you are going to be late or absent, you must notify the school an hour before your class starts. If you have an emergency or are sick, we need to know. If you are expected in class and do not show up and do not call, we can only surmise that you must be unconscious, in which case we are very concerned. We will call you to find out what happened. We will also be very direct in educating you about your responsibility. Why? Because we are committed to your success. We expect you to be equally committed.

The policy as it applies to absences and tardiness are given to you at orientation and is on your Enrollment Contract. If you are not sure what the policy is, please check these documents.

Again, we want you to succeed. Do you?

Confidentiality

2019-05-14T17:23:00Z

Confidentiality is a vital skill that requires constant attention. It is important to recognize that all client, fellow student and staff information should always be treated as confidential information. Key areas of confidentiality are as follows:

Never gossip. It is a widespread illness in our tabloid society. It is inappropriate on many levels and even though it may gain you some short term positive status with the person you are gossiping to, in the long run you will become known as a person that is not respectful or caring of other people. This will severely damage your reputation and professional success.

Outside inquiries for information, phone numbers, information about people that work at the school, or information on students, clients or staff should be directed to the school director or other authorized staff.

All client and school records must be handled with extreme care to ensure that they cannot be seen by anyone other than school officials or students in clinic, are properly located in secure files and are never left out in any public area at the school. All records must stay at the school and can only be moved or transported with the prior approval of the director of the school.

All client information from the student clinic is strictly confidential. It is not appropriate to share information from conversations or client files with any other client or student. Information on clients should only be shared with faculty and management of the school to ensure that there are no boundaries that are crossed.

All information as it applies to fellow students should be treated as strictly confidential. Information should not be shared with other students, clients, or people outside of school. The only appropriate channel for information is to the staff of the school.

If a person calls wanting to know if a student is in school or a client is at the school, say that you are sorry but the schools confidentiality rules prohibit you from giving out that information. This policy is to protect students from any potential stalker activity. Since it is impossible to know the situations of all students and clients, it is always better to err on the side of caution and not give out that information.

If a person requests the phone number of anyone at the school, tell them that you school policy does not allow you to give out numbers. Then ask if they would like to leave their number which you will forward to the person they are interested in contacting. This allows the student, client or staff member to manage the distribution of their personal information.

If a person calls to enquire about how a student, client or staff member is doing or if they are around, NEVER give out this information. Again, this information should only be given out by the person in question.

By following these guidelines you will develop great skills at maintaining confidentiality that will increase your professional standing in the community.

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General Rules

2019-05-14T17:08:00Z

INSTITUTE RULES AND REGULATIONS

If there are additional violations of these rules during this period, the student will be terminated. If the student completes the probation without additional problems then the student will be returned to good standing until they violate a rule or regulation again.

FAILURE TO ABIDE BY THESE RULES AND REGULATIONS ARE CAUSE FOR TERMINATION. ADDITIONS, OMISSIONS, AND CORRECTIONS TO THESE RULES ®GULATIONS ARE POSTED ON THE INSTITUTE BULLETIN BOARD.

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Complaints

2019-05-14T16:59:00Z

The school views complaints as an opportunity to improve. As an institution we are open to all feedback from students, staff and customers. Our goal is to provide outstanding service and customer care. To this end, constant evaluation from our constituents is always considered carefully and resolved quickly. Please review the complaint policy from your Orientation Handouts.

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Selling the Intangible

2019-03-11T11:11:00Z

If you are in the service industry, you are your brand.
Therefore, to be successful and prosperous, you must remember the importance of selling the intangible. After all, both you and your service, unlike an object, are not easily seen, understood or available for objective evaluation.
To make sure that you understand this, we need to unpack the meaning of intangible. If someone is buying a physical product, they can see the quality of the finish and perhaps the manufacturing or engineering that has gone into it. The weight of materials, the luster of the finish and the fit of components are all clues as to the value.

But when you are selling a service, people don’t have a physical product to base their buying decision on. When that happens, they look for other information to help them understand what the quality of the service is that you are offering. That means they base their perception and opinion on what they can see or experience, which is your appearance at every stage of the buying process. There’s a hierarchy of points of contact that form the consumer’s perception of the quality of you as a person and the service that you provide.

Image Forms Perception

Of course, there’s the quality of your digital presence in ads, websites, social media presence, and reviews. If you pass this first test, then ease of contacting you and how you communicate, either through digital or audio interaction, is the next big test. And when they finally come to meet you, the appearance of the location is closely followed by your personal appearance. This includes the cleanliness of the space as well as the hygiene of the practitioner. If the person is dirty or smells of garlic, tobacco or other odors, that is a big turnoff for many clients. Clean and attractive restrooms are also very important.

All of these key touch points form the client’s perception of how much you care about what you do and that translates into the quality of the service they expect they will receive. The expectation will continue to develop as you interact with them, have forms they need to complete or go through a sales presentation.

Some people will never try your service depending on what they observe. Others will be skeptical of what they will get if any of the parts leading up to it are inconsistent. And every impression they have gotten will link to every other experience they have with you or your service, and form the totality of their perception of the quality of what you do. It will either reinforce that they feel good, bad or mediocre about you and your service.

So the question is, are the things you can control (digital presence, the appearance of location, personal appearance, communications) working for your success or against your success.

Learn From Successful People (It’s a great education)

I recommend you do an inventory. Make a survey and give it to people you know will give you honest answers. Also, take some pictures of your space and yourself to see what message you are communicating. Ask a friend or colleague to video you having the first interaction with a role-played client. Listen to your voice message on your answering system. Pay close attention to details. Do your best to be objective with what you observe.

Next, study similar companies or people who are successful in your industry. Go as a client and pay close attention to everything. You can also observe successful people in other industries that sell intangibles like lawyers, doctors, and consultants. They are all image aware and manage their image carefully.

Also study the ones who don’t understand the importance of selling intangible products or services. Try to understand what is happening to them. They may have a belief or opinion that appearance is a shallow measure and don’t want to manage it. There are others who are more attached to being “authentic” or promoting an “identity” than they are interested in having more success. Or others who have never been taught the way appearances can open or close doors.

For the people who are opposed to using appearance to influence perception, they are entitled to that choice. They may be so good that they have found other ways to reach people so they still have some level of success. However, the reality is that they would be even more successful without the belief or opinion that’s preventing them from upgrading their appearance.

If being authentic or image identity is driving choices to not dress for success and manage appearance for success, that’s a choice that has a cost attached to it. Again, it’s okay to make that choice but it’s important to understand the cost of lost opportunity . The other thing is that you can also manage your image and still be authentic. One doesn’t preclude the other. And you can also have a work identity and a private identity that you keep separate.

The questions is, are you more invested in projecting your belief or image than you are in attaining success. That’s okay and there’s no judgment. It’s your choice. However, if you want to be more successful, you must choose success over identity at a certain point in your career. Or you can choose it in your professional life and still do whatever you want in your private life, although most people find there is overlap.

How to Upgrade for Success

Observe the way successful people dress in your industry. A cosmetologist dresses differently than a massage therapist, lawyer or salesperson. Within an industry, look to see what the top people wear and how they wear it. Note the style and fit as well as all parts of what they are wearing including shoes and accessories. For instance, how does a suit with beat up old sneakers look? How do clothes with stains or wrinkles look compared to something that’s clean and well pressed? The fit should be appropriate (not too tight or loose or revealing) and should appear both comfortable and well-tailored.

Also, look at what they carry their information or equipment in (a loose bag or beat up an old canvas bag with stains or a well-made briefcase or satchel) and how they handle their belongings. All of these things make an impression. Also, pay attention to their body language in the clothing they wear. Do they look uncomfortable or do they make the clothing look good (think James Bond).

There’s a very good book called, “Dress for Success” as well as many articles on the web that can help you learn more about managing your image. Most of these are geared to business people but the concepts are still very valuable. There are also wonderful cosmetologists who focus on image consulting who can be very helpful. It’s an investment in your future success.

History Supports the Choice

This may seem ridiculous, but studies have shown that one of the most important qualities for people in trusting other people is the outward projection of confidence. That means looking like you are comfortable with the quality of your attire and your space. Dressing for success and managing your appearance gives you more confidence. The more you do it, the more you project that confidence. That’s an important reason why companies have a dress code or uniform. Examples are all around you. Look at pilots and other service providers. There are endless examples once you start looking.

This same attention to detail should apply to your location, digital presence, telecommunications and everything you do in your professional life. By studying how to improve the appearance of all stages of the consumer experience, the quality of your intangible product will gain a positive reputation and your business will grow. It’s up to you to choose what you want to create. Choose wisely.

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Graduate Spotlight February 2019 Elyse Wilkinson

2019-02-22T14:48:00Z

Elyse Wilkinson fell in love with Massage work and felt good about pursuing a trade after spending 3 years studying Biology and working as a supervisor at a shoe store.

Elyse realized that she did not have passion for the work she was doing, and really wanted to do something that would allow her to invest in herself and provide her with a high return on investment. Elyse made the decision to join the Holistic Massage Therapy program at �鶹ԭ�� in Westbrook in 2017.

Elyse reflects on her student experience while attending the Holistic Massage Therapy program as wonderful, and she immediately fell in love with the �鶹ԭ�� environment where she has made many friends and worked with fabulous educators. Elyse found that some of her favorite parts of the curriculum included Polarity and Hot Stone massage.

Elyse currently works at the Senator Inn & Spa in Augusta, Maine and is presently attending the Aesthetics program at �鶹ԭ��. Her belief is that dual licensure will make her a bigger asset throughout her career and allow her to increase her value to the Spa she is currently working for.Elyse enjoys her new classes and is having so much fun doing enzyme peels, back facials and so much more!

“Starting with the Massage Therapy program was the best starting place for me because I could get hired to do the work I love. Getting hired, then increasing my value to the company I work for, is an investment that makes sense and makes me happy.”

Elyse is proud to share her work with you and is accepting new clients at the Senator Inn & Spa in Augusta, Maine (207) 622-5804 https://www.senatorinn.com

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Graduate Spotlight January 2019 Holly Brown

2019-02-15T14:48:00Z

This month’s Graduate Spotlight Features Holly Brown. Holly is the Founder and Executive Director of Looking and Feeling Fab which offers healing programs in Whitman, Woburn, Westborough, Harvard, Brockton and Norwell.
Holly is a 2012 Graduate of �鶹ԭ��’s 600 hour Aesthetics Program. She is sitting member on �鶹ԭ��s Advisory Board and employs graduates of �鶹ԭ�� at Looking and Feeling Fab.

Holly Brown has always been focused on helping people to have a better life. Her parents instilled this in her at an early age. It probably was why she went into law enforcement originally and why she is finding so much enjoyment as a professional esthetician and business leader today.

After retiring from her first career she directed her talents to helping a friend who had started a spa. She quickly discovered that she loved the field and when the opportunity came to expand, Holly jumped at the chance to become an esthetician.

Her friend told her about �鶹ԭ�� in Plymouth and when she visited the school, she knew it was the place for her. Holly’s husband and friends were also supportive of her decision and felt that it would be a good next step in her life and career. She quickly discovered that she had a lot in common with other students and teachers and found going to school at �鶹ԭ�� to be a positive, life changing experience.

Having completed the 7 month full-time program, getting her license and working in the field for several years, she decided that she was ready to open her own business. She felt that the school gave her the skills and confidence she needed to have a successful business. She looks forward to hiring �鶹ԭ�� graduates in the future because she knows that the quality of their education prepares them to be successful right away.

Holly set up her business as a non-profit to help people who were dealing with cancer and other medical issues. Her training at the school using natural skin care products and procedures gave her a deep appreciation of the need for this work. She is creating a patient centered healing and education experience that helps her clients during one of life’s greatest challenges.

Holly has clearly found her calling in life that allows her to give service to those in need as well as have a career in the healing arts that she loves. As is often said at the school, “When you do work you love, you are living your genius.”

We are very proud to have Holly representing our school as a graduate and honored she is this month’s Graduate Spotlight.

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Graduate Spotlight December 2018 Crystal Brown

2018-12-15T14:48:00Z

Crystal Brown was introduced to Polarity Therapy while studying at the New Mexico School of Natural Therapeutics in 2014. She had served in the United States Air Force and began her journey to study multiple forms of alternative and holistic medicine.

Before moving to Maine to study Polarity Therapy Crystal was living in Kingwood, Texas and working at the Montessori School as a substitute and a PE teacher. As she explored options to study Polarity Therapy, Crystal found �鶹ԭ�� and was excited that she would be able to utilize her Post 9/11 G.I. bill benefits as a veteran.

When asked about her experience as a student at �鶹ԭ�� Crystal says it best. “My experience was beautifully challenging. Challenging because all the parts of her who had become comfortable performing below my highest potential, in every area of my life, were brought to the foreground to be worked with. The times I felt resistance, I knew it was then when I needed to persist because a moment of discomfort going through school outshines a lifelong discomfort of struggling to let go of all the old beliefs and patterns that I thought were “me”. It is most times difficult to see the beauty in the healing/learning process while you are in it, but after school as I reflected on my experience, I can see how all my dedicated work paved the way to all that I have accomplished including a job offer I received before school even ended!” As a self-proclaimed anatomy nerd, Crystal enjoyed learning theory and doing practicum and especially liked that there was no real need to take extensive notes since the reading material provided exactly what she needed to follow along.

Her advice to prospective students is to be kind to yourself every single day. Crystal found that“there is an immense amount of personal and professional growth that can come from the Polarity Therapy program when you try your best to be in each moment, allowing what is and what isn’t, no matter what comes up and how awesome or not-so-awesome it feels. At the end of the program you will be able to reflect on your studies and truly understand how much you have evolved, and will continue to evolve, as a student, friend, family member, teacher, and bodyworker! You choose to take this training, so why not go as hard as you can for yourself. Putting your heart into the work in school will help things flow easier after you graduate.”

You can find Crystal at Lavish Earth located at 820 Main St. Westbrook, ME. Her business name is Crystal Renewal and you can also find her on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CBrenewal/.

We are also excited that Crystal has joined the �鶹ԭ�� Education team as a Polarity Therapy Educator and will share her gift with our future students.

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Graduate Spotlight November 2018 Molly Merrifield

2018-10-31T14:48:00Z

Molly came to �鶹ԭ�� after graduating from Gorham High School in 2016 and considers herself a non-traditional student who has always had to work extra hard to achieve her educational goals. Molly had a lot of family support at home but did experience some outside skepticism about her pursuing a career in the beauty industry since she has solid “farm girl roots” and grew up working on her family farm.

While searching for the right school to attend after High School, Molly chose �鶹ԭ�� because she believed that the Pivot Point curriculum and the �鶹ԭ�� Educational team and staff would help accommodate her needs and wants and give her a greater chance of success. When asked what she enjoyed the most about her experience at �鶹ԭ��, Molly said that she really enjoyed her Cosmetology Educators and the fact that they took the time to get to know her and were always available for extra help. Her advice to prospective and new students would be to give 100%, you get out of your education what you put into it and the effort is truly worth it. Molly most enjoys the opportunity to really make her clients feel good but loves all aspects of being a Cosmetologist.

Molly’s entrepreneurial skills inspired her to booth rent and she is currently self-employed at Gorham Hair & Co. on 13 New Portland Rd. in Gorham, ME and welcomes new clients! You can reach her at (207) 839-7011.

Please follow her on Facebook: @enhancedbeautybymolly and on Instagram: enhancedbeauty_bymolly.

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Graduate Spotlight November 2018 Caitlyn Brasier

2018-10-30T14:48:00Z

Caitlyn Brasier’s grandmother was instrumental in shaping her future in the health and wellness industry. At the age of twelve, her grandmother started taking her to Balance Spa in Tewksbury to get facials. They always felt great and she knew as she entered high school she wanted to make people feel as good as she had during her spa treatments.
Upon high school graduation, Caitlyn’s parents urged her to go the college to get a degree. She completed a few semesters but knew it wasn’t for her. “I wasn’t feeling college,” Caitlyn explains. She wasn’t interested in the curriculum. It was then that her grandmother reminded her of her love for facials. She told Caitlyn that she could go to school to learn how to give facials and learn about makeup.

Caitlyn left college to pursue a career in aesthetics. She checked out some schools but when she visited �鶹ԭ�� in Ipswich, she knew she was at the right place. “I really liked the energy and it felt like I fit there.” In 2012 she enrolled in the 600 hour aesthetics program.

While in school, she remembers her teachers and how supportive and helpful they were. She enjoyed the aromatherapy classes as well as learning about the different facials that were available. She comments, “The hands on learning was huge for me.” Caitlyn made many friends, some of which she still has relationships with. She loved going to �鶹ԭ�� because she was doing what she knew she was meant to do.

Caitlyn began working at a spa upon graduation, but it wasn’t a good fit. She heard Balance Spa was looking for an aesthetician so she was excited to apply and was hired. She worked there for a year and a half and decided, at that point in her life, that wasn’t right for her either. She was determined to be successful and feel good about her new career. She took a leap of faith and ended up working the front desk at Massage Envy in Billerica.

Caitlyn credits this move to Massage Envy as helping her career move forward. The manager was going to �鶹ԭ�� for an Open House in Westboro and Caitlyn was inspired to look into the massage therapy program they offered. She went for a tour and quickly enrolled in the 650 hour therapeutic massage program. As in Ipswich, Caitlyn enjoyed her time in the Westboro location and graduated in 2016. Advice she offers to new students is to believe in yourself and follow your intuition.

Caitlyn transitioned from Massage Envy back to Balance Spa and worked at the front desk until she was licensed. “This is one of the best things I have ever done. Balance Spa always felt like home to me. We are like one big family.” She comments that the spa manager Kristin is very supportive.
Caitlyn divides her time between massage and aesthetics at Balance Spa. She was encouraged to get her nail tech license and is now licensed in three modalities. She enjoys being able to switch it up and offer many spa services to help her clients feel great. As she looks back, she realizes that she always liked to help people and this was the perfect career choice!

Caitlyn has taken some classes in cupping, positional release and reiki. Her next career move is to enroll in the 660 Polarity program �鶹ԭ�� offers in Ipswich next month. “I am on a journey and this is the next step for me,” exclaims Caitlyn. She cannot wait to offer energy work to her clients.

Caitlyn’s grandmother visits Balance Spa for regular spa treatments and her parents couldn’t be prouder. You can feel great by booking yourself with Caitlyn at Balance Spa by calling 978-851-9898.

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Graduate Spotlight October 2018 Ellie Fowler

2018-10-03T14:48:00Z

“The best part of being involved in a healing profession is the gratitude expressed by clients who have tried everything and finally got results from polarity and massage.” -Ellie Fowler
Ellie Fowler learned at a young age how to heal people with touch. She credits her parents with moving her in the direction of helping others heal. Her father was a chiropractor and her motherwas a nutritionist. While growing up, she and her siblings had no need for medical doctors or medications. Her parents provided and taught them holistic healing techniques and treatments.

Her father was the second chiropractor to be licensed in the state of Massachusetts when it became legal.It was a different time then, prior to massage regulation. At 14 years old, she would massage his clients before they were adjusted and learned quickly the powerful healing the clients felt.

While married she traveled with her husband for years as he was in the military. She laterfound herself back at her father’s chiropractic office, Fowler Chiropractic working with patients again.

Ellie decided to leave the chiropractic field and went to school to be a paralegal at the request of an attorney she knew. She went to Northern Essex Community College and received her certificate to become a paralegal and workedat a law firm for 15 years.

Something was missing though. In 1998, she studied Reiki and become a Reiki Master Teacher. She speaks of a calling she had to go to Cape Ann during this time. She drove to the area several times and always passed �鶹ԭ�� on her way. She saw the sign for learning polarity and wanted to know more. She stopped in to get information, ended up going to an Open House and soon signed up for the Holistic Massage program �鶹ԭ�� offered. This decision changed Ellie’s life.

While at �鶹ԭ��, she recalls that she and another student would challenge each other and compete for the best grades in the class. It was important to her to do well and learn as much as possible. Her polarity teacher, Pam Carlson, helped open all kinds of possibilities for her energetically with the RYSE classes she taught. This is what made Ellie realize she was on the right track.It became clear to her inbusiness classes at �鶹ԭ�� that her career path was to open her own practice.

Ellie graduated on a Wednesday in 2006 and by that Friday,opened her own business which she called Conscious Touch Massage. Forabout six years, she worked and continued her education at Muscle Institute of Massage and became an orthopedic massage specialist. She later added hypnotherapy to what she offers her clients. “I love taking care of clients who value the work that we do and acknowledge their needs. If a client takes responsibility for their health and commits to an active care plan the results are phenomenal”, says Ellie.

She renamed her business Wild Woman Healing Center in 2012 and hasn’t looked back. About working with her clients, she says, “In the healing business you know what people need. I work intuitively and I help the client with what they need.”

Her advice to new students is to focus on body mechanics. She feels this is most important part of longevity in their massage career. Ellie adds, “You need to take care of your body. This will help you take care of your clients.”

Ellie still works part time as a paralegal and runs her healing center. She is excited to have recently partnered with a �鶹ԭ�� graduate, Alisa Cote, who she looks forward to working with in healing her clients.

To reach Ellie you can find her on the web at EllieFowler.com or by calling 978-346-4050.

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Graduate Spotlight September 2018 Christabeth Ingold

2018-09-09T14:48:00Z

Because of her love for the healing arts, she became certified in both Reiki 2, Transformational Life Coaching and Holistic Health Coaching. With Reiki, she knew she could help people with their chakra or energy systems and could help coach people through transitions in their lives. “Coaching and energy work are so different. My coaching skills help my client go to a deeper level where I can help clear their energy with Reiki.”

While Christabeth worked in these fields for 9 years, she added Hawaiian Lomilomi Massage which integrates mind, body and spirit in bringing healing for her clients. Lomilomi is about physical massage as well as energy work where the client learns forgiveness, letting go and experiences a shift where they break free of emotions and pain. This is when she fell in love with bodywork and wanted to learn more! With this modality, pain is perceived as emotional and a client must recognize their pain. “I have the tools to get to the client’s answers, it works down to the cellular level.”

Christabeth wanted to expand what she offers her clients and visited �鶹ԭ�� in Ipswich. She knew this was the place for her when she learned about the 770 hour holistic massage program offered in which therapeutic massage is incorporated with polarity, an energetic healing modality. She comments, “We are so beyond our physical selves.”

In 2017, she enrolled in the evening program and feels grateful for her time at the school. “My favorite class was anatomy and physiology as well as the polarity training I received. What I learned at �鶹ԭ�� inspires me to create the ultimate session for my clients.” She commented that the administrative staff was so supportive, and her teachers were awesome. She says she learned so much from their experiences as massage therapists and learned new techniques to offer her clients. She graduated in 2018 and walked away with many friends who are great colleagues today.

Christabeth continues to grow her business by handing out business cards and flyers as well as social media posts. She has since begun offering Chakradance and intuitive card readings for her clients too. Christabeth is married to her partner, Nic and lives in Andover where her business is located. If you need some massage, healing or coaching she is the one that does it all. You can reach her at Clear and Now Holistic Healing Center at 413-204-8802.

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Graduate Spotlight August 2018 Kasia Doran

2018-09-01T14:48:00Z

Kasia remembers the diversity of the city of Philadelphia and loved the culture of the city. She started out working in customer service for an airline and continued for twenty years. In 1988 she visited Boston and met her future husband. They had a long-distance relationship until they married in 1990.

In 2001, Kasia decided to leave the airline and worked as a recruiter for about three years. This is when she thought about becoming a massage therapist. She was living in Ipswich, MA so she visited �鶹ԭ�� to check out the massage program. It was there that she realized �鶹ԭ�� had an aesthetics program and she knew it was the right choice for her because of her passion to help people and her love for skincare.

Kasia enrolled in the 600-hour aesthetics program in the fall of 2008. While in school she commented that, “My teacher was great and was a mentor to me. The staff was awesome as well. I loved my time at �鶹ԭ��!” She graduated in May of 2009 and went to work in a spa.

The next few years, she worked in a few different spas learning as much as she could about the industry. She landed in Brookline working for Violet at her spa, Violet’s Skin Boutique where she worked for 6 years. She had a diverse customer base from students to professionals with all different skin types. She loved working there but always had a desire to open her own spa.

Kasia opened Customized Skincare Spa in 2017 at 6 Emerson Street in Haverhill and made her space a calm, soothing environment for her clients. She works with all age groups, but her specialty is deep pore cleansing with a focus onnutrition for them to receive maximum results. She helps them solve their skin problems using the right products for their skin as well.

She says, “Communication with the client is very important. I make sure the client gets what they need.” She finds it very gratifying when she makes a difference in people’s lives by helping them achieve the results they are looking for.

Advice she would give to a person contemplating going into aesthetics is, “Practice, practice, practice. That is what gives you confidence.” Kasia says,“you have to have a passion for helping people, be a good listener and build your relationship with the client.”

Kasia does advertising through the Chamber of Commerce, sponsors a woman’s softball team and runs a promotion for her services but knows her best advertising is word of mouth. Her goal is to increase her customer base and help as many people as she can.

Kasia lives in Ipswich with her husband and has a daughter and son. Her daughter is a cosmetologist who does lash extensions at the spa for Kasia’s clients. Kasia can be reached at 978-852-5965 or at customizedskincarespa.com.

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Graduate Spotlight July 2018 Olivia Pierson

2018-07-13T14:48:00Z

Olivia began her quest to help people by enrolling in the Exercise Science program at Salem State University. She graduated in 2016 and began an internship at an athletic training facility, Body by Boyle in Woburn. She soon realized that she wanted to help people not only with personal training but also with massage.

Olivia graduated from Ipswich High School and �鶹ԭ�� was right next door. She not only knew some graduates from �鶹ԭ�� but heard from others it was a top-rated massage school. It was a natural choice for her, so she enrolled in the fall of 2016.

While as �鶹ԭ��, Olivia quickly became good friends with all her classmates. She had so much fun in school and she remembers Margie, one of the instructors, had a fun way of teaching even though it was serious learning! She enjoyed the infant massage where students would teach parents how to massage their babies, but said her favorite overall class was deep tissue massage. Olivia commented that her classmates kept her going through the clinics and tests.

After graduation from �鶹ԭ�� in 2017, she was employed by Equinox Luxury Fitness Club, in Newton, as both the manager of the club and a massage therapist. She enjoyed the mix of working with clients and having management responsibilities.

While working at Equinox, her boyfriend was presented with a fantastic work opportunity in Portland, Oregon so the two of them packed up and moved this past year. It was a life changing decision but one she happily embraced. When Olivia arrived in Portland, she soon discovered holistic health was everywhere with chiropractors, naturopathic doctors and healing centers. She knew she would be successful in building her business. She traded in her car for a bike and started to discover Portland.

Athena Rehabilitation is where she works as a massage therapist and trainer. She splits her time between the two modalities and says her five-year plan is to own her own space giving massages and doing personal training for her clients.

Olivia comments, “I love to help people realize they don’t need to live in pain and don’t need pills or surgery to feel good.”

Olivia markets herself by working at events and passing out her cards and brochures. She has learned cupping therapy, the use of massage tools and how to use KT tape on clients to promote movement and mobility.

Olivia commented it was easy to get licensed in Oregon from Massachusetts. The board had to review her transcripts and she had to take the MBLEx test (a national certification test required by most states but not in Massachusetts) but ultimately, she got her Oregon license to practice massage therapy in a short time.

If you’re ever in Portland, Oregon reach out to Olivia at 858-414-1394.

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Limited Barbering Program

2018-07-10T08:21:00Z

�鶹ԭ��, Westbrook, Maine

The 800 Hour Limited Barbering Program prepares you to take the exam for Limited Barbering in Maine. The program can be completed in as little as 8 months depending on your schedule. It’s highly recommended that you meet with admissions to learn more about the program concept, content, schedules and more.

Become an important part of your community!

The barbershop is legendary for being a hub of civic activity and communication in the local community. It’s an opportunity to support boys and men as they establish their success in life and position in the community. Whether it’s a young boy getting his first haircut, a young man getting ready for his first interview for a job or college, an up and coming business person or a dad or grandad who wants to look good for his family, what you do matters. You are the one who helps build their confidence to do their best.

Barbering is a fast growing and exciting career that combines your talent for style with your love of community. Barbering has a rich history and has long been regarded as a skilled profession, offering a comfortable and creative work environment. But most people don’t know how important the barbershop is to community development. Today’s barbers are a diverse population of people with a common desire to work with others to help them succeed. Whether you’re a seasoned stylist looking to expand your career or have always been interested in the world of barbering, �鶹ԭ��’s Limited Barbering Program can help you find success.

Your Career, Your Future

A career in Limited Barbering welcomes you into a vibrant, diverse and culturally relevant profession that is increasingly recognized for its creativity and craft. Whether you work in a barbershop, salon or spa, for a product company, in the entertainment field or have your own business, the possibilities are endless with strong growth potential.

Spa TechInstitute graduates have a reputation for being among the best. Our alumni are sought after by salons and spas throughout New England because of the quality of the education taught at the school. In fact, many of the high-end salons and spas in Maine are owned or managed by graduates of the school. They know that �鶹ԭ�� graduates have excellent technique, high standards and are ready to succeed.

If you are like many of our students, you have been interested in grooming and design most of your life. You are an artist! Yet there’s more to grooming than just artistry, and as a student you’ll learn not only the art but the science to Barbering, allowing you to produce the look you want to achieve, each and every time.

Featuring industry-leading Pivot Point International training materials and support.

Do you want a barbering school that goes beyond the basics with an emphasis on learning to think like a designer and develop skills to succeed?

Why Pivot Point International is Superior

Pivot Point International is a pioneer in the field of education. You don’t learn a paint by the numbers system. You learn to see, think, create and adapt as a designer so you can be an innovator of future trends.

Of course, a program is only as good as the teachers. That’s why the school uses only trained, experienced professionals who know what it takes to be successful.

Not only are the teachers highly skilled but they are also carefully trained in all aspects of the Pivot Point educational approach. But more importantly, they understand the professional skills you need to be successful and work with you to develop both your personal creative abilities and your communications skills and professional appearance.

