Posted by Jennifer Shaw on Thu, Sep 02, 2010 @ 09:00 AM
Hear what future September student Dara Allen-Trainer has to say in her second video blog about preparing to start classes this month. There's still time to join her in the "Saturday section," which is a great schedule for working students.
Do you have a healing touch? Learn to work with doctors, physical therapists and chiropractors or own your own business. For more than 20 years, TLCschool has been graduating massage therapists who are therapeutically masterful, economically successful and personally fulfilled.
Tell us about your experience at TLCschool in the comment field below. We want to hear your story!
Lauterstein-Conway offers many schedules for everyone from stay-at-home moms to those working through a mid-career transition. Our video blogger, Dara, is enrolled in the September Saturday section - there's still room in that class for you!
Posted by Jennifer Shaw on Thu, Jul 22, 2010 @ 03:00 PM
Tristana "Tana" Rogers is a graduate of the 2007 Advanced Clinical Training/Semester 2 program.
Why were you interested in massage therapy? I was a teacher for over 20 years from elementary to adult education. I was ready for a change that would more closely fit my personality and lifestyle. I knew I wanted to do something with exercise and health and I couldn't imagine myself forcing people to exercise so I thought- why not help them recover and stay healthy? Massage was a perfect fit. As a runner and exercise nut I knew that a good massage would keep me injury free and training hard.
Why did you choose Lauterstein-Conway Massage School? I contacted all of the local schools and none of them impressed me. When I visited Lauterstein-Conway David was conducting a class and invited me in to watch. As a teacher I saw the focus, respect and attention being given to the students. It was a very welcoming atmosphere. The other schools focused on how much money I could make as a therapist and how their program was cheaper and would bring me more bang for my bucks. I phoned some of the spas etc to see who they were hiring and Lauterstein-Conway kept popping up as the answer.
What do you do now? I have my own practice downtown. 1-2 Saturdays a month I work with Austin Fit offering massage to the marathon training groups May through February. I also work two mornings with Dr. Sylvia Deily DC at the Spine Rehab Center doing exercise training and massage. Certification Candidate with Advanced-Trainings in Myo-fascial Release.
What was the impact of massage school on your life? I have always had an active life as far as exercise is concerned. Massage school gave me the chance to balance my overactive lifestyle. I had a lot of time to contemplate what I wanted in my future. i now practice yoga, meditate, and take the time to observe where I am and where I want to be. It's very refreshing.
What was your favorite massage school class? I loved anatomy/physiology class- maybe because on some level I knew how much I would use it in my practice. It was thrilling to learn how the body does what it does and then apply that knowledge to alleviate a painful area through massage. I have to say though - the business class on goals really changed my life.
What was hardest about massage school? I wanted to get every question right. It was hard to have missed a question when I knew the answer.
Tell us about your fondest memory or "ah-ha" moment. I was receiving a massage from Keith after my practical. I had a shoulder issue at the time. He was working on the deltoid when I said "you can go deeper if you need to" and he replied. "No need" and gently the pain and stiffness at the attachment melted a way. THAT is something I use to this day.
Tana Rogers Massage features Deep Tissue, Sports, Myo-Fascial Release,Therapeutic and Reiki services.
Would you like to be a featured graduate? Share your story! We'd love to hear what you, as a licensed massage therapist, are doing these days.
Posted by Jennifer Shaw on Fri, Apr 30, 2010 @ 10:12 AM
Rachel Doyle, LMT is a graduate of the March '04 (Professional Massage Training for State Licensure, then a 300-hour Program) and Nov '04 (Advanced Clinical Training/Semester 2) programs.
Why were you interested in massage therapy? I had been searching for my professional 'path' for what felt like FOREVER. I had gone to college, changed majors 4 times, dropped out to 'figure out what I wanted' and had never made the time to go back. I was good at my job, but hated it... then my body began to hurt. Doctor after doctor (all out of my own pocket) was unable to diagnose my pain.On the advice of a family friend, I finally saw a massage therapist. He helped to alleviate my pain almost immediately, and saw a structural imbalance that was easily turned around. That got me thinking...
