Educational Philosophy

Are you

• An intellectual learner – curious about the human body, human behavior, and yourself?
• A hands-on learner – not afraid to touch and be touched?
• Someone who desires to bring your Self to your studies?
• Committed to excellence and mastery in all your pursuits?

The mission of Ashland Institute of Massage is to educate hands, heart, and head for a holistic integration of Self and skills. Our “AIM” is for students to strive for Awareness, Integrity, and Mastery in their studies, their practices, and their lives.

We believe that scientific understanding, technical skill, and personal awareness are each crucial aspects of a competent practitioner. In addition to “standard” academic and massage skills training, our massage school is unique in that we strive to increase students’ understanding of themselves and how their personal history, belief systems, and behavior patterns may affect their practice as a massage therapist. Once students have an increased awareness of these issues, they are better able to make choices that support them in living and practicing in alignment with their personal values and vision.

• We recognize that students enter our massage therapy program with their own learning preferences and bring to their practice a diversity of skills and life experiences.
• We value the integration of body, mind, and heart in learning and in practice. We structure our massage therapy training so that students experience this integration through kinesthetic activities, intellectual stimulation, and awareness practices.
• We teach human sciences and other massage therapy courses with the practice of massage therapy in mind. We provide a thorough working knowledge of the structure and function of the human body, along with the theory and practice of Swedish massage, clinical assessment & treatment skills, and complementary therapeutic modalities, including energetics and Eastern bodywork modalities.
• We model professional, compassionate attitudes with a commitment to ethical interactions with our students, colleagues and clients.
• We provide a safe, supervised, and supportive learning environment that promotes the health and well-being of our students.
• We support practitioners in broadening their skills and knowledge through on-going continuing education programs.

Corporate Philosophy

Is how you do what you do important? It is to us.

The Ashland Institute of Massage is an integral member of the larger community and, as such, we hold that we have a responsibility to put our values into practice. This helps to create the kind of world in which we want to live - one of integrity, accountability, respect, compassion and ethical practice.

• We strive to be socially responsible in our business practices.
• We contribute financially to and provide benefit clinics for organizations that seek to create a world rich in health and wellness.
• We value openness, feedback, and change as vital to our growth and development as an Institute.