They want you to not just get a job. They want you to get the best job in the place where you want to work.

Spa Tech Student Clinic

The �鶹ԭ�� student clinic gives you the experience you need to be a successful professional with hands-on client experience. You become salon or barbershop ready by performing cuts, facial hair grooming, and many other high-end services.

You’ll also learn best practices for customer care and product marketing, scheduling, client communication, product sales, all of which are very important points with employers.

Additional Benefits

One of the advantages of going to a multi-discipline spa school is that it better prepares you for what you’ll experience in the real world, whether it be a high-end salon, men’s spa or a barbershop. To help you learn more about the other services offered, you receive coupons for a free facial and a free massage or polarity session in the student clinic. In experiencing the work first hand, you learn how to cross-market these services, a skill that is deeply appreciated by a salon and spa owners and managers and it gives you the knowledge of expanding potential offerings as a business owner.

More importantly, you learn the importance of maintaining your most important instrument: YOUR body. Learning self-care to address the long term physical stress of being a successful Limited Barber is an important skill that can add years or decades to your career.

An added benefit is that you receive discounts on future classes you may take at �鶹ԭ��. Dual licensure is the trend of the future, particularly for those who want to open their own spa, salon or barbershop.

Now It’s Up to You

The opportunity to create a great career that is creative, fun and lucrative is just a few steps away. We know there is a lot to consider, which is why we encourage you to come in and learn more. Find out if the program is right for you, your options for financing your education and more. There is no obligation. The next step is to make an appointment to meet an Admissions Officer today.

You can call us at 207-591-4141 to set up a time to meet or use the form at the top of the page.

We look forward to meeting you, answering your questions, and helping you get all the information you need to make an informed decision.

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Graduate Spotlight June 2018 Mike D’amico

2018-06-07T14:48:00Z

Mike D’Amico knew at an early age that he wanted to help people with their fitness goals. This led him to enroll in the Exercise Science Degree program at Salem State University in Salem, Massachusetts after High School. He graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in 2015.
Mike was hired by Beverly Athletic Club to personally train clients to meet their fitness goals. He also worked in management. He really loved the one on one contact he had with clients. Because he was not a certified massage therapist he could not help his clients when they had certain aches and pains or when they were hurt.

Brandon LaVack, a co-worker at BAC, had graduated from �鶹ԭ�� in Ipswich and became a licensed Massage Therapist and suggested Mike do the same. Mike began massage school at �鶹ԭ�� in the fall of 2015. Mike says, “I was never going to be held back in my career because I couldn’t help someone.”

While at �鶹ԭ��, Mike comments that he was in a classroom with diverse backgrounds and viewpoints which he enjoyed. Mike adds, “It was a very healing environment and the teachers were genuine, passionate and really cared about your success. The teachers clearly were invested in my education and were there for us in every way.” Mike graduated in April of 2016. He still maintains contact with many of his classmates.

For the past two years, Mike has been working doing massage on his client’s right before they train with him because this loosens them up before they start their workout. Mike also works in Soleil Spa which is in BAC, giving massages. Mike said his favorite aspect of massage is being able to help people with massage and helping to improve the quality of their work out by what he does for them physically. He trains and massages all age groups from 19 to well into their 70’s. Mike is very happy doing what he does and says he will be doing training and massage for the rest of his life.

His advice for a prospective student is that if you want to enter the field of massage therapy, know that you can find a job in many places and it is such a great industry to be in. He said having a license to do a skill set is invaluable.

Mike is also a competitive power lifter and recently came in first place in his age group at the State Championships. He squats 489 pounds, deadlifts 639 pounds and bench presses 290 pounds which makes him quite the competitor.

Mike does a lot of social media marketing for himself and last year started D’Amico Fitness where he has an online fitness presence as well as helping people with their fitness goals remotely. His motto for his business is, “Better, stronger you.” That is what you will become by getting training and massage from Mike.

Mike’s girlfriend, Lindsey Farrell, recently graduated from the massage program at �鶹ԭ�� and is currently awaiting her license. She works at Manchester Athletic Club as a personal trainer and soon as a massage therapist. They currently live in Ipswich.

Jill Petit, Membership Director at BAC says, “Mike is a super hard worker and very passionate. He is a great team player and all this is what makes him successful.”

You can contact Mike D’Amico for training or massage at mike@Damicofitness.com . Or by calling Beverly Athletic Club at 978927-0920.

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Graduate Spotlight May 2018 Tricia L’abbe

2018-05-30T14:48:00Z

Tricia L’Abbe worked as a recruiter in the telecommunications field for many stressful years. She felt it was time to look into another career field because of the high stress she had been under. Her physician recommended massage therapy to combat the constant stress she was under. Her massage therapist turned out to be a graduate of �鶹ԭ�� and recommended that she visit the school in Ipswich to find out if it was a career for her.
Tricia researched the industry and went through the admissions process at �鶹ԭ��. She says, “The moment I walked into �鶹ԭ�� I knew I was supposed to be there.” She then enrolled in the evening therapeutic program and continued to work at her high stress job.

While at �鶹ԭ��, she interned at a few spas to figure out where she wanted to work upon graduation. After graduation in 2003, she worked at several places before she realized she was meant to open her own private practice. This led her to Salem, then to Beverly where she opened a studio with a partner. This practice went well for five years. She then settled in her own practice in Peabody.

In 2004, Tricia enrolled in a certificate program in Florida to learn medical massage. This enabled her to work with insurance companies and workers compensation to bill for the client’s massage. Tricia feels this is what sets her apart from others in the field. The clients need a prescription from their doctor for massage therapy and an approval from their insurance company to receive the work she provides.

In 2011, she went for additional training for treating people with arthritis. Tricia continues to seek out and receive training in the medical massage field.

While at school, she says of her teacher Carl, “He had creative ways of teaching us. He was very animated and grabbed our interest.” Tricia said she learned while having fun and commented that she enjoyed the small class size.

Tricia has this advice for prospective students, “If you really enjoy helping others, massage is a good career move!”

Tricia’s favorite aspect of being a massage therapist is seeing her clients through their healing process and realizing how much they improve through her work.

Tricia’s current location is at 39 Cross Street in Peabody where two acupuncturist and a mindful psychotherapist work in collaboration. She does aromatherapy, hot rock massage, body wraps, scrubs and will be taking a cupping course in June. She can be reached at 978-278-3310.

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Graduate Spotlight April 2018 Jade Wang

2018-04-02T14:48:00Z

Jade Wang came to the United States from China in 2008 to further her education. She graduated from Johnson and Wales in Rhode Island with a degree in International Hotel and Tourism Management. This is where she met her husband, Stephen. She worked in Boston for a tourism company for a few years but realized that this was not her passion. She began searching for a career which would satisfy her need to help people.
Jade came to an Open House at �鶹ԭ�� in 2015 because she had heard many good things about the school. She quickly enrolled in the Holistic Massage program, so she could learn about energy work as well as massage. Jade says of her time at SpaTech, “It was a wonderful experience. I loved everything about �鶹ԭ��. Everyone was so supportive.” She is grateful to her business class instructor, Nicole Rinaldi, who was very knowledgeable and provided support along the way.

While in school, Jade enjoyed the anatomy and the kinesiology classes the most because they taught her all about the body and how she could release people’s pain. She also gained a lot of confidence while working in the massage clinic. She says of her fellow students, “I made great connections while in school and have a great network of friends.”

Jade graduated in 2016 and went to work for Massage Envy. Her real goal was to open her own spa though. In 2017, that dream became reality when she opened LifeBloom Massage & Spa in Gloucester. The vision for her spa is a calm, warm, beachy feel where her clients can experience health, beauty and inner peace.

LifeBloom offers chiropractic care, aesthetic services and many types of massage including hot stone, deep tissue, cupping, couples massage, energy work and reflexology. She employs 10 massage graduates from �鶹ԭ�� and is looking to hire more therapists in the coming months.

Jade encourages others who have a passion for massage therapy to go for it and enroll at �鶹ԭ��. She says opening her own spa was not easy and took a lot of work, but it is well worth it!

She markets LifeBloom Massage & Spa on social media, has joined groups like the Chamber of Commerce and BNI Group and is networking with local physical therapists and chiropractors.

Jade has always had a passion for helping others, to improve people physically, release tension and help her clients feel less pain in their everyday life. She wants to change the way people view massage therapy and to help them realize it should be part of their routine healthcare.

Jade has two little girls at home, 3 years and 8 months, who keep her very busy, but she makes time for her passion and her clients. Visit Jade and her staff at LifeBloom Massage & Spa, 5C Dr. Osman Babson Road in Gloucester. 978-559-7896.

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Graduate Spotlight March 2018 Rita Gordon and Justin Michaud

2018-03-03T14:48:00Z

Rita Gordon and Justin Michaud graduated from �鶹ԭ�� in Ipswich in 2011. Rita from holistic massage and Justin from therapeutic massage. They formed a great bond while in school and decided to open a massage studio together upon graduation.
Rita worked as a dental hygienist for 14 years and wanted to get into the physical fitness health field where she could offer her clients a great mind body experience. She became a certified third generation Pilates instructor in 2005 and continued the original teaching of Joseph Pilates. She was inspired by a quote from Pilates, “In 10 sessions you will feel different, in 20 sessions you will look different, in 30 sessions you will have a whole new body.” She works with clients to improve their strength, flexibility and coordination. Massage was the natural next step for her career.

Prior to attending �鶹ԭ��, Justin graduated from Salem State as an RN and worked at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore for 2 ½ years. He was drawn to the field of preventative health which led him to massage. While at �鶹ԭ��, he was introduced to Pilates from Rita and became a third generation Pilates instructor as well after graduation.

After becoming a licensed massage therapists, Rita and Justin learned Ashiatsu. Ashiatsu is a Japanese technique of barefoot massage where therapists use their feet and body weight to give the client a deep tissue or Swedish massage.

Rita explains that 99% of her clients suffer from chronic pain and after receiving a massage and practicing Pilates, they experience significant improvement. Massage therapy and Pilates work hand in hand to provide amazing results. Her motto is “You only have one body, take care of it”.

Justin currently teaches Pilates, offers therapeutic as well as Ashiatsu massage and teaches Ashiatsu massage during weekend workshops.

Rita and Justin both stated that, “Pilates reforms your body. It helps with wear and tear on your body as well. It also gives you body awareness.’’ Rita and Justin both believe in the statement by Joseph Pilates, “Physical fitness is the first requisite to happiness.”

Rita and Justin were fortunate to have met each other at �鶹ԭ��. It laid the foundation for the work that they have continued to love and build upon. While at �鶹ԭ�� they say the instructors were always there to help, it was a good program and it was a fun environment where they met many great friends, many of whom they are still in contact with.

Rita and Justin do little advertising. They rely on word of mouth to keep building their business. A client recently commented that she was so broken before meeting Rita and Justin and has transformed her body. This is what motivates them to continue their work.

Rita and Justin’s studio is located at 12 Sgt. Roode Lane in Middleton where the resident feline, Sir Nicholas Meow and two dogs greet all of their clients. You can look up Rita and Justin at ritagordon.com, middletonpilates.com and ashiatsucertification.com. You will be glad you did!

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Graduate Spotlight February 2018 Erin Hagen

2018-02-03T06:47:00Z

Erin Hagen graduated from Beverly High School in May of 2015. She knew at an early age that she was fascinated by energy work, body work, crystals and meditation. In her senior year, she did an internship with a holistic massage graduate from �鶹ԭ��, Kerilee Pelletrino. Kerilee took Erin under her wing and taught her how to market herself and how to start a business. This helped Erin with her master plan of opening her own business one day in the health and wellness industry.
When she visited �鶹ԭ�� she knew this was the school for her. It felt comfortable and she was confident from the start this was where she belonged. “It felt so right. I didn’t look at any other schools”, she commented. She enrolled in the holistic massage program that began in September of 2015. This program had all the elements of therapeutic massage but also had the polarity, or energy work teaching that she was interested in

While at �鶹ԭ�� she comments, “the teachers really got to know us and know our learning styles.” She graduated in June of 2016 from the holistic massage program. She quickly enrolled again to finish the polarity program. Erin graduated from this program in June of 2017. She is currently studying to take her BCPP test with the American Polarity Therapy Association in late February. This will designate her as a Board Certified Polarity Practitioner.

While finishing the polarity program Erin says she found out a lot about herself and the human body. She feels very blessed that she has found her passion in life. “It is a beautiful thing to find what you want to do early in life.”

While attending �鶹ԭ��, Erin enjoyed the anatomy and physiology classes but especially liked the polarity classes because it connected the energy to the body and everything made sense to her. Polarity was so enriching and helped develop her as a person. “It enhanced every area of my life. It connected the dots for me.”

�鶹ԭ�� remains a fond memory for her because of all the supportive classmates she met including Naomi LaVoie who she shares space with at the Cummings Center in Beverly.

She would tell anyone who is contemplating a career in massage or polarity therapy to, “Go for it. If you feel your calling, trust your gut.” She feels �鶹ԭ�� changed her life and can do that for others as well. She also gives advice about opening their own practice by saying, “Be motivated and confident. Have passion in what you do and this will make your business thrive.”

Erin constantly reads up on the massage and polarity therapy industry to find new techniques to offer. She is interested in cranial sacral work and looking to take some additional classes because the work excites her.

Erin’s clients come for both polarity and massage sessions. She always incorporates a little polarity in her massage sessions to relax the body. She comments that “the work is very rewarding for her and learns something new with each client”. Erin’s business is called Vital Touch Massage and Wellness. She can be reached at 978-473-0097. Her website is vtmandwellness.abmp.com.

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Flu Season and Prosperity

2017-12-02T14:38:00Z

It’s all about immunity!!!!

Obviously, prosperity is tied to being healthy. Illness drains your resources very quickly. Having a strong immune system is one of the greatest forms of prosperity that we can know. An abundance of antibodies is one of the greatest gifts we can have. The good news is that you can improve your immunity with a few simple practices.

For most people, the immune system works below average because of self-inflicted challenges. Diet, especially sugar, drugs and alcohol, as well as smoking, not getting enough sleep and lack of exercise, compromises immunity. These are all things that you control. There’s a recent discussion about how many autoimmune diseases may be tied to viruses. If this is true, the best solutions are going to come from lifestyle changes and using your immune system to restore your immune system. It all comes down to how well you support your immune system.

Flu Season Challenges

The vaccine debate will rage on forever. It’s a roll of the dice. It doesn’t always work and that can be dangerous if people don’t realize that vaccination does not ensure immunity. Some would argue that even if it doesn’t work for everyone, it still has overall value by limiting the spread of the disease. Others argue that it gives people a false sense of immunity, so they are not as careful about prevention. And some say there are serious side effects that should be avoided.

In 2017 in Australia, the vaccine was only about 10% effective. It mutated during the manufacturing process. This resulted in a very bad flu season.

There’s also a long-running debate about the dangers of vaccination. Some believe that it increases the stress on the immune system and causes diseases or side effects. There has been false information on both sides of the argument and the truth is probably somewhere in the middle. So, what are we to do?

Immunity and Infection Control

The best strategy will always be to build your immunity and to make excellent infection control skills part of your daily routine. Also, the education of those around you will help to extend the value.

Making sure that all environments are highly vigilant of sick students/teachers/employees/clients and that appropriate actions are taken is an important practice. The challenge of the work environment is that you have very little control over what the rest of the public will do. However, in your private business you can set policies that address this issue. In your home and your work environment, you can implement a touch point plan to make sure that all touch surfaces are continually disinfected.

Not going to work or school if you are sick as well as keeping your distance from others is an important consideration. This is particularly challenging for parents as children have very little awareness of infection control and you don’t want to make them afraid of their world.

If you have your own business, you can make it a priority that people cannot come to work sick and you send them home if they don’t adhere to that policy. This requires careful education to make them understand that they have a lot of influence over the outcome. Proper hand washing and constant sanitation of all touch surfaces, both at school, work and at home, along with awareness of risk factors in public are an important starting point.

Learning to recognize the risk factors and being proactive in reducing the risk is a learned skill. It requires repetition to make sure that everyone understands. You don’t have to be obsessive, but you do need to be passionate about maintaining high standards. Once you learn the skills, you will be horrified at what you see in many restaurants and even medical facilities. Many places you would expect higher standards are still lagging behind.

Diet, Exercise and Rest

The value to your immunity of good diet, regular balanced exercise, and good quality sleep are very significant factors. Educating people on the negative impacts of sugar, alcohol, drugs, sitting, TV watching and entertaining that disrupts sleep patterns, is a good starting point. Sugar and carbohydrates (including alcohol) are significant risk factors that are particularly a problem around the holidays. All the cookies, pies, candy and sweet drinks that go with the holiday season have a powerful impact on immunity, partly because they are very hard on the system but also because it’s probably a departure from your normal diet. Most people only think about the calorie increase and weight gain as an issue and don’t realize that the stress on the immune system is far more problematic.

Holidays and Vacations

Whereas holidays and vacations are very valuable for restoring perspective and stimulating happiness, they can also have major adverse effects that promote the spread of flu. In addition to the interruption of your normal good health patterns and diet, the exposure to additional people in closed spaces during transportation and unsanitary conditions are a powerful combination. A hidden danger is also too much sun exposure. Many people either get sick during or after returning from holidays and vacations. People return to work or school and proceed to infect everyone else around them.

The Alternative

It doesn’t have to be like this. Knowing the dangers, avoiding food and drink that you know is bad for you and being vigilant of infection opportunities can help to keep you well. Maintaining a strong immune system is up to you. With some discipline and forethought, you can lead a full and exciting life that isn’t interrupted by annoying illnesses that can be avoided. Having an abundance of strong antibodies and good habits to reduce your exposure to illness are keys to your success and prosperity. By pairing your awareness with your desire to be healthy and prosperous, you can lead a life of abundance that is fulfilling and rewarding.

Be well!

Kris

Graduate Spotlight December 2017 Heather Mcleod

2017-11-30T14:39:00Z

Heather McLeod went to high school at North Shore Technical High School and studied cosmetology. While in high school, she enrolled in a class that introduced her to Swedish massage. Upon graduating, she began working in a salon. She worked with many massage therapists who expressed how happy they were doing their job making people feel better. She remembered how much she enjoyed the massage class she took in high school which led her to enroll in the Therapeutic Massage program at �鶹ԭ�� in Ipswich.
While at school, she comments, “I liked that we had hands on training. We had different teachers teaching different classes and we got to see all their different teaching styles.” While in school, she made great friends too. She is still in contact with many of them today. Heather graduated from the evening program in 2013.

Heather was transferred to the Danvers location and was promoted to manager this past year. She splits her time managing the location and giving massages. Her clients range from athletes to stay at home moms. They all come to her with their individual day-to-day complaints. She enjoys providing deep tissue and hot stone massage when requested. She will soon be certified in stretch as well and is looking forward to offering this service to her clients.

Heather treats herself to regular massage because she says she believes in self-care and says she needs to help herself before she can help others. She stays current by reading various massage magazines to keep up on new products and industry news.

Heather can be reached at Massage Envy in Danvers for a massage at 978-777-7002.

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Graduate Spotlight January 2018 Jessica Mallette

2017-11-30T14:39:00Z

Jess lives in Ipswich and one day drove by �鶹ԭ�� and saw a sign for an Open House. Jess was curious and decided to attend the event. The minute Jess walked in the door she felt great. “It was a positive, welcoming environment, and it felt very comfortable.” She noted the support the school and the students received from founder Nancy Risley and President Kris Stecker was impressive. They made an impact on Jess because they gave her a great understanding of what the school offered the students.

After attending the Open House she decided to enroll in the therapeutic massage program. Jess comments, “while at school, the experience was motivating, positive and encouraging. The teachers helped make my goal possible.” She enjoyed her time at �鶹ԭ�� making many new friendships. Her favorite class was anatomy and her teacher Nicole Rinaldi’s teaching style really made it all click for her. She also enjoyed the hands on experience she received at the school and working in the massage clinic gave her a lot of confidence. Jess graduated in 2016.

Jess’ love of anatomy and how the body works, helps her to fix client’s ailments. “It is like a puzzle. You have to figure out what is going on, apply what you learned and figure the best way to help them in their specific situation. When people leave happy it is so rewarding.

Jess markets herself through social media. “It is huge and effective,” she says. She also interacts with her community in Ipswich volunteering at many events where she can meet people face to face and let them sample her work. Jess also volunteers at River Bend Assisted Living offering chair massage. She comments that this is one of her favorite thing to do.

Jess has added cupping to what she offers her clients and attended Erik Dalton’s Myoskeletal Technique Workshop. She is also a big fan of Joe Muscolino’s techniques. He wrote the kinesiology books she used while studying at �鶹ԭ��.

Advice she gives prospective students is if you really want to become a massage therapist then go for it. It is so rewarding and �鶹ԭ�� gives so much support while in school, continues to support you while looking for a job and even when you are working in the industry. With hard work and motivation you will be successful.

Jess has her own practice, Hara Therapeutic Massage & Wellness in Ipswich and can be reached at 774-4820461.

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Prosperity of Thanksgiving

2017-11-24T12:33:00Z

The ultimate holiday for prosperity is Thanksgiving. Its occurrence during the final weeks of the contraction/concentration portion of the annual cycle is auspicious. A time of appreciating all that you have set in motion during the expansion and harvested during the contraction.

The power of appreciation is that it puts your focus in the correct place for prosperity. It puts your attention on what you have, what you’ve created and the fruits of your labor and creativity.

What You Focus On You Get More Of!

Remembering that you can control your focus is one of the most important accomplishments of your life. Understand that your focus influences your perception which drives your ability to recognize opportunities.

Integrating the control of your focus so it’s front of mind is a core competency that drives your prosperity. It’s a skill that requires repetition so it becomes automatic. The distractions of life are many and the tendency to lose focus is constant. How would your life change if you master the skill of focus?

Thanksgiving and the contraction/concentration cycle are wonderful times to strengthen this ability due to the nature of the season and the events that surround both.

The Challenge of Focus

Whether you spend the holiday with family or alone, the gift of Thanksgiving is having the chance to test your transformation against the concepts and patterns of your family of origin. It’s a chance to experience the roots of old patterns that either supported you or held you back. It’s an opportunity to observe how much you’ve changed and what’s left to work on. This gift at the end of the season of contraction/concentration allows you to focus on what you want to change during the next cycle of expansion that starts on the winter solstice.

At the same time, the outer world is pushing you to focus on what you don’t have, particularly as we enter the holiday shopping season. Built into the marketing of the commercial holiday is a strong message for you to focus on what you don’t have. The message of “buying love” by giving gifts is rampant while you are confronted with constant advertising of how your happiness is dependent on getting what you want for the holidays.

The insidious attempt of fear-based marketing (loss of love or getting you to focus on what you don’t have) as the driving force, is to get everyone to focus on what they don’t have. The message is unavoidable, but you can choose to listen to it or to focus on your abundance.

A Gift in Disguise

This is a wonderful gift that’s disguised as a challenge. When you realize the extent of the attempts to get you to focus on the fear of loss or what you don’t have, you can become conscious of all the ways that you are vulnerable to this message. It creates an excellent platform for gaining power over your focus. By using the power of the cycle of contraction/concentration you can master your attention to focus on the abundance in your life. In this case, you can also focus on the abundance of the gift that is bringing you to the next level of your transformation.

Embrace the Gift, Not the Message

As you pay attention to the gift of attempted distraction, you become empowered on a fundamental level. There is no greater gift than having control of your mind and focus. Your ability to stay focused on your mission, values, and goals creates an abundant mind that celebrates every moment and presents you with constant opportunity.

Your abundance is expanding.

Thank you!!

Kris

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Millennial’s Prosperity Challenge

2017-11-19T00:50:00Z

Did you know?

Recent reports from the Treasury Department show that the US government owns nearly $1.5 trillion in student loans.

That’s pretty sad when you think about it: the US government’s #1 financial asset is a debt owed by tens of millions of its young people for university education that didn’t even necessarily qualify them for a real career.

Millennials are the most educated generation in history. Yet there are record numbers of them working off student debts as waiters and bartenders, and supplementing their income on the side with ‘gigs’ (like being an Uber driver).

This was reported by Simon Black, author of the Sovereign Man financial blog.

This is very bad news for young people who were tricked by academia’s rhetoric that “to get a good job, you need a college education.” Sadly, the part that was left out was the statement that it only mattered if you picked a major that had career prospects. Too many students studied what they were interested in without regard for the reality that it could lead to a life of economic enslavement.

The good news is that the opportunity and tools to start your own business have never been better. And for most people, having your own business is the only way to earn an income that’s aligned with the effort you expend. Rather than being stuck in an occupation or corporation that only provides you with limited opportunity to advance, having your own business gives you a chance to do much more. A good example would be someone working in maintenance. In a large company you might, over time, work your way up to being a manager. But it could take a very long time and the pay increase would be minimal.

However, if that same person had the motivation, they could start their own cleaning service, work hard and smart, and grow it into a multi-million dollar business. The key is motivation. There is a lot of free information online for anyone who wants to have their own business. There are also many resources available to get advice and business support. But you have to believe in yourself and be willing to take the risk of rejection and failure in order to have success.

One of the things we love about the massage, holistic health, and beauty industries is working with entrepreneurs at all stages of life. Some people are retiring from first or second careers, some are fresh out of college and now they need skills to earn a living, and others are preparing to carry on a family tradition of having a small business.

This group is highly motivated and are learning total accountability. They are learning that their opportunity is totally dependent on their focus and commitment.

You can have this as well. It’s available to everyone in the United States.

Are you ready for the challenge?

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Graduate Spotlight September 2017 Kelsey Scherzinger

2017-11-06T15:48:00Z

Kelsey is one of �鶹ԭ��’s 2015 600-hour aesthetic graduates. Before coming to school, Kelsey worked in the food industry for many years. She did everything from serving, working in a fast food restaurant and a deli, then eventually working as a manager. She grew tired of this industry and thought about what would make her happy. She had a friend who graduated from �鶹ԭ��’s massage program who recommended she check us out for our aesthetics program. She was always interested in skin care and makeup so her decision to look at �鶹ԭ�� was an easy one.

When Kelsey graduated she was employed at The Salon CC on Bourbon Street in Peabody. This salon is owned by Rochelle Agenta and Tina Sdankus. She has an extensive skin care service list where she incorporates enzyme treatments, eye treatments and anti-aging hand treatments into what she offers her clients. She recently attended North Shore Community College where she learned how to give manicures and pedicures and specializes in gel manicures. She has also taken a lash and brow tinting class and is learning Reiki to offer a specialized treatment.

Her favorite aspect of her job is knowing that she makes people feel good about themselves which gives them confidence. She loves how she makes people feel special and loves the relationships she makes along the way.

Being dual licensed helps Kelsey build her clientele. Her skincare clients become her nail clients and when her nail clients realize she is also an aesthetician they book right away with her.

She gives advice to current students by saying, “Focus on leaning what you like best – the waxing, makeup or facials and have fun.” She doesn’t feel like she works because she absolutely loves what she does. Kelsey and her 5-year-old boy, Brady, live right down the road from the spa which works very well for her lifestyle.

Get a fabulous facial, body treatment or manicure/pedicure from Kelsey by calling The Salon CC at 978535-2060.

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Graduate Spotlight November 2017 Tricia Casale

2017-11-06T15:29:00Z

Tricia Casale began her career working as a physical therapist assistant. She worked for 5 years at Lenox Hill, North Shore Consortium and New England Rehab. She then spent 10 years at the Beverly School for the Deaf. She decided she wanted to become a massage therapist and specialize in myofascial release which focuses on relieving pain and discomfort in the body’s connective tissue also known as fascia. She lives in Beverly and the choice was made to come to �鶹ԭ�� in Ipswich.

While at �鶹ԭ�� she commented that she enjoyed the hands-on work but especially liked the anatomy and kinesiology. She comments, “Chelsea Watt was a great teacher that made it fun.” She had taken anatomy in the past but felt she needed a refresher. She really enjoyed the myofascial release training and knew right away that was what her focus would be.

After graduating in 2015 from the Therapeutic Massage program, Tricia spent an additional 200 hours training with John F. Barnes, a myofascial expert who has been training therapists for over 45 years, to deepen her knowledge of this gentle treatment. She says that more people are aware of myofascial release and are requesting it over deep tissue. She has also taken cupping which is an effective method to provide deep tissue massage. Cupping draws circulation into a specific area helping to relieve knots and discomfort in that area. Although myofascial release and therapeutic massage are her focus she is starting to learn more about crystals and energy healing.

Tricia markets herself through the Beverly BNI which is a business network that connects her to other professionals. She also posts on social media, does direct mailing and email, volunteers at health fairs and, of course, word of mouth.

Advice Tricia gives to new students is, “Take advantage of all the hands-on work at �鶹ԭ��. Just jump right in, don’t be afraid.”

Tricia lives in Beverly with her husband and has two daughters.

Tricia’s business is called TRISH which stands for therapeutic, relaxation, inspiring self-healing. She is busy but is accepting new clients. Her office is located at the Parkhurst Building at Beverly Hospital. She can be reached at 508-932-2775

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Graduate Spotlight October 2017 Barbara Hubbard

2017-11-06T14:53:00Z

Barbara Hubbard has been a massage therapist since 1980. She became interested in massage after she enrolled in a chiropractic class at North Shore Community College and found her way to massage therapy. She always loved the benefits of receiving massage and realized giving massages and making people feel better was going to be very rewarding.

Barbara began her massage career working in a chiropractor’s office but was slowly growing her own business. After 10 years, she opened her own space in Reading called Massage Therapy of Reading. In 2006 Barbara began to work at �鶹ԭ�� as an instructor teaching Swedish massage, deep tissue, chair massage, sports massage and business classes. Barbara had always been interested in energy work. She took a course in Reiki many years back and decided to enroll in the polarity program at �鶹ԭ��. She began taking Level 1 in Ipswich in 2014 and quickly realized she wanted to finish the 660-hour career program. She traveled to �鶹ԭ��’s Maine campus to finish Levels 2 through 4. She also took the RYSE teacher training classes to keep building her knowledgebase and deepen her understanding of energy.

