About The School : Degrees in Massage Therapy : Highly Rated Massage Schools in Chicago : The New School For Massage




	History and Founding Principles The New School for Massage, Bodywork & Healing was founded in early 2002 by Emmanuel Bistas, B.S., M.B.A., L.M.T. based on his research on how massage therapists were trained and educated, and how schools prepared students for the future. Having received massage training in the oldest massage school in the country as well as smaller, skill-based massage programs, he saw a void in the skills most schools taught. Using his prior service sector experience, his entrepreneurial credentials and his passion for advancing the healing arts, he decided to create a new learning environment. The school was a product of extensive massage industry analysis and reviews of massage therapy schools around the country. Discussions were held with massage therapy students from area schools to find “likes” and “dislikes”, and focus groups were conducted with practicing massage therapists and employers. The idea was simple: make the old “new”. Take the best that old schools had to offer and overlay it with new concepts, new ideas, and a new focus not only on massage skills, but also on long-term career success. This new philosophy encompassed everything: the curriculum; the scheduling; the instructors; the academic and administrative policies. Furthermore, the facility had to be one that was consistent with alternative therapies: a warm, nurturing space with positive energy that brings out the best in students, instructors, and guests. The vision brought to the school some amazing students and some of the country’s most talented instructors. It also drew to the school people who could contribute their time and resources to make the dream reality. Since its inception, the school has continued to innovate and expand its curriculum and offerings. It has also kept abreast of industry and regulatory changes with its participation in various organizations and advocacy groups. The key milestones below illustrate that the meaning of the word “New” in the school’s name implies a continuous evolution and renewal: Late 2001: Market research conducted by Emmanuel Bistas showed a fragmented and inefficient massage education sector that is ready for a competitive priced, well-rounded, massage therapy program. Over a period of 6 months, the core faculty was appointed with instructors representing the three largest area schools at the time, proprietary computer systems were developed to support a lean and efficient administration, and the lease was signed at the 800 N. Wells location, a beautiful loft space with 22-ft ceilings and large windows right in the heart of the gallery district. Early 2002: The New School for Massage became approved by the Illinois State Board of Education as private vocational school. The Massage and Bodywork Diploma Program became the first massage therapy program in the Chicago area to offer an extensive professional development component alongside massage and science coursework. The program was also the first in the area to be offered with all-inclusive pricing and small classes limited to twelve students. The school joined the Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals (ABMP), American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA), and AMTA Council of Schools, and received an assigned school code by the National Certification Board of Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCBTMB) so that graduates can take the National Certification Exam. Late 2002: The school facilities expanded with the addition of the student and professional clinic, which has been featured in Chicago Tribune, and “Chicago’s Best” as the “best that Chicago has to offer”. The student clinic allows the students to polish their professional, business, client-interaction, and hands-on skills under the supervision of a skilled instructor. As of the time of this writing, over 48,000 treatments have been performed on 14,000 clients in the student clinic, offering students a solid experience of working with the public. Early 2003: The school launched a volunteer program to reach out to the community by visiting abused women’s shelters, senior centers, cancer survivors groups, and college campuses, and has helped bring massage to the mainstream by participating in events such the “NBC5 Health and Fitness Expo”, “Y-Me”, NOCC’s “Walk for the Whisper”, “WTTW Fun and Run”, “Taste of Chicago”, “Feria de las Mujeres Latinas”, and “Chicagoland Women’s Expo”. 2004: The New School for Massage obtained the services of an accreditation consultant to become ‘accreditation-ready’ and to determine whether participation in federal financial aid would benefit the students. The decision was made that students would be best served by state accreditation, instead of private-agency accreditation. The New School for Massage became approved by the Illinois Department of Workforce Development for WIA grants, the state approving agency of the Department of Veterans Administration for GI-Bill Benefits, and the Department of Homeland Security for sponsoring foreign students. 2005: The state of Illinois started regulating massage therapy. 2006: The Massage and Bodywork Licensing Exam (MBLEx) was created by the Federation of Massage Licensing Boards. The New School for Massage spearheaded a petition to the State of Illinois Licensing Board to accept the exam along with the National Certification Exam, and became the first Illinois massage school to include preparation for the MBLEx in the Diploma program’s educational objectives. As of the time of this writing, 36 states, including the state of Illinois, have accepted the MBLEx. 2008: With the help of bodywork legend Randy Cummins, The New School for Massage expanded its Asian Bodywork curriculum and became the first massage school in the area to devote an equal number of hours to Eastern and Western foundation classes. 2009: The New School for Massage became a founding member of the Alliance for Massage Therapy Education (AFMTE), an independent organization involved in teaching standard initiatives. 2011: To better target its resources to the development of new educational offerings due out in early 2012, The New School for Massage outsourced management of its student clinic, outreach activities, and introductory workshops to its affiliate company, River North Massage Therapy Center. In the spring of 2011, AMTA and the licensing board proposed an amendment to the state’s licensing law to increase the number of hours required for licensing in Illinois from 500 to 750. The New School for Massage opposed the amendment because it was based on quantity of hours rather than quality of curriculum, would increase tuition costs for students, and would hinder efforts to license portability, The school supported a lesser increase of 600 hours. To protest the proposed increase, the school terminated its AMTA membership and turned to the Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals for assistance. With the help of ABMP, the language of the amendment included an increase to 600 hours to be implemented in 2014, consistent with the position of the school. The New School for Massage has always stood ahead of the pack on every topic affecting the massage profession. From introducing a fast-track program at a time when everyone said it could not be done, to offering an all-inclusive pricing model and comprehensive curriculum, to promoting the cause of an advanced certification exam, to advocating the use of a new licensing exam, to teaching at the 600-hour level as baseline for state license reciprocity, the school has placed education and the student ahead of everyone else. As of the time of this writing, the school has graduated ninety three classes. In the last reporting period, as reported to the Illinois State Board of Education, 100% of graduates who were available for placement reported employment with an average starting rate of $39.10 per hour. The New School for Massage strives to use the most current learning techniques to supply students with the most comprehensive massage and bodywork training, and to prepare them to operate a successful business in today’s marketplace. With small classes, caring instructors, innovative curriculum, and professional development classes, The New School for Massage brings to bodywork education the one-on-one approach that the students will eventually bring to their practice. The results of this approach are reflected in the school’s exceptional job placement and licensing exam statistics and the excellent reputation it has gained in the community. The school treats the students just like they would want their students to treat the people they will one day serve: with compassion, respect, and a sense of personal responsibility. To The New School for Massage, the word “New” is both a name and a commitment.

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