Almost everybody has told us that they prefer weekend classes.
With weekend classes there is a minimal amount of disruption
to your daily life and you can finish the course in a very
short timeframe -- usually within two to three months.
Why is the course
spread out over a two to three month period?
Classes are
usually held every second weekend. As a result, it takes
about two months to complete the program. You're learning
to help people relax and we don't want to stress you out
in the process.
Not only will this type of schedule be less disruptive for
you, but it will give you ample time to practice your massage
between classes without excessive time pressures.
What kind of massage
is this? Swedish or Shiatsu?
You'll learn all types of techniques. We did market research
with a group of about 80 people to come up with the most
effective techniques. We gave each person a massage using
both Swedish and Shiatsu style techniques as well as some
unique techniques that were designed specifically for the
chair. After each massage we asked the person to tell us
which techniques they enjoyed the most and which ones they
liked least. We continued with this process, dropping the
techniques people didn't like and keeping the ones they
did. We weren't faithful to any one particular style of
massage. Our only criteria was that the techniques feel
terrific. By the end, we had an arsenal of techniques that
had universal appeal - everybody loved them. From those
techniques we chose the ones that were easiest on your body
as a practitioner. These are the techniques you learn in
the program.
What exactly do
I learn?
Here's a brief outline of the program so you know what to
expect.
During the first four days you learn how to use
your body in the most effective way possible while mastering
techniques done in the massage chair. The techniques you
learn will be built into a 15-minute routine. We'll focus
on the sequence and pacing until it's just right.
This is a routine that we have refined to perfection over
the past ten years. The routine will serve as a useful
framework as your skills develop. It becomes very automatic,
like driving a car, so that your massage won't be ruined
by distractions when your out in busy environments. In addition,
a standardized routine ensures that if you are working with
other practitioners that the quality of massage will be
consistent.
On the fifth day we take you out into the real
world to practice in a variety of environments under the
supervision of skilled instructors. Expect to do at least
15 massages. The repetition strengthens your skills as you
learn to adapt the techniques to a wide range of body sizes
and shapes. It shows you how much you've learned in such a
short time. And the response will be so positive that you'll
be floating on cloud nine.
For the remainder of the course you learn lots of new techniques
including ones for the lower body, so you can do a
one-hour full
body massage with the person staying right in the chair.
You will also learn techniques that are
done with the customer sitting in a standard chair. This
gives you knowledge you need to work with people who can't
sit in the massage chair - people like the elderly who
have limited mobility, people in wheelchairs or perhaps
even office workers who don't want to leave their desk.
Before you leave, we'll teach you how to customize your massage to each
customers individual needs. And once again, we will
unleash you on the public under the watchful eyes of our
experienced supervisors. By the end, you'll be able to
do a massage of any length focusing on the areas that most
need massage.
Do I have to know
anatomy and physiology?
We want the course to be as practical as possible and avoid
any "fluff". Because the focus is on relaxation
and not treatment of specific conditions, anatomy and physiology
is not as important as it would be for a therapist, that
is someone training to do rehabilitation massage. Nevertheless,
it is important to be able to understand and talk about
the various structures, like muscles and bones, so that you
can get your hands in exactly the right spots and target
specific muscles.
You don't need a background in anatomy or physiology to
get started. Your
initial home study materials that cover these topics assume
you know nothing. By going through this material before
class begins, you'll learn all about the muscles we are
working on. This will be reviewed and reinforced throughout
the classes.
What books do I
have to buy?
You do not
have to buy any books. All materials - printed materials
and videos - are included in the course fee. If you want
to expand your knowledge, our experienced instructors would
be happy to suggest other relevant sources of information.
What kinds of post-graduate
courses do you offer?
We offer a
variety of special courses that are offered only to Relax
to the Max graduates. In the past we have offered introductory
courses in Swedish and Thai massage as well as personal
development, sales and marketing courses.
I haven't been to
school in a long time. Will this be too difficult for me?
You're not
alone. Most people taking the course have been out of school
for some time. Unlike your previous experiences with school,
you'll find that your Relax to the Max experience is a lot
of fun.
Even though the course is rather intense, if you review
your preparatory notes before classes begin, pay attention
in class and spend a few hours each week practicing, you
will have no problem whatsoever in getting through the program.
Why don't you run
these programs more often?
We would love
to be able to offer more programs in more locations. It's
our dream to see seated massage available to everyone, everywhere.
However, it's important to us that we maintain a high standard
of quality. So we will only expand as we train and develop
more top notch teachers. We won't settle for giving you
anything less than a phenomenal experience.
For this reason, our classes usually sell out. Make sure
you register early.
Are there any tests
or exams?
If you decide
that you would like to become Certified, you must write
a short written exam and pass a one-on-one practical exam.
I haven't done exams
in years. What if I fail?
Do your homework
and stay focused in class and we can almost guarantee you
won't fail.
In the event that you do fail the written exam, you will
have the opportunity to rewrite at no extra cost.
The practical exam is very much like a tutorial. The instructor
will critique your massage and give you very specific feedback
for improving. After completion of the exam, the examiner
has three options:
1) Approve you for certification,
2) Require that you do a certain number of practice hours
integrating the corrections you were given and then retake
the exam ($60 examination fee), or
3) Require that you retake parts of the course and retake
the exam.
We want everyone to succeed and are very supportive. But
you do need to have achieve a sufficient level of proficiency
before we give our seal of approval. We'll do everything
in our power to make sure you get there.