Barbara says of her training, “I grew and changed personally and professionally. I am more aligned and creative”. She commented that the classes were challenging but rewarding. “The instructors were great. I felt a great rapport with them and with the students. I loved learning about crystals, color and sound therapy and the cranial sacral work”. Barbara graduated in 2015 from the polarity program.

Barbara began teaching polarity here at �鶹ԭ�� in 2016 and feels she gains more depth of knowledge and insight of energy with each class. Her past student Georgieanna says, “Barbara was a great teacher! Very observant of the little details that matter, with a manner of bringing your awareness to the details in the most loving way. I always looked forward to Barbara’s classes because I knew they would be balanced….with learning and fun. I knew she would have a way of helping me to understand this new language and guide me gently through the path of discovery.”

Nicole Rinaldi, Director of Education at �鶹ԭ�� says, “Barbara has been a colleague of mine for the past 7 1/2 years. She is someone who brings a lot of energy and excitement into every class. She is constantly bringing in the latest and greatest ‘tools of the trade’ for students to test out to further engage the students and show them how vast our industry is. She is someone with a lot of experience and knowledge in this industry and is an essential part or our team.”

In conjunction with her space in Reading, Barbara also rents space from an acupuncturist in Marblehead. Her clients enjoy getting massage but with the addition of polarity, Barbara can provide a much deeper relaxation.

Barbara’s client Michael Collins says of her, “In my opinion, Barbara is a gifted practitioner. She possesses healing qualities that I cannot even pretend to understand. I sincerely believe that my quality of life will continue to improve under her care.”

You can book a polarity or massage session with Barbara by calling 781-944-7877.

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Rage, Anger and Prosperity

2017-10-01T15:36:00Z

We seem to be in an epidemic of rage and anger that transcends affiliations of political, religious and philosophical orientations. There is broad-based anger that comes out from groups who state they are for inclusiveness while they are threatening, intimidating and attacking anyone who disagrees with them.

Freedom of speech has been supplanted by demands for conformity and understanding is only acknowledged if there’s agreement. The age of agreeing to disagree has been replaced with name calling, threats, and demands for peace through conformity or risk violence.

It’s been building for years and is present in entertainment, media, politics, education and many other venues. It’s as if an infection has spread throughout our civilization. An emotional, intellectual infection that has taken over people’s lives and thoughts. Why now? Is it good or bad? What should we do? And how does this relate to prosperity?

Why Now?

The question of why now is tied to the convergence of the digital and technological revolution that makes it very easy to vent anonymous anger and frustration and the continued shift to a global economy and culture due to advances in transportation and reductions in the relative cost of energy. This coupled with an expanding population is driving change at an unprecedented level.

Whether it’s good or bad is a moot point. It’s inevitable in that we are adjusting to new paradigms at an increasing rate of change and that is going to have side effects.

What should we do?

This is where the rubber meets the road. This is where Darwinism comes into play. Adaptability becomes a top priority when there is a change. History shows that whenever there’s change, there are those who resist perishing and those who adapt survive.

When you look at the rage and anger, in most cases it’s driven by people who, in one way or another, are resisting change and trying to block evolution. Some may appear to want change but, on closer inspection, you will see the change they want is not forward-moving change. It’s an attempt to return to a place or time when they felt like they had control and power.

Control and Power

The core tendency is to want to be in control and to have the power to direct your life however you want. There are two primary ways of being in power: By leading with a clear vision or by tearing others down. One is adaptive and the other is obstructive. One is creative and the other is destructive. And it’s all part of a larger balance of energy.

Which brings us back to the question of “Why now?” The answer is that there is a balance between creative and destructive energies. Creation often destroys what is, to use as a building material for what is becoming. Therefore, it’s tied in with prosperity. Prosperity is the ability to create something of value in the world with a system that returns energy to the creative process.

Creating Change and Prosperity

Understanding that rage and anger are symptoms of frustration based on the inability to adapt to new realities is a critical part of transforming into a more prosperous alignment. Rage and anger are the symptoms. Getting from the symptoms to the understanding of what’s causing the symptoms is the next step. Identify what change is related to the symptoms. Is it personal or social? Personal changes are aging, changes in health and vitality, abilities, relationships and opportunities. Social changes are societal changes such as economics, politics, environment, and culture. Changes can be both personal or social. For instance, technology changes can be personal if you feel you can’t keep up or social if you are concerned about how artificial intelligence and robotics are going to change our world.

Prosperity?

The linkage to prosperity has been reinforced by the speed of change. We can manifest more, faster, than ever before. I was reminded of this recently reviewing my experience in high tech since 1975. Going from punch cards and coding sheets to WYSIWYG and voice recognition in only 25 years was astounding. Being in the field, seeing new products and solutions become obsolete within 6 months in the ’80s to as little as weeks today, is astounding. And more importantly, seeing how each innovation is making entire industries and jobs obsolete. Driving, cooking, manufacturing, medical procedures, professional skills (journalism, media production, legal, architecture, and engineering) and even caregiving are all being changed by automation, artificial intelligence and robotics. Where an executive used to have a secretarial pool and things would change slowly, now they are using voice recognition to produce memos and communications within seconds rather than days.

This has and will create major disruptions in careers as people are replaced with technology. But it also creates equally major opportunities. The key is to move away from the rage and anger about the changes that are happening and move into discovering what’s going to be needed for the future.

Opportunity

First and foremost, the opportunity to be a change facilitator is going to be a great opportunity. Teachers, managers, and psychologist will all have a major role to play. Cosmetologists, massage and polarity therapists and others in the helping professions can also facilitate people who are going through change. In fact, in many ways, they are in the best position to help people because they are already working in highly creative careers that thrive on change. Art in its many forms also has the opportunity to support change by teaching people how to adapt. In short, the need for change facilitators or adaptive skills teachers will be extremely important for the foreseeable future.

To create value in this area starts with you becoming fascinated with the change, both the process of change but also the understanding of what’s changing and how it affects people. Being a visionary means looking into the future to discover what’s not yet clear. It’s a fascinating and thrilling endeavor. The more you do it the more you will develop the skill. At the same time study how you and others around you react to the changes. Pay close attention to what happens as you first react and later respond to the change. Notice what will be destroyed or enhanced by the change. Understand how it will affect your life if you don’t adapt as well as when you do adapt. Study the parts that are resisting adapting to the change and what you must do to change from resistance to adaptation.

We are fortunate to have excellent resources that allow us to watch thought leaders and creative people on TED Talks and TEDx as well as Shark Tank and many movies and series of people who embraced change. We also have plenty of examples (frequently referred to as “tragedies”) of what happens when people resist change or are unable to adapt.

So, if you are feeling rage or anger, it’s a great sign that you have the adequate fire to react positively to changes that are happening in your world. The challenge is to harness that energy to adapt to the changes and if you’re inclined, help others to adapt as well. When you do, prosperity will start to manifest in ways that you can’t presently imagine.

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Graduate Spotlight August 2017 Danielle Deblois

2017-08-05T14:22:00Z

Danielle DeBlois worked as a software engineer for twenty years until one day she decided to change careers. She wanted to be in touch with people and to be a Trauma Touch Therapist. Her sister Nicole had gone to �鶹ԭ�� for massage therapy training and graduated years before. Danielle chose �鶹ԭ�� because of her sister but also because she felt the program and school was more balanced than other schools she visited.

Danielle took a leave of absence from her job at Microsoftand kept the news that she was pursuing a new career to herself and her wife Jami. When she finished school, she told her family and they were proud of her for her accomplishments and they told her she was going to do amazing things in life.

Trauma Touch Therapy was new to Danielle but she wanted to offer it in conjunction with massage therapy. To be schooled in this therapy, she travelled to Colorado and enroll at the Colorado School of Healing Arts and complete a 50-hour5-day course. Her classroom hours are complete and now she is completing the second phase of the schooling with an externship. She says it is a slow process but is very rewarding. Danielle works with trauma clients to relieve their stress and anxiety from their past experiences.

While Danielle was in school she didn’t expect to find value in the business classes and ethics. She thought her focus should be on technique and all the massage modalities. She states, “I took all the business classes serious because I knew I had a plan to open my own business”. These classes proved invaluable because it forced her to develop a business plan, cards, brochures and a name which she uses for her own space today. Getting feedback from her peers was also an important aspect of these classes.

When she speaks of her fellow students she says, “They were a unique group. We created a bond and had a family atmosphere.” Her eyes light up when she mentions the connections she made while at �鶹ԭ��.

Danielle graduated from the holistic massage program in January of 2017 with 770 hours of schooling. This program was necessary to take because she wanted to work in New Hampshire and they had different requirements than in Massachusetts. She offers her clients massage and polarity.

On the day she graduated, she went directly to the New Hampshire Massage Board of Registry and was immediately licensed. She also passed the MBLEx test which is a National Certification test for massage therapists. She began working at Massage Envy in Seabrook, New Hampshire where she currently works part time. She also has her own business called Soul Fire Healing Arts where she shares space with a chiropractor and acupuncturist.

To market her business, she does drawings and giveaways as well as passing out her brochures to random people she meets.

Danielle also took CPR, is completing a Registered AromaTherapist course, is a board-certified massage therapist and is working towards her bachelors in Applied Science and Massage Therapy at Sienna Heights.

She is quick to give prospective students advice saying, “Go get a massage at �鶹ԭ�� because it gives you an idea of what you will learn.” She adds, “Do a lot of practice sessions because it builds confidence and take everything serious you do in school.”

To book a session with Danielle she can be reached at Soul Fire Healing Arts in Hampstead NH at 978-346-5115.

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Graduate Spotlight July 2017 Heather Coombs

2017-08-05T14:16:00Z

Heather Coombs worked in the health care industry for ten years as a home health aide before she realized it was no longer making her happy. She wanted to continue to help people but in a different way. This led her to request information from �鶹ԭ��, with her friend Jamie, to become a massage therapist. While visiting the school she learned about aesthetics and they decided to enroll in the aesthetics program.

Heather admits she did not know anything about aesthetics, wearing makeup or the different lines of skin care offered in the industry prior to starting school. Heather states, “�鶹ԭ�� really prepared me for my career. Class size was small with a lot of one-on-one time with the instructor and it was a great atmosphere. It was very personal.” She also comments,“that the teachers were so nice and they are still there for me today if I have questions”. She says,“the school was not overwhelming and I built bonds with other students that I will have for the rest of my life”. Heatherended up learning so much about makeup and the correct way to apply it. She enjoyed so much that she began sellingYounique brand of makeup at wickedprettystar.com.

Heather’s life has changed drastically since graduating in May of 2016. She is more positive, happy, talkative, knowledgeable, confident and feels her life has changed for the better. Massage Envy in Burlington, MA helped with this self-proclaimed transformation. She started working three weeks after graduation and felt extremely comfortable and welcomed from the first day. The employees were all so positive and helpful. Everyone works well together and she truly enjoys going to work.

While giving facials at Massage Envy, Heather gets muchof her enjoyment and satisfactionwhen her clients feel great and rebook. “When you pass on to clients what you know and it helps them, you get a better connection especially when clients trust you.” Her eyes light up when she talks about having a client booked who has requested her. Heather helps grow her client base by speaking to customers when they come in for a massage.She scans their skin and ends up booking them for her signature facial.

Massage Envy aestheticians have a chance to be nominated for “Aesthetician of the Year” after working one year at the location. Heather received this honor after only six months which boosted her confidence even more. She was treated to a lunch and received a plaque stating her accomplishment.

Massage Envy encourages taking CEU’s and helps pay for them for each aesthetician. Heather is learning microdermabrasion in the coming months and will be adding it to the services she offers her clients. She currently gives customized facials adding vitamin C, two types of peels, lymphatic drainage and reflexology which adds a level of relaxation for her clients.

Heather offers advice to future students and says, “Go for it. If you are on the fence go for a tour.” She remembers how �鶹ԭ�� assisted her in getting a job and appreciated all the help they gave along the way.

Heather lives with her son Travis who is getting ready for high school this fall. He is proud of his Mom and passes out her cards to help grow her client base. If you would like a relaxing, customized facial call Heather at Massage Envy in Burlington at 781-270-5555.

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Graduate Spotlight May 2017 Beth Mitchell

2017-04-23T12:34:00Z

You will find Beth in a beautiful space above a Dentist office located at 640 Brighton Ave, Portland Maine. She shares her space with fellow �鶹ԭ�� graduate Kate Devine. The two make up the practice called Massage Therapy of Portland.

Beth’s bachelor’s degree is in Kinesiology and she has always been interested in fitness. This had traditionally been a hobby for Beth but she recently became more involved with physical training. Beth says that most people that have their undergrad in Kinesiology went on to get their masters but that was not the path for her. She got married and had childrenand when she reentered the work-force ended up in financial services. This was how she landed a marketing position and started building contacts which eventually lead her to own her own marketing firm. The financial climate eventually changed and after 20 years in that line of business, Beth was ready to follow her original passion and started exploring the possibility of becoming a Licensed Massage Therapist.

Beth met with admissions officer Amy Woodson and signed up for the program two different times over the span of five years before actually starting the program on her third try. Life kept getting in the way of her moving forward on this path. It was a combination of the relationship that Beth developed with Amy, the support of her husband and knowledge that she wanted to expand her knowledge of bodywork that pushed Beth towards attaining her goal.

Beth used the contacts she made through her massage program to generate some great opportunities professionally. She has been contracted by UNE to do chair massage at wellness events for staff and graduate students.

She works at a chiropractor’s office on an as needed basis.Finally her school mate Kate Devine has become Beth’s business partner in Portland Massage Therapists. Beth knew she was going to be independent when she left school and feels that it is very important for potential students to be aware that communication skills and an engaging personality go a long way towards paving your path towards success.

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Graduate spotlight April 2017 Chelsea Watt

2017-04-03T16:29:00Z

From an early age, Chelsea was interested in massage and energy work. She knew she wanted to help people heal as well as educate them. In 2007, at the age of 19, Chelsea enrolled in �鶹ԭ��’s Holistic Massage program. Chelsea tells us how “lucky she was to find and become part of a community of likeminded, caring people”. Chelsea graduated her Holistic Massage program and wanting and needing more, she immediately enrolled in the Polarity Therapy Program. “Spa Tech Institute gave me the skills to be an effective therapist while providing an empowering atmosphere to grow as a person” says Chelsea.

Chelsea has since become a Board Certified Polarity Practitioner, completed Reiki 1 & 2 and graduated from �鶹ԭ��’s RYSE Teacher Training. She continues her education studying Marmapoint Therapy–an ancient healing art from India that brings healing to the body where the energy is most congested. Chelsea took her time building her confidence in her craft, working at Elements for 7 years, before opening her own practice. She tells us, “Confidence is something that most of our students need to build up. It is difficult to learn new work before breaking down some of the walls that we put up from prior education and experiences.”

Chelsea is now a highly respected and admired instructor of Polarity Therapy and Anatomy and Physiology. She connects deeply to her students in that rare way only a few teachers can. She continually works to engage every one of her students at their highest potential.

Chelsea’s students say it best: “Her transformation as a person was inspiring and I wanted what she got from school which to me, seemed life changing. She has a beautiful soul that illuminates any room she enters. There was never a day that she wasn’t over joyed to be teaching what she loves and that made my experience at Spa Tech Institute the best I could’ve imagined… Amazing!!!” Steve Valliere

“She has the patience of an angel when it comes to having to explain concepts beyond what a learning student can think possible to understand…explaining things in so many different ways…doing whatever it takes to help everyone.” Georgianna Bouchard

“Chelsea is both an amazing practitioner and phenomenal instructor with contagious energy. I never thought I’d be excited about anatomy, but her class has started me on a path of lifelong curiosity and study. I’ll be forever grateful for both her sessions and the classes of hers that I was fortunate enough to be in!” Danielle DeBlois

Chelsea can be reached at 978-270-8279 to schedule a polarity session at her Topsfield studio.

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Graduate Spotlight March 2017 Josie Correia

2017-03-19T07:18:00Z

Josie Correia graduated from �鶹ԭ��’s Aesthetics career program in the spring of 2009. When she was young she did some modeling and makeup artistry but ultimately went to school to be a paralegal which she was not passionate about it. She began to think about what made her happy and remembered enjoying the years that she was doing makeup. That passion is how she came to apply to �鶹ԭ��, Ipswich.

Josie said she would recommend the hands-on approach to learning she received at �鶹ԭ�� to a prospective student because, “I got a great education! There was a lot of material to learn and if someone needed extra help the teachers were there for assistance”. Her favorite part of the school day was when she did her clinical hours providing services to the public.

When Josie first entered the spa business after graduating she enjoyed working at Sea Grass Spa in Methuen. She recently took on a new venture and opened her own skin care spa in North Andover called Simply Skincare and Massage with partner Kendra Retalic.

When asked about the passion she has for her job her face lights up. She states, “I take really good care of you, you get more than you pay for with me.” She further adds, “If I am having a bad day, I come to work and I can make people feel good. This is the best job I ever had!”

Josie carries the product line G.M. Collin and makes custom blend mineral makeup for her clients. She says she keeps up with current trends and feels her best advice to her clients is to use eye cream and sunscreen because it is never too late to take care of your skin. She adds, “There is so much information out there. No one knows what to do when it comes to their skin. I teach my clients while I am working on them.”

Josie lives in Amesbury and has three grown children and two grandchildren. Most of her clients come from word of mouth. She is accepting new clients and can be reached at Simply Skincare & Massage at 978-655-3332.

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Graduate Spotlight February 2017 Cath Fonzo

2017-03-19T07:11:00Z

Cath Fonzo, a 2014 graduate of �鶹ԭ��’s Therapeutic Massage Program, is enjoying the benefits of owning her own successful practice! As a mother and wife, it was important for Cath to find a career that allowed her to fulfill her passion of helping people with the flexibility she desired.

Cath says of her training at �鶹ԭ��, “My Spa Tech Institute education has been all it was promised to be and more. I have put into practice each modality learned at �鶹ԭ��, offering my clients a wide variety of custom designed sessions to meet their wellness goals. The gentleness and hands on approach, accompanied by the visual aide and clinic experience at Spa Tech Institute prepared me for employment and self-employment. I was able to take a job in a spa setting and build my own practice slowly. I most enjoyed how accessible my teachers were, how flexible clinic hours were and how everyone positively helped one another.”

Cath lives in Ipswich with her husband David of 21 years and her three children ages 20, 18 and 15. She says her job as a massage therapist allows her to balance her family and professional career.

As far as adding to her education, she recently attended the Tracy Walton School of Oncology Massage. She says the class was intense but well worth it and has been wonderful for her clients and rewarding for her as a therapist.

Cath’s advice for prospective students: “Go for it! Being a massage therapist is rewarding in so many ways. Spa Tech Institute will provide you tools you need to make your dreams reality! It may not be easy, but it will be worth it.”

Cath quotes Ralph Waldo Emerson: “If you learn only methods, you’ll be forever tied to those methods. However, if you learn the principals behind those methods, you’ll be free to devise your own methods.”

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Graduate Spotlight January 2017 Tracy McLaughlin

2017-03-19T07:03:00Z

Tracy McLaughlin had been interested in skincare and makeup at a young age and had been a makeup artist for about ten years before she found her way to �鶹ԭ�� in Ipswich and enrolled in our aesthetics course.

Tracy says of her choice to attend �鶹ԭ��, “Attending �鶹ԭ�� was one of the best choices I have made for myself. As a makeup artist of over 10 years I was looking to add more to my services and gain a deep understanding of the skin. The small class size and extensive hands on time made going back to school fun and easy.” Tracy graduated from the program in 2015.

Tracy currently manages the spa side of Serenity in the City in Medford which is a full service salon and spa. She also does freelance makeup artistry. Tracy enjoys working the business side of the spa industry and comments: “I would like to continue growing as a makeup artist and aesthetician by taking more classes and learning more about how to run a successful spa.”

Tracy’s teacher while in school, Sue Leveille, commented on her as a student. “Tracy was always up for a challenge. She loved applying makeup and the different looks you can get from different applications. She was always centered and present while in class which added to her success.”

Tracy gives prospective students advice by saying, “fully immerse yourself in the experience and have fun! Your clients can tell when you love what you do.” Tracy also comments on the industry. “I love how the field is always changing with new services and products to offer.”

Tracy can be reached at 781-521-7739 or by email at tracy.marie@live.com.

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Graduate Spotlight December 2016 Melissa McLaughlin

2017-03-19T06:54:00Z

Melissa McLaughlin is a perfect example of a �鶹ԭ�� graduate who was completely focused on getting the most of her education and inspired to open her own business soon after graduation.

Melissa graduated from the Holistic massage program in July of 2014. She comments on her training at �鶹ԭ��: “My training at �鶹ԭ�� gave me the skills and inspiration to open my own business within a few months of graduation. I was new to the energetic world when I came to �鶹ԭ��, coming from a completely different line of work. It took a while for me to open up to it but when I did, I reached many different levels that I didn’t think were possible: spiritually, energetically, mentally and physically.”

In addition to having her own practice Melissa, is also an instructor at �鶹ԭ��. Melissa comments on her own instructors, “They were all well rounded and I learned a lot from each of them.” Her knowledge in the fields of massage, exercise science and business play a valuable role in how she educates her students. “When I had Melissa in class it was clear to me she was on a new journey to discover who she could be and didn’t want to be held back by her previous work experiences. She brings that same passion and determination in a supporting role to help her students reach their goals”, says one of her instructors, Nicole Rinaldi.

Melissa’s practice, Eternal Wellness, is located in the Cummings Center in Beverly. Her motto is ‘Prime your Body for Top Performance’. Melissa believes that wellness comes from complete physical, mental and spiritual health. This is why she also sells wellness products from the Plexus line of all natural probiotics and bio-cleanse drinks. She uses these products herself and feels they have really contributed to her overall health. Plexus also has a body cream which she uses during her client’s sessions.

Melissa says she loves what she does and particularly enjoys helping people. She states, “Its opening individual’s minds to the possibility of living a pain free lifestyle, putting themselves first and in turn improving their overall health.”

She currently offers deep tissue massage to clients as well as aromatherapy, body scrubs, reiki and polarity. She offers reiki with each massage and adds, “the energy just flows from my hands to heal my clients.” Melissa has 30, 60, 90 and 120 minute sessions available. She also works for corporations who hire her for chair massage events.

She markets herself by word of mouth and through volunteering at sporting events such as road races. Using these events to network with people and make connections within local communities has been important to her success.

Melissa offers this advice to prospective students: “Come to Spa Tech Institute with an open mind and an attitude to achieve the highest for yourself.”

Melissa is accepting new clients and can be reached at Eternal Wellness at 781-724-8839 or by email at eternalwellnessma@yahoo.com.

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Graduate Spotlight November 2016 Jennifer Scullin

2017-03-19T06:41:00Z

Jennifer is one of an elite group of spa professionals who have completed all three of the career programs offered at �鶹ԭ�� in Ipswich. Jenn graduated from �鶹ԭ��’s Polarity program in 2012, Therapeutic massage in 2013 and Aesthetics in 2015. She is well educated in the field of spa services as well as holistic healing and is now reaping the benefits of being passionate about her work and her education. “

My education and experience at �鶹ԭ�� came into my life exactly when I needed it”. Jenn recalls that from the beginning of her enrollment at Spa Tech Institute she felt right at home because the office staff made her feel so welcomed and supported. That feeling along with the support of her family assured Jenn that she was making the right next step in her life.

Regarding that education Jenn says, “Upon starting my classes, my teachers were so focused and present with the curriculum and left time for questions and conversation. Class time was a time for learning but also an open dialogue that would be about what we were learning, how it relates to life in the moment, past or present.” Currently, Jenn lives in Melrose and commutes to her job at the W Hotel in Boston’s Back Bay where she practices massage in the Bliss Spa. She has the continued support of her family and her boyfriend, Jean Pierre. “JP is the one I lean on when those bad days come and go. He helps me remember the importance of this work and builds me up.”

Her favorite aspect of her career is the interaction between herself and her clients. Jenn says “My day is made when I treat someone who has never received a massage or is finally taking the time for self-care after years of not.” She strives to be in the ‘zone’, as she calls it, where she feels an energetic connection to her clients and they feel the emotional release of her work.

Bliss Spa allows Jenn to market herself through their marketing tools. She can email, send postcards or offer discounts on services to her clients. “W’s motto is “Whatever, Whenever”. Jenn says she gets to “Wow” guests who visit the spa while staying in the hotel by having room service send up treats on her.

Jenn believes it is important for students and graduates to “Walk your talk.” She receives regular massage and polarity sessions to maintain her own body and energy which makes a world of difference when juggling life, work and family.

For current students Jenn’s advice is to “Expand your horizons when it comes to where you want to work. I started my career at Massage Envy for a year then straight to a Forbes 4-star rated hotel spa. Get your experience in.” Jenn feels strongly that if your resume can show that you have a high client retention and return rate as well as measurable retail sales then you can get your foot in the door at a higher end spa that may want 2 to 3 years’ experience. She says, “Your personality sells itself, feel good about yourself and be confident.”

Jenn adds “keep learning from others and you will ultimately achieve the goals you set for yourself.” About her education and training she states emphatically “Spa Tech Institute has a reputation in the industry, employers are familiar with our school which gives you a leg up–use it to your advantage.”

Jenn works Wednesday through Sunday and can be booked for a massage at Bliss Spa at 617-261-8747.

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Graduate Spotlight October 2016 Leyea Risley

2017-03-19T06:30:00Z

Leyea Risley is Board Certified Polarity Practitioner, Level 3 RYSE Practitioner and instructor at �鶹ԭ��. During her formative years, her mother, Nancy Risley, was growing Polarity Realization Institute (now �鶹ԭ��), developing the RYSE Tools for Life program to help clients and others manage their own energy systems and creating the BCPP (Board Certified Polarity Practitioner) Program. Leyea was truly submerged in Polarity therapy throughout her childhood.

Fast forward to the year 2000 when Leyea attended Marlboro College in Vermont and later graduated with a degree in Dance Movement Therapy, a form of psychology where clients danced for emotional health. While in college, she took Level 1 of polarity at Polarity Realization Institute and finished her training of Levels 2-4 after college. Leyea also graduated from the Polarity Realization Institute’s massage program and RYSE teacher training.

In addition to teaching Polarity Therapy and RYSE, she also teaches RYSE UP! which is an individual clearing session held in a group setting. This hour long deep clearing session is for anyone who has taken the RYSE 1-4 classes and wants to get the enhanced results RYSE offers. “I advise current and prospective students to follow their heart, take risks and follow their dreams,” says Leyea.

Leyea has had a private Polarity Therapy practice for 15 years. Her practice consists of both in-person and distance sessions specializing in working with adults, children and pets.

Leyea shares how she has maintained and continued to grow her practice, “My Polarity Therapy and RYSE teacher training education has taught me to hold energy, vitality and strength and offer the best possible session. It gave me the tools to remain energized after seeing clients.”

One client, Anne Rockwell, Aesthetician states, “Sessions with Leyea are like sitting in paradise with your highest self. It’s truly where love and magic meet.” “

As a fellow colleague in the Polarity Therapy and RYSE field, I am very particular about who I have sessions with. Leyea combines her lifelong knowledge of energy awareness, heart centered nature, intuitive skills and practical application to meet the unique needs of each client. I so look forward to my sessions with her, and the next level of my own energy system balance!” Sheila Thomson, BCPP Owner of True Essence Healing, Newburyport “

Leyea’s sessions embody the highest form of Polarity Therapy and RYSE to elicit deep and lasting results. So much happens quickly in every session. I’m impressed.” Nancy Risley, BCPP, founder Polarity Realization Institute, �鶹ԭ��, author of RYSE Tools for Life and 28 workbooks including five Polarity workbooks.

Leyea lives and practices in Ipswich, MA drawing in-person clients from a 60 mile radius and distance clients nationwide. Leyea has built her client base by word of mouth and her teaching connections. Leyea can be reached by phone or text to schedule your in-person or distance session – 978-675-5167.

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Graduate Spotlight September 2016 Sue Leveille

2017-03-19T06:18:00Z

Sue Leveille is a 2009 graduate of the 600 hour evening aesthetics career program here at �鶹ԭ��. Sue stays very busy working within the health and wellness industry. She is an instructor in our aesthetics career program, she works as an aesthetician and nail tech at Diva Professionals in Salem, NH and she is currently enrolled full time in �鶹ԭ��’s therapeutic massage program.

Sue embarked on her career path later in life than many, but she does not feel it has held her back in any way. She was always interested in the field of beauty but thought it was only about hairdressing. While working as a waitress and hostess in Haverhill, MA back in 2007 a coworker suggested she look into aesthetics. She had no idea there were so many aspects to this field. A second coworker, Cindy Berard, was studying holistic massage at �鶹ԭ�� and thought Sue would love it here. She ultimately enrolled in the 600 hour aesthetics career program and graduated in 2009. She has worked in the aesthetics field ever since and joined the Spa Tech Institute staff as an instructor in 2011.

Sue is passionate about her work providing aesthetic services, lash extensions, spray tanning, manicures and pedicures at Diva Professionals Total Beauty in Salem, New Hampshire. She enjoys helping people feel good about themselves and brings her experience from the spa into the classroom at every opportunity. This makes for a valuable teaching experience for her students.

On teaching Sue says, “I love working at �鶹ԭ�� because I love giving back through my teaching and sharing my passion for the beauty and wellness industry.” She enjoys being part of a great team!

Sue’s love for the beauty and wellness industry motivated her to pursue her therapeutic massage license. She is currently attending Spa Tech Institute full time during the day. She enjoys being a student again and loves the small class size and the individualized attention she receives. It brings back memories of when she was a student in the aesthetics program.

Sue always likes to challenge herself and loves to learn new things. She states that she recently came to the realization that attending the massage program is making her a better aesthetician too because her massage techniques and her knowledge of anatomy and physiology of the body has greatly improved. Sue recognizes the value of being multi-licensed and continuing her education. She is always looking for new and innovative ways to add to her bag of tools.

