Transformational Intuitive Bodywork In Action:

TIBIA offers an array of massage therapy and bodywork opportunities from highly-skilled professionals in a dynamic environment conducive to learning and healing. Offerings include the 700-hour massage therapy program, NCBTMB Approved Provider Continuing Education, a 100-hour Transformational Bodywork Course, and an on-site Professional Massage Therapy Clinic. TIBIA is committed to providing a well-rounded educational experience of excellence, personal transformation, success, and fulfillment for clients, students, and employees.

MISSION:

TIBIA’s mission is to provide a unique, well-rounded educational experience committed to excellence that offers opportunities for personal and professional success and fulfillment.

TIBIA imparts to its students skills in various modes of bodywork and massage therapy. We offer the opportunity for personal transformation while providing exceptional massage training from highly skilled staff in an environment conducive to learning and healing. The program meets and exceeds Wisconsin state requirements for students to become certified massage therapists and bodyworkers. A diverse group of carefully chosen and highly trained practitioners/instructors will offer 700 hours of coursework.

TIBIA provides a safe, non-judgmental environment. Students are encouraged to make a difference in the world beginning with compassion and understanding for themselves, extending to the community and ultimately contributing to Peace in the world. The discovery of each individual's unique, authentic expression and strength of character is fundamental to TIBIA's philosophy.

Tuition

Tuition is $7,000 (includes massage table and texts). A down payment of $2,000 is required, and a payment plan is available.

Varied class schedules available, contact school for next class schedule and start date.

Prerequisite for all courses at TIBIA Massage School

This course enhances the ability to look beyond a set of instructions and know intuitively what one can best do in the moment to allow healing to occur.

The ability to perceive and do what is needed unfolds naturally from one’s authentic Self when there is no intrusion of unconscious fears, judgments, agendas, or chronic patterns. However, it is common for these unconscious factors to produce automatic defense mechanisms that guide much of our day-to-day life, including our healing work, without our even being aware of them.

Through pair and group exercises clarified by lecture and discussion, participants learn to recognize and release such unconscious factors in themselves. With support from the facilitators, they learn to shift from the illusions and tunnel vision created by such factors to a more conscious, neutral and open "Observer" stance in which true insight as to what is called for can occur.

This shift from illusion into awareness is not a once-and-for-all experience but a practice that participants learn to call on again and again, in their lives and in their work. The result is deeper healing for the “receiver” and, frequently, healing for the “giver” as well. In fact, the paradigm of one person working to give something to another is one of the illusions that falls away, revealing the ease and grace that allow healing to occur for us and those around us.

Anatomy & Physiology, Pathology and Kinesiology

Students will learn to name and locate all muscles, bones, organs, and systems of the human body. They will also have a basic understanding of how the systems of the body operate individually and as part of a dynamic whole. Students will learn the nature of diseases and the structural and functional changes produced by them. Students will also study the principles of anatomy and biomechanics in relation to human movement.

Body Movement Classes

These classes engage students in movement disciplines that promote personal balance and well-being. All three disciplines are taught in relation to massage to establish a base for proper body mechanics during massage.

Body Movement

This class will focus on alignment and body mechanics with additional attention to stretching, strengthening, and cardiovascular self-care.

Dynamics of Movement

Students will discover their own impulse to move as a pathway to awareness, well-being, creativity and intuition. Special emphasis will be placed on using movement to increase effectiveness as a massage therapist and to participate spontaneously with life as it occurs.

Mind Your Body

This lighthearted, yet anatomically thorough class is designed to teach massage practitioners how to care for their own bodies with a goal of career longevity! Students will learn exercises (and stretches) to strengthen muscles from head to toe, with an emphasis on core stabilization.

Business, Marketing, Law and Ethics

Students will discover through the teachings and interactive exercises how to organize, run and promote their own businesses. They will also learn how to apply for and maintain Wisconsin and national certification for bodyworkers and massage therapists. The ethics of massage will be approached from its broader historical and cultural basis. From this context students will learn to maintain integrity in the client-therapist relationship. All standards set forth by NCBTMB (National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork) are covered in the Ethics class.

Massage Theory & Technique

Students practice various massage techniques while learning the basic principles of relaxing, therapeutic, and transformative bodywork. They cover the history of massage, learn the distinction between massage and bodywork, and are exposed to numerous massage and bodywork modalities. Effective interviewing techniques, note charting, postural analysis and hydrotherapy are also taught during this portion of the program.

Bodywork in Motion

This class teaches students bodywork techniques that involve movement of the client on the table. These techniques involve client participation which encourages self-responsibility and self-care during the session. They also apply a three-dimensional aspect to massage allowing for greater tissue engagement.

Chair Massage

Self-care, muscle groups most affected during a chair massage, information to start their own chair massage business and concerns/comfort of client are among teachings provided during this class. Demonstration of techniques will allow students to administer a 15 minute chair massage and feel comfortable with the process.

