Issue link: https://www.massageandbodyworkdigital.com/i/68016
3. DON'T BE SO FOCUSED ON "PRACTICAL" THAT YOU NEVER GET TO "FUN" Continuing education classes may just get you excited about your profession again. "If a technique class will do that, then take it," Williams says. "The second question to ask yourself is 'How am I feeling about massage? Is there something that will inspire me and feed my soul?'" Thomas Myers, author of the Anatomy Trains series, advises therapists to occasionally take something "off-the-wall" to battle boredom. "Take a course outside your realm that forces you into new areas," he suggests. "If you've already taken five courses in neuromuscular therapy, what's a sixth one going to do for you?" But just like diners at a smorgasbord need to practice restraint and not help themselves to some of everything, be thoughtful about your education choices. "Have some clarity about why you're taking a class," says Art Riggs, a San Francisco-based bodywork teacher and author of Deep Tissue Massage: A Visual Guide to Techniques (North Atlantic, 2002). "I have some friends who bounce around, taking all sorts of classes. They're continuing education junkies. They can do a ton of therapies, but they never really get a niche where they're really comfortable and confident." 4. DON'T LIMIT YOURSELF TO THE MINIMUM YOU NEED TO KEEP YOUR LICENSE This is especially true for new massage therapists, says Whitney Lowe, director of the Orthopedic Massage Education & Research Institute in Sisters, Oregon. "The newer you are as a practitioner, the more CE courses help spur your interest," he says. But the best massage therapists are also lifelong learners who never get tired of trying new things. Even if you can cram in all the CE hours you need in a single week, consider spreading out your class time over the course of the year. "This is a time to not only broaden your knowledge and skill base, but a time to connect with colleagues," Werner says. "We work in tremendous isolation, and we don't have a lot of opportunities to share with our colleagues. Continuing education classes are a time to do that." 5. ASK QUESTIONS BEFORE YOU ENROLL Will the class be large or small? What's the instructor/student ratio? How much will be hands-on versus lecture? Will students mostly be working with a teaching assistant? Can the school steer you to inexpensive but comfortable lodging nearby? "It's hard to know these things just by reading class marketing materials," Lowe says. "Word of mouth is a valuable indicator. Ask people you know in your network of therapists about classes they've taken. Various Internet forums are also good places to pose these questions." Don't be shy about calling up the instructor either, experts say. "Ask about their educational philosophy. Ask for the learning objectives and make sure they're in alignment with your needs," Williams says. "It's completely fair to want to speak to the instructor, and if the instructor doesn't have time to talk to you, that's a good indication you might want to go somewhere else." 6. ONCE YOU LEARN IT, THEN WHAT? Williams teaches a workshop in stone massage, which costs $400. But if students want to practice what they've learned, they'll need another $300 worth of equipment. "If you can't afford the equipment to deliver this particular technique after you've learned it, maybe the class isn't the best use of your time and money," she says. If it's a new area of study for you, ask for reading suggestions