Sue currently lives in New Hampshire with her husband, three dogs and a cat. They love outdoor activities such as boating and camping. Sue welcomes new clients and can be reached at Diva Professionals at 603-890-8912.

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Graduate Spotlight August 2016 Steve Baglioni

2017-03-18T18:50:00Z

Steve’s path to massage therapy started when he was a child giving neck and back rubs to his family. Years later, Steve became a professional ski instructor which made him realize the need to have the proper body alignment and balance. He also worked as a house painter and lead singer/guitarist for his band ‘Spirit House’. He then decided to study massage therapy at �鶹ԭ�� in Ipswich and follow his aspirations.

Steve said when going to school he learned from his teachers to always have a level of professionalism, be punctual and build trust. This is something he practices every day and feels that is why he is successful. He also comments that the founder, Nancy Risley, and president, Kris Stecker were always accessible.

After graduating, he put together a plan to work for the best chiropractor on the Northshore, Sheri Russell. This plan had him volunteering at a local hospice center giving chair massage to the workers and staff. Soon the center had him developing a ‘comfort touch’ program for the patients. This program was so successful the center integrated alternate healing methods for the patients such as music and pet therapy as well as Reiki. He also volunteered at Harvard providing massage for the men’s basketball team, all the while building experience, reputation and clientele. Throughout it all he says “it was all about professionalism”. He firmly believed each experience led him to the next one, it was a building process.

Steve found his niche at Dr. Russell’s providing sports massage to clients who are fully clothed, offering myofascial release, acupressure, deep tissue and other techniques.

As for Steve’s future, he would love to teach and wants to become a leader in sports massage. A path he feels he is on today.

Steve also provides massage in his Gloucester space ‘Massage Therapy Unlimited.’ He can be reached at 978-406-2715.

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Graduate Spotlight July 2016 Ellen O’Donnell

2017-03-18T18:37:00Z

Love Your Face, a holistic skin care business in Amesbury, MA, is owned by Ellen O’Donnell. Ellen is a 2012 graduate of �鶹ԭ��’s 600 hour Aesthetic program. Years ago Ellen majored in graphic design because she had a passion for art and color. She also had a passion for working with her hands. She has had many creative businesses such as cake decorating and quilt making. She has also taught many classes like jewelry construction and stained glass.

Ellen also had an interest in skincare which led her to enroll in the Aesthetic program at �鶹ԭ��. Her passion for color led her to become a certified makeup artist. Her other talents include being a Usui Reiki master and teacher and a certified crystal healer which allows her to work with her hands.

When Ellen graduated from �鶹ԭ��, she worked in a spa but always dreamt of having her own skin care business. She then went out on her own and Love Your Face was opened. Ellen believes in traditional Chinese medicine which influenced which products she carries and how her space is decorated. She carries a line of plant-based skin care called Phyto 5 and carries her own line of vegetable oil-based soaps, which she has hand made for more than 20 years (Ellen’s Handmade Soaps). She also started Herbal Planet, a holistic skin line which has products like face cream and lip balm.

Ellen enjoyed her time at Spa Tech Institute and remembers all the great teachers she had and the ‘great detail’ they provided in their teaching. She added ‘they gave excellent prep for the state boards’. Aromatherapy was her favorite part of the aesthetics program while at school.

Ellen continues to learn and takes as many webinars as possible. She is currently learning pressure points and recently learned to use the tuning forks to add to her clients Reiki sessions.

She divides her time between Reiki and giving facials. Many of her clients love her holistic energetic facials where she adds Reiki for the feeling of peace and wellbeing.

When asked what advice she would give new students she is quick to say “don’t give up, keep moving on if you want to find the perfect place to work”. She likes her independence that her business gives her and markets herself with pamphlets she has designed herself.

Ellen is taking new Reiki and aesthetic clients. You can reach her at 978-457-1431 or visit her website at http://www.healinghands-ellen.com/.

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Graduate Spotlight June 2016 Brandon LaVack

2017-03-18T18:28:00Z

North of Boston lies Beverly, a city referred to as the “Garden City” with its lush green open spaces and miles of coastline. It is a city with a little bit of something for everyone. There you will find Beverly Athletic Club on Reservoir Road and 2013 �鶹ԭ�� therapeutic massage graduate Brandon LaVack.

Brandon had been a personal trainer for several years and traveled the country and abroad attending seminars to learn the most current trends in the strength and conditioning industry. He felt there was always something new to learn and enjoyed these experiences. He took a little from each seminar and added it to his training style. Many of his clients had a need for massage to restore range of motion and help them in post rehab, but he didn’t want to send them to someone else to be worked on. Brandon wanted to give each client customized attention and meet their needs for therapeutic massage. Spa Tech Institute in Ipswich had a great reputation and a schedule that would work for his already busy life– so he enrolled!

Right away Brandon felt at home, explaining that the best part of �鶹ԭ�� was the “individual attention you received from the teachers if and when you needed it.” The teaching staff brought their expertise and experience from the field into the classroom which gave him a greater understanding of how he could incorporate massage to meet each of his client’s specific needs.

While attending �鶹ԭ��, Brandon slept little and worked many hours – he felt he had much to learn. He said he has been compensated in a way he expected and his advice for new students is “always be willing to learn, never feel like you know it all.”

Brandon currently divides his time between personal training and massage. He meets his massage clients at the Solei Salon and Spa housed in the Beverly Athletic Club. Most of his clients are the result of word of mouth so Brandon does little advertising. When asked what he loves most about his career he quickly states “helping others”, his aim is to make a “positive impact on a person’s life”. Brandon also feels that diet is an important part of the training process and promotes living an overall healthy lifestyle. Brandon has a very busy schedule and currently works Monday through Saturday. Sunday he works on his online training business where he sets up training schedules for individuals and colleges. You can check out Brandon’s business at LaVackfitness.com. His girlfriend, Lauren, sees little of him and adds “she’s supportive of my business and passion. She’s my rock which allows for my success.”

Brandon is currently accepting new clients and can be reached at 315-261-1500. Look for him to open his own training facility in the future.

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Graduate Spotlight May 2016 Lisa Page

2017-03-18T15:40:00Z

Newburyport, a small coastal city full of quaint shops and eateries, is where you will find Lisa Page – a 2013 �鶹ԭ�� Aesthetics program graduate. Lisa splits her time between Hair Spray Salon and Spa on Liberty Street, owned by Stacey Robinson and Riversong Plastic Surgery at 21 Highland Avenue in Newburyport.

At Hair Spray, she offers both traditional and more advanced, state-of-the art services including waxing, spray tanning, facials, dermaplaning, PCA treatments and Skin Classic which is a high frequency procedure to remove skin imperfections. At Riversong Plastic Surgery, Lisa also performs laser hair removal and photo facials using IPL and Ultherapy, the only FDA approved non-invasive procedure that lifts skin and smooths wrinkles.

Lisa started out in real estate many years ago then switched to phlebotomy. She felt the need to change careers and wanted to help make people feel good about themselves. She says about her new career “you can relax while you do the work”.

When asked what advice she would give to a prospective student she says, “It is a great industry. Up and coming. There are lots of opportunities but you have to work hard, put the time in and be prepared to always learn. It is an evolving industry”. Lisa has grown in her career by attending continuing education classes and she continually markets herself by using social media, North Shore Magazine, local newspapers and word of mouth.
Lisa loved her time at �鶹ԭ�� and says the teachers were knowledgeable, it was fun and she loved the small classes. She also got a lot of facials because the program is very hands on.

Originally from New Hampshire, Lisa lives in Rowley and has three daughters and 6 grandchildren between herself and husband Arthur. She loves working in Newburyport and says on any given day she can enjoy a walk outside on the brick lined sidewalks, take in the scents of the local bakeries and restaurants and meet people—and maybe even potential clients!

Lisa offers complimentary consults by calling 603-785-0114.

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Graduate Spotlight April 2016 Michelle Baker

2017-03-18T15:21:00Z

Housed on the banks of the Powwow River in the quaint town of Amesbury is Guaranteed Fitness & Bodyworks. Michelle Baker, a vivacious, energetic �鶹ԭ�� graduate, is the owner where she is a personal trainer and licensed massage therapist. Michelle began her career 25 years ago offering personal fitness training
and always wanted to incorporate massage therapy into her practice. She knew the benefits massage would offer to her clients who ranged from post rehab to those who were simply working on strengthening and conditioning their bodies. Michelle feels everyone should dedicate themselves to regular massage and spiritual health.
In the early years Michelle studied somatic psychology which is the understanding of illness and how it manifests in the human body. In 2013 Michelle made the commitment to obtain her massage therapy training. She ran her personal training business during the day, attended classes three nights a week all the while raising her then five year old son Lucas. It was a lot of juggling and sacrifice but according to Michelle “�鶹ԭ�� was always helpful, fun and supportive. I had a wonderful all around experience”. She graduated in March of 2014 and became licensed shortly thereafter. She has maintained the friendships she made with her classmates and added that she “learned little tidbits from the teachers’ experience in the massage industry” that she continues to put to use today in her own practice.

Michelle currently shares space with fellow Spa Tech Institute grad Tami Elwell who practices polarity part time. Michelle is continuing her education by enrolling in �鶹ԭ��’s Level 1 Polarity program in May.

Michelle has always worked for herself and “loves her job”. When asked what advice she would give to a prospective student she says that it is a lot of work to own your own space but is well worth it. She began marketing herself while still in school and states that over 30% of her early massage clients still come to her for regular massages. She stresses that a student should “listen, enjoy and learn” from the great teachers at �鶹ԭ��.

Michelle is now contemplating a bigger space and receives great support and advice from Spa Tech Institute President, Kris Stecker. He is “totally supportive and knows his stuff when it comes to business”. Michelle currently divides her time between massage and personal training and is grateful for a full and rewarding schedule.

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Graduate Spotlight March 2016 Emily Lagasse

2017-03-18T15:07:00Z

Emily works as an assistant to master permanent makeup artist Julia Dziuk Bowers at Pigmenta Permanent Cosmetics at 581 Boylston Street in Boston, MA. She also is a lash extension and threading specialist. She sees herself as an integral part of this organization for years to come.

When asked what aspect of her job she loves most she quickly states, ‘bringing joy and happiness to our clients lives’ is what matters most. Many of her clients are going through radiation, have alopecia or their eyebrow hair has thinned over time. She added ‘it is a true honor to be a part of helping these men and woman feel normal again. To give them a little piece of themselves back after going through such rough times it is a beyond fulfilling job.’ She added ‘she loves every moment of it.’ She feels lucky to be able to witness joy in her client’s lives on a daily basis.

Since Emily has graduated and got licensed, she has taken many continuing education courses such as lash and eyebrow tinting, threading, lash perming and extensions. She welcomes new clients at Pigmenta Permanent Cosmetics in Boston!

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Graduate Spotlight February 2016 Stephanie Hassel

2017-03-18T14:50:00Z

Stephanie Hassel, a July 2015 massage therapy graduate, recently opened her own business, SLH Skincare and Massage. It is located within Kiki Pilates Studio, 10 Elm Street, Danvers. Her friend Kiki Hanson had been in the massage business for years and opened her own studio where she offers Yoga, Barre and Pilates.

Stephanie came to Spa Tech Institute with a license as an Aesthetician but wanted to add Massage Therapy to her credentials. She has worked at different spas which prepared her to open her business. Her Mom, a massage therapist, has her own business and knew she would follow in her footsteps. She explains while she was nervous, terrified and psyched all at the same time about opening her own business she put faith in herself and her ability and “went for it”. Stephanie divides her time between the two modalities. She offers massage and waxing services currently at Kiki’s studio and will be adding facials shortly. She also offers massage therapy, waxing and facials at Manchester Athletic Club where she works with fellow massage graduates Christie Palmer, Justin DeRosa and Jackie Young. Her clients range from athletes to people who desire a relaxing massage or facial and she customizes each service to their specific needs.

When asked what she enjoyed most at �鶹ԭ�� she reflects, “It is one year ago this week that my life changed. It is when I started my schooling for massage therapy at �鶹ԭ��.” Not only does she feel she received a great education while at �鶹ԭ��, but learned a skillset which was a “big asset” in building her own business. The comradery with fellow classmates added to the family like atmosphere she experienced and she has built lifelong friendships. “We were all different people but were all there with a common goal”. Her fellow grads continue to offer helpful tips when it comes to easing her client’s ailments.

Stephanie is building her business by volunteering her time at charitable events as well as posting on social media sites such as Massage Book, Facebook and LinkedIn. Stephanie is currently accepting new massage and aesthetic clients both at the Manchester Athletic Club and at SLH Skincare and Massage in Danvers.

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Graduate Spotlight January 2016 April Surette

2017-03-18T14:25:00Z

According to Surette, the best decision she made was to attend �鶹ԭ�� because she got a great education, made a lot of good friends and had fun going to school. She said �鶹ԭ�� “prepared her for the real world” and had small class sizes which gave her more one on one time with the teacher. She enjoys what she is doing and said her favorite aspect of being an aesthetician is “helping people with skin problems.” She feels that her career has met her expectations as far as compensation and finding employment.

April has taken some continuing education courses such as microdermabrasion, spray tanning and lash extensions. April works with fellow graduate Nicole Sotis, learning the ropes. She is focused on building her clientele, broadening her education and being successful.

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Podcast

2017-01-19T16:06:00Z

Nancy and Kris were interviewed by Dr. Sheri Russell and graduate Stephen Baglioni, LMT on Northshore 104.9 in Beverly, MA, “On Your Game”. With a focus on prevention and performance,

Dr. Russell of Russell Center for Chiropractic and Sports Medicine in Beverly and Stephen Baglioni of Massage Therapy Unlimited, are educating the public on a variety of subjects to enhance personal health and performance. The interview with Nancy and Kris begins at 12:20 in the podcast and focuses primarily on Polarity Therapy as well as the healing arts in general. Many thanks to Dr. Russell and Stephen Baglioni, LMT for the great work they are doing educating and healing the public.

http://ns1049.podbean.com/e/on-your-game-01-14-17/

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The Power of Commitment

2016-10-15T02:22:00Z

Commitment, along with clarity, are the most powerful tools you possess to create the future you want. Without commitment, you life floats in reaction to events and emotions. With commitment

you create a focus on the life you want, not the life you get. Amazingly, many people find that commitment is an issue, either for themselves or others. In either case, lack of commitment leads to results by default instead of results by desire.

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Prosperity, Manifestation and Debt

2016-10-15T02:11:00Z

Important questions:

I know you are an expansive being who has no limits. This is true in a spiritual sense and when you’re dealing with your life on earth the experience shifts into learning about balance. The dance of living is finding the balance between expansion and contraction, limits and infinity.

It applies to all aspects of your life including your spiritual, health, relationships, finances, and material needs. Balance is the key to manifestation and prosperity. This may seem counter-intuitive but here’s how it works. In the third dimensional experience, energy and form are interactive. Energy is intensified by form. For instance, electric energy is harnessed by containing it within the limits of a wire. Heat is harnessed by the limits of the container that uses it. These are easy to understand.

What’s harder to understand is how this applies to spirit, relationship, and finances. Spiritual, emotional and relationship are all in the same general category, but they still need a container to have force or presence. The container for all of these is your self-narrative. Your narrative controls how you perceive your world.

As we teach at the school, What You Focus On You Get More Of! If you are focusing on trying to attain spiritual enlightenment, you will attract more Trying. If you focus on your needs that are not being met you will attract more of not getting your needs met. And if you focus on wanting a relationship, you will attract more wanting and less relationship. It’s just how it works.

And all three of these will feed into each other and go round and round. So the idea is to focus on what you have and having abundant gratitude. Consciously changing your self-narrative will change the way you see the world and everything that happens in your life. This can be focusing on the amount of spiritual experience that you have had so far, the ways your needs are met and the wonderful relationships that you do have, especially the one you have with yourself.

When you focus on this positive narrative, it creates an attraction of more of the same. You are more relaxed in your spiritual practices, you are more emotionally fulfilled and people will gravitate to being around you. It doesn’t mean that you ignore areas that are not working or need attention. If you are too thin or overweight, it is a physical debt that you need to address. If you have impulse control issues, it’s an emotional debt that needs work. Financial debt is really the same with this added advantage: It’s very easily measured and tracked.

But what is the container for financial flow? It comes down to your perception again and it’s integral to your spiritual, emotional and intellectual narrative. Financial flow is measured on a balance sheet that shows you what you have and what you owe. It’s also fundamental to a budget. Most people hate to do budgets but if you can do it, it can change your perception and your life in many positive ways.

A budget gives you a clear picture of what you bring in and what you spend. Rather than knowing at the end of the week whether you are cash positive or negative, you can be proactive in your spending and saving decisions. Rather than wasting money on $5 coffee twice a day, you can start to change your spending patterns by bringing a thermos with coffee for a fraction of the cost. Little things like this add up. Even better is that you can also see the same patterns in other areas of your life. If you overextend financially on a regular basis because you don’t have a good sense of the inflow and outflow, the same is probably also true of your energy and time management.

A budget can become a useful tool to gain a better understanding of your patterns. As you see your patterns in one area, look to see if it repeats in other areas as well. You can do a time budget, energy budget, committment budget or anything else that comes to mind. It takes time but it’s time well spent that can actually increase your prosperity.

How is Debt Good?

Debt can be a wonderful thing if it is well planned and executed correctly. If you have good budget skills and have a well developed plan that pays down the debt, it can accelerate you into new levels of prosperity. But if you lack the understanding of what you can afford or the discipline to stick to your plan, then it can be crippling.

Another important reason for debt is for future growth. If you master the use of debt, you also increase your credit score that allows you to access additional funds when you need it for future growth or opportunities. It’s good to keep in mind that there’s good reasons and bad reasons to take on debt as well as choosing the type of debt you take on.

Using a credit card with 18-21% interest to finance a vacation is okay, if you can pay it all back on the next payment cycle. But if you have to pay over time, it’s a huge waste of your resources. Using a low cost student loan to get skills training that allows you to make more money and pay off the loan is a far better choice than using it to go to a super expensive college that has a great social life but doesn’t prepare you to be able to pay down the large loans obligations. Most businesses that sell everything from super cool and expensive electronics to home improvements usually has an easy to acquire loan that is also usually high interest rate and expensive. It’s up to you to do the math and make sure that it makes sense and make decision as to whether the $1000 cell phone is really going to give you that much more value than the $200 phone, etc.

No matter what you do, understand that managing your debt is a vitally important step to earning the credit you need for the future. Credit is a form of prosperity that is also very valuable for manifesting the future you want.

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Are Supplements Unhealthy?

2015-10-20T13:07:00Z

Your clients look to you for guidance on wellness. The challenge is to pass on information for consideration while simultaneously educating your clients to listen to their body and trust its wisdom. The recent findings on supplements is a great example of the challenge. After decades of attention on increased exposure to calcium and anti-oxidants by health professionals of different traditions, it’s now coming out that there may be significant risks.

Too often there are practices that evolve based on someone’s theory that may or may not be correct. There are two major sources of the problem. The first is people continue to look for the “silver bullet” that will fix things. The second is the majority belief that one size fits all when it comes to diet, exercise and health. It should be obvious by now that both are counterproductive to achieving what’s best for each individual. As always, keeping an open mind is very important. But even more important is to always remember that every person is unique, on many different levels. The only consistency that experience has demonstrated is that everyone will react to a change in diet, exercise, or any other change, differently. Diets are a prime example. Every year there’s a new diet that promises to achieve the goals that the other diets failed at. It’s based primarily on someone’s theory that is backed by results focused research (research that’s conducted to support the theory rather than to test the theory) and then followed with a best seller book and products. Recent studies on supplements ( calcium and anti-oxidants ) has revealed that what has become widely held beliefs has risks that are not generally known. Many doctors and holistic practitioners continue to reflexively recommend things that most people will take without any awareness of the potential danger.

As a practitioner what are you to do?

Continue to stay well informed, understand that everything you learn is subject to change and don’t let any belief or thought become a sacred cow. The best thing you can do as a practitioner is to raise your client’s understanding of how their body reacts to different stimuli. Teaching them how to listen and interpret what their body is doing is the biggest gift you can give them. Being healthy is about being tuned in to what you need and being able to take action to get it. This seemingly simple thing is often obstructed by advertising, opinions and practitioner pressure to give clients quick solutions. Unfortunately, there are no shortcuts. Being healthy requires mindfulness and attention as well as the energy to maintain relaxed focus in moving forward. That is the core of what you have to offer your clients. Be well and keep up the good work. Sincerely, Kris p.s. Be sure to read the links on Calciu m and Anti-Oxidants . It’s very important information to consider.

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Value of Equinox

2015-09-23T08:28:00Z

Does the equinox matter?

From the perspective of prosperity and energy flows, yes and no. The equinox doesn’t carry the same energetic weight as the solstice, but it’s good to understand the value of the event. Whereas the shift from the length of the day getting shorter to longer or longer to shorter has a strong influence on our energy flows at the solstice, the equinox is more subtle.

The solstice has major impacts as you can read about here . The equinox is significant because of the shift that occurs in the rate of change. If you think of the change of seasons like a pendulum in our inner cycle of expansion and contraction, the solstice represents when the pendulum gets to the end of its swing and changes direction.

The equinox is when the pendulum is at the center of the swing and is moving the fastest. Therefore the rate of change has the highest impact at the equinox and it will start to decrease once it passes.

What Does This Mean For You?

Basically, this is when you will either feel the strongest sensation of the contraction or expansion, depending on whether it’s the spring or fall. In the fall the contraction cycle, the energy pulling into your core, will be the most pronounced at the equinox. You will often feel yourself wanting to nest, simplify, sleep or rest more and generally finish things you have started.

Completions are important in preparing for the next cycle of creative expansion that begins at the next solstice. It’s also a time when you are vulnerable to getting sick if you don’t listen to your body’s signals to slow down and rest more. In the spring the cycle of expansion is the strongest as you have launched your new initiatives and are growing towards the peak of expansion.

Your energy will be expanding, you will need less sleep and you will awake earlier and stay up later. You will have a desire to get out, start things, move things forward, travel and experience new beginnings. It’s a very active time and you typically will have more robust health, although you may also have a higher risk profile from overextending. These feelings will be the strongest at the equinox.

It’s a great time to listen to your body to see what you need and to take specific steps to harmonize with the shift. Your ability to work with your cycles consciously ensures the highest opportunity for success. So in the fall, honor the need to rest, relax, nest and get completion and in the spring honor the creative impulse to fully implement the new things you are creating.

By following these subtle impulses you will discover that everything works much better.

Be well!

Kris

P.S. If there’s anything you do to maximize the value of the seasonal shift, I would love to have you share it. Thank you.

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Success and Failure

2015-09-10T08:27:00Z

Is fear of failure running and ruining your life?

Probably. Most people are more motivated by fear of failure than by inspiration. It’s at the core of all performance anxiety.

This is about your inspirational life, not the mundane part that has to follow rules, laws of physics and laws of society. This is about your creative expression invocation, avocation, and love.

To me, the concept of success and failure are deeply flawed. They shouldn’t even exist as concepts. The terms are overused and associated with shame, value, and self-worth. It is used as a defining concept to motivate people, which makes no sense. It stunts growth and development on all levels.

There’s all this focus on how to recover from failure, how to overcome failure, how to avoid failure and the value of failing. There is also a hyper-focus on failure in most institutional settings (government, education, business, and relationships). And the end result is that creativity and inspiration are buried under a pile of fear and avoidance.

The triad of risk, failure, and shame has dominated all aspects of life for far too long. Education, art, enterprise, and relationships are all polluted by the presence of these concepts. Children lose their joy of singing, spreading lines and colors on paper (or any other surface they find) and moving as the concepts of failure (or doing it the right way) and criticism are imposed on their joy.

Do you draw, paint, sing or dance with abandon? Or will you only do it when no one is around? Why? And aren’t we all guilty on some level of passing on the process to our children or other people?

It’s time to eliminate success/failure as a concept and replace it with inspiration, potential, and enjoyment. It’s time to find better ways to teach and support that is based on connecting with the joy rather than threatening embarrassment or rejection. It’s time to become aware of the dynamic that’s so deeply embedded in our experience that we don’t even recognize that it’s running and ruining the show.

This is an amazing opportunity to redefine how we perceive and live. I’m not talking about eliminating limits, boundaries or even competition. This is about how we teach and learn about limits and boundaries without using failure and shame as part of the motivation. It’s about reconnecting with the energy or creativity and inspiration without the noise and friction of fear.

How to Change

First, become conscious of the triad of risk, failure, and shame that exists in your life. Be sensitive to understanding the power it has over you and thinks about how your life would change without it. Notice how the concept of success/failure is part of this process. Be aware and let it be.

Second, try a new thought pattern. Notice the origin to your resistance to following an impulse. Is it legitimate (dangerous or hurtful) or is it tied to the fallacy of fear of failure and shame? (For example, think about singing in front of people you know. For most people the fear is palpable.)

Third, focus on what you are doing and when the resistance appears to say, “I transform resistance into energy and love.” Then refocus on what you’re doing. Fourth, if the friction of fear is too high to overcome at the moment, remind yourself that repetition is how you acquired the fear and repetition is how you will change the fear. It will get easier with each repetition.

Getting Help

Of course, if you are working with a great energy worker, particularly RYSE or Polarity Therapy , the changes will be easier, faster and deeper. And the more you do this the more fun it will be. You will find your inspiration and energy for trying new things will expand and drive you to new levels of thriving in life.

Living a fully inspired existence is spiritual prosperity. Enjoy!

In Light and Love,

Kris

P.S. Your comments and questions are always greatly appreciated.

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Prosperity from Happiness or Meaning?

2015-08-16T08:27:00Z

Do what you love and the money will follow?

I’m afraid this adage has been misconstrued by many to mean do what makes you happy. The problem is, happiness is an elusive, temporary condition without a foundation. It blows in the winds of emotion. The real foundation of anything you do is meaning.

The pursuit of something that makes a difference in other people’s lives is fundamental to survival of the society and the strength of the immune system for the individual. We are hard-wired to be healthy when we are contributing to the well-being of our species and planet.

When we become unproductive all systems recognize that we become parasites and threaten the future well-being of the species. It’s only been in modern times that this vital link and understanding has been lost. Living in the age of media and sensationalism, we are fed a constant stream of messages that focus on overstimulating our “happy” neurological chemicals. But these highs are temporary as the chemicals are very volatile and are metabolized very quickly.

To make it worse, social media, television, and marketing all focus on making us feel that we don’t have enough happiness and therefore we need to consume products and experiences that will give us happiness. The reality is that if people could find meaning in their lives, happiness would be ever present.

As stated in a business article on happiness , only 4 in 10 people actually have meaningful lives. It’s no wonder that the legal and illegal drug markets, as well as entertainment fields, consume so much money. When people find meaning in their lives the need for entertainment and mood-altering drugs is eliminated. Meaningful activities satisfy them on many levels.

So back to the point of the adage; Be careful to do what has meaning for you. You’ll find prosperity both because your body and society are wired to support you when you’re doing something that has true value and it also prevents the squandering of resources on pursuits to fill the hole that a meaningless life creates.

So what has meaning for you? What do you really care about? What do you see in the world that needs to be improved and that you feel passionate about? That’s where your energy should be focused. If it’s focused on getting high, drunk, laid or the next vacation or trip to the casino, you will want to consider rebooting your life and shifting your focus. You will be glad you did.

Kris

P.S. I have had the privilege of being surrounded by people who live meaningful lives throughout my life. I also get to see what happens to our students at �鶹ԭ�� when they go from working a job to creating a career where they’re helping people to improve their lives. The transformation is astounding.

Thank you to all of our students, staff, and graduates. You are an inspiration that gets me through the toughest of times.

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Prosperously Innocent

2015-08-02T08:26:00Z

Epiphany: There’s a state of innocence involved in true prosperity.

When you’re able to be innocent, you’re able to open to everything that’s around you on a more profound level. This is the key to true prosperity because it allows you to fully embrace all that’s in your life.

That may sound trite but so many people are on the hamster wheel, either chasing the next acquisition or experience or running away from debt and discomfort, that they fail to be in the moment where they have everything they need.

Until you’re able to be present with yourself, appreciating what you have is elusive. The relentless noise of the turbine is ever present and consuming. In our sleep as well as awake, the constant drone of what needs to be done or worry about what may happen eats away at the precious short moment we call life. Many people look to escape the combine that’s pursuing them with activities, events, drugs, alcohol, and exercise, but most of these simply add to the roar that fills our awareness. These all become only temporary distractions and many become an addictive distraction that ends up adding to the problem. If you’re not careful, even meditation, yoga, and other healthy practices can lead to the treadmill rather than to the moment of innocent prosperity.

How many times have I seen people hiking (fixated on a goal to achieve some destination) and not enjoying where they are; not seeing, breathing, hearing and feeling everything that’s around them. Think about it.

Remember when you were a kid and could spend hours fascinated by looking for insects, salamanders or snakes, frogs or other wonders? (It’s not just a boy thing? I recall girls doing this as well.) Remember being so immersed in your curiosity that everything else would disappear? I feel sorry for kids today who are raised on TV and iPads. They are indoctrinated at an early age into a digital distraction that separates them from the world and other people. The parents who eliminate digital distraction and introduce their children to nature are giving them the best gift they can ever have. Nature heals, teaches and stimulates true curiosity and awareness. But mostly, nature is innocent.

S o the question is, how do we get back to innocence? How to set aside all of the distractions, expectations, and commitments that run our lives? How to be truly present in the moment where we can experience everything and be prosperous.

Observing babies, of all species, is a good starting point. Human babies are the easiest to perceive since we share their experience. When you look at the different age groups you can see the pattern of lost innocence and apply it to looking at your own life. And you can look at baby pictures of yourself (if they exist) to try and reconnect with the simplicity that was your reality.