Why did you choose Lauterstein-Conway Massage School? When I finally made the choice to go to massage school, I talked to everyone I could find about where to apply. They ALL said that TLC was the best choice - even the folks who hadn't gone to school there themselves!
What do you do now? (As it relates to regards to massage therapy.) I am a massage therapist at The Watermark Hotel & Spa here in San Antonio. We provide 4-star quality massage and body treatments 365 days a year in a beautiful urban setting.
What was the impact of massage school on your life? Massage school gave me a skill set that I will carry for the rest of my life regardless of how long I earn my living as a massage therapist. Becoming a therapist has given me a different way to approach my world. I feel that I am more thoughtful and more patient, and I would like to think that I am more connected to who I really am and what I have to offer.
What was your favorite massage school class? I really loved massage school in general. That being said, I loved anatomy. I am a serious science dork at heart. Having the knowledge of 'what goes where' in my head really guides my hands. I tend to close my eyes and really visualize my intent as I work. I also truly love Shiatsu. Not only do I dearly love to puuuull on limbs, learning but Shiatsu really solidified then enhanced what I knew about the body. It also took away the fear I had about making true, solid contact with a client's body.
What was hardest about massage school? For me, it was THE NERVOUS SYSTEM! Even today, I have to refer to my notebooks and textbooks if I have a question about nerves. For some reason, I can't get that set of information to stick...
Tell us about your fondest memory or "ah-ha" moment. My favorite memory from school is Blindfold Massage Day. I had sprained my thumb, and was unable to participate, so I was a 'draping monitor'. There were moments of true massage beauty interspersed with moments of absolute hilarity - yet I was unable to make a sound. It was the first time I was able to watch my classmates truly surrender themselves in a session. Amazing.
We want to hear what you think! Feel free to comment about this story in the box below, or share the story of your own massage school experience with fellow massage therpists and future LMTs.
Posted by Jennifer Shaw on Tue, Apr 13, 2010 @ 12:00 PM
By Rainbough Phillips, LMT
Chair massage seems to be the oft-berated younger sibling of table massage. Many therapists view it as a sound-byte form of real therapy that is begrudgingly allowed in our industry. However, nothing could be further from the truth. Not only is it one of the best ways to therapeutically access the muscles of the shoulders and upper back, it is also a therapist's most powerful marketing tool.
Imagine a new winery that would only sell their wine by the case, and did not allow customers to sample it before purchase. You could see how this would readily lead to a bankrupt company. Why invest in a whole case if you do not even know if you would like a single glass? Unfortunately, this is how many therapists approach marketing. We want clients for at least an hour investment or not-at-all. If that does not make sense in other businesses then there is no reason to believe it would work for massage therapy.
The versatility of chair massage allows it to be a "sample" of what you do, but it can also be focused therapy for the shoulders and upper back. Now imagine your client gets real pain relief from the ten or fifteen minutes you gave them of chair massage. For them it was neither a "sample" nor a "sound-byte," but a real, powerful experience of what massage therapy can do.
Consider that there are two major groups of people you will encounter while marketing your practice: those that have had massage and those that have not. For the people who have not had massage a printed ad that list words like "sports massage" and "myofascial release" will mean next to nothing. They simply do not have a meaningful point of reference for what your service would actually be. The other set of people are those who have experience with massage. These people are almost guaranteed to have a preconceived idea of what massage should be. That "idea" could be anything from a light pampering to a painful, difficult experience and everything in between. What they will not have is a clear picture of how you personally give a massage, and what your hands can do for them. Chair massage will give both of these sets of people the first hand experience of just how powerful and effective massage therapy can be. More importantly it will show them how effective your hands are at making a difference in their bodies.
Remember that there are two major things we spend when we market our practices: Time and Money. Chair massage is our best marketing tool because the time/money we spend doing it gives clients a tactile awareness of what we do that they simply cannot get any other way, because of this the return on your time/money investment is above and beyond what you get from other forms of marketing.