Energetic Alignment

In this class students discover physical ease in their body while supporting the energetic alignment with ground and center for themselves and the client. Students are encouraged to notice the direct correlation between proper body mechanics and the increasing effectiveness of massage and bodywork.

Energetic Rapport

Students explore the dynamics of energy with the client, themselves and the physical space. This course teaches effective communication with clients and tools for establishing mutual trust. Successful interviewing methods, an ability to establish rapport with the client, keen observation skills, and active listening are primary outcomes.

Intro to Myofascial

Myofascial is a method of bodywork that elongates and releases tension in the fascia. The fascia is the connective tissue which surrounds the muscles and organs in the body and spreads throughout the body in a network from head to toe. CranioSacral is also introduced as a method of working with the fascia as well as the central nervous system.

Jin Shin Do®: Bodymind Acupressure & Eastern Philosophy

These classes incorporate Eastern Philosophy, Chinese acu-theory, Japanese finger pressure techniques and Western psychotherapeutic Bodymind Focusing techniques. Jin Shin Do® uses deep, yet gentle pressure to stimulate precise point locations associated with physical problems and distressing feelings, to bring about release and transformation toward one’s full potential and joy. Class time also includes the study of Eastern Philosophy and an in depth study of the meridians.

Massage for Individuals with Cancer

This course introduces students to the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of individuals with cancer as well as bodywork techniques geared specifically for them. Students will gain a sensitivity to and awareness of the challenges of these individuals along with knowledge of guidelines and techniques for working with clients at risk for lymph edema.

Reiki

Reiki is a Japanese word that literally means “Universal Love Life Force Energy”. Students will learn the history of Reiki and what it is, the differences between Reiki and other touch therapies, how to give a full-body and chair Reiki session and how to use Reiki to complement other bodywork techniques.

Sports Massage

This class teaches students bodywork techniques geared specifically for the care and training of athletes. The students gain an awareness of specific bodywork needs of athletes related to training, injuries, and sporting events. Specific techniques including remedial exercise and muscle flushing are discussed, demonstrated and practiced.

Swedish

Swedish massage is the most widely recognized and commonly used category of massage. The modality of Swedish massage works with the body’s soft tissue, inducing a state of deep relaxation as well as assisting in pain relief and increased circulation. Students will be introduced to the history and basic principles of bodywork and will gain knowledge of the multidisciplinary facets of massage. Indications and contraindications, additional modalities of bodywork, draping, lubricants, charting, interviewing, and session environment are also covered.

Transformational Bodywork

This class is designed to support the student in discovering a whole new realm of bodywork which allows transformation for both the client and therapist. Students become aware that the more ease/peace they experience while giving massage, the greater the difference for the client.

Trigger Point

The class teaches various techniques to relieve or eliminate trigger points. Trigger points are hypersensitive areas in the muscles, tendons, or fascia and are commonly caused by trauma. Students learn what trigger points are, how to find them and what to do when they are found.


Various Modalities

Other massage and bodywork modalities are taught and introduced: CranioSacral, Elderly, Pregnancy, Sinus and Tandem Massage.

Outreach

TIBIA students and some staff offer massage to the volunteers and bike riders of the annual AIDS ride which occurs the first weekend in August. Additionally, various community outreach opportunities are provided for students to choose to fulfill the 27 remaining outreach hours, which must be completed outside of class time.

Personal Transformation

The focus of Personal Transformation is to support the student’s personal development. The dynamic of Personal Transformation occurs continually throughout the program.

Centering

At TIBIA, we have a commitment to support students in discovering the tools to consistently be in the "center" of themselves so that they experience an increased awareness of ease in their daily lives. Centering also enhances energetic alignment and rapport. This portion of the curriculum is a weekly opportunity to develop this skill.

TIBIA’s Student Clinic is an opportunity for the students to experience working with an increasing variety of clients who are prepared to provide constructive feedback. The students apply the entirety of what they have learned at TIBIA as they begin to experience their role of massage therapist in the workplace. Participation in Student Clinic affords a final piece of personal transformation for students as they near the culmination of their experience at TIBIA.

For those not interested in becoming a Certified Massage Therapist, TIBIA Massage School offers its 100 Hour Transformational Bodywork Course.

Tuition for this course is $1,650 if paid in full one month prior to start date (otherwise $2,000)

This course does not provide eligibility to take the National Certification Exam. For those interested in pursuing the necessary training to become a certified massage therapist/bodyworker, we invite you to consider enrolling in TIBIA’s 700 hour program.

OVERVIEW

The Transformational Bodywork Course imparts to its students skills in various modes of bodywork and massage therapy. We offer the opportunity for personal transformation while providing exceptional bodywork training from highly skilled staff in an environment conducive to healing. The program empowers students in their journey of personal transformation which then impacts their clients’ transformational process. This program is governed by accountability for sustaining an intuitive presence and imparting Peace individually and collectively.