Meditation, nature walks, gardening, art, music, and dance are all great activities that can help provided you can be present with each one. Simplifying your life is another area that can make a big difference. Slow down and stop every few hours to just breathe and observe how you feel and take in all the smells, tastes, feelings, sounds and vibrations around you. Notice your heartbeat and breathing. Give thanks for being alive. Focus on nature, the sky, water, wind, plants, insects, and rocks. Give thanks for each of the things you see. Give thanks for everything you feel. Give thanks for your thoughts and your ability to think. Relax into letting it all in.

Don’t set innocence as the goal . Just be mindful and let innocence emerge. You will know it by its symptom: A feeling like you are too small to hold all the joy and love that deep gratitude produces in your life. That is innocent prosperity!

Kris

P.S. As always, your thoughts and questions are always greatly appreciated.

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Your Mission, Your Life

2015-07-23T08:25:00Z

Although people have heard of missions statements, most people do not have a written mission statement for themselves. This is a lost opportunity that can change your life very quickly.

Why Should I Have a Written Mission Statement?

The power of a mission statement is partly that it gives you focus but also that the process of writing it down gives you insight that can catalyze how you live your life.

Most people float from one event to the next without giving thought to why they are doing it or how it contributes to the quality and outcome of their life. This is called reactive living rather than proactive living. The results are the path of least resistance making your daily expenditure of energy or focus lower but also slowing down living your full potential.

A great mission statement can help you to get the most out of your life and lead you to the life you want to have. A large obstacle is that most people don’t know how to write a mission statement. Some people learn to do it professionally. And there are others who think they know what they want but have never written it down.

The problem with not writing it down is that it’s not front of mind and it can have a lot of vague impressions rather than clear direction. It’s analogous to driving without lights at night. You have to go slowly and run the risk of crashing.

How to Write a Personal Mission Statement

First of all, make sure you have the time and energy to do it. If you’re a morning person, set aside a morning to do this. Allow at least an hour or more. If you’re a night person, carve out time at night to do it when you won’t be distracted.

Second, be sure to have a notebook or journal to write down different things as you go through the process. Paper is better than digital.

Third, understand that it may take several tries to come up with the mission statement that works for you and also that it may change as you age and gain wisdom. The process of self-discovery is as important as the mission statement. The mission statement should address aspects of your life such as health, relationships, career, personal development, financial status, education, and experiences. What follows are suggestions. You may expand or limit this list depending on your process.

Distilling Down to a Mission Statement

Now comes the real fun. Distilling down the information into a simple and easily remembered statement or at least something that’s relatively short. Prioritize your list so the most important things are on the list. Also, know that you may have sub-mission statements for individual categories like health or financial.

As long as you do the additional statements then it takes the pressure off of including everything in one statement. Write down something, anything, just to get started. Don’t judge it. Just do it. There will be plenty of time to revise it in time. Plan on writing it 10 different ways. Now read all ten of them out loud and underline the parts that you like the most. Reading it out loud is very important.

Now write a statement using as much of the underlined part as possible in one statement. Still too big? See if anything can be trimmed or combined. Read it out loud so you can hear it as well. Do it again. Repeat until you feel good about it.

When you have your three best versions, you will want to ask some of your close friends or family for feedback. Tell them what you’re trying to accomplish first. Then read it to them so they can hear your voice. The one that’s the best will be heard in your voice because it’s the one you feel the strongest about. Continue to expand your feedback loop as much as you feel the need.

Once you are happy with your mission statement, write it down and make copies of it so you can post it where you will see it repeatedly. Bathroom mirror, bedroom, kitchen, car, and other places are all good. It creates a constant reminder for you and it advertises to the world what’s important in your life. Other people will see it and help you reinforce it. (If someone puts you down about it or makes fun of it, you probably don’t want that person in your life as they will hold you back. This is a great filtering device so you are surrounded by the people who want you to succeed. )

Questions? Your feedback is always appreciated.

Thank you,

Kris

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Mom and Pop Business Challenges

2014-10-21T13:06:00Z

It’s no secret. We have learned a lot from growing �鶹ԭ�� together since 1988. We recognize that there are other people who idealize the concept of working with a spouse while there are others who say “No Way!” Our advice is, it depends on who you are. It can be the most rewarding and the most challenging experience of your life .

It will bring up all of your strengths and weaknesses. If you want to evolve emotionally, working with a spouse will give you lots of growth experiences. At the core, relationship and working partnerships require some mutually exclusive behaviors. This is why many successful couples have found that clear boundaries are essential to success. Limiting the overlap so that each person has autonomy in what they do is essential but also can produce a silo or compartmentalization within a company. The other dynamic which is particularly hard to manage is critical feedback. Whereas in a relationship criticism is a delicate subject, in business you must give each other honest and constant feedback. Navigating these areas requires discipline, patience and compassion. Choosing language carefully and using “I” statements are key. Working with therapists or coaches with experience in this area can be very helpful.

History

Nancy and I met at a Network Marketing meeting that Nancy was hosting. I was a software engineer at Lotus Development and was working in two start up companies at the time and had been in a high pressure time management class all day. Nancy was a polarity therapist, teacher and entrepreneur with her business, Polarity Realization Center in Gloucester. One of Nancy’s graduates, Margie Flint, brought me to the meeting. The polarity session with Margie was amazing and she was educating me on supplements that might be useful. I was extremely depleted at the time and she was right. The meeting was enlightening. Nancy and I had very little interaction at the meeting but that night Nancy got a message in a dream that we needed to meet. We got together to talk about business and had an amazing time. We rapidly and unexpectedly fell in love, got married, worked to build a couple of Network Marketing organizations and eventually, after building a house, decided to work together in growing the polarity school. It was clear to me that Nancy had an exceptional ability that needed to reach as many people as possible. She did excellent energy work but could only work with a limited number of people. Being able to expand this so more people could carry on the work was the driving force in growing the business. The world is in dire need of the level of healing that comes from polarity therapy, massage, and holistic aesthetics. The expansion into cosmetology was another surprise. But in time we discovered the convergence of appearance, skin health, energy work and bodywork was extremely powerful.

Lessons Learned

There’s no question that working together can be a roller coaster. It requires emotional intelligence and a lot of love and patience. It also requires commitment, a solid mission driven orientation and persistence. The challenge of both people being under stress at the same time and having no sanctuary to return to at the end of the day can be overwhelming. Finding balance, particularly family/work balance, can be extremely elusive. Over time you must find a way of creating sanctuary when you are not working. Another key factor is that there is an inherent tendency for familial patterns with some employees, consultants and customers to exploit the mother/father dynamic. You know the one where if your father says no you would ask your mother? Learning to avoid this requires constant vigilance. You must learn to check and direct the question or request back to the right person. Consistent communication is also critical. This is why we highly recommend that there is a well developed policy and procedures manual so everyone is on the same page. Your biggest task is to learn to say, “What does it say in the manual?”

Benefits?

If you can successfully navigate the many challenging areas, you will have the opportunity to know another human being to a greater degree than most people will ever experience. You will grow personally and if you are lucky, you will grow something together that brings value into the world. Growing your business is similar to raising a child: There will be stages that they go through and the older they get, the more mature and independent they will become. And hopefully, at the end, you will have had the chance to fulfill your personal and professional potential. Of course, we could write books on the subject but ultimately, whether this is the right path for you is something you need to consider very carefully. We wish you luck and prosperity as you create your future. Sincerely, Kris

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Spin Sell Your Mind

2014-06-02T08:24:00Z

If you haven’t read it yet, Spin Selling is an important book for anyone who is interested in fulfilling their mission. Note that selling and mission are not mutually exclusive. In fact, quite the opposite. You see, when you have a mission it usually involves getting other people to help. Most things of significant value require more than just one person can do by themselves.

Of course, there is nothing wrong with having a small scale mission like producing something solo but usually, if you want it to go into the world and improve the world you will probably need to involve others. Selling is a fundamental skill. Or a FunDayMental skill? It can be if you let it be. It involves a mystery, action plan, and outcome. It’s a puzzle to be solved and when you put all the pieces into place, it’s a really great feeling. The more you do it the better you get. And the real beauty is that it will usually contribute to higher levels of prosperity for you and possibly the other people as well.

For instance, if a person needed a better appearance to get a better job but were struggling with seeing the value of upgrading their hair and clothes, they would continue to not get to the next level of success. But if you are a master of selling, you will get them to see the value of everything you suggest and in the end, will feel better about themselves and move to their next level of success.

But what do you need to change to get better at selling? Spin Selling teaches you the mechanics. What follows here is what you have to change inside your head. That’s the mental part of FunDayMental.

How Do You Change Your Perception?

Energy precedes form. What we believe we can do tends to be the upper limit. If we believe 3 is the limit, it will likely be 3 or less. If we believe 10 is the limit, we may get to it or a little below. But that’s only if we are really honest and ready to do the work.

Here’s the challenge: If we feel that the people we have talked to really aren’t ready for what we have to offer, there is no reason to expect them to be ready. The only time that changes is when we see differently. I can’t stress this enough. People respond to our energy.

When we don’t think the market is there, they pick up on it as well. When we perceive what is possible it changes the way we see the world and the way we see them. It’s in our voices and the way we talk to them and the energy of the space. It’s the difference between being proactive and reactive.

The question, and this is very important to understand, is can you change your perception. Not just tell me what I want to hear but actually change your perception and go to another level. It can happen. This may sound discouraging but it may also seem like an Aha! I don’t want to lay a trip on you or make you think you aren’t doing your job.

I’m just letting you know that I have seen people walk in and sell things to people when other people were convinced that they weren’t ready to buy and had very solid reasons and evidence to back it up. Then the person who could see differently talked to the buyer and something shifted. The person talking to them understands on a profound level how much the buyer needs what they are selling. And from that understanding, they can see the person utilizing what they are selling. And suddenly the other person starts to see it as well. It seems like magic and it is.

Keep up the good work!

Kris

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Success with Audience Focus

2014-01-17T08:24:00Z

While watching the Rolling Stone’s movie, Sweet Summer Sun, the reasons for the success of the Stones over 5 decades was evident. Even though it’s clear that the Stones are elderly and not at the top of their game anymore, their ability to deliver an uplifting experience is still there. The voice-over comments by the various band members is the icing on the cake of a show that is fascinating to watch as a musician, performer and mostly as a business owner.

It’s important to understand that Mick was a student at the London School of Economics before his music career flourished. As Bette Midler put it, she had the chance to meet Mick and David Bowie and thought they were going to talk about music but the conversation was all about contracts, trucking, human resources, and marketing. But I digress.

The point is that the Stones are by no means the most talented musicians or have the best voices or even the best songs from a composition point of view. The thing that the members understand the core of their being is this: Give the audience what they want!

How the Rolling Stones Succeed

This is on display in the movie as the band, with over 50 years of songs, put their whole concentration on playing the songs the audience wanted to hear, not what they wanted to play. It’s important to understand that this can be a hard thing for the creative personality to accomplish as it’s easily boring and wants to do new things all the time. So for the band to focus on playing songs they have played thousands of times before and bring to it the attempt to make it, in the words of Keith Richards, “better than ever before,” demonstrates their deep commitment to putting the audience first. And you can see this throughout the movie as they dig deep to reach the energy of what they are trying to create even if their playing is not as crisp or versatile as when they were younger.

Mick Jagger also stated that his whole focus is on how to build a crescendo that peaks at the end of the concert and you can watch how he projects that energy into a huge audience. It’s truly an amazing performance to study. He focuses on the people. He totally connects with every person he can, both on stage as well as in the audience. He works the energy masterfully. And of course, one of the things that come out the most is this: They love what they are doing.

Now we have no way of knowing that for sure but that is absolutely what they project to the audience. Their support of each other and their focus on working as a team is also an important part of the presentation. Their wisdom about energy is wonderful to absorb.

Success with Your Audience

So how do you apply this to your career and life? It’s all about energy and intention.

The movie shows the power of both and gives you a chance to reinforce your commitment to bringing your audience the best experience possible. And what is it that they want? They want you to be ready, full of energy for them, focused on them and what they want you to help them to accomplish. Whether it’s a massage, polarity, spa treatment or hairstyle and make-up, they have expectations and it’s your job to understand what it is and to deliver it at a high and consistent level with joy and focus.

So if you have time to watch this movie, I highly recommend it. It will get you revved up and fill you with energy that will carry into your professional and personal life. It’s time well spent. Enjoy!

Sincerely,

Kris

P.S. Are there other performances or places that you can share in the comments where you have found similar inspiration? Or is there something you have found that helps you to create the performance that your clients look for? Please share so we may all learn. Thank you.

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Blue Monday?

2014-01-06T08:22:00Z

I saw an article today that shocked me.

I woke up really happy that it was Monday at the beginning of a full week of work. The partial weeks caused by the holidays had finally come to an end and the blizzard of distraction was finally behind us. At last, everyone would be able to focus on creating their future and gaining momentum with their goals for the coming year. The path to prosperity was open and ready for traffic.

Then I was checking the news and read that the first Monday in the new year was considered Blue Monday, the unhappiest day of the year.

Shocking

How can this be? They have their whole life and future in front of them! And therein lies the problem. Because most people don’t enjoy what they do and the reality of returning to work after having some time to rest and evaluate life (particularly with a new year) highlights the disparity between what they want to do and what they are doing.

To me, the big question is what causes people to persist with doing something that they don’t enjoy? Life is so short. Spending days trapped in careers, relationships or situations that they don’t enjoy is fatal. Every moment that they are stuck sucks the life force out of them. The immune system gets a clear message that they don’t want to be alive. And then they wonder why they get sick? Did you know that Monday mornings are when most people have heart attacks?

Again, the cause is the same. Despair turns into a clear message: Kill me now!

Why Not Change?

And of course, the biggest question of all is why stay in situations that are killing you? Everyone has their reasons, I’m sure. But given that it’s a choice between being alive and healthy or dying prematurely and miserably, does it really seem like there is a reason that is better than making a change?

I know this seems obvious but ask yourself: How many people do you know that stay in unhappy situations? It’s their primary topic of discussion as it infuses all aspects of their life. Material things or the false appearance of security overrides their ability to act. Their energy goes into trying to compensate for their pain and misery rather than being creative and making a better life happen.

We live in a land and time when we have more opportunity than ever before. If someone is serious about improving their life, they can. We don’t have a caste system or monarchy that prevents us from exploring other possibilities. All we have is our own internal limitations. If this is true for you and you want to learn to overcome these limitations, start by deciding to change and committing yourself to seek the means to change.

This blog has lots of additional guidance to help you move forward. There are lots of workshops and practitioners in the world that can help as well. If you know of a Polarity Realization trained therapist or RYSE Practitioner you are fortunate since they can help you to break through what’s holding you back. I wish you the best of luck and I hope you can turn Blue Mondays in the future into Opportunity Mondays instead.

Sincerely,

Kris

P.S. If you’re looking to break out of your rut, this is a great time of year to do it. Let us help you. Visit www.Spa Tech.edu and find out more about our programs.

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Is Facebook Still Relevant for Business?

2014-01-02T13:05:00Z

The relevancy of Facebook or other social media for business is a constant question. The bigger question is what are you trying to accomplish and what platform works best. There are many to choose from. If you are building a professional network LinkedIn is probably the best one to use. Facebook and Twitter can be valuable as a place to post specials and last minute appointment openings but for the most part, unless someone has very few friends, they won’t see what you post. Facebook keeps changing it’s formula for what gets shared. If you have a fan page with lots of friends and you post something, the chance of them seeing it is very low.

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Review – Jonathan Douglas Salon

2014-01-01T13:03:00Z

As the skin care industry rushes forward with new scientific advancements and state of the art products, my curiosity is frequently piqued by new research, in this case, Stem Cell research. In my search for new stem cell facial technologies I made an appointment with Jonathan Douglas, who is giving stem cell facials . Jonathan is co-owner of the Jonathan Douglas Salon . Surprise! I didn’t just get a great facial. I got an awesome massage along with it in a beautiful large treatment room pleasing to all senses.

The Jonathan Douglas saloon houses hair services on the first floor and a large room on the second floor. The room has a fireplace, couch and two massage tables. Lying on the perfectly warmed up table with my eyes closed I could sense the light and sparks of the fire as well as the very warm lighting from two lamps. The sound system was excellent and it was enhanced by small bell sounds and running water. Although the saloon is on Route 1, the size of the room and the sound blocked out all road sounds. The Treatment: Jonathan started with an excellent back massage, obviously done by a well trained therapist with a decade of experience. The facial was perfect. Besides the stem cell therapies, Jonathan was very knowledgeable about peels and had several at his disposal. The peel was followed by a beautiful mask. While the mask was on, Jonathan continued his excellent massage on shoulders and feet. Although I was planning only one session, the results were so good and the treatments so enjoyable that I decided to see what the next treatment was like and have since had several treatments, each building on the other. Jonathan has done an excellent job with integrating Aesthetics and Massage. His business acumen is top notch: The salon traffic supports his aesthetics and massage work and vice versa. Jonathan graduated from �鶹ԭ��. In 2003 Jonathan completed �鶹ԭ��‘s Therapeutic Massage Career Program as well as Level 1 Polarity Therapy. In 2004, Jonathan graduated from the Spa Tech Institute 600 Hour Aesthetics Career Program. I asked Jonathan a few questions. In his own words: Jonathan, how did you ultimately choose the Collin ® G.M product line? I went with the GM Collin line after years of looking at and trying products. I found the line that gave the result that people were looking for (instant). People don’t just want a facial anymore, they want results for the money they are paying and this line gives them that without having to go under the knife. Why did you choose to study both massage and aesthetics? I studied both because they both go hand in hand. I feel you give a better facial as a massage therapist. And you now have a customer for 2 services instead of 1 and your customer loves that you can help them for 2 services and not change to another person! 3. How do you put together your Massage/ Aesthetics treatments? How do you vary them? I spread them out over the day. I work on 8 people a day. I start with massage and toss in a facial and maybe end the day with a facial so it’s not constant pressure on my body! 4. What advice would you give students choosing a program or program of study (Aesthetics / Massage?) Do them both and give your customer your all! When I do a massage, a facial or both, I give my customer everything I have in a service and when they exhale you know you have done it! With all the competitors out there people want a great service to keep coming back, so give it to them. I have had several customers say they have tried massage and facials everywhere and they come back to me because of the service that I give, they get it no where else! 5. In designing your therapy space, what were your considerations? I designed my therapy space with one thing in mind, what would I want if I was getting a massage! So I added a warm atmosphere with a fireplace, mood lighting, warm feeling paint. When my customer walks in the room they get that sense of deep breathe and they know they can leave it all behind even if it’s just for a little while. 6 . Other comments? It’s all about the customer and if they pay for a 60 minute massage then give them 60 minute of rub time not 50 minutes and 5 minutes to get undressed and 5 minutes to get dressed. Remember your customers are your livelihood, Give them everything you can give and make your treatment worth paying for! It is clear that Jonathan practices what he said above giving each customer an exquisite experience. You can reach Jonathan at: Jonathan Douglas Salon 207-871-8942 www.JonathanDouglasSpa.com Author: Nancy Risley, RPP, RPE, BCPP is the VP of Education at �鶹ԭ�� and Founder of Polarity Realization Institute. Nancy loves to follow up with graduates in her quest to keep all curricula up to date and relevant to the changing industry. If you would like to have a review of your business, please contact Nancy at �鶹ԭ�� to schedule a time.

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Relationship and Prosperity

2014-01-01T08:21:00Z

Like it or not, your relationships make a big difference in your prosperity and abundance on many levels. Good relationships are the fastest route to creating prosperity that will support you throughout your life. Bad relationships will destroy everything in your life. There is no way to be abundant and not maintain good relationships. Everything you do is dependent on people. You cannot succeed without having good relationships. Whether you create a product, service, or idea, if you don’t have good relationships you won’t be successful in bringing it to market. It’s through the support of your community that people will help you to deliver what you have created. It is through having good relationships that people will continue to support what you create.

Where to Start

Start with your most important and enduring relationship first. If you don’t have a good relationship with yourself, eventually it will show up in all of your external relationships with others. Listen to your self-talk or internal narrative. This is a strong indication of what you think of yourself.

When you look in the mirror or think about who you are and what others think of you, what do you see and hear in your head? Do you approve of yourself, have gratitude for all that you are and forgive yourself if you make a mistake? Do you celebrate yourself and wake up glad to be you?

Of course, this doesn’t mean being self-absorbed. It means that when you do think of you it’s without negative thoughts. In fact, the least self-absorbed people are the ones who are the happiest with themselves. That’s because they don’t have to draw energy from others to make them feel complete.

The other important thing to remember is that loving yourself is the highest honoring of spirit. It’s impossible to be spiritually alive and awake without loving yourself. Since all abundance flows from the same source that creates you, you must love you to allow the source to fill your life.

Secondary Relationships

Your kids, parents, siblings, friends, clients, and colleagues are all extremely important relationships that give insight into you. Any unresolved issues are always a manifestation of issues within you . If the issues are truly resolved within you, there will be no charge on it for you. It will be neutral. So look at your issues with others and determine why the issue is still active. Understand your role in creating the issue and why you have not been successful at forgiving yourself. Of course, this process takes a lot of honesty and integrity. Most of the time our mind and psyche will run away from looking at our shadow side. That’s where strength and determination are important.

What is a higher priority? G etting it right inside of you or protecting your narrative? Oddly, it’s through changing your narrative that you can find your resolution and rewrite your relationship with yourself.

Freedom comes from being able to understand what part of your narrative is flawed or stuck in the past and what you can do to update it to match your current goals and desires. So take the time to work on these relationships and on re-writing your narrative and watch what happens. You will see that you are able to move forward much faster and without tripping yourself up. You will also find that others will respond to you differently and support you more in what you do. And if they don’t support you, you will be free to move on to focus on those who do.

As you work on your relationship take note of the changes that happen in all aspects of your life. Notice how much easier it is to get what you want and how much more flows into your life. Let your focus be on what you want to create and be grateful for the abundance that is filling your life. And always, be super grateful and enthusiastic about the fact that you are ALIVE. That is the greatest gift you have.

Be well and happy,

Kris

P.S. If you have any thoughts on what has worked for you or stories about what happened in your life when you started loving you, please share it. Together we grow. Thank you.

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Getting Hired 101

2013-09-13T09:52:00Z

I recently received the following response to an employment ad for the school. In the ad it requests that the person send in a resume if they are interested in the position. Here is what they sent.

Hello. My Name is John Doe. I am very interested in the position you have listed. I have never actually built up a resume, but I can provide references and Job history. I have worked for near ten years scheduling, managing, and handling an Art gallery/tattoo studio. About 80% of my days were spent on the phone. I also ran a dunkin donuts for over a year in this time, so fast paced customer service is something I am no stranger to. I would love to talk more with you if you are interested. 555-555-5555. Thank you for your time.

Is this extreme? Not at all. I encounter this about 10% of the time. People ignore what is requested in the job listing. A resume isn’t important to them so they don’t understand why it should matter to anyone else. To them it’s just a formality. Of course, the grammar, capitalization, presentation and several other issues are all red flags as well for someone who is applying for a position that states that good verbal and written communications skills are important. Here was my response.

Dear John Doe;

I want to share something that may be helpful and please know that I’m sharing this with all due respect and no insult intended.

The interview process begins with the response we receive from the ad. In the ad it states to send a resume for several reasons which include understanding a person’s written communications and presentation skills, what their education and work experience looks like, particularly duration at each job, and to get a sense of who they are. When the first thing that we ask for is not provided, any employer will see that as a sign of a person who does not follow directions or doesn’t value the employers time.

You could be the best employee in the world, a hard worker and very intelligent and if you can’t deliver what’s asked for, your value is diminished. You are also in competition with other people for the position so the person who makes it as easy as possible to be hired is the one who is most likely to get the job. Providing what’s requested, being available for interviews and being excellent at following up are the things that employers look for.

If you would like to apply for this job, please submit your resume and I will be happy to forward it to the hiring manager.

Respectfully,

Kris

p.s. I hope this information will help you find jobs that are worthy of your skills and intelligence.

The point of this is for everyone to understand the following: Employers are very busy, usually have reasons for what they ask for and will hire the person who is the most responsive. The job of getting a job is the job of listening to what is being asked for, supplying it, whether it’s explicitly or implicitly asked for, and to anticipate the needs of the employer as much as possible. This requires paying close attention to what is written or said (take notes) and assimilating it as quickly as possible. The person who demonstrates this ability has an unfair advantage over all other candidates. The employer not only appreciates that they employee understands what’s expected and responds appropriately, they also expect that these same skills will be applied to customer interactions and working with fellow employees as well. So take this value lesson from John Doe and use it to make yourself the most employable person in the world. It’s a skill that you will be using repeatedly so the faster you learn it, the more you will prosper. (After all, even if you have your own business, you will be using this skill with every customer.) So get really good at it and watch your career take off. Kris p.s. And remember to learn everything you can about the company before the interview (Google and website) and remember to send thank you notes when an employer takes the time to interview you. This will give you a triple advantage. http://Spa Tech.edu

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Facebook Posting Frequency

2013-08-20T13:02:00Z

What Posting Frequency Works Best on Facebook and Twitter?

If you have a business listing, this is an important issue that is very important due to changes that were implemented at Facebook and Twitter recently. We are reviewing this at the school now. We have many Facebook pages and they are linked to Twitter as well. A year ago the professionals were advocating posting hourly so you would show in the news feed when people were on.

The logic was that people only see a small amount of the traffic. But then Facebook and Google changed their parameters for what is called the “surfacing” formula which is what determines which things you see and which ones are buried.

Less is Now More, Again

Now it’s all about Engagement. The higher the engagement, the higher your posts will rank. The following articles add some interesting insight to the discussion. http://www.socialbakers.com/blog/882-secret-social-marketing-tips-best-post-frequency http://snapshotsocialmedia.com/content-marketing/top-challenges-in-content-marketing/

Discounts Are King on Social Media

One thing that is indisputable is this: The number one reason people will go to your professional page is if they can get discounts or free stuff.

Key Points to Remember

Given this short list, here are my recommendations for people in the spa, salon and health industry.

The search and social companies have one thing in common: They are trying to make it so the content is relevant to what the audience wants. If you post just to get noticed but there isn’t much value, you will fall in relevancy. If you are posting something of true value your relevancy will increase. So focus on giving people what they really want and you will do well, no matter what changes the companies make to their products.

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APTA, RPP, BCPP and You

2013-08-09T13:00:00Z

A graduate recently posted a great question in the Facebook, �鶹ԭ�� Career Builders about the value of APTA, RPP and BCPP in light of the fact that Polarity Therapy is still relatively unknown and the view that the APTA has done little to promote polarity.

The acronyms stand for American Polarity Therapy Association (APTA), Registered Polarity Practitioner (RPP) and Board Certified Polarity Practitioner (BCPP). The BCPP is an independently administered certification exam that measures minimum competency to enter the industry and call yourself a RPP. The purpose of having an independent exam is to create a level of credibility that other organizations, most notably insurance companies, a credential that justifies authorizing insurance payments for the services. The insurance companies need to justify what they cover and this is the way they have chosen to sift out the thousands of options that exist.

The question is, why is this valuable when APTA has done little to make polarity a household term? What value does it have to clients if they don’t even know what polarity therapy is? And why pay the money to get certified and registered? This is a core debate that has been raging in the APTA for 2 decades. There are those who see the value of regulation and others who are against it. And it’s a fact that the organization has remained small because of this debate and the direction that the APTA has taken. It’s much easier to regulate than to promote. At the same time, without good research to back up the work, it’s harder to promote. So the organization and the industry finds itself in an awkward position. The lament of many new practitioners is: I know this fabulous work but nobody knows what it is. It’s true that it is not as widely known as massage, reflexology or reiki. It takes time to gain recognition and polarity is relatively new compared to massage and reflexology. Reiki has the distinct advantage that the very small amount of training required to call yourself a Reiki Practitioner has opened up the field to a large number of people who do the work. But the biggest issue with Polarity is this: Doctor Stone developed the work, shared it with a few people, and then moved on. Other methods that have gained prominence have usually had a founder who promoted the work for an extended period of time. With polarity there have been practitioners who have adopted the work but there is yet to be a person who has stepped forward with the authority and power to promote Polarity into a brand. And more often than not, the strongest leaders in the field have moved on to promoting their own work which is often an extension of polarity therapy. That being said, Nancy had a full-time practice with a 3 month waiting list as early as 1983. That was 30 years ago. Polarity was completely unknown at that time. A posting by one of our polarity students on Facebook last week was that he had just gotten 6 new polarity clients. I only worked on men and my part-time practice was full with a waiting list in 1989. This was without APTA, RPP or any other credential. So at the end of the day, a full and thriving practice hinges on one key factor: How well you market your practice, both before, during and after the session.

But What About the BCPP?

But on to the BCPP and RPP. The key is this: With the new Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) there are opportunities being created for alternative care as well as problems that are going to push more companies into self-insuring. One company that’s ahead of the curve is Parker-Hannifin, an international company with a very forward thinking CEO. As part of their self-insurance program they focus on self care, prevention and education. This has opened up opportunities for practitioners that have taken a national certification exam in their profession. It still requires the individual to market themselves internally to the potential clients but once the employees have chosen their alternative therapies, the company reimburses them for their sessions. This can only happen with modalities that have national certification. Thanks to some very forward thinking and hard working people in the APTA, the organization has developed the national certification exam process for polarity that has opened up these doors. The exciting part about it is that Parker-Hannifin is keeping very good tracking statistics and finding a very high value to working with alternative therapies. These results will likely be the supporting documentation that drives the insurance industry well into the future. The key to the future for individual practitioners is to understand that you must earn your place in the world as a care provider either through working for a company who markets you or by doing your own marketing. Your attitude, demeanor, enthusiasm and dedication is what will define your success. Some people are succeeding while others are not which demonstrates that success is possible if you do the right thing. Many people who are struggling blame the industry instead of understanding that they have to learn more about marketing their practice. If you are an independent practitioner you must be good at marketing. There are no alternatives. Additionally, the thing that will move the profession forward is completely dependent on the actions of each individual. There will be some who take on the challenge of elevating the profession and others who wait for others to do it for them. It comes down to a simple personal choice: What is your mission and how are you going to execute it? Whether you choose to take the path of getting credentials that open additional doors to work or decide to work independent of any reimbursement structure, it’s possible to have a successful practice either way. But it’s important to understand the importance of marketing and then learn everything you can about how to market your practice. There are a lot of resources available on the professional websites as well as through the school. The biggest challenge is to embrace the time and energy that goes into marketing, particularly if you have a block to marketing yourself or your practice. As always, we recommend RYSE or ARYSE to help move beyond blocks and to move into your success. That’s what it was made to accomplish. Be courageous and change the world. Sincerely. Kris p.s. Are you looking to learn more about marketing your professional practice? There’s a lot to learn. Let us know your questions.