Rainbough Phillips, LMT is a semester II graduate of Lauterstein-Conway Massage School and has been practicing massage therapy for five years. She has worked in an amazing variety of environments including several physical therapy and chiropractic offices. She now runs Breath & Balance Bodyworks, a small yoga and massage business in Cedar Park, Texas. As the mother of a very active toddler, Rainbough passionately believes that everyone should know how to give a good massage. You can reach Rainbough at
breathandbalance@gmail.com.
How are you promoting your private massage practice?
Chair massage with Cindy Anderson is one of TLCschool's longest running and most sought after massage continuing education courses. Reserve your seat today!
Posted by Jennifer Shaw on Sat, Apr 10, 2010 @ 06:00 AM
On Saturday, February 20, 2010, Lauterstein-Conway Massage School's June 2009 graduated. Congratulations! This is what some of the June 2009 massage school students - now graduates - had to say about their massage school experience at TLCschool.
What was your favorite part about attending TLCschool? Did you take an intensive or flexible schedule program?
Posted by Jennifer Shaw on Mon, Mar 08, 2010 @ 04:47 PM
"Massage therapists must be aware of what medications their clients are taking before performing massage services," MTI Tara White explains to one of the 500-hour massage training classes at Lauterstein-Conway Massage School.
Tell us what you think! As a massage therapist, what are your experiences with massage and medication? What other medications should massage therapists be aware of before beginning bodywork on a new client?
Take this class: Lauterstein-Conway Massage School is
now enrolling.
Posted by Jennifer Shaw on Thu, Feb 04, 2010 @ 01:00 PM
In April 2009, Lauterstein-Conway held one of it's popular Massage School Previews in which people interested in a career in massage therapy visit the school to receive free info, chair massage and mini-massage classes as well as have a Q&A luncheon with a panel of TLCschool's esteemed alumni.
Interested in massage therapy as a career? Would like to attend a School Preview? Get the upcoming dates!
Posted by Jennifer Shaw on Mon, Nov 23, 2009 @ 12:30 PM
By Robert Sierra, Graduate Clinic Massage Therapist
Coffee supported all-nighters, information overload, anxiety, getting techniques learned, strategizing for the test of your life…College finals? The Law Bar? The presidency? Pregnancy and parenthood!
As a professional massage therapist, pregnancy massage can be intuitive if you’re a female massage therapist and have gone through this particular transformation in your life. It can make you apprehensive if you don’t have a regular client base with this need or it can seem like a sea of information and technique that you don’t ever quite have the confidence to pull together to make the session a successful on for you or a worthwhile one for the mother that is looking for that supportive, nurturing and relieving touch.
In 2009, I reached a nexus that brought these worlds together. I’m a massage 
therapist and my wife is delivering our first child in December of this year. Between knowing Swedish, Sports, Shiatsu and Deep Massage, my “bag” of techniques was helpful but didn’t quite reach the comfort zone that a pregnant woman (my wife) needed in order to have a lasting effect. Needless to say that it was frustrating for both of us (I’m speaking for her.)
Naturally, when Bodywork for the Childbearing Year® was offered at Lauterstein-Conway by Kate Jordan Seminars, I signed up. The information supported everything that I had been seen women in pregnancy experience and the techniques and procedures that Kate Jordan has brought together for the seminar reach beyond the implied clientele.
After the seminar, my confidence in working with a woman in the child bearing year has heightened. I now see that working on a client in side lying position allows a massage therapist access to areas where relief can be longer lasting by utilizing the proper techniques. I have expanded my reach by letting my guard down and moving beyond my own comfort zone.
Robert Sierra's, LMT, professional massage work, independently and through the Lauterstein-Conway Massage Clinic, has been ongoing since graduating and becoming a State of Texas Licensed Massage Therapist in October 2006. Robert's style of massage is interactive by focusing on client goals whether specific (for that session) or longer term (several scheduled sessions). He incorporates various modalities into a single session to be as effective as possible, but he can also concentrate on any of these specific techniques: Swedish, Sports, chair, Deep Massage (the Lauterstein Method) and Shiatsu.
