We reached out to CE providers who will be teaching at AMTA's 2023 National Convention to see what excites them about teaching, and the trends they are currently seeing that will direct the future of massage therapy education. Read on to learn more.

What most excites you about teaching at AMTA's 2023 National Convention?

Whitney Lowe: I love the opportunity to meet people from all over and see what kinds of new and interesting things they are doing. It’s a great joy to watch the camaraderie that develops between practitioners. It is also wonderful to see old friends and meet new ones. The most engaging aspect of this is being able to share things with practitioners that I know will be very helpful for them when they go back to their practice in helping other people relieve their pain and discomfort.

Dustin Donahue: I am the most excited about the general energy of the convention! Honestly, these events really showcase massage therapy in all its maturation and growth and that is always so invigorating to be a part of. It’s truly a playground for bodywork geeks!

Working in the same convention as my mentors is going to be a surreal experience. These are the individuals who have guided and inspired me throughout my massage therapy journey, and now I have the opportunity to share the same stage with them. It’s humbling and exciting. The convention will be a moment of gratitude and a chance to showcase how their teachings have influenced my own practice.

Scott Raymond, LMT, BCTMB:

I have always looked forward to the AMTA National Convention with excitement. As an attendee, I was eager to learn new techniques and gain new skills to deepen my practice. As a volunteer I was inspired by every person I encountered. Teaching at the AMTA 2023 National Convention creates a different kind of excitement. It gives me the opportunity to educate and inspire other massage therapists from across the country and give them the support they need to build a stronger massage practice. What excites me most is the ability to add value to the experience of attending the AMTA National Convention as we are all stronger together.

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What are some trends you’re seeing in massage therapy education today?

Lowe: I think one of the important trends that I have been seeing is a recognition that massage therapy education is quite diverse. It’s much more than just learning new techniques. There are so many critical aspects of learning how to be a good health care professional, and that’s what we hope to help people with and share about at the convention.

Donahue: I am really excited to hear a different tone coming from education where we are focusing on theory first, and techniques later. Over 20 years I have taken a multitude of CE courses and you receive all these techniques but no great understanding of how and when to use them. This overabundance of techniques, with very little understanding of the theories behind them, really saddled massage therapists with unsustainable bodywork methods.

Educators in massage therapy are increasingly embracing the concept of “theory” and teaching with a broader perspective, allowing for more flexibility in techniques. Recognizing that there are multiple theories on how the body functions and responds to touch, they encourage students to explore different approaches and adapt their practice based on individual client needs. This shift fosters a sense of curiosity, critical thinking, and the understanding that there isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach to massage therapy. For instance, I perform medical or orthopedic massage but employ techniques such as Thai and functional integration into my sessions. This is the way!

Raymond: Standards continue to rise across the country regarding entry-level training and that has flowed into massage therapy continuing education. Over the past three years, we have seen a large influx of distance and hybrid learning for continuing education. This has led to a wider acceptance of the role technology plays in supporting our profession, and has allowed access to higher quality continuing education from whereever you live. This has also inevitably added a deeper appreciation for live classes along with the ability to learn together and from each other.

Massage therapists are seeing clients longer and/or more often and with that comes classes in self-care and body mechanics. We have a new opportunity to learn how to work with clients experiencing long-haul COVID symptoms and be able to apply our newfound knowledge at the table.

Some therapists used the time during the pandemic as growth opportunities that significantly changed their style of practice or business model. Business classes on how to make your administrative duties lighter, learning safe and effective new hands-on techniques to address the needs of their client base, and how the massage therapist can collaborate with other health care providers to deepen the therapeutic relationship with their clients.

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