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National Certification Exam

2013-07-30T08:51:00Z

The National Certification Exam for Massage and Bodywork is an exam that was developed in the 1990s under the mandate of the AMTA (American Massage Therapy Association). It is a written test only and does not have a practicum. The exam requires graduation from a program of at least 500 hours of study.

The recognition of the exam varies by state and municipality. Although the exam is not required by most states, it’s can be helpful if you are considering moving to another state in the future. It can also be used to demonstrate your commitment to your professionalism.

It is recommended that you take the exam as close to your graduation as possible. The exam focuses on terminology. If you are like most people, retention of terms is difficult so the sooner you take the exam, the better.

Be sure to read the link for the NCBTMB policy on criminal background checks ( http://www.Spa Tech.edu/ncbtmb-crime-policy.html ). Remember, the exam is not required in most states but it is important to know, from the beginning, that you may have eligibility issues if you have a criminal record. This may also impact your ability to get licensed in the future.

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Open House and Event Dates

2013-07-29T21:29:00Z

Want to learn more and get free demonstrations, mini sessions, and information about financial aid for qualified students, licensing information, schedules and more?

Or if you want to learn something new or experience doing some of the work, our other free events offer a range of options that are enjoyable and fun.

The Open House is a great way for people who are thinking about entering the field to learn more. There’s no obligation and it’s a chance to get educated on careers in the spa, salon, and holistic health fields. You can also learn about financial aid for qualified students, talk to the teachers to learn more about the programs, and most importantly, talk to the students to find out what they are learning and their experience at �鶹ԭ��.

You are welcome to bring your friends and family to introduce them to the school and get free massage and polarity mini sessions or come to the cosmetology, barbering, and skincare open house to get a preview of coming styles and techniques as well as experience elements of the work.

We look forward to meeting you and helping you learn more about these exciting careers.

Free Event Dates

Ipswich, MA Call 978-356-0414 to reserve your place or get more information.

Plymouth, MA Call 508-747-3130 to reserve your place or get more information.

Westborough, MA Call 508-836-8864 to reserve your place or get more information.

Westbrook, ME Call 207-591-4141 to reserve your place or get more information.

The post Open House and Event Dates appeared first on Spa Tech Massage School Maine .

Massage School in Massachusetts

2013-07-29T21:04:00Z

Professional Massage Therapist Benefits

You also can create flexible schedules that fit your other commitments, work in the resort or cruise industry in interesting places or have your own business.

But the best-kept secret is that you get to experience the relaxation of massage for several hours a day at the same time you get to move around and use your body. There is no healthier occupation that we know of. And your clients love what you do for them. It’s great to be in a profession where your clients appreciate you.

Where Consciousness Meets Touch

Massage school is a transformative experience. Not only do you gain valuable knowledge about how the body works and how to have better health, but you are also surrounded by other massage therapy students who are excited to be learning the work. And the best part is that you practice on each other almost every day.

As a school built on the foundation of understanding energy, �鶹ԭ�� massage school focuses on going beyond the techniques of massage into a deeper understanding of learning to read what your client’s body is communicating. This is known as consciousness oriented touch and it makes all the difference in the quality of your sessions. Employers understand the difference and clients can feel the difference.

The �鶹ԭ�� Difference

You can choose between the deep tissue, therapeutic oriented program or the advanced program that includes polarity therapy. The advantage of incorporating energy concepts into a massage session is profound as the body’s relaxation response makes it easier to go deeper in a more harmonious way. The massage school offers these programs to increase your options of where you work when you graduate.

Employers recognize the advantages of graduates who have trained at a massage school that offers a broader skill set and have also trained in a massage school that offers other spa-oriented services. Additionally, the ability to work effectively with a broad skill set allows you to address a wider variety of health and wellness issues in your sessions.

Features

By learning the science of massage at the same time that you are learning the hands-on techniques, you learn much more quickly and easily.

Our Holistic Massage or Therapeutic Massage curriculums are carefully constructed and taught to give you the maximum expertise in the shortest time.

Classes may be taken either in our full-time or half-day (9-1:30) weekday programs or the part-time evening programs to meet your needs.

Getting Started is Easy

Whether you want to go to massage school now or in the future, taking the next step is easy.

We highly recommend setting up an initial massage school tour to review your options for becoming a professional massage therapist. You may also find receiving sessions in the student massage school clinic helpful to better understand the techniques you will learn and the quality of the training.

Starting is simple: Simply fill out the response form or contact the campus nearest you to schedule an appointment for an information meeting.

For additional consumer information please visit https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/ and search on this and other schools.

We look forward to meeting you soon.

The post Massage School in Massachusetts appeared first on Spa Tech Massage School Maine .

Massage Therapy School in Maine

2013-07-29T21:04:00Z

Where Consciousness Meets Touch

You also can create flexible schedules that fit your other commitments, work in the resort or cruise industry in interesting places or have your own business.

The �鶹ԭ�� Difference

Employers recognize the advantages of graduates who have a broader skill set and have also trained in a school that offers other spa-oriented services. Additionally, the ability to work effectively with a broad skill set allows you to address a wider variety of health and wellness issues in your sessions.

Massage School Features

By learning the science of massage at the same time that you are learning the hands-on techniques, you learn much more quickly and easily.

Our Holistic or Therapeutic Massage curriculums and Polarity Therapy program, designed and implemented by the PRI Educational Development Company, are carefully constructed and taught to give you the maximum expertise in the shortest time.

Classes may be taken either in our full-time or half-day (9-1:30) weekday programs or the part-time evening programs to meet your needs.

Getting Started is Easy

We highly recommend setting up an initial interview to review your options for becoming a professional massage or polarity therapist. You may also find receiving sessions in the student clinic helpful to better understand the techniques you will learn and the quality of the training.

Starting is simple: Simply fill out the response form or contact the location nearest you to schedule an appointment for an information meeting.

For additional consumer information please visit https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/ and search on this and other schools.

We look forward to meeting you soon.

The post Massage Therapy School in Maine appeared first on Spa Tech Massage School Maine .

Energy, Time and Abundance

2013-07-28T08:20:00Z

I had the most amazing experience after the July ARYSE. (For those of you that don’t know, ARYSE stands for Advance Realizing Your Sublime Energies) It seems like a vortex has been created that has shifted my perception of time. It’s like a time warp that has created more time in my life or perfect timing. Perfect timing or something that creates time is the ultimate prosperity. Money, possessions, and many other things can be gained or lost, but time is unique is that once a second has passed, it’s gone forever. Of course, if you want to get esoteric about it, that is not entirely true but in our linear experience of time, it appears that the sequential marking of time is only one direction. Anyone who knows me already knows that I tend to work 70 hours a week and usually only sleep about 4 hours a night, so as you may imagine, time is very precious to me. Having more of it is a tremendous gift. So what happened after ARYSE is fairly remarkable.

How Time Shift Manifested

The shift in time has manifested in three ways, all of which are very valuable to me. However, it took me a while to see what had happened. At first, I thought that things had actually gotten worse with time working against me. I started discovering problems at work that I didn’t know were there, got stuck in traffic in odd ways and was late for appointments (I’m usually 10 minutes early). I was feeling frustrated because it seemed like obstacles were interfering with my progress. It wasn’t until I was hiking that it hit me. All the obstacles were actually related to timing working better for me.

While I was hiking the time flew by and everything afterward, including my communications, is more to the point and effective (although there may be people who are not as comfortable with the directness, the end result is that they are going to be more effective as well). Getting used to this new relationship with time will take some additional adjustment but it reinforces the power of working on your alignment and clarity.

And this has made me curious to know: Has anyone else had the same experience of having their sense of time shift as a result of receiving energy work? If so, what’s your experience?

Inquisitively,

Kris

P.S. Your comments are greatly appreciated.

The post Energy, Time and Abundance appeared first on Spa Tech Massage School Maine .

Manicuring – Nail Technician Program in Maine

2013-07-19T09:52:00Z

Please Note: This program is only available in the Westbrook Maine campus at this time.

Manicuring is about more than Nail Tech. It’s about making people feel special through pampering and nail art. Whether it’s your primary service, your specialty or an addition to other skills you already have, it’s both fun and valuable for your career.

�鶹ԭ�� has created a unique approach to helping clients attain optimal nail care treatment. This program represents the future of Nail Technicians in the Spa Industry. You learn not only how to work with state of the art technology but also how to build a strong nail tech business that creates loyal customers who come to you on a regular basis.

By using the latest gel products developed by OPI, you will be able to apply your artistic skills in new ways that clients will love. And even more importantly you will learn the OPI marketing techniques that create a successful business.

Manicuring Program Information

SOC CODE 39-5092-00

This course of study prepares the student for complete care of hands, nails, manicure license and entry level employment as a manicurist-pedicurist. Upon completion of required hours and passing with 75% in all subjects, student will graduate and receive a certificate of completion in manicuring. A state exam is required for licensing. Subjects included:

Professional ethics 15 hours
Hygiene\Bacteriology\Sterilization and Sanitation 15 hours
Study of Nail & Disorders 15 hours
Manicuring\Pedicuring\Artificial Nails 100 hours
Study of Skin & Disorders 15 hours
Anatomy & Physiology 20 hours
First Aid 5 hours
State Law 15 hours
Hours required for graduation 200 hours

Payment Plan (No financial aid offered for manicuring course)

Consumer Information Required by the US Department of Education

Final regulations published in the Federal Register on October 29, 2010, [75 FR 66665 and FR 66832], by the U.S. Department of Education (the Department), require institutions that participate in the student financial assistance programs authorized under Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended (the HEA), to report certain information about students who enrolled in Title IV-eligible educational programs that lead to gainful employment in a recognized occupation (GE Programs). Those regulations also provide that institutions must disclose to prospective students certain information about their GE Programs. Finally, the new regulations require an institution to notify the U.S. Secretary of Education (the Secretary) if it wishes to add additional GE Programs to its list of Title IV-eligible programs. All of these requirements are effective July 1, 2011.

In order to be eligible for funding under the Title IV programs, an educational program must lead to a degree (associate, bachelor’s, graduate, or professional) or prepare students for “gainful employment in a recognized occupation.” In addition, virtually all programs – degree and nondegree – offered by proprietary institutions must prepare students for “gainful employment in a recognized occupation.”

CIP and SOC Codes and Links

The CIP Code Descriptions can be found at http://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/search.aspx?y=55 and the SOC Code Descriptions can be found at http://www.bls.gov/SOC/ if you would like to do additional research into the training and occupational outlook.

Employment Related Links

It’s important as you review the employment information to remember that these occupations have a lot of self-employed individuals and that they are cash businesses that include tips and product sales. The information from the US Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics may not properly account for the actual income and employment outlook due to these issues. It’s recommended that you talk to people who have been successful in the profession to find out more about these careers.

The following links and information are used as a reference to aid you in your decision around your educational choices. It is grouped by occupational category to assist you in learning more. Go to http://www.onetonline.org/ for additional information on employment and enter the codes listed above.

Completion Rate Information

The completion rate information gives the student an opportunity to understand the expected time for completion of a program. The department of education guidance on completion information includes “On-Time Completion”. The definition of On-Time Completion is not clearly defined by the US DE. In a Dear Colleague Letter http://ifap.ed.gov/fregisters/FR102910Final.html it’s states as follows:

Therefore, to minimize burden on institutions while providing meaningful information to prospective students, an institution must calculate an on-time completion rate for each program subject to the gainful employment provisions by: (1) Determining the number of students who completed the program during the most recently completed award year. (2) Determining the number of students in step (1) who completed the program within normal time, regardless of whether the students transferred into the program or changed programs at the institution. For example, the normal time to complete an associate degree is two years. The two-year timeframe would apply to all students who enroll in the program. In other words, if a student transfers into the program, regardless of the number of credits the institution accepts from the student’s attendance at the prior institution, the transfer credits have no bearing on the two-year timeframe. This student would still have two years to complete from the date he or she began attending the two-year program. To be counted as completing on time, a student who enrolls in the two-year program from another program at the institution would have to complete the two-year program in normal time beginning from the date the student started attending the prior program. (3) Dividing the number of students who completed within normal time in step (2) by the total number of completers in step (1) and multiplying by 100. With regard to the commenter who believed that a student could not miss a single day of classes to complete a program on time, we note that under Sec. 668.4(e) a student can be excused from attending classes. Under this section, a student may be excused for an amount of time that does not exceed the lesser of (1) any thresholds established by the institution’s accrediting agency or State agency, or (2) 10 percent of the clock hours in a payment period. Absent any State or accrediting agency requirements, for a typical payment period of 450 clock hours a student could miss 45 hours. In the commenter’s example of a 1,500 clock hour program, the student could miss 150 hours and still complete on time for this requirement. Also, under Sec. 668.41(a), normal time for a certificate program is the time published in the institution’s catalog and that time may include make-up days. So, an institution could schedule make-up days, as part of normal time, to enable students who missed classes to complete the number of hours required for State licensing purposes.

Institutional Completion, License and Placement Rates

It’s very important to the school that you fully understand the institutional completion, license and placement rates for the school as reported to the US DOE. These figures are updated on an ongoing basis as part of the school’s reporting process so the rates may change depending on the time of the year you look at the rates.

The individual school rates can be found at the following online resource.

Maine

Westbrook Campus: http://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?q=spa+tech&;;;s=ME&id=445629

Please Note: The Westbrook, Maine massage, polarity and aesthetics program information was lost by NCES when the Portland campus was moved to Westbrook and the two entities were combined. We are in the process of getting the combined information restored.

Consolidated from NACCAS Annual Report

The following information is part of a specific group of �鶹ԭ�� Schools with a Main Campus in Westbrook, ME and Additional Locations in Ipswich, Plymouth and Westboro, MA. Differences in tuition are noted by campus and program where applicable. The completion and placement rates are based on the NACCAS annual report.

Completion, License and Placement Rates for 1/1/09-12/31/09 taken from NACCAS annual report calculation:
Completion Rate: 79.07, Licensure Rate: 98.45 Placement Rate: 83.25

Listed below is the Tuition and Fee Schedule as of 6/1/2012. Changes in tuition, fees, books and supplies will be posted as they occur. The changes will only apply to programs that start after the effective date of the new pricing and will not affect currently enrolled students. These charts reflect all approved Title IV eligible programs offered by �鶹ԭ�� campuses in the states of Maine and Massachusetts.

*Fees: The only fee is the non-refundable application fee which covers the administrative costs of processing an application and doing preliminary Financial Aid processing.

Median Debt by Program

“Median Loan Debt” reflects the median loan debt incurred by students who completed the program, between July 1, 2009, and June 30, 2010, including Title IV program loans, private educational loans and institutional financing plans.

Net Price Calculators for various campuses.

The Net Price Calculators are rough calculations of the total cost of your education, including factors such as if you are living at home or on your own, cost of transportation and other expenses. These calculations are based on a computation supplied by the Department of Education. These calculations are based on the largest program at the campus. Your actual cost may vary depending on the program you attend as well as the schedule you choose. The calculators can be found by going to the following links:

Employment Related Links

The following links and information is used as a reference to aid you in your decision around your educational choices. It is grouped by occupational category to assist you in learning more. Go to http://www.onetonline.org/ for additional information on employment and enter the codes listed above.

The post Manicuring – Nail Technician Program in Maine appeared first on Spa Tech Massage School Maine .

Breaking News for Polarity Therapy

2013-07-19T09:50:00Z

The world of Polarity Therapy is about to change. Will you be ready?

The new Affordable Healthcare Act (Obamacare) is about to change the health-care landscape forever. Besides stating the obvious that the health-care availability will probably be strained by additional people using it and an aging population, thereby making it very important for people to avoid getting sick, but also there are a lot of changes caused by the cost containment provisions that will cascade through the system.

In addition to the increased focus on preventive care*, there is another whole aspect that most people don’t know about. Nancy has been working closely with Integrative Health Providers who are on the leading edge of the changes that are coming and Polarity Therapy is perfectly positioned to take advantage of those changes.

Because Polarity Therapy is already an integrative care model, it will fit right into what’s coming. But even more exciting is that some of the more progressive companies that do self-insurance are already driving the process and Polarity Therapy has proven to be a powerful tool in reducing their health-care costs.

The following information from Nancy Risley is an indication of where things are heading. As Chair of the APTA Certification Board for Polarity Practitioners, Nancy has been very involved with a process that is making this all possible. Here’s what she can share at this point.

Polarity Therapy – the Future is Now!

If you’ve experienced Polarity Therapy, you understand why it’s been called the Healing Art of the Future. The exciting thing is the future is happening now.

Polarity Therapists now have access to a new status, Board Certified Polarity Practitioner (BCPP). Because of certification, doors have been recently opened to Polarity Practitioners under insurance coverage starting with a large self-insuring company. Several locations of this company have already hired Polarity Practitioners as providers for their employees. In three locations, the employees chose Polarity Therapy has their preferred holistic or integrative modality of choice for several reasons:

An initiative has started to introduce Polarity Therapy to other locations in New England.

An ROI (Return on Investment) study has been completed and is yet to be released on the effectiveness of Polarity Therapy and how much money the insurance company is saving on medical expenses. An eight-month study showed savings for medical cost in the $600,000 range with several scheduled surgeries reversed and no Workman’s Comp claims were made. This is only the beginning. The person who spearheaded this initiative is working on more studies and opening up more insurance reimbursed avenues for Polarity Therapists. Why are they doing this? Because it works!

The founder of �鶹ԭ��, Nancy Risley, is a member of a group involved in opening up these opportunities in New England. This is only the beginning. We are also investigating other avenues through different care initiatives to bring polarity to the public. This is being driven partly by provisions in the Affordable Care Act, both directly and indirectly.

If you’ve been called to Polarity Therapy for a long time, this is a great time to consider studying and getting your BCPP. This way you will be ready as the opportunities arise. As she did earlier this year, Nancy will continue to actively work with graduates of �鶹ԭ�� who are BCPP approved as the opportunities open up.

We have always known that Polarity Therapy was powerful and effective. The hard part has been to get other people to understand how effective it is. In our “no pain, no gain” society the process of discovery has been slow. But at long last, it seems that the world is waking up to this exciting news.

We look forward to having you join us on the forefront of this new wave of Polarity Therapy as it expands into the world.

Sincerely,

Nancy Risley, RPP, BCPP, RPE

* The preventive care and additional links are only the tip of the iceberg. The act is 1990 pages long so what you are seeing here is a subset. There are a lot of additional provisions and initiatives built into the act as well as mandates to define additional provisions as they are implemented. This process may take several years which is why Nancy is involved with a group of people who are actively involved with changes.

Watch this page for updates on the progress as things will be changing continually.

The post Breaking News for Polarity Therapy appeared first on Spa Tech Massage School Maine .

Polarity Therapy in maine

2013-07-19T09:48:00Z

“Energy is the real substance behind the appearance of matter and forms.”

“The medicine of the future will be energy medicine, and chemical medicine will be a subset of medicine as a whole. Probably 80 percent of medicine will be energy medicine, and 20 percent chemical medicine.”

Polarity Therapy is a path for people who are committed to working with advanced, integrative healing techniques that are based on harmony with the body, mind, and spirit.

Whether you are already an energy worker who is looking for a more clearly defined model, a massage therapist who keeps sensing that there is more going on than the rubbing of muscles, or you are intuitive, sensitive to energy and tuned in to vibrational healing, Polarity Therapy offers a path of knowledge that strengthens you as you learn and do the work.

As you learn the Polarity, you may feel like you were born knowing polarity or discovered it on your own personal journey as a healer. Learning polarity therapy is more like remembering than it is like learning something new. As a polarity therapist, you unlock your own potential as you perform the work on others.

Polarity therapy is particularly powerful for people who meditate or are committed to their spiritual path. It is impossible to work with high energy without being transformed into new levels of understanding and awareness.

What is Polarity Therapy?

Polarity Therapy is the application of how energy manifests in the human form and the ways that it can become blocked, causing illness, or cleared to create health. It was developed in 1940-1980 by Doctor Randolph Stone, a Chiropractor, and Osteopath who searched the world over to find what prevented people from healing.

With concepts from the new field of Quantum Physics that recognized energy as the building blocks of matter and finding the energy-based healing modalities including Chinese medicine and Ayurvedic from India, he created the breakthrough model known as Polarity Therapy. Polarity Therapy includes energetically based bodywork, thoughts/beliefs, exercises, and nutritional understanding.

The 660 clock hour Polarity Therapy program offered at Spa Tech is based on decades of work by author, developer and teacher Nancy Risley, RPE, BCPP, who is also the Chair of the American Polarity Therapy Association, Board of Certification for Polarity Practitioners. Her unique understanding of transformational healing work uses a powerful combination of Polarity Therapy and energy techniques developed in Realizing Your Sublime Energies (RYSE) which was developed by Nancy. The synthesis of these two techniques creates training that teaches self-clearing as the core of being able to clear others.

RYSE is the study and application of how to manifest your highest potential through energy awareness and intention. Using this energy as a tool for self-transformation through self-realization, you learn to become an energetically aware being who is able to heal yourself on the most profound levels. This work is present in the form of advanced energy clearing techniques, energetically based channeling and communications, and client empowerment techniques.

The benefits of these combined modalities are that you move into a state of realization that allows for deep healing and the creation of new patterns of living that are consciously aligned with realizing your highest potential in all areas of your life. What you experience you can then teach to others through a combination of polarity bodywork, energy clearing, energetic nutrition, and energy exercises.

There are both introductory programs available for CEUs or for professional or personal development as well as the full RPP/BCPP training and advanced energy studies.

We look forward to working with you as you learn this exciting new field.

Polarity Therapy is the application of how energy manifests in the human form and the ways that it can become blocked, causing illness, or cleared to create health. It was developed in 1940-1980 by Doctor Randolph Stone, a Chiropractor, and Osteopath who searched the world over to find what prevented people from healing.

With concepts from the new field of Quantum Physics that recognized energy as the building blocks of matter and finding the energy-based healing modalities including Chinese medicine and Ayurvedic from India, he created the breakthrough model known as Polarity Therapy. Polarity Therapy includes energetically based bodywork, thoughts/beliefs, exercises, and nutritional understanding.

The 660 clock hour Polarity Therapy program offered at Spa Tech is based on decades of work by author, developer and teacher Nancy Risley, RPE, BCPP, who is also the Chair of the American Polarity Therapy Association, Board of Certification for Polarity Practitioners. Her unique understanding of transformational healing work uses a powerful combination of Polarity Therapy and energy techniques developed in Realizing Your Sublime Energies (RYSE) which was developed by Nancy. The synthesis of these two techniques creates training that teaches self-clearing as the core of being able to clear others.

RYSE is the study and application of how to manifest your highest potential through energy awareness and intention. Using this energy as a tool for self-transformation through self-realization, you learn to become an energetically aware being who is able to heal yourself on the most profound levels. This work is present in the form of advanced energy clearing techniques, energetically based channeling and communications, and client empowerment techniques.

The benefits of these combined modalities are that you move into a state of realization that allows for deep healing and the creation of new patterns of living that are consciously aligned with realizing your highest potential in all areas of your life. What you experience you can then teach to others through a combination of polarity bodywork, energy clearing, energetic nutrition, and energy exercises.

There are both introductory programs available for CEUs or for professional or personal development as well as the full RPP/BCPP training and advanced energy studies.

We look forward to working with you as you learn this exciting new field.

“After having one polarity session, and feeling the immediate peace and balance that occurred, I knew I wanted to share this experience with others. After eight years, I continue to enjoy a very successful practice and a superior quality of life.”

Linda Leith – PRI Graduate
Polarity Therapist/Owner – The Polarity Loft

Program Content and Course Descriptions

660-clock-hour Polarity Therapy career program (Preparation for the APTA (RPP) Registered Polarity Practitioner level of registration)

Associate Polarity Practitioner Training (APP) – Complete introduction to polarity therapy including basic theory, five elemental theory, spinal energy release, aura and chakra work, yoga and nutrition, cranial work, and how to establish a complete session. Includes focus on the relationship between client and practitioner in the energetic environment.
RYSE 1-4 (included in the Associate Polarity Practitioner Program) – RYSE is a 16-hour in-depth sophisticated awareness program for burnout prevention, alignment, and clarity. The content of RYSE also gives the student an added business skills knowledge base for the creation of a successful practice.
Basic Anatomy & Physiology – Foundational orientation in western anatomy and physiology taught in a highly experiential format to ensure maximum learning. The classes cover basic terminology and movement terms with an introduction to the skeletal and muscular systems.
Heart Resonance – Heart work brings soul energy into the body. Includes resonance of heart center, heart work, circulation problems, hypertension/hypotension, and cerebral-spinal fluid release.
Intuitive Symbolic Interpretation – Conscious channeling with an emphasis on learning to interpret the symbols of the subconscious in the communication process.
Advanced Vitality Balancing – Opening vitality pathways to release vital energy, freeing pent up fire energy. Includes umbilical, motor, and diaphragm release and energetic anatomy.
Advanced Nervous System – Balancing of parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous systems. Brings life force into the body. Used to correct deep water imbalances, chronic lumbar and leg problems.
Craniosacral – Understanding and recognizing three body rhythms, principles of craniosacral therapy, diaphragm release and CSF pump.
Advanced Fire Work – Diaphragm work, correcting low vitality, including energetic anatomy and fire releasing techniques.
Psychosynthesis Body Awareness – Client-centered approach to communications including how to give clients tools to hear, understand and heal what their bodies and nervous systems are telling them.
Advanced Cranial – Includes occipitotemporal region contact, stretching and opening the foramen magnum, techniques for cranial sore spots, gas related headaches, eyestrain, hearing and balancing energy currents of the body.
Transitions & Empowerment – Bringing to completion of disempowered/unhealed aspects of ourselves. Look at mythology and use of inner child work to facilitate the highest healing.
Color Therapy – Study of color and light as powerful healing tools, deepening understanding of vibrational healing and polarity.
Sacral & Sacroiliac – All vital impulses of motor energy that the soul brings are lodged in the sacrum. The sacrum is called “the sacred bone” and is an important area to work on in a polarity session.
Advanced Chakra & Energetic Anatomy – Next level of chakra system repair including closed, congested, torn, blown out, ripped or damaged chakras, the root, and screens.
Advanced Spinal & Client Evaluation – Includes “the Countryside Technique”, to open the spine and back, assessing client’s vitality through pulse, tongue and facial diagnosis.
Sound Therapy – Learn to listen with an intuitive ear and how to use voice and other sounds to move energy. Includes attunement exercises for learning to hear blocks and find the most appropriate tone for clearing client, yourself or your space.
Cycles of Transformation – Explore models of cycles used to guide the transformation process.
Advanced Aura & Energetic Anatomy – Clear numerous auric problems including spikes, protrusions, chelation, Ida & Pingala, air and water patterns.
Energy Field Reading – Learn to read signals of a client’s life force or consciousness through the physical body.
Advanced Polarity Bodywork – Quick reflexes to release pains in legs, muscles in back, stomach and abdominal problems.
Polarity Realization Distance Healing – Use between sessions and to increase own energetic skills; based on advanced energetic concepts taught in RYSE.
Hips & Pelvic Alignment & Polarity Bodywork – Hips and pelvis form base of body’s geometry and play a major role in overall alignment.
Polarity Yoga Teacher Training & Nutrition – Simple exercises based on the subtle energetic/structural need of a healthy body. Learn to teach polarity yoga classes. Nutrition used as a path for healing or a tool for reaching high levels of clarity/vitality.
Advanced Anatomy & Physiology (Muscles) – Covers the musculoskeletal system in greater detail along with pathologies of these systems. Learning the structure of the body in detail assists in more effective technique, as well as more confidence and understanding of massage. Prepares students for the anatomy and physiology component of the National Certification Exam.
Advanced Anatomy & Physiology (Systems) – Covers the systems of the body and their pathologies excluding the skeletal and muscular systems. Prepares students for the anatomy and physiology component of the National Certification Exam.
Business Skills- The overall goal is to help students establish the business container that will support a successful professional bodyworker long-term. The specific goal is to help students define and set up a basic business plan, go over marketing and quality control.
Professional Development and Empowerment Training – Bringing professionalism to the next level, the goal is to define the student’s mission and vision, create brochures and offer the student in-depth client empowerment through upholding clear, professional ethics.
In Class Clinics / Integration / Supervision – Evaluation of professional skills in a clinical setting are invaluable for learning to hone skills as a therapist.
Advanced Integration & Evaluation – Detailed evaluation of technique, communications skills and professional demeanor designed to give you the highest levels of success.
Student Clinic Experience – Provides an optimal experience for the practice of bodywork, communication, and business skills under supervision at the School clinic. The clinic is open to the public and will provide the student with a diverse practice base.

Polarity Therapy School

2013-07-19T09:48:00Z

“Energy is the real substance behind the appearance of matter and forms.” -Randolph Stone, DO, DC, ND: Founder of Polarity Therapy

“The medicine of the future will be energy medicine, and chemical medicine will be a subset of medicine as a whole. Probably 80 percent of medicine will be energy medicine, and 20 percent chemical medicine.” – Robert Jacobs, N.M.D. D.Hom. (Med), London England

Who Is Polarity Therapy For?

Polarity Therapy is a path for people who are committed to working with advanced, integrative healing techniques that are based on harmony with the body, mind, and spirit. Polarity therapy is particularly powerful for people who meditate or are committed to their spiritual path. It is impossible to work with high energy without being transformed into new levels of understanding and awareness.

