Reading materials, such as books, lay the foundation for the student to understand the fundamentals of massage therapy. Books provide terms, explanations, history and theories of past and present massage techniques. Volumes of massage information are listed for the purpose of research, reinforcement and knowledge. These learning tools also include biographies of massage therapists who have paved the way for future practitioners.
Body maps of the muscles, bones, tendons and fascia provide massage therapists with the background they need to locate and identify proper regions and specific areas of the body in order to become knowledgeable practitioners. Charts guide students through their education, adding to what they have learned from books. Reflexology charts provide knowledge of pressure points on the feet and hands relevant to the organs, bones and tissues of the whole body. A SOAP chart is a document format by which practitioners organize client information. SOAP stands for: subjective (the client's experience), objective (the therapist's visual and palpatory findings), assessment (the physicians's diagnosis and the therapist's notes of what was done at that session) and plan (possible methods for future sessions and stretching exercises).
Videos provide a visual and audio backup technique that allows students to practice outside of the classroom what they have been taught inside the classroom. Visual learning reinforces knowledge from the books, maps and charts. Practitioners can learn massage in private with no time limits or judgments. This is a great tool for students who learn at a slower level, who want to perfect their routines or who want to prepare for the next lesson. Most videos include tips and techniques that enhance the student's therapeutic knowledge.
The most powerful tool is hands-on learning. Most massage therapy students are tactile learners because they are hands-on people interested in massage careers. Kinesthetic learning aids students in retaining the knowledge necessary to complete the program. Students learn from giving as well as receiving massages. They are taught how to palpate muscles, bones and other components of the body relevant to massage. This tool, combined with the other tools, leads students through the program and on their way to becoming successful massage therapists.