Become a Berkana Trained Massage Therapist
Six Month Intensive Hybrid Program
NEW! 650 Hour Berkana Hybrid Massage Therapy Certification Program
The 650 Hour Berkana Institute Massage Therapy Hybrid Program is designed to give each student the knowledge and experience necessary to pass the National Board Certification Exam for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork and the MBLEX Exam, acquire licensure in most states, and be outstanding Holistic Massage Therapists. The curriculum is delivered in ONSITE and LIVE ONLINE concentrated modules.
The Intensive Approach
Accelerated Hybrid Approach – The program that Berkana is famous for inventing! Students complete their education in 24 weeks!
Demanding, and worth it.
This unique program has been in development for over 2 decades. It is exceptional, and it is not right for everyone.
Students can complete the hybrid program in 6 to 18 months. Regardless of program duration, they must be prepared to prioritize their education. Our students are serious, mature, and ready to upgrade their lives. They understand the program demands commitment and are ready to work hard while trusting the process.
Our student candidates must navigate a thorough introduction to the program, followed by an application and interview process before acceptance.
We are completely transparent about the demands of this program because we know it is not for everyone. We are committed to our student's success and are seeking to align with those who have the constitution for the serious nature of this holistic education. We train some of the best massage therapists in the world and do not compromise our standards of excellence to accommodate everyone.
Anatomy of the 650 Hour Massage Therapy Program
* LIVE Online Classes
*Online Classroom Orientation - 2 hours: ONLINE Classroom Orientation.
*Anatomy & Physiology - 40 hours: Intensive study of the human body's systems, organization, and structure. This course must be completed before participation in Onsite Modules.
Campus Orientation - 3 hours: Berkana Institute Program Orientation.
Self-Care & Hygiene - 6 hours: Lectures cover proper self-care and hygiene for the massage therapist, including proper sanitation and appropriate hygienic practice standards.
Body Mechanics - 10 hours: Client postural assessment, analysis, and healthy ergonomics are introduced. (Body Mechanics is the prerequisite to Kinesiology) Proper body mechanics around the massage table and in the student’s daily life is analyzed and modified to support a healthy lifestyle and longevity in the massage therapy profession
History and Benefits - 4 hours: Students learn the origins of massage and begin to understand the benefits of receiving therapeutic massage as defined by the AMTA
Massage Therapy Foundation Level 1- 40 hours: Students learn the basic rules of engagement of massage therapy and how to provide a full-body Swedish Massage utilizing classic Swedish strokes such as petrissage, effleurage, tapotement, compressions, and friction. This class is boot camp style.
Clinical Practicum and Clinic Orientation – 63 hours: Students provide massage therapy to the general public in a professional clinic setting with instructor supervision. Interview skills are cultivated. Documentation of sessions, including SOAP notes and session planning notes, are kept, and treatments are planned in consideration of pathologies and contraindications.
Required Sessions with Instructor – 4 hours: Students are required to receive two sessions with an Instructor over the course of the Certification program. These sessions are scheduled with the professional and provided at the professional’s location. Students write an essay on each experience.
*Research Competency – 10 hours: This course covers fundamental concepts and basic analytic methods pertaining to the design, analysis, and interpretation of Massage Therapy Clinical Research Studies.
*Business Development - 30 hours: The Business Development course covers a multitude of business activities, including marketing, promotion, tax strategies, and office policies.
*Musculoskeletal Anatomy - 40 hours: In-depth study of the skeletal, muscular, and articular systems of the human body.
Professional Inventory - 10 hours: Students begin to explore why they want to be a massage therapist and what responsibilities come with the profession.
Massage Therapy Foundation Level 2 - 40 hours: With a foundation in basic massage execution, Students are introduced to working with a diverse community, including adolescents, senior citizens, and expectant mothers. Experiential exercises help students cultivate more confidence and fluidity when providing a Western-style massage treatment. Intermediate techniques are introduced and practiced.
Communication Skills - 10 hours: Lectures and exercises include diplomatic, thoughtful, and creative communication skills. Scope of practice is emphasized.