What is the Science of Polarity Therapy?

Polarity Therapy is a broad term that defines a primary construct of a physical body, the human energy field. Every day there are new studies that validate what the holistic and energetic healing community has known for centuries: The body has an energy field that affects our physical body. The fields of chiropractic, osteopathy, acupuncture, holistic health, homeopathy, yoga, tai chi, meditation, and many other fields have described it in different ways. Polarity Therapy combines many of these concepts to create an integrated description that covers the phenomenon of the human body.

Of course, the scientific method (what can be measured and recorded) is unable to address the field of human energy due to limitations in the ability to measure it with the current technology. Remember that DNA, mitochondria and the microbiome are all relatively new fields of study and that science is working to get closer to understanding what’s happening with human energy systems. As science becomes increasingly refined, it is getting closer to “discovering” the energy system. But it’s still in the future. This is similar to gravity: The effect of gravity can be measured but science still doesn’t know what makes it work. These are indeed exciting times.

What’s it Like to Learn Polarity Therapy?

This is difficult to describe as so much happens on so many levels. As you learn Polarity Therapy, you may feel like you were born knowing polarity therapy or discovered it on your own personal journey as a healer. Learning polarity therapy is more like remembering than it is like learning something new. That’s because everyone, whether they perceive it or not, has an energy system that needs corrections.

But more importantly, as you learn the techniques and practice the work, it changes you. If you are receiving a session, you are in the energy of Polarity Therapy healing for 60-90 minutes. However, when you give sessions multiple times a day, you are in that same energy for hours on a daily basis rather than once a week or once a month. Being in the energy for extended periods of time transforms your perception and your body. You also receive sessions as part of your polarity school experience.

The exposure to this much transformative and healing energy changes your nervous, endocrine and other systems and may also be changing your mitochondria, microbiome and even your DNA. The end result is that almost all Polarity Therapists realize a profound shift in their perception and intuition along with physical changes in their bodies and their lives.

What is Polarity Therapy?

Polarity School Programs

The 660 clock hour Polarity Therapy program offered at �鶹ԭ�� is based on decades of work by author, developer and teacher Nancy Risley, RPE, BCPP, who was also the Chair of the American Polarity Therapy Association, Board of Certification for Polarity Practitioners. Her unique understanding of transformational healing work uses a powerful combination of Polarity Therapy and energy techniques developed in Realizing Your Sublime Energies ( RYSE ) which was developed by Nancy. The synthesis of these two techniques creates training that teaches self-clearing as the core of being able to clear others.

Polarity Programs Offered at the Polarity School

There are both introductory APP programs available for CEU ‘s or for professional or personal development as well as the full RPP training.

We look forward to working with you as you learn this exciting new field.

Please note: The APP, RPP, and BCPP designations are terms used by the APTA (American Polarity Therapy Association) and they do not confer the ability to meet licensing standards. APTA is not a licensing body and therefore makes no claim as to the value of an RPP or BCPP designation in meeting licensing requirements. The APP, RPP, and BCPP designation are terms used exclusively by the APTA to recognize the level of training that a course provides or whether a person has passed the BCPP exam. Licensing is controlled by state and local governments. All questions as to the level of education or credential required to practice should be directed to the state or local government where you intend to practice.

“After having one polarity session, and feeling the immediate peace and balance that occurred, I knew I wanted to share this experience with others. After eight years, I continue to enjoy a very successful practice and a superior quality of life.”

Linda Leith – PRI Graduate
Polarity Therapist/Owner – The Polarity Loft

Polarity School Program Content and Course Descriptions

660-clock-hour Polarity Therapy career program (Preparation for the APTA (RPP) Registered Polarity Practitioner level of registration)

For additional consumer information please visit https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/ and search on this and other schools.

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Cosmetology in Westbrook, Maine

2013-07-19T09:45:00Z

�鶹ԭ�� Beauty School in Westbrook, Maine

Featuring industry-leading Pivot Point International training materials and support.

Now also offering Limited Barbering Program

Do you want a beauty school that goes beyond the basics with an emphasis on learning to think like a designer and develop skills to succeed?

The �鶹ԭ�� Style Show is just one example of how the school takes your work to higher levels.

Beauty and Inspiration: An Important Element of Learning

Not only do you learn the basics, but inspirational work that lets you experience the high-end fashion aspects of cosmetology are also important to your education. That’s why the Annual Style Show is an important part of your experience at �鶹ԭ��. From creating the show to raising donations and doing designing and modeling, you can participate on many levels.

Your Career, Your Future

A career in cosmetology lets you develop your creativity, both artistically and professionally. Whether you work in a salon or spa, for a product company, in the entertainment field or have your own business, it’s whatever you want to make it.

�鶹ԭ�� graduates have a reputation for being among the best. Graduates are sought after by salons and spas throughout New England because of the quality of the education taught at the school. In fact, many of the high-end salons in Maine are owned or managed by graduates of the school. They know that �鶹ԭ�� graduates are ready to succeed.

If you are like many of our students, you have been interested in beauty and style most of your life. You are an artist. What you are about to find out is that there is a science to cosmetology so you can produce the look you want to achieve.

Why Pivot Point International is Superior

Pivot Point International is a pioneer in the field of cosmetology education. You don’t learn a paint by the numbers system. You learn to see, think, create and adapt as a designer so you can be an innovator of future trends.

As an elite school with over 30 years of experience, we know the importance of thinking like a designer. That’s an important reason why most of the top salons and spas in the area are frequently owned or managed by graduates of the school. Additionally, many salons prefer graduates who know the Pivot Point system because it’s what they use as well.

This year you will have the added advantage of the Pivot Point online Artist Access which allows you to review what you have learned in class and enhance your studies online. This gives you an exceptional opportunity to learn like never before. The Artist Access program is a powerful new tool to ensure your success.

They want you to not just get a job. They want you to get the best job in the place where you want to work.

The teachers understand this and put in a great deal of time and effort to develop your creativity. The style shows created by the students are great examples of the many fun and imaginative ways that the teachers help you develop your talent as a designer. Check out the shows on the �鶹ԭ�� YouTube channel.

�鶹ԭ�� Student Clinic

The �鶹ԭ�� student clinic services 50-100 clients a day, giving you the experience you need to be a successful professional. You become salon-ready performing cuts, colors — including foils, perms, facials, waxing, makeup, nail art, and many other high-end services.

As part of your clinic experience, you also learn to use the acclaimed Guest Vision point of sale system. This is the same system used by Fantastic Sams, Super Cuts and many other salons throughout the world. You also learn best practices for customer care and product marketing, two very important points with employers.

Additional Benefits

One of the advantages of going to a multi-discipline spa school is that it better prepares you for the environment in most elite salons. To help you learn more about the other services offered in high-end salons and spas, you receive coupons for a free facial and a free massage or polarity session in the student clinic. In experiencing the work first hand you learn how to cross-market these services, a skill that is deeply appreciated by salon and spa owners and managers.

But more importantly, you learn the importance of maintaining your most important instrument: Your body. Learning self-care to address the long term physical stress of being a successful cosmetologist is an important skill that can add years or decades to your career.

Another great benefit is that you receive discounts on future classes you may take at �鶹ԭ��. Dual licensing is the trend of the future, particularly for those who want to open their own spa or salon.

It’s Up to You

The opportunity to create a great career that is creative, fun and can pay very well is just a few steps away. We know there is a lot to consider which is why we encourage you to come in and learn more. Find out if this is the right profession for you, your options for financing your education and more. There is no obligation. Just make an appointment to meet a Career Adviser and see if it’s what you want to do.

You can call us at 800-262-8530 to set up a time to meet. We look forward to meeting you and helping you get all the information you need to make an informed decision.

What our students say about the program.

Consumer Information Required by the US Department of Education

Cosmetology Program in Maine

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Botox®, Restylane®, and other injection therapies

2013-07-19T09:41:00Z

Please Note: Botox® and other injection therapies cannot be taught in Aesthetics or Cosmetology programs.

Botox®, Restylane®, and other injection therapies are growing in popularity. As with any new technology, the true test of the results and side effects may take several generations to be fully understood. As has been seen with antibiotics, we are still learning about side effects and problems from administering these wonder drugs too often.

At this time, only medical professionals (MD) or someone working under a medical professional (nurse) are authorized to give injection therapies.

There are several reasons why people who are interested in doing Botox® and other injection therapies are interested in becoming aestheticians.

There is nothing more beautiful than healthy, vibrant skin.

The post Botox®, Restylane®, and other injection therapies appeared first on Spa Tech Massage School Maine .

Medical Esthetics and Medical Esthetician License

2013-07-19T09:39:00Z

Medical Esthetician License

At this time there is no license for Medical esthetics in Massachusetts or Maine. Most other states also do not have a license for medical esthetics. Although there are schools that will advertise that they offer medical esthetics, the actual licensing of medical estheticians are rare. Most schools have been forced to drop the terminology of a medical esthetician.

Most esthetician schools offer some degree of information on working in a clinical setting. However, schools that offer only courses of 300 hours are limited in what they can teach during that time.

Clinical Esthetician Training

Working in a clinical setting often involves working with patients either prior to or following surgery. Our programs focus on this information as well as the overall health of the skin. Healthy skin is by far the most attractive skin and the major focus of our programs.

It is important to remember that only trained medical professionals can perform injections and other invasive procedures. Therefore schools should not be teaching Botox, injections or other highly invasive procedures. Schools are also frequently restricted from teaching laser treatments and other various technologies that may emerge in the future. The Board of Cosmetology is very clear about the scope of practice for estheticians.

As always, it is up to the consumer to be aware of what they are purchasing. Be careful that the schools or programs you are selecting are reputable and accurately reflect the current laws and regulations in their pieces of training. The school business is highly competitive and some schools will exaggerate both what they offer as well as the quality of their training.

The best measure of a school’s success is to ask salons, spas and other employers about which schools give the best training.

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Lasers in the Esthetics Profession

2013-07-19T09:37:00Z

Please Note: Laser training taught in Massachusetts Esthetics or Cosmetology programs do not prepare a person to work with lasers under their cosmetology or esthetics license. The esthetics license in the state does not cover laser treatments.

Lasers are evolving quickly and laser treatments are in high demand. That being said, the laser is expensive, the licensing is currently in an underdefined state and the liability and expense is extremely high. In the current environment, many states, including Massachusetts, have specifically forbidden esthetics schools from offering training on lasers and laser hair removal. Schools may provide a demonstration of lasers and laser hair removal, but actual training in lasers and laser hair removal is not approved by the state of Massachusetts.

Laser hair removal and other laser techniques can be practiced by anyone who has been trained in the technique. Some states require the practitioner to be a nurse or doctor while others have no restrictions. For this reason, in many states, anyone who can afford to buy the equipment and pay the liability insurance (which is very high) can do laser hair removal and other procedures.

There are several reasons why people who are interested in doing lasers are also interested in becoming estheticians.

Future regulations for laser hair removal and other laser procedures are under intense review. It is up to anyone who uses lasers to know the status of the laws in their state. It’s important to know that the laws about lasers could change at any time.

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Massachusetts Esthetician School

2013-07-19T09:36:00Z

Massachusetts Esthetician School

The Age of Skin Care and Esthetics

In this time of cameras on phones and social media, appearance and skincare become very high priorities. Studies have shown that image management and confidence in your appearance help with career success. This new reality is driving the esthetics and skin care industries with new products, equipment, procedures, and spas.

But estheticians are not only in demand at spas. They also have private practices, are product demonstrators and educators. An esthetician license is an important credential that will build your future career.

Esthetician School Training

As an esthetician, your understanding of the science of skin care is very important to the quality of your work and your professional success. Equally important is the scope of what you know how to do and the attention you bring to a session.

Success comes from clients that rave about your work. That’s why the esthetician school gives you a wide selection of spa-oriented techniques at the same time it focuses on developing your professional presentation of the work. The combination of advanced skills, conscious focus and unique services such as aromatherapy customized blends will support your goals of being a top-level aesthetician.

With the focus on natural skin health, the products that you use in the esthetics school are some of the most natural products on the market. We continually search for and use the newest and healthiest products we can find because healthy skin and beautiful skin are one and the same.

Since the esthetics school goes beyond the basics and delves into the power of consciousness oriented touch and very natural products, your clients will have something to rave about, and that’s what creates referrals and career success.

The 600-hour esthetician program can be completed in 6 to 12 months depending on the schedule that works for you.

Esthetician School Schedule

You can choose a full-time day, part-time evening or half-day mother’s hours programs at the esthetics school. To find out more about schedules for the esthetician schools in Massachusetts, please call the school at 800-262-8530 to set up an appointment to meet with an Admissions Officer.

Visiting the esthetician school to review your goals, class schedules and to learn about financial aid for students who qualify is simple. You can use the form at the top of the page to request a time to meet or you can call 800-262-8530 to set up a time to meet an Admissions Officer at the esthetician school.

We look forward to learning more about your interest in becoming a professional esthetician.

Detailed Aesthetics School Features:

600 Hour Massachusetts Aesthetics Program Additional Curriculum

If you have any questions, please call us at 800-262-8530 and we will be happy to help you.

For additional consumer information please visit https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/ and search on this and other schools.

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Maine Esthetician School

2013-07-19T09:33:00Z

The Age of Esthetics, Skin Care and Appearance

In this time of cameras on phones and social media, skin care and esthetics has become a very high priority. This new reality is driving the esthetics and skin care industries with new products, equipment, procedures and spas. Studies have shown that image management and confidence in your appearance help with career and personal success. It makes sense that you will be more successful if you feel good about how you look.

But estheticians are not only in demand at spas. They also have private practices, are product demostrators, product developers and educators. An esthetician license is an important credential that will build your future career.

Esthetician School Training

As an Esthetician your understanding of the science of skin care is very important to the quality of your work and your professional success. Equally important is the scope of what you know how to do and the attention you bring to a session.
Success comes from clients that rave about your work. That’s why the esthetics school gives you a wide selection of spa oriented techniques at the same time it focuses on developing your professional presentation of the work. The combination of advanced skills, conscious focus and unique services such as aromatherapy customized blends will support your goals of being a top level esthetician. With the focus on natural skin health, the products that you use in the esthetician school are some of the most natural products on the market. We continually search for and use the newest and healthiest products we can find because healthy skin and beautiful skin are one in the same.

Esthetician School in Maine, 600-clock-hour Esthetics Career Program

The state of Maine requires 600 hours of training for an esthetician license. The 600-clock-hour esthetics program prepares you for the state exam in Maine as well as giving you a wide range of skills that will increase your marketability and earnings potential. The esthetician school prepares you for working in clinics, spas and having your own private practice or business.

The esthetics program can be completed in 7 months, full-time, or 12 months, part-time. The program is designed around using natural products that nurture and cleanse, with an emphasis on integrating advanced therapeutic touch skills. The esthetics school is unique in the industry for teacing the consciosness oriented touch skills that employers recognize as producing a higher level of session for the client. When clients have a deeply moving experience, they rebook frequently as well as refer new clients to your practice. referrals are the core of any highly successful professional practice.

You can get more information on the aesthetics career training at the esthetician school by contacting the admissions department at 207-591-4141 or by clicking on the request button at the top of the page. It is recommended that you set up a preliminary interview to find out more about the esthetician school, schedules and financial aid for qualified students. You may also want to have a treatment in the esthetics school student clinic to get a first hand experience of what you will be learning and have a chance to speak with students and teachers..

For additional consumer information please visit https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/ and search on this and other schools.

We look forward to meeting you soon.

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Esthetician School

2013-07-19T09:29:00Z

No matter how you spell it, Aesthetics or Esthetics, healthy skin is on everyone’s mind and our Spa Oriented Esthetician Programs are redefining the industr Skin is the single largest organ of the body and healthy skin has a significant impact on overall health. The following video is a great introduction to some of what you learn in the esthetics program.

But that’s just for starters. Additionally, in this highly visual age with digital camera’s, television and the internet, appearance has never been more important. When people feel good both physically and about how they look, they do better in life. This is what will drive the industry for years to come.

This new reality is driving the esthetics and skin care industries with new products, equipment, procedures, and spas.

But estheticians are not only in demand at spas. They also have private practices, are product demonstrators, develop their own unique products and are educators. An esthetician license is an important credential that builds your future career in many different ways.

The �鶹ԭ�� Esthetician School Difference

Attention to Intention: The difference between a good session and a great session is the conscious touch of the practitioner. The esthetician school focuses on teaching you the technical skills needed for excellent sessions but also how to focus your intention to create sessions and services your clients will want to share with others. These subtle skills help you to tune into and connect with your client on a higher level. This is the foundation of a successful career in esthetics.

New Natural Skin Care Products from Around the World: Unlike schools where you are trained primarily on house brand products, at the esthetics school we are constantly searching for and finding the newest and best skin care products on the market. The industry is evolving quickly and learning on more than the “school” brand of product prepares you to work in high-end salons and spas.

Creating a Successful Career: Loving the products you use and teaching your clients how to take care of their skin between sessions with you is a key factor in having a successful career. Learning how to teach your clients to use products that will improve their skin health and appearance is an important part of your education. A large portion of your income is based on product sales and employers look for estheticians who not only know how to do the service but also how to effectively educate the client on the value of the products they use between appointments. Your education includes learning the skills to educate your clients and help them with purchasing decisions.

Primary or Dual License in Esthetics

Skin care and esthetics is an essential skill for all successful spa and salon professionals as well as a wonderful addition for massage and polarity therapists to add to their practices. The baby boomers are aging and seeking these services in spas, clinics, and salons to look and feel their best. Every year the esthetician school sees more employers looking for dual-licensed estheticians and massage therapists.

As a spa professional, massage therapist or cosmetologist, offering esthetic services increases your customer’s satisfaction and dramatically increases your income through product sales. It also reduces the workload on your body, which increases your productivity.

Esthetician School Features

The esthetics school unique approach based on years of experience as massage and polarity therapists is redefining the industry. Unlike programs that focus mainly on the appearance of the skin, the training focuses on the client experience as well as making the skin healthy through natural products and carefully applied techniques. It utilizes conscious touch along with learning the science of esthetics to evaluate and customize your treatments for everyone you work with.

The feedback from clients and employers on this approach has been outstanding. Their experience is more than a facial or skin care treatment, it is a deeply transformative, relaxing and nurturing experience. Your clients will love what you can do for them and build your practice through referrals.

Spa and Esthetics Curriculum

Based on years of research and input from major spas and salons, the esthetics program prepares you for the professional exams needed for licensure and gives you the skills and knowledge that are in demand in spas and clinics. Additionally, the program focuses on the most natural and healthy products available on the market today.

So whether you spell it Aesthetics or Esthetics, a career in skin care offers great opportunity to do work you love with great clients who appreciate what you do.

To learn more either call the esthetics school or use the inquiry form above to set up a time to come and visit the esthetics school and get all of your questions answered. We look forward to teaching you this exciting new information on how to have a successful natural skin care career.

For additional consumer information please visit https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/ and search on this and other schools.

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Maine Massage School Program

2013-07-19T09:23:00Z

The massage school programs at �鶹ԭ�� in Maine are designed to give you a wide range of skills with a focus on developing a refined sensitivity to your client’s needs. Both the Holistic Massage and Therapeutic Massage programs are well known in Maine for the quality of the graduates.

Typically Holistic Massage is more appropriate in spas or works with children, the elderly, those trying to access creativity or those seeking personal transformation. Therapeutic Massage tends to be more appropriate for athletes and physically active people who could suffer from repetitive stress injuries or severe muscle strain or tension.

Both programs prepare you for licensing and the National Certification Exam for Massage Therapy and Bodywork. The massage license does not differentiate between modalities.
The programs can be taken either on a full or part-time basis.

The overview of the content of each program is shown in the chart below.

Program Content and Course Descriptions

Holistic Massage School Career Program

Therapeutic Massage School Career Program

For additional consumer information please visit https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/ and search on this and other schools.

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Massachussetts Massage License

2013-07-19T09:20:00Z

As of the beginning of 2008, the new massage license for Massachusetts is in place.

To find out more go to www.mass.gov/ocabr/licensee/dpl-boards/mt/ as it has been updated. Since the regulations will be going through constant changes, it is best to review the above link often.

There will be some confusion with various cities and towns but I emphasize that municipalities do not have jurisdiction anymore.

If you are a massage therapist, the grandfathering period expired on 5/1/2008. If you let your MA Massage License lapse, there is a process for getting it restored .

There is a page on Facebook for people who are interested in staying involved. It’s called Massachusetts Massage License Issues .

Good luck and may this leads to a new level of prosperity in your professional practice.

Important Notes:

It is important to note that this is a massage license. For people in the future who do only Polarity (and other exempted modalities listed in the law), they are not included in the regulations unless the person holds a massage license. The exempted modalities will need to approach their local municipalities to get a license or to get told that there is no license or to get a variance. If they are told there is no license then they can just get a business license and open up. APTA used to have a great written statement available to help with this situation. I will try to get it from them again.

Facility Licensing:

Be sure to stay up to date on the Establishment Licensing .
Currently, some towns in MA may tell people to still renew their massage licenses with them. YOU DO NOT NEED TO DO THIS. They have no authority to do it. Refer them to the website and get your state license in place.

As of May 1, 2010, the new Massachusetts Massage License standard requires 650 hours of study, none of which can be any form of bodywork including Polarity, Shiatsu, and a whole host of other things that are considered bodywork, energy work or spa-related services.

The operative date is when you apply for your license, not when you studied. Therefore, anyone who is not licensed already and applies after May 1, 2010, may need to take additional training to meet the new Massachusetts massage license requirements.

Q&A:

Q: The license requires insurance… but what if you work for someone who is insured? Is that the same?
A: People often think they are covered fully by an employer. This is not the case. This is why the board wants each individual therapist to have professional liability insurance. Your best bet is to join ABMP or AMTA and get your insurance with them.

Keep checking this page as we will include additional updates as they become available.

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770 Hour Holistic Massage Career Program

2013-07-19T09:19:00Z

Perfect for New Hampshire Licensing and More Versatility

A program that includes Deep Tissue, Sports and Clinical Massage as well as Polarity Therapy and RYSE and meets the New Hampshire license requirements.

For years people have been asking for this program. Now it’s here.

This is a holistically oriented massage and bodywork program that gives you a more extensive skill set than is offered in the 650-hour programs that focus only on massage therapy. Graduates of this program have a professional advantage over people who have only studied massage. But the best reason to take it is that you want to have the strongest set of skills possible and the ability to get excellent results.

In the past people would have to graduate from one program and then come back to take the additional information. Now, with the 770-hour program, you can take it all at once.

Program Content

This is our top level massage and bodywork program that combines the most important skills into a unified program. The new 770-hour program includes all the information and techniques of the 650 Hour Therapeutic Massage Career Program with the added benefit of Polarity Therapy and RYSE. This program prepares you for licensing in more states, including New Hampshire, at the same time that it gives you a broader set of skills sought out by spas and healing facilities that demand higher standards. Polarity Therapy is a powerful adjunct to Massage and the skills from RYSE will allow you to reach new levels of clarity and strength.

Includes everything from the 650 Hour Therapeutic Massage Career Program plus:

Polarity Realization Therapy: This powerful new way of working with the healing process allows for faster progress on a number of issues as well as the ability to work with more people and situations. Using Polarity Therapy allows you to work with people at higher levels of sensitivity who are unable to receive typical massage. Additionally, Polarity Therapy opens a wider range of options to help people reach their healing or transformational goals at the same time that it makes every session more interesting and diverse. But the best part is that Polarity sessions are cumulative which allows clients to continually evolve and reach new levels of wellness. This creates a much more successful practice that is more interesting and varied.

RYSE ®1-4 – RYSE® is a 16-hour in-depth sophisticated awareness program for burnout prevention, alignment, and clarity. The content of RYSE® also gives you an added business skill knowledge base for the creation of a successful practice. RYSE opens the door for perceiving client’s issues more clearly, allowing you to design sessions that are more powerful and produce deeper, more long-lasting value. RYSE is also a critical component of supporting you to stay clear and aligned as you see more clients and avoid the pitfall of burnout that many therapists with full practices fall into. It’s a life-changing education developed by Nancy Risley, RPP, RPE.

For additional consumer information please visit https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/ and search on this and other schools.

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650 Therapeutic Massage Career Program – Program Content

2013-07-19T09:15:00Z

This is an in-depth and well-constructed course of study that prepares you for working in medical settings, clinics, with athletes and with people recovering from injuries. An excellent curriculum taught by experienced, professional therapists who have received extensive teacher training, ensures effective and efficient learning. This is one of the top programs in the country for people looking for professional success in therapeutic massage.

Program Curriculum

For additional consumer information please visit https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/ and search on this and other schools.

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Massachusetts Massage School Programs

2013-07-19T09:12:00Z

You have Options: You can either take the 650 Hour Therapeutic Massage Career Program or the 770 Hour Holistic Massage Career Program depending on what you want to accomplish.

Both programs prepare you for licensing in Massachusetts and the national certification exams. However, the 770 Hour Holistic Massage Career Program also prepares you for licensing in NH and many other states that require more hours.

The programs can be taken either on a full-time, mothers hours, or part-time evening basis and can be completed in as little as 7 months or as much as 16 months.

For additional consumer information please visit https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/ and search on this and other schools.

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Programs

2013-07-19T09:09:00Z

Education – Invest in Yourself

Education is the best investment you can possibly make. The better the education, the more valuable your investment.

To fully appreciate why a �鶹ԭ�� education is superior, visit one of our student clinics and experience the work first hand. The professionalism and quality of our students speak for itself.

(See what employers and others say about �鶹ԭ��.)

The most important part is to get started.

The sooner you begin, the sooner you can start doing work you love.

Features

When you do work you love, you are living your genius.

You deserve a career you love. As a massage, aesthetics, spa or cosmetology professional you have control of your future and your life doing meaningful, creative and high paying work that no ordinary job can provide.

Whether you are starting a new career or adding to your existing skills, the various schedules make it easy to learn along with what you are already doing.

Your creativity is rewarded as you learn hands-on techniques that are fun and interesting. You gain the technical skills as well as the communications and business expertise needed to succeed . You will be amazed at how easy it is to learn skills that are relevant to your future. Your instructors are professionals that will help you develop the understanding and confidence to be successful.

If you are thinking about a career in therapeutic massage, polarity therapy, aesthetics skin care or cosmetology or beauty but are not sure if this is right for you, please go to career questions.

*�鶹ԭ�� was originally founded in 1976 as Headhunter II School of Hair Design, Inc., and changed its name to Headhunter Institute in 2001 and Headhunter �鶹ԭ�� in 2003. The teachers and staff of �鶹ԭ�� schools were hired from the Polarity Realization Institute, Inc. which was originally founded in 1980 as a Polarity school and Massage Therapy school. PRI provides the curriculum and teacher development used by �鶹ԭ�� for massage, polarity, and aesthetics.

Management of �鶹ԭ�� in Maine and Massachusetts

2013-07-18T10:36:00Z

School Owner

The school is owned by Career Management Systems, Inc. a school development company owned by Kris Stecker. Kris has been in the educational industry since 1986. Prior to this, he has worked in many fields including being a polarity instructor and practitioner, musician and engineer in recording, software development, quality assurance, and product development.

With a passion for improving the community through excellent career training that gives graduates both technical and life skills to be successful, Kris challenges the employees to exceed the expectations of the students and the public that come to the schools for services. His years as a Quality Assurance Engineer drives the school to prepare students to develop the professional attitude and commitment to excellence that makes the schools graduates valuable contributors to the success of the businesses that employ them.

He was one of the original members of the American Polarity Therapy Association’s Standards Committee that developed the first standards for Polarity Therapy. Kris has produced and performed on 15 CD’s used in the RYSE® and RYSE® Practitioner Training educational programs developed by his wife, Nancy Risley.

Message from the owner – Kris Stecker

Thank you for visiting our school web site to learn more about who we are.

There are a few simple keys to success in life: Look good, feel good and have a good attitude. The last one is much easier to do if you look and feel your best. And for anyone who has suffered through someone having a bad hair day can testify, nothing goes right when you don’t look good.

We are blessed with the best job in the world: We get to teach people in a career that they love at the same time we teach them to look and feel their best. Our graduates are changing people’s lives. The number of makeover shows and related beauty shows are a testament to the power that appearance plays in everyday life. Beautiful people that are well groomed and healthy make more money and are generally more successful in all aspects of life. This has been statistically proven.

As a consumer, you are faced with a difficult situation. Education is a very lucrative field and has attracted extremely aggressive companies who spend more on marketing and sales than they do on education. Your challenge is to get beyond the hype and discover the schools that can provide you with a truly superior education. We provide some pointers to help point you in your search.

The foundation of any school is the quality of instructors and curriculum. All schools claim to have the best so it is very difficult for the consumer to At �鶹ԭ�� we place a very high value on our teachers, both individually and as a team. We pay our teachers more than any other school and give them teacher training provided by Clear Point Education that is unique in the industry. It teaches empowerment, learning styles and teaching techniques based on over 25 years of training adult students. When you meet our teachers and see them working with the students in the cosmetology clinic you will see why our students excel. They are simply an excellent group of teachers.

One of our other goals is to teach our students life skills and communication skills that prepare them for a professional environment that is above the current industry standard. We believe that through teaching the students to handle themselves as mature professionals, conducting themselves with courtesy and confidence, they will influence any salon or spa they where they work.

I look forward to meeting our students and helping them discover their dreams.

Kris Stecker

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Build it and They Will Come?

2013-07-09T08:19:00Z

In this age of “Do what you love and the money will follow,” the challenge is to create a mission that makes sense for what you want to accomplish and gives you the support that you need to accomplish it. The problem is that too often the visionary leaves out the important system and financial aspects required to make a viable, sustainable business. The visionary tends to be idealistic and focused on the outcome of the product or service that’s desired rather than the practical aspects that are needed to support both the visionary and the business. The reason this becomes an issue is that, although the visionary has a very clear idea of what they want to create and they are very excited about the end result of the product or service that they are creating, they tend to be less interested in the business and logistic aspects of the challenge. Of course it’s important that they are excited about the product that they are creating as it gives them the energy to drive the process forward. But it’s equally important to get excited about the organization you are creating to deliver the product or service. Oftentimes the visionary has fantasies that someone will step forward to take care of the business aspects for them.

