Our Philosophy
At Crystal Mountain, we celebrate the many ways in which Body, Mind and Spirit influence every moment of our lives. We incorporate this wonder of the human experience in all aspects of the program. We know that massage therapy can be an incredible tool for personal transformation, as well as a valuable tool for achieving optimal health. Many Crystal Mountain students tell us that their time here changed their lives in countless beneficial and unanticipated ways.
Along with our experienced staff and small class sizes, people typically choose our school because of our unique apprenticeship based approach. The education we provide comprises three interdependent spheres for exploring the healing arts - the classroom, the clinic and private instruction.
The Classroom
We combine a modern scientific foundation for our work with many ancient healing arts. We focus on helping people develop the skills necessary to become outstanding massage therapists. The essential abilities that every therapist must have include ease of movement, knowledgeable touch, ethics, compassion, clarity of intention, awareness of the moment and presence within that moment.
Using these threads as the foundation, each class builds on the knowledge and skills gained in previous classes. We recognize that learning is a process not an event, that different students learn in different ways, and that a climate of encouragement makes learning easier. Each person is valued and given the tools with which to meet the rigorous standards our faculty and staff have developed.
The Clinic
The Crystal Mountain Student Clinic is open to the public and allows our school to offers a student clinic for students and affordable massage therapy to the public. While in the clinic, students hone the business skills necessary for a successful massage therapy practice and polish their massage therapy skills. Students experience and participate in a working clinical atmosphere gaining the skills to succeed.
Private Instruction
Individual guidance is the cornerstone of our apprenticeship based model. Students practice with faculty in private sessions and in the classroom. Each student has a faculty advisor whose charge it is to follow the student’s progress through the entire program. A minimum of three advisor sessions occur outside of class and offer students the opportunity to receive professional feedback regarding their skills and academic progress. Students also complete practical sessions with other instructors during class hours. At the conclusion of the program, students have had a minimum of six individual practice sessions with an instructor. Students say these one-to-one sessions are a safe and invaluable way to gain confidence and explore their strengths and weaknesses. The faculty meets monthly to discuss student’s progress and to keep our approach fresh for each class.
PROGRAM SCHEDULE: DAY AND EVENING OPTIONS
Crystal Mountain provides two program options
DAY PROGRAM
The day option includes a total of 700 clock hours, 550 of which are in the classroom covering massage techniques, anatomy, physiology, pathology, business, and ethics. There are also 150 hours of Student Clinic during which the student provides massage treatments for the public under the supervision of Registered Massage Therapy Instructors. Students may opt to include outside events during their clinical hours. Students have 9 months to complete both the classroom and clinic portions of the program.
EVENING PROGRAM
The evening program includes a total of 675 clock hours, 525 of which are in the classroom covering massage techniques, anatomy, physiology, pathology, business, and ethics. . There are also 150 Hours of Student Clinic during which the student provides massage treatments for the public under the supervision of Registered Massage Therapy Instructors. Students may opt to include outside events during their clinical hours. Students have 16 months to complete both the classroom and clinic portions of the program.
PROGRAM CALENDAR
Both our Day and Evening programs start regularly. Check the left sidebar on this page under UPCOMING for class starts.
NEW MEXICO MASSAGE LICENSE REQUIREMENTS
http://www.rld.state.nm.us/massage/index.html
Crystal Mountain is licensed by the New Mexico State Board of Massage Therapy. People who want to practice massage therapy in New Mexico are required (with certain exceptions such as physicians and nurses) to have a massage therapy license. To qualify for this license, the applicant is required to:
Have at least 650 clock hours of massage education
Pass either the Mblex exam or the NCBTMB exam
Pass the New Mexico jurisprudence exam
Have a high school diploma or GED
ABOUT THE EXAMS
Your education from Crystal Mountain is great preparation for taking either the Mblex or NCBTMB exam. The pass rate for Crystal Mountain graduates is currently 100% on the first try for the Mblex.
For more information about these tests, go to the URL's below:
http://www.rld.state.nm.us/massage/index.html
http://www.ncbtmb.org/
http://www.fsmtb.org
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