Posted by Jennifer Shaw on Fri, Jun 19, 2009 @ 05:38 PM
Anne Meinecke, TLC Graduate 2001, 2002, Reiki Master and an Owner of the Wheatsville Co-op
Why were you interested in massage as a career?
My first love was music and my second ballet. But in 1996, after Idecided to take a break from my BA in music, I began to search for a newcareer. As a dancer, violinist, pianist and vocalist, I was already comfortablewith my body, working with my hands, and speaking mindfully. After talking with several friends about career options it was ultimately my Dad that recommend Ilook into massage therapy. Over the past eight and half years my career as aMassage Therapist and Reiki Master has proved to include multiple parallel andoverlaps with my first two loves. I dance while I work, listen with my hands, and have fine-tuned my communication skills. I look back at where I began towhere I am today and feel blessed with all the gifts I have received. By theway, thanks Dad!
What is your specialty/main modality/favorite modality?
I specialize in Trauma and Personal Growth therapy incorporatingIntegrative Bodywork and Reiki. As needed, I incorporate a variety ofmodalities including Swedish Massage, Sports Massage, Deep Massage, Structural Bodywork, Reflexology, Zen Shiatsu and Hot Stone Massage. But I would have to say my favorite modality is Deep Massage. I also teach individual and small group Reiki workshops providing First Degree Reiki Attunement and Second Degree ReikiAttunement. With a background in the fine arts, I incorporate my knowledge and experience in psychology, dance movement, music, and studio art in my understanding and work with each person's unique life rhythm. Each session isdesigned intuitively and intellectually based on individual goals and needs.
Special interests?
I enjoy studying body psychology and the relationships betweenpeople and the environment in which we live. My primary focus is to create asafe and nurturing space for my clients and students to embrace and experiencethe deeper aspects of the self. My philosophy that healing has multiple faces allowsme to support individuals through their unique lessons and opportunities. I amcurrently finishing a BFA in Studio Art with a focus in the relationshipbetween Art and Healing. In the future, I hope to continue my education with aMA in Psychology so that I can increase my working knowledge of thecomplexities of the body and mind to further support my clients.
Your Career
How long have you been practicing?
I have been in private practice since January 2001.
Is massage therapy a full or part-time job for you?
Massage Therapy was my full time job for the first year after Icompleted the 300-hour semester. I then returned to TLC for the 250-hoursemester while working part-time as a Massage Therapist and BookkeepingAssistant at TLC. I currently see clients a few days a week while completing myBFA.
My favorite part about being a Massage Therapist and Reiki Master ishaving the opportunity to be a part of another person's healing journey. Igreatly enjoy working with people and feel honored every time my clients makethe decision to work with me.
Where did you start your practice?
I started my practice by word of mouth and referrals. In thebeginning years I primarily provided out-calls and worked with theBusiness Stress Express, Body Business Health Club, Stephen F. AustinIntercontinental Hotel, and Hotel San Jose.
How did it grow/change/develop since you started it?
My practice changed dramatically when I decided to rent an officespace. It provided the opportunity to build my private practice and focus onwhat I wanted to provide and not what a business was telling me I had to do.Once I made the decision that I wanted to provide something more than justmassage therapy my practice began to grow. I began referring clients to other therapiststhat specialized in modalities I didn't feel comfortable with and focused onwhat I was good at; Creating a safe space for individuals to be exactly wherethey are. I work primarily with people who are seeking personal growth and adeeper relationship with their body. I use Sports Massage techniques but youwon't see me underneath the tent downtown providing pre and post event massage.But you can find me just North at The Rosedale Clinic on 49th and Grover whereI will create the space for you to focus on personal growth, work throughemotional and physical trauma, depression, anxiety, grief, loss, domesticviolence, and rape. I am committed to creating a safe place for individuals toembrace the change and movement they are seeking through therapeutic bodywork.
TLC and You
I was living in New York City during the time I realized returningto school was the next step on my path. I knew I wanted to return to Austin, soI searched for massage therapy schools on the Internet and found TLC.
Why did you choose Lauterstein-Conway Massage School at the time?