Who Is Minding the Business?

Although this can happen on occasion the majority of times the visionary is required to also be the creator and marketer of the business as well. Unless you already know who your business and marketing people are, you will quickly find difficulty in implementing your vision. Many visionaries would find this very discouraging and it may prevent them from moving forward with creating their product or service. But another possibility is to embrace a holistic view that includes creating the organization and marketing of the product or service. The same principles that apply to the product or service can also be applied to the creation of the company that delivers the vision. For instance, if you want to create a healing center, you will also want to apply the same values of healing to how you structure your personnel policies, who you hire and the company management style. It will also apply to the products you use and how you set up your space. As a core value it applies to your relationships with vendors and service providers as well. The key is to understand that everything is linked together and taking control of all aspects is an important part of the process. Of course with control comes responsibility, and that is perhaps the hardest thing to embrace. Sometimes it’s a lack of knowledge that people aren’t interested in learning. However, every successful business must be run by people that understand the core concepts and life-cycle of the business. A business or organization is an organic being that you create. To ignore parts of it is to prepare it to fail.

Where to Start

There are many valuable resources available for people that are getting started in the business. The small business administration’s SCORE program is perfect for people starting their business as the executives will ask you very probing and worthwhile questions. One important first step is to make sure that you have defined your personal mission.

Unless you address these issues when creating your business it will be hard to find long-term success. Another important aspect which is perhaps the hardest for someone to understand is that you should start with your exit strategy. The reality is that one day, no matter what, there will come a time when you must exit your business. That’s why it’s important that you start with your exit strategy and work backwards to how you are going to fulfill your vision. As hard as that is to grasp when you’re first starting out, the more clear you can be about your exit strategy the more likely you are to create the business in a way they will work for you. I encourage you to bring your vision into reality as the world absolutely needs everyone to make the biggest contribution possible for the future. The success of future visions comes from people with the imagination to see what doesn’t already exist. If you have the capability please use it to the fullest. That is what makes the world a better place. Kris p.s. As always, your comments and questions are greatly appreciated.

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Do You Hate Marketing Yourself?

2013-03-23T08:18:00Z

If You Don’t Market Yourself, You Will Have To Pay Others To Do It For You!

The reality is that most people never learn to market themselves and in fact many people are opposed to marketing themselves. This applies to all areas of life. If you have ever wanted someone to pay attention to you (called dating or mating) the defining principle is marketing.

Marketing is completely natural. And yet, most people either aren’t very good at it or are even opposed to doing it. I could spend time on why people have developed a dislike of marketing themselves but I’m not going to waste your time.

The important part is this: If you want to succeed you must learn to market yourself. The fantasy that you will be so good at what you do that the world will beat a path to your door is just that, a fantasy. That’s not how the world works.

Every successful person, including Einstein, had to market their idea. You must embrace this simple truth: If you refuse to learn to market yourself, you are relegating your success to other people who will market what you do.

Every successful business is founded on this principle. Massage Envy, Elements, Supercuts and others know that the people that work for them are incapable of marketing themselves. As a result, when you work for a successful marketing company you end up paying them. You will only be paid a percentage of what people are paying for your skill. The rest goes to the person who is doing the marketing.

How Much Are You Worth?

At a certain point you have to ask yourself, how much are you worth? If you believe you aren’t valuable, then why will other people believe you are? The difference is marketing! Marketing is simply the way that you tell the world that you are valuable. It’s the way you educate the world in the value of what you know or do. It’s the ability to clearly articulate and deliver a message to people that lets them know how they can benefit from what you know or do. That’s all it is. It’s not easy.

Marketing is changing all the time. But I can guarantee this: For anyone who understands that their success depends on mastering marketing skills, the future will open to you in a way that you can’t imagine. I want to stress that I’m not a marketing guru and that this is something that I have had to learn through trial and error. It has been a long hard road and I constantly am being challenged to get better. It never lets up. And I have learned that it doesn’t matter how good something is, if you don’t market it, no one will know. There is no option B. You either do it or you have to work for someone who will do it for you.

S o the first and most important step is to fully realize that to succeed, you must understand that you are in the business of marketing. That has to be your primary focus, every day!

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Facebook Marketing Changes

2013-03-18T12:59:00Z

Does Anyone See Your Facebook Posts?

It appears there has been a shift in the Facebook “surface” formula that is good to know if you want to build your social marketing effectiveness. The “surface” formula is what Facebook uses to determine what surfaces on your news feed and what remains hidden. Understanding the formula is critical to having your Fans actually see what you post.

Mark Zuckerberg recently stated that he wanted the Facebook news feed to become the news media of choice for members. I think Facebook has seen erosion as people get tired of seeing what people had for lunch or cute pictures of puppies or inspirational sayings. To combat this Facebook must maintain relevancy or lose viewers. As of the past week here is what we have seen happen with the activity on our postings.

That’s what we are seeing now. It will probably change in 3 to 6 months as they adjust the formula based on how people respond. I will continue to post when I see changes. Keep up the good work. Kris Stecker, President �鶹ԭ��, School of Massage, Polarity, Aesthetics and Cosmetology.

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Clarity and Prosperity

2013-03-16T08:17:00Z

Being clear about what matters to you is very important to manifesting prosperity. I was lucky to become aware of some simple basic values that have served me well over the years.

You are always at an important stage of your life. A lot is happening and it’s hard to know what is real and what is a shadow. For example, right before and shortly after I had the epiphany at age 33 a person kept showing up at very significant times in my life. It was random but it was always at a pivotal relationship commitment moment. We had a very deep connection at a workshop I attended and it was very auspicious the way our orbits intersected at various important times. I was very perplexed by the synchronicity and wondered about the significance.

The question of why this person was appearing in my life at the same time I was falling in love with Nancy created a lot of questions. However, I kept affirming my values and trusted that the right thing would happen. The more I focused on the answer (epiphany) to what my life was about, and the less I focused on the question of why this person kept showing up, the path forward was clear. The relationship with Nancy quickly bloomed into a life-altering experience that continues to transform both of today.

Prosperity is a Constant Opportunity

No matter what happens, there will be many decision points in your life where you don’t feel clear. Your life and choices are difficult because of your inherited legacy and the legacy you are creating for your future. It adds a lot to the weight of your process and future choices. Which is why it’s critical that you gain as much clarity about your values as possible. It is your best tool for making good life decisions that will support you.

So what are the values that rule your life? Do you know? Do you have clarity? Have you written them down? Do you meditate on it and study your life to see if your life is convergent with your values? Clarity on your values ensures that at the end of your life you will be full and complete.

Kris Stecker

�鶹ԭ��

P.S. The job of your heart is to stay focused on your spiritual journey. The job of your head is to handle the logistics of getting everything you can to support you.

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Prosperity Destroying System

2013-02-21T08:14:00Z

Want to know how to destroy your prosperity?

It’s simple. Let stress build so your body cannot stay healthy. The higher the stress the less resilient you become and the more your body breaks down. A recent article on the Cost of Getting Sick is a must read . It’s also the reason that we love the spa, massage and particularly the polarity field. For a fraction of the cost of a hospital visit, you can give yourself the best defense against getting sick and having your prosperity disappear overnight.

As much as I dislike focusing on a negative subject, the realization of the obscene profits the medical industry makes on keeping people sick is, well, obscene. The overcharging for services and drugs are just the tip of the iceberg. The system is built on fear and keeping the public ignorant. Of course, when faced with a life threatening condition, the natural response is to do whatever it takes to survive. But how much is the industry doing to educate people on how to be healthy?

When was the last time your healthcare provider said, “You need to spend more at the spa and less on doctors and medication.” When you consider the benefits of getting regular sessions and how it improves the quality of life, it’s amazing that so few people are doing it. But it looks like the current changes in healthcare are about to do two things:

To its credit, the new Affordable Healthcare Act does have provisions for Integrative Care which includes more education and alternative care. There has never been a more urgent time to take control of your well-being. The cost of getting sick is way too expensive and unless you are very wealthy, it will bankrupt you. So the only truly prosperous path is to create a personal wellness plan that creates optimal health. Exercise, diet, healthy activities and bodywork are a powerful way to create a level of health prosperity that will affect all areas of your life. It makes you more creative and increases your ability to see and take advantage of opportunities. It improves your relationships and even may help prevent accidents.

So don’t delay. The clock is ticking and there are no do overs. Start getting regular sessions now and decrease your exposure to medical expenses so you have more resources for creating the life you want.

Be well,

Kris Stecker

President of �鶹ԭ��

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Massachusetts Professional License and Fees

2013-01-10T12:58:00Z

This week the Patrick administration submitted a proposal to change some aspects of the Division of Professional Licensure to streamline certain areas as well address some fee issues. The intention is to make it easier and less expensive for small businesses in the state. The changes can be seen at the Governor’s website . A few of the most important changes affect massage license fees as well as barbering, cosmetology and electrology which will now all be under one board.

The change in the fees for massage are not yet delineated but this is the time for all massage therapists to get involved to push the board to advocate for the renewal fee to be reduced or the interval for renewal to be increased. The Board of Massage information on meeting schedule as well as agendas are posted online . Some of the meeting is open to the public and some is closed. But it’s possible to request public discussion on topics that are important to the massage community. The reality is that very few people attend board meetings. Whether people believe that their professional organizations are involved (usually through a lobbyist) or other people are taking care of things, the bottom line is that if you don’t get involved then you can’t complain if you think the fees are too high or the regulations are misguided. That’s why if you belong to a professional organization it’s also good to make sure that they are watching out for your interests as well. In Massachusetts, for instance, massage practitioners are paying much higher and more frequent fees than other professions pay but to date, there has been no visible activity by the professional organizations that represent massage to lower the fees. Since the current proposal came from the Governor, there will be a lot of focus by the various departments in the state to move it forward. This is the time to renew your involvement and push both your professional organization and the Board of Massage to advocate for a more reasonable fee structure. Get involved!

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2013 Spa and Salon Professional Outlook

2013-01-05T12:56:00Z

Bright Future for the Spa and Salon Industry

It appears the industry is set for additional expansion into the future. According to a report by GIA (Global Industry Analysts) the world health spa market is supposed to grow to $77.2 billion by 2015 . But what’s really interesting is the finding that a lot of the high end medical treatments are in less demand while the stress and health related services like massage, facials and fitness have increased.

Of course this makes perfect sense. People are finding that the biggest benefit is long term support rather than expensive cosmetic services that may have a higher risk factor. But also, the high end services are not repetitive. They tend to be done selectively whereas facials and massage sessions produce the best results with repetition.

Dual Licensed Spa and Salon Professionals

This is great news for people with dual licenses who are focusing on health and wellness. It continues to support the idea that the public is discovering that prevention is far more valuable than intervention. Understanding the value of long term maintenance is also showing up in the healthcare field. A recent US News and World Report article on Integrative Medicine recognize the benefits of massage and polarity therapy in the integrative model. I couldn’t agree more that, “As the American healthcare system grows progressively stressed and truly patient-centered care becomes increasingly difficult to find, more people than ever before are looking for alternatives to the conventional healthcare model. ” What is yet to be seen is how the healthcare delivery system will be affected by the Affordable Health Care Act adding millions of new dependents to a system that is already struggling. There are already progressive companies looking towards self-insurance that include more integrative therapies and they are seeing very positive results. As the information goes mainstream existing insurance companies are likely to finally figure out what people in the wellness industry have known for years. So keep up the good work everyone. Keep building your skills and prepare for being the leaders of the new healthcare revolution. Be well and Prosperous, Kris To learn more about a professional massage or aesthetics career go to �鶹ԭ��.

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Prosperity and Accountability in Group Efforts

2012-12-02T08:13:00Z

Why is Prosperity Lacking in Groups?

There is a hidden undertow in every business that undermines prosperity. It’s a phenomenon that creeps into all groups unless very careful attention is paid to how the group is managed. It’s known as Social Loafing . This is the natural tendency for most people to not exert themselves as hard in situations where they are working in a group. The exertion goes down as there are more people involved in the task.

Prosperity and Effort in Groups

The theory is that people don’t try as hard when they feel like their efforts are reduced by other people in the group who dilute their efforts. But it also points at a more important aspect of human nature that makes perfect sense. We are wired or encoded to always attempt to reduce the energy or resources we expend.

Of course, if we were always trying to exert as much energy as possible, we wouldn’t have reserves. It’s always going to be the ones that learn to exert the smallest amount of energy that has more energy left to reproduce and proliferate. The implications for business, government and societies are profound. It means that unless there are steps taken to counteract this phenomenon, any group will develop an increasing number of parasites that exert as little as possible until the group fails. I’m afraid we are seeing this take place on a global level in Europe, the United States, and other developed countries.

Prosperous Solutions?

Interestingly, the solution to this problem is to create competition that reaches down to the individual level. The more that each individual is held individually accountable for their performance or individual contribution, the more motivated they become and the more they produce. This is not just a theory. It is science .

So whether you run a business, a team or a family, it’s imperative that you understand the phenomenon and the solution to prevent it. Go to the prior links and read about this and think about how this applies to you or your business. It’s also an interesting thing to think about in relation to your choices for the country as it moves forward on its journey. Are the laws, benefits, and structure making us more accountable or making it easier for people to live off the system without being accountable. So as you seek more prosperity, learn to manage the Social Loafing tendency and create more of what you want.

Sincerely,

Kris Stecker

President �鶹ԭ�� Schools of Polarity Therapy, Massage Therapy, Cosmetology, and Aesthetics.

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Getting the Job

2012-11-12T09:53:00Z

Where Are You Going To Work?

I recently spoke with a student, who was near graduation, about her plans. She was very excited about going on to take additional training. Then I asked her where she was going to work. Her answer was that she was going to wait until she finished her additional training.

My response surprised her. I said, “No! You have to work. It’s really important that you get out there and get a job in what you just learned.” She didn’t understand why so we talked about it.

The reason it’s vitally important to work as soon as you graduate is so you can integrate the work. It’s just like the student clinic. If you waited until after you completed all of your theory classes and then did clinic at the end, you would have a hard time remembering the work from the beginning of the program and integrating all the work together. It’s vitally important that you integrate each thing you learn as quickly as possible.

There is also a second reason. When you integrate what you just learned you create a foundation for learning the next thing. If you don’t integrate the work then everything runs together. This is particularly true when you complete studies in one field such as aesthetics and then go on to massage or the other way around. These are vastly different fields with different skills. As you learn the new skill it’s very important that you continue to integrate the first set of skills into your knowledge and technique. And the more you assimilate the knowledge, the more the new material will be a significant addition.

Then we came to the second reason for her strategy. She wasn’t confident in her skills or her ability to succeed and felt like she should wait until she had more confidence before getting a job. Again, I disagreed. First, she had done very well in clinic and clients liked her work. Second, the very reason she didn’t feel confident was because she had very high standards and therefore it was hard for her to feel confident. In both cases, breaking through her fear and doing the work professionally is exactly what she needs to build her confidence. When you are working with clients and getting positive feedback your confidence grows. The more sessions you give the more confident you become. If she had continued her training without working at the same time, she would have reinforced her lack of confidence as she added yet more material that she hadn’t mastered. Mastery comes from doing the work.

The whole purpose of your education is to give you sufficient skills to start your professional career. But what happens in the daily events of working professionally will lift you up faster than you can imagine. It’s like when a rocket is launched. At first there are a lot of flames and smoke and the rocket doesn’t move. Then it starts to slowly ascend and continues to accelerate until it finally reaches it’s full speed and flies into orbit. That’s very much like your education.

It’s the first and hardest part because you are lifting up off the launch pad. But getting the job is like when you are already on your way and you just go higher and faster from that point forward.

When Should you Start to Plan for your Massage, Aesthetics or Cosmetology Job?

You should actually start planning on where you are going to work when you start the admissions process. If you recall, it’s one of the questions that was asked during the interview. The process should continue through orientation and every day of school. By graduation the goal is to have you well on your way to starting the new job, not just starting to look for the new job.

So whatever you’re doing, stop right now and think about where you’re going to work when you graduate. Set a goal of having a clear idea in one week and then start to talk to your teachers and directors about developing a strategy for getting the job you want. It make school much more fun when you have a clear idea of where you will be working when you graduate.

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Suffering and Prosperity

2012-11-11T08:12:00Z

Prosperity is a mindset that transcends suffering.

This Veteran’s Day morning as I was eating breakfast and looking out at the Isle of Shoals, a police car slowly passed with its lights flashing. Slow is a relative term because behind it came two runners who were going faster than most people ride a bicycle.

In another 2 minutes the third place runner came by, then the first female runner and a few men, then the first senior runner and so on until large numbers came by. In the mix that followed there were all types. Most were either injured, out of shape, not natural runners, old, young, pregnant or just being social. There were the couples who ran together and enjoyed it and the ones where only one was a runner and the other was doing it for the relationship but it appeared that it was not positive for either of them. And then there were the runner/walkers who seem to love group activities but were not that interested in running.

Almost all the runners shared one common trait: They were overcoming suffering. The elite runners not only had the right build for running but also had a lot of experience with suffering. As one long distance running coach told me, “There is a level of performance that is a result of natural inclination, good coaching and training, but the elite runners have also mastered suffering at a higher level than others. ” What he meant was that there is a threshold that everyone must break through to reach the top echelon of performance. No one is exempt.

How to Reconcile Listening to Your Pain with Achieving Prosperity

This is the biggest and most important lesson of all. There are a lot of New Age and esoteric presenters that talk about listening to your pain and following what you love that may not be correct in their message. Yes, pain is an indication of something being challenged and it may mean something needs repair. But to avoid pushing forward because of pain is not the correct response.

The correct response is to learn from the pain and correct what’s producing it, not to abandon what you are attempting to achieve. There is nothing more precious in life than to have a clearly defined “clear” vision that translates into a “vital” mission and to have the ability to follow it. We see people constantly have a “fuzzy” vision that translates into a poorly articulated mission that fizzles at the first sign of resistance or pain. This is what holds the majority of people back from creating a prosperous life. Without a strong direction that drives you, it’s hard to have the desire or the commitment to push through the pain and discover your potential.

Mastering suffering is key to achieving your full potential and prosperity

To master suffering takes energy and commitment. And most of all it requires the mental and emotional discipline to focus on the desired outcome so it becomes the most important thing. A tangible example I have noticed was after some very extensive dental procedures as the Novocaine was wearing off, I sat down and started writing an article that was very intense and focused on the mission. I didn’t realize it at the time but I was 2 hours past due to take additional pain killers.

It wasn’t until I stopped writing that I realized this. As soon as I stopped writing the pain went from a 3 to an 8 out of 10. I took the medication and started writing again until the pain medication kicked in. Within 2 minutes of starting writing, the pain was pushed out by the concentration on what I was doing. Now there may be those who say you shouldn’t need to suffer to succeed and I say that in fact, when you talk to most successful people that is the case. But the reason is that they have been so focused on their mission that they didn’t notice the suffering.

That’s why many successful and prosperous people are good at many things. Often they achieved a high level of prosperity in another area, either as a student, athlete or some other endeavor like music or art, at an early age. They developed a level of concentration doing something they loved to the point where they pushed through pain without realizing that’s what was happening.

For example, when you watch an accomplished guitarist, what you may not know is that there is a high degree of pain that goes into playing. The strings cutting into the pads of the fingers as well as the contortions that the fingers go through is very painful. Other instruments have similar challenges. Whether it’s the pain of managing your breathing in abnormal patterns or holding your facial muscles in positions that are painful after a long duration, there is a lot of pain during the learning process. That pain never goes away but as you learn to play at higher levels the music takes you over and the pain recedes during the performance.

The point is that once they have learned to master the process of focusing at a very high level that is beyond pain, that same skill is naturally applied to everything they do. So when they take on a new endeavor, that same discipline automatically occurs and they are able to move to very high levels of prosperity in the new mission. (Please note: The use of the word prosperity is used to mean an abundance of skill and/or knowledge in the fulfillment of the mission)

So as you move into creating your future , it’s very important that you not let discomfort be your guide for the direction you are moving. It’s more important to develop a clear sense of what you want and then move forward through the obstacles until you reach the level of success that fulfills your potential. This is the path to true prosperity in all you do.

Be well and prosperous,

Kris Stecker

�鶹ԭ��

P.S. For more information on prosperity, be sure to check the other posts on the site that focus on both the beliefs that limit prosperity as well as specific skills you can use to have a more prosperous future.

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Words of Wisdom From Loral Langemeier

2012-10-29T08:12:00Z

In the words of Loral Langemeier :

If you believe that either of the presidential candidates is going to substantially change your financial future I’m here to tell you that they won’t.

Unless you are very rich or very poor it doesn’t make much of a financial difference who wins because the middle class will pay either way.

But the good news is that YOU are the one that can control the financial security for you and your family. YOU have to take control and stop waiting for the economy to turn around before you start your life again.

If you don’t know who Loral is, it’s worth finding out. She has a no-nonsense way of reaching the truth about creating prosperity. It’s partly esoteric but it’s mostly practical. Of course, in reality, they are really the same when you get right down to it.

But the point she makes is so important. For most of us, creating our future isn’t dependent on politics. It may be affected by taxes and policies but mostly only at the margins. If you are making a limited income with few options, the policies may make a large impact as a percentage of your income. But if you break out of the income and asset level that you are at, the policies will have a smaller impact on your finances. That’s what this is all about. It’s about changing the way you think and live your life.

Are you stepping over dollars to pick up dimes? How would a change in your thinking affect your future income? How would changing your understanding and getting new skills propel you into another whole level of living?

Let me give you a for instance. If you are working in retail, food, and beverage or a large company, all that you can do is slowly move to higher levels of income while living under the uncertainty of not having control over decisions the company makes about pay, benefits or job security. However, if you were to enter into a profession where you could actually have your own business, it gives you the opportunity to grow to multiples of income rather than just your salary. If you have your own business, you can conceivably grow it to have multiple locations with multiple employees. That will have a substantial impact on your income.

Of course, not everyone has the drive or desire to have their own business or to grow it into something that’s bigger than their individual practice. Some people prefer to concentrate on becoming an expert at what they do and charging super high-end prices. That works as well although your income is always tied to work that you do directly. Still, a very good choice if you enjoy doing the work.

But the most important part is this. Waiting for an election or some other external event is only delaying getting started on the path to your prosperity. Every day that you put it off is another day of not moving closer to your goals. And the reality is that the longer you wait, the harder it is to get started and the less time (and energy) you will have to fulfill your dreams. So it’s up to you. Get started as soon as possible and see how much better life is when you are proactive instead of reactive to the political and economic environment.

Kris Stecker

President �鶹ԭ��, Schools of Massage, Aesthetics, Polarity, and Cosmetology Maine and Massachusetts.

http://Spa Tech.edu

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Massage Therapy and Smoking

2012-10-18T12:54:00Z

How does being a smoker affect your career as a massage therapist? This is a very delicate issue that affects clients and smokers alike.

It’s important to not be judgmental. Everyone has their own path in life and no one is in a position to pass judgement on anyone unless you have walked that path. That being said, being a smoker or having clients that smoke presents challenges to a successful career. We will start with clients who smoke. There are two challenges.

The first is to understand how you can give the person the greatest benefit. Being able to support them in getting healthier is your primary responsibility. However, the only time you should address the issue of smoking with them is if they sincerely want your help in changing this aspect of their life, either by cutting down or eliminating smoking from their life. If they ask for this support, you need to proceed slowly and carefully and work to understand their needs, stresses and past experience.

The emphasis needs to be on helping them to get stronger so they can make change and learn how to make change. Based on the Law of Attraction (What you focus on you get more of) you will want to focus on how their life would be if they didn’t smoke. If you focus on quitting smoking that can often lead to reinforcing the energy of smoking.

The second thing that you need to deal with is the residual smell that can fill your space. You need to have a good strategy for making sure the smell is completely cleared from your space, linens and clothing before you see your next client. For this reason you may need to schedule smokers for the end of the day so you can air out the space and have clean clothes. You may also want to invest in an ion and or ozone air cleaner to run during the night. No matter how you handle it, just understand that non-smokers and reformed smokers are usually very sensitive to the smell and can harm your professional practice.

The more challenging situation is if you are a smoker. Again, there is no judgement on you. That is your situation and this is about strategies to learn to minimize the impact it has on your professional practice, not to scold you for being a smoker. If you are a light smoker who is very careful about when you smoke in relation to your sessions, always being careful to wash your hair and having clean clothes that do not smell of smoke, is essential. One suggestion is that if there are smokers in your home, that you keep your session clothes at your office so you can change into them and put your everyday clothes outside of your office in your car or somewhere the odor will not get into your space.

If you are a more dedicated smoker who smokes between sessions, in your car and home and you cannot eliminate the odor from your clothes, you will probably find over time that the majority of your clients are also dedicated smokers. Sometimes this works particularly well for them because they are more comfortable going to a therapist that’s a smoker so they don’t feel judged or uncomfortable.

Of course, there are several considerations that you will need to take into account.

First, smokers tend to make up a small percentage of the population in this part of the world. This chart shows the percentage of smokers broken out be state. The rates vary from 13% in the New England states up to over 22% in several of the central and southern states. In New England and California, being a dedicated smoker means that you may be restricting your market significantly.

The other question is whether smokers are less likely to seek massage since they may be less dedicated to being healthy. My guess is that smokers may have a higher level of stress and are risk takers which may actually make them a more likely candidate for the benefits of massage. If that’s the case, it could offset the clients that are harder to retain due to sensitivity to the smell of smoke.

Again, this is not judging anyone. It’s just trying to share some ideas that may help you to be more successful. Whatever your path, know that being a massage therapist is about helping people to deal with life and be healthier.

By being a massage therapist you are making a significant difference for a lot of people. Thank you for doing this work and keep up the good work.

Sincerely,

Kris Stecker

�鶹ԭ��, Schools of Massage, Polarity, Aesthetics and Cosmetology

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Leading with Heart

2012-10-04T12:53:00Z

I just returned from Tempe where I spent a tremendously inspiring day with Jerry Johnson and his team. Jerry and his partner, Jessica Wolman are the owners of 20 cosmetology schools and a product company, to name a few of their ventures. I was there to learn about a school management software package they are developing. In addition to the information on the package I got a wonderful bonus: An education on business and leadership. But how did Jerry get from growing up on a chicken farm to cosmetology and to his current success?

The answer is profound because it’s at the heart of most business success. It was a beautiful October day (100 degrees) in Tempe and the building I was dropped off at looked like a warehouse, not a school. As it turned out, this was where the business offices and product manufacturing occurs. I started by meeting with the head of Operations and then met with Jerry. In my mind I’m thinking, “ This guy is a heavy hitter. I better get to the point and use up as little of his valuable time as I can.” It wasn’t that he had an air of being a big shot. In fact, he is very down to earth and humble. But he also carries himself with confidence and always seems to be thinking, “How can we make things better.” I ended up spending most of the day with Jerry and various team members as we visited three of his campuses in Tempe. Every school was lavish, with lots of granite and other stone, beautiful design features and high-end equipment. The clinic floors had a beautiful open feeling to them with a lot of space. One was in a mall and the other was an entire building. There were inspirational flares and interesting details to engage the imagination. Jerry is an excellent negotiator and has built an extensive and diverse business. But the thing that stood out was something far more important. Jerry loves his people. While meeting in the morning he had to excuse himself to give a long time client attention in his one chair salon at his corporate headquarters. Then as we toured the facility all the employees, from the people packaging product up to his top staff, were happy to see him and he showed a deep caring for each one, often asking them about various things that were going on in their lives. As we went to each campus, the same pattern of caring about the employees was repeated over and over again. It was clear that at the heart of everything he is doing is one principle: Honor, respect and take care of the employees, students and customers in all that you do. It wasn’t work. It was natural. It’s who he is. And it was evident in all aspects of the company as it trickled down from management to the customers and everyone in between. Of course, Jerry would be the first to tell you that there are good and bad days and there are times when tough love is required. But at the core is a belief in the goodness of people and a desire to help them reach their potential. This is the platform that creates success that is sustainable. The lesson for our students and graduates is this: Be sure to look for this quality in the employers you work for as well as to set it as your standard when you become an employer. By following this basic principle you will enjoy what you do and build something of lasting value. Kris Stecker, President �鶹ԭ�� Schools of Massage, Polarity, Cosmetology and Aesthetics https://Spa Tech.edu p.s. Thank you Jerry for being an industry leader and for your generous sharing of time and information. I have been enriched and look forward to working with you in the future.

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What you Tolerate, Persists

2012-09-13T12:51:00Z

Whether it’s an employee who doesn’t get it, a client who misses appointments or a squeaky massage table, if you tolerate it, it will persist.

Nothing is going to change.

And quite probably, it will drive you crazy. And here is a horrible truth: It is a reflection of you. You will get what you expect. You will also have what you will tolerate. Eventually you will reach the tipping point where you can no longer tolerate something that isn’t working. Here’s where the challenge really begins. The first impulse is to blow it up, destroy it or get rid of it in some way that often lacks finesse. You probably won’t try to change it until you are totally fed up and can’t stand it any more. And you will most likely be very angry and agitated when you finally stop tolerating something that has gone on for a long time.

STOP!

Before you do anything else, stop and take a breath. Don’t leave dead bodies or destruction. Here’s the more constructive way to deal with it.

Now you are ready to address the issue with love, kindness and respect. As a professional, whether you own, manage or work at a business, this is how you can make constant improvements while creating good karma and improving the reputation of your organization. Keep up the good work and continue to make the world a better place. Kris Stecker, President �鶹ԭ�� Schools of Massage, Polarity, Cosmetology and Aesthetics http://Spa Tech.edu p.s. You can also apply these concepts to your personal life. Friends, family and particularly children, can benefit from having good systems so they know the boundaries and can communicate more effectively.

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