*Professional Ethics - 16 hours: This class clearly defines the professional ethics for the massage therapist as described by the AMTA and the NCBTMB
*Introduction to Psychology of Touch - 10 hours: Students are introduced to psychological responses and conditions that massage therapists may encounter with their clients. They learn appropriate responses and when it is necessary to refer to a counselor or clinical therapist.
Deep Tissue Release and Myofascial Technique - 30 hours: Students learn the history, contraindications, indications, and basic techniques of Deep Tissue Massage, Trigger Point Therapy, and Myofascial technique. The student will learn and exchange techniques, all relevant terminology, and specific client considerations and approaches to these intermediate approaches modalities. The class is lecture, demo, and practice-based with an emphasis on a mindful approach to intermediate tissue manipulation.
Musculoskeletal Sculpture - 40 hours: Students learn the traditional anatomy of the skeletal and muscular systems of the human body by building the muscular system out of clay onto small skeleton models.
Basic Cupping for Manual Therapists - 8 hours: Students learn how to enhance their practice offerings by introducing cupping. Fire cups, face cups, vacuum and silicone cups are used. Students learn hygienic precautions, applications, contraindications and indications of therapeutic cupping, emphasizing the gliding style approach.
Ashiatsu Massage Therapy – 20 hours: Ashiatsu is a type of massage therapy in which the therapist walks on the client’s body, using overhead bars or other props for support to vary pressure and weight. This modality has its roots in Traditional Chinese Medicine. This course has a specific focus on indications, contraindications, advanced hygienic considerations, specialized equipment, and marketing.
Chair Massage for Marketing - 15 hours: This course teaches basic chair massage techniques. 5-10 and 15-minute routines are demonstrated and practiced. Chair massage can be offered on-site at many locations. Marketing strategies for client recruitment from chair to practice are shared with the students.
Cadaver Lab – 5 hours: This course takes place at the Colorado Learning Center of Human Anatomy in Longmont, Colorado. It is designed to educate the students to basic tissue types and general systems of the body through the art of dissection. The students will begin to understand the three-dimensional body and what’s beneath the skin. The exploration that takes place during the basic lab will allow each student the ability to palpate and differentiate tissue types and analyze existing thoughts into realities of the human body. The participants will be able to identify tissue depths and relate knowledge to clinical applications as needed.
Structural Kinesiology - 20 hours: Kinesiology is the scientific study of muscular activity, anatomy, physiology, and mechanics of the movements of the body. Students learn how to create care plans to correct postural imbalances.
Hot Rocks - 15 hours: This is more than just an introductory course. Upon completion, students can provide a 1.5-hour and 2-hour session using hot and cold stones. You will learn H.S./C.S. sinus treatments using stones & essential oils, stone layouts, when & how to incorporate stones into your treatment work, using stones for deep relaxation & meditative work.
*Pathology - 40 hours: Students learn different pathologies of the individual body systems and how to identify contraindicated conditions and refer to health care professionals when appropriate. 3 hours of HIV and 2 hours of medical errors are included.
Mindful Expressionism® Introduction - 20 hours: Mindful Expressionism® is the exploration of Art and Meditation in your massage practice. Student Therapists discover how to use all of their new tools to create a massage experience that is unique to them and specifically designed to meet their client’s particular needs.
Hydrotherapy Workshop - 10 hours: Hydrotherapy is the use of water in the treatment of disease. Students learn the use of hot and cold packs in order to support and encourage healing. Indications and Contraindications of heat and cold therapy are emphasized.
Thai Massage Therapy - 20 hours: Students are introduced to Thai Massage Basics and learn the proper application of techniques, stretches, and the history of this modality. Proper body mechanics and the energetic principles of the style are emphasized. Students learn how to administer an hour-long Thai Massage session as well as creative ways to integrate appropriate Thai techniques to table work.
Board Preparation - 26 hours: Students are introduced to the process of registering for and completing the two National Board Exams. Students take practice examinations and review pertinent materials with a panel of experts with an emphasis on Anatomy, Physiology and Pathology.
TAKE THE QUIZ
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