Sarasota School of Massage Therapy

Sarasota School of Massage Therapy (SSMT)

"Hands without the gift of knowledge are like feathers on the ground waiting for the gift of flight. Thank you for giving us wings!" -SSMT Graduating Class, December 1999

At SSMT we offer training designed to develop knowledge, skill and sensitivity; towards this end we provide an atmosphere of safety and support.

One of the first massage therapy schools in Florida, SSMT opened its doors 30 years ago. Since that time, massage therapy and bodywork have come to play an ever-increasing role in the community, and graduates now have an exciting array of career paths to choose from. Recently, SSMT was voted the 2008 Natural Choice Awards Winner, as the Preferred School for Holistic Health by the readers of the Sarasota Manatee edition of Natural Awakenings. Natural Awakenings is one of the largest natural living magazines published in the United States.

The school is owned and operated by practicing massage therapists, and the curriculum is constantly being improved and expanded. The instructors have extensive experience in bodywork, and many have been teaching at the school for 10 years or more. The overwhelming rate of student satisfaction at SSMT is due in large part to the inspiration of the faculty.

Enrollment is limited to 20 and teaching assistants are provided for many practical classes with 14 students or more. Some classes at SSMT often have waiting lists, so prospective students are encouraged to apply early.

730 Hour Massage Program

The 730-hour program is designed to provide professional instruction in a supportive environment, with an emphasis on experiential learning. SSMT offers day or evening, full or part-time classes. Federal Financial Aid is available to those who qualify and the school offers interest-free payment plans. Placement assistance is available after graduation and SSMT maintains high licensure and placement rates. The program includes large amounts of bodywork, including 160 hours of Swedish massage, 75 hours of neuromuscular therapy, and a 125-hour survey course in bodywork that introduces the students to a wide range of touch therapies. It also includes an integrated and holistic approach to anatomy and physiology, as well as coursework in practice management, present centered awareness, ethics, pathology, hydrotherapy, massage law, HIV education, first aid and CPR.

In the two levels of the supervised student clinic, students gain experience with the general public - first performing full-body Swedish massage, then creating treatment plans and following clients through cumulative changes. The school also donates supervisory staff to enable students to volunteer at the Sarasota Senior Friendship Center and Hospice House.

Many classes include movement and relaxation. Such disciplines as Yoga, Feldenkrais, Tai Chi Chuan and others expose the students to a range of movement practices intended to increase self-awareness.

Massage, an intimate blend of art and science, is a work of service and communication and it is first and foremost experiential; it awakens within both client and therapist the deepest qualities of human experience. A profound, powerful learning, based on self-awareness, can occur during touch and movement therapies. It is the school's philosophy that our own self-awareness has a direct bearing on our sensitivity to our clients - as we pay attention to our own growth, and stretch into life, we encourage those around us to do the same. It is also our intention to have fun. We have the most delicious potluck meals during our break times and holiday parties. We hold some classes on the beach. The bonds of friendship and connection that are formed here are difficult to describe and can only be experienced.

We thank you for exploring the possibility of studying with us!

If you are interested in any of our programs and would like to find out more, please Request Information.