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| 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, while keeping abreast of industry and regulatory changes. In 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 averages 4,500 treatments per year performed on over 2,000 clients, and allows the students to polish their professional, business, client-interaction, and hands-on skills under the supervision of a skilled instructor. The school's outreach program has reached out to 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", "Feria de las Mujeres Latinas", and "Chicagoland Women's Expo". The number of faculty and staff has grown from 6 at the school's opening, to 18, as of the time of this writing. The school currently enrolls an average of 150 students per year and has so far graduated fifty-seven classes. In the past year, 98.1% of graduates reported employment with an average starting rate of $50.10 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 limited to twelve students (six students in our clinic), superior faculty with real-life experience, 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 National Certification 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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