What kinds of people
take the course?
All kinds!
There has been an incredible diversity of people taking
the course. From homemakers looking for part-time work to
bank managers pursuing a lifelong interest. From high school
students to grandmothers. From people wanting the career
they've always dreamed of to people who simply want to learn
for fun. It always makes the classes interesting.
Can I speak to a
someone that's taken the course?
Absolutely! Relax to the Max graduates are the greatest
supporters of our program and quite a number have allowed us
to freely pass on their phone number to people interested in
taking the program. What we might suggest first however, is
that you check out our
testimonial
page. You may also want to take the time to listen to
these recorded messages
from some of the graduates.
Do you ever offer
introductory massage workshops?
You betcha. In the past, we've usually charged $49 for
these information-packed three-hour
introductory massage workshops, but the great news is
that this year, we've decided to do them for free. You'll
learn some great techniques from some of our best
instructors. But because the introductory massage
workshops are free, we're more likely to hold these in
community centres than fancy hotels and you'll need to bring
or buy your own refreshments at break time.
What happens if
I've registered and I have to cancel?
Notify us
at least two weeks before the class is scheduled to begin
and we'll either refund your deposit or apply it to the
next program ... it's your choice.
Less than two weeks notice doesn't allow us sufficient time
to fill your place and we'll retain your deposit as a small
compensation.
What happens if
I miss a class?
You must attend
every class - no exceptions are made. If for any reason you miss one or more days
of class you have several options.
1) Hire a tutor to help you get caught up - $30 per hour.
2) Take the missed class in a nearby city if it fits into
the schedule - no additional charge.
3) Exit the program and join us in the next program - no
additional charge.
What happens if
I need to drop out?
Sometimes
life's circumstances won't allow you to continue. Again,
you have options. You can either join us for the next program
at no additional charge. Or if you cannot continue in the
next program, pay for the time you have been in class ($80
per half day) and we'll waive the balance of your course
fee.
What guarantee do
you offer?
You have a
two-part guarantee for double protection.
First, if after getting your home-study materials you decide
this isn't for you (or if you just get cold feet), give
us notice of at least two weeks before your start date and
we'll refund all payments including your deposit.
Second, come to the first two days of class. Have some
fun and learn some great techniques. If at anytime during
those two days you decide not to continue, simply hand back
your study materials and we'll refund all payments including
your deposit.
You don't even have to give us an explanation. We'll respect
your decision. We won't ask questions and we certainly won't
try to pressure you into continuing.
Do I really get
all my money back if I'm not happy?
If you've
met the requirements listed above, we feel you have given
us a fair try and will be happy to return every penny including
your deposit. We're not sneaky and there will be no hidden
administrative fees or penalties.
What payment options
do you offer? Can I pay with my credit card?
After your
deposit, the balance of the course fee is due on the first
day of class. If cash is
tight, we will finance the cost of the course for you for
six months. The monthly payment is only $259. If you are
taking the course package that includes a chair, the monthly
fee is only $359.
We are so confident that you'll be able to pay
us from your profits doing chair massage that we won't even
bother with a credit check. If things are really tight we
will arrange extended financing on a case by case basis.
For the payment plans, we will accept post-dated cheques or we can charge your
credit card monthly - whatever you prefer.
What else do I have
to buy?
The only thing
that is not provided is a massage chair.
Click here for our recommendations.
Can I get a student
loan?
No, this program
is not approved for the provincial loan programs like the Ontario Student Assistance Program
(OSAP).
The course is relatively low-cost. But if money is an issue,
we'd be happy to help you out with financing. We want to
make this course as accessible as possible.
Are there any government
assistance programs that might cover the cost of the course?
Some students
have received financial assistance through a number of Human
Resources Development Canada (HRDC) programs and through
other employment assistance programs. Call your
local HRDC office for information on current funding programs.
What do you offer
in the way of financing?
We will finance
the course fee for a period of up to 6 months (see
above). We can extend this financing for up to a year,
but will do this on a case by case basis. If you need
extended financing, please let us know. We don't
require a guarantor and we don't do credit checks. However,
we do regular reporting to credit bureaus.
What if I'm unable
to make my monthly payments?
If for any
reason you are unable to make your monthly payments, please
notify us so we can make some alternate arrangements. We
do apply a $25 charge for NSF cheques. Let us know if you
do not have sufficient funds in your account so you can
avoid the charge.
We ask students
to sign a brief two page contract that outlines many of
the points mentioned in this FAQ section so that both your
responsibilities and our responsibilities are made clear.
It's written in plain English and is easy to understand.
It simply helps prevent misunderstandings later on down
the road. This is included in your introductory materials
and you have lots of time to look it over before class
starts. We ask that you sign this and hand it in when you
register for class on the first day.
Someone told me
I couldn't do massage unless I was a registered massage
therapist. What's the scoop?
Massage is
considered to be in the public domain ... anyone can do
massage. Massage is public domain as it should be. People
need to have accessibility to safe structured touch for
personal wellness and for the well being of our society.
If you are doing massage for income however, there are some
considerations.
In Canada, Ontario, Newfoundland, and British Columbia have
provincial regulations. You can't call yourself a "massage therapist".
That title is protected by law and you need to meet certain
requirements and pass a provincial exam before you can use
that term. Our graduates are usually referred to as "Chair
Massage Practitioners". (The exception to this is
British Columbia where the title "massage practitioner" is
also protected