Attending massage school at TLC changed my life. Actually, itwas the only school I looked into. After attending an introductory open house,and met with admissions for an interview, I knew TLC was a good fit.
Do you have a TLC favorite class?
I really enjoyed the movement class during my first 300-hoursemester. With a background in ballet and modern dance I have always felt adeep love for movement. This class helped me to honor the importance of beingin my body as I work with each of my clients. In the very beginning of mypractice I started a simple centering and grounding ritual that I continue todo before and after all of my sessions. Regardless of time, taking a fewmoments to check in with my body mind spirit, and let go of any preconceivednotions I might have about how I think the session might go, helps me to remainpresent and focused on my client needs.
Blindfold massage was another class I really liked. I rememberfeeling hesitant and unsure in my ability to massage without sight. But thisclass proved to be the foundation for all of my work. The best advice I cangive any therapist is to slow down and listen to what the body is telling you. Whenwe begin to see with our hands we are then presented with the unique opportunityto work anatomically from a heart place.
How do you think Lauterstein-Conway has changed/grown/developed since you attended school here?
I think Lauterstein-Conway will continue to provide students with awell-rounded education. David and John remain committed to providing one of thebest and nationally recognized education in Massage Therapy. I am very pleasedwith my education and feel proud to say I am a Lauterstein-Conway MassageSchool graduate.
Posted by Jennifer Shaw on Fri, Apr 17, 2009 @ 06:20 PM
Unlike the fashion industry, massage trends change slowly over time. Over the last 20 years, Lauterstein-Conway Massage School has seen one trend clearly – the evolution of a more business-minded, clinically-based massage training - happening within its own curriculum.While many massage schools across the nation are adopting a more clinical approach to massage therapy, Texas’ changing massage laws have played the biggest part in the trend at Lauterstein-Conway. Massage School: In the Beginning
In 1989 when John Conway and David Lauterstein founded the school, the Texas law's basic massage training program was 250 hours of anatomy, physiology, business, health and hygiene, hydrotherapy, and Swedish massage, with no internship.Shortly after the program started, Conway and Lauterstein added Semester Two, a 250-hour advanced massage training program. Initially, Semester Two included - in addition to advanced anatomy, physiology, kinesiology and business practice classes - Shiatsu, Sports Massage and Deep Massage: The Lauterstein Method.“The idea,” John Conway said, “was to offer more training to students who really wanted to build a [massage] practice.”Semester Three, which only transformed in the last few years into several smaller continuing education classes, was offered shortly after Semester Two. It included Craniosacral Therapy, The Psychology of Bodywork, Muscle Energy Technique and more advanced Deep Massage. Eventually, Craniosacral was replaced by Zero Balancing, of which David Lauterstein is a practitioner and certified instructor.David Lauterstein, who composed the curriculum and also taught some of the sections, and John Conway were among the first Semester Three students. Massage School: The Transition
When the Texas' requirement changed from 250 hours to 300 hours, the transition to a more business-minded and clinically-focused training truly began. Texas then required 15 hours of business and a 50-hour internship. There was still no pathology and language about kinesiology was vague.During this time, Lauterstein-Conway Massage School only required 40 hours of the internship to be hands-on. The other ten hours was spent orienting the students to a clinic setting and teaching clinic management, as directed by the state curriculum.In 2006, Semester Two’s Shiatsu training was replaced with Clinical Massage Therapy. The Shiatsu training became its own 50-hour program – the Asian Bodywork Program. Massage School: A Higher Level
In 2007, Texas caught up with the rest of the nation by requiring Texas licensed massage therapists complete a 500-hour massage training course. The requirements included an additional 30 hours of business – making the total number of business hours required 45 – 40 hours of pathology, 50 hours of kinesiology, 125 hours of Swedish massage plus 75 more hours of additional techniques. As a result, Lauterstein-Conway Massage School adapted again by merging and refining its basic massage training with its Semester Two program.
What is offered now at Lauterstein-Conway is a program, steadily refined over the last 20 years, that is more focused on teaching a high-level of clinical and holistic bodywork in addition to the principles of business that are so important to area massage therapists.