Health & Wellness Coaching: A New Year, a New You
Health & Wellness Coaching: A New Year, a New You.
Chronic disease accounts for 75% of healthcare costs in the United States and the Soma Institute is dedicated to making a difference in this epidemic—especially this time of year when more people than ever suffer from illness and depression. The Health and Wellness Coaching Certificate Program at Soma offers hands-on training to pursue a career in helping others and making a difference.
The Soma Institute trains you to become advocates for your clients, helping them become happier and healthier in all facets of their lives. We address all aspects of health, including: diet and food; relationships and emotional well-being; exercise and physical health; and career development.
Health Coaches move on to careers in private practices, gyms & spas, wellness centers, and doctors’ offices. If you’ve always dreamed of helping others and have a natural inclination towards empathy and compassion, becoming a Health & Wellness Coach could be the calling for you.
If you'd like to learn more about becoming a qualified health & wellness coach, now is the time to explore this growing field. To learn more about The Soma Institute’s 15-week program, give us a call at 1-800-694-5314. You can make a difference!
A Massage Teacher’s Confession
I have a confession to make.
Every time we have a graduation ceremony, I have the same daydream. It’s very simple. Both Hovi and Rob can’t be found, and somebody has to give a speech. Can you wing it, Jason?
And I hem and I haw, but eventually I agree to try. I reluctantly approach the microphone, stumbling over my words at first, maybe my voice cracks, too, and eventually, with a bit of struggle, I get to the heart of what I’m going to say. This last ceremony, I thought I would say this:
As we’ve all seen repeatedly this past year, there are many terrible things in the world. (And in my head I would be thinking, should I say school shootings, or war, or religious extremists, or racism, or Trump, or just keep it as “terrible things?” And I would decide that there was no need to actually say these things out loud. Everyone would agree, sometimes, sometimes too often, the world can be terrible.) Maybe we’ve only witnessed these things on the news, or maybe terrible things have happened to those you love, or maybe, as I know from being with you for the past year, terrible things have happened directly to you, and you’re left asking yourself, why me? And I’m sorry, but I don’t think I’ll ever have a good answer to that question.
And maybe you’ve found yourself thinking that the world is in a downward spiral, that people are irredeemable, rude, egotistical, petty little jerks, (they are) or that the government is out to get you (it is). And I’m not going to waste your time by suggesting that every challenge is a learning opportunity, because despite their silver linings clouds are still just clouds, and metaphorically speaking, we’d all rather just do without them. And maybe, just maybe (here’s where I really punch them with the sad) you’ve found yourself ready to give up on the world, because from your perspective it can never be made right again.
But you’re wrong (I’d say, trying to find a smile somewhere in between uplifting and like I know something they don’t know, but not in an obnoxious way).
Not to oversimplify our profession, but with your newfound skills as a massage therapist, you get to help make the world right again. With the simple art of caring touch, a person’s life can be changed forever for the better. Even if you’re not treating a specific condition, which you are all trained to do, but if you’re simply just there for another person, you are helping put some black back in the ledger. You are, quite literally, making the world a better place. (At this point I would begin thinking I was being too schmaltzy, but that it would probably play well with this crowd. Keep going!)
So thank you, students, for choosing a career path that makes the world a nicer place to live in. It’s very easy to get depressed at the state of the world, or even just the state of our city, but I take comfort in the fact that I’m part of a practice that helps heal people, both physically and emotionally, and that by teaching you how to do that, maybe, somehow, we’re helping to tip the scales in favor of the good guys. Even if we’re not directly helping one of those poor people on the news, we’re at least doing something good, which I hope, and which I believe, helps to balance the karma of the world.
Thank you, once again, for choosing to do something positive with your lives. (Here I would either pretend to wipe a tear from my eye, or be genuinely moved by my own words and actually wipe a tear away.) It’s been a pleasure teaching all of you, and I look forward to seeing all the good you do for the world.
At this point I would step away from the microphone, and there would be silence, and I would think, oh no, I totally messed that up. But then one student would start clapping, and then another and another, until they are all clapping in unison, and on their feet, and somehow they manage to lift me and carry me through the door, a’la Rudy.
And freeze frame!
Massage with a Purpose
The Soma Institute believes in massage with a purpose. Soma’s Clinical Massage Therapy program prepares you to do more than just traditional massage—we prepare you for the career of your dreams. With industry support and hands-on training, Soma trains its students to become ambassadors to health. Students are trained in the main elements of massage, including hydrotherapy, traditional bodywork, and sports massage techniques.
If you’ve thought about a career in health and wellness, consider massage therapy. Therapists are in the exciting position to be able to use natural methods to treat their clients’ ailments and health concerns. Soma’s graduates are confident and prepared to enter the workforce—knowing they have the practical training they need to succeed.
The 750-hour Clinical Massage Therapy Program tailors classes to fit the busy lifestyles of our students—choose from either weekday classes or night & weekend classes. The Soma Institute offers support and guidance from our experienced Career Services professionals and gives you access to our extensive employer database.
If you’d like to learn more about Soma’s Clinical Massage Therapy Diploma Program and Soma’s January 2016 enrollment, give an Admissions Representative a call at 1-800-694-5314.
Massage For Better Sleep
A Good Night’s Sleep
Trouble getting a good night’s sleep during the holiday season? From Thanksgiving to New Year’s Eve, many people complain of later nights, more stress, and less sleep. One way to combat the effects of sleep problems in winter months is through massage therapy. Massage Therapy has been found to assist with resetting our bodies’ clocks, which in turn improves sleep.
Sleep problems can lead to substance abuse, depression, or low work performance—negatively affecting a person’s quality of life. As recent studies point towards massage therapy as a beneficial and natural treatment, The Soma Institute is dedicated to being part of the solution.
The Soma Institute in Chicago, Illinois offers a Clinical Massage Therapy program designed to train students in the major methods of massage therapy, including: hydrotherapy, bodywork, and sports massage. With an 11 and 15-month program, we offer weekend and nighttime classes in order to cater to our students’ busy lifestyles.
If you’re interested in a career promoting the health and wellness of others, and are looking for a rewarding career that fits your lifestyle, Clinical Massage Therapy could be the right fit for you. To speak to an Admissions Representative, give us a call at 1-800-694-5314.
Health and Wellness Coach Certification
Health and Wellness Coach Certification
With an increase in nation-wide obesity, depression, and disease, there is a growing demand for health coach professionals. Traditional doctors can take their patients only so far. Health Coaches motivate their clients to make lasting changes and develop habits for a lifetime. The Soma Institute in Chicago tackles this growing need in the healthcare system by training mentors in this rewarding career.
The Soma Institute addresses all aspects of health, including: diet and food; relationships and emotional well-being; exercise and physical health; and career development. We train you to become advocates for your clients, helping them become happier and healthier in all facets of their lives.
Health Coaches move on to careers in private practices, gyms & spas, wellness centers, and doctors’ offices. If you’ve always dreamed of helping others and have a natural inclination towards empathy and compassion, becoming a Health & Wellness Coach could be the calling for you.
If you’re interested in a career promoting the health and wellness of others, give The Soma Institute a call at 1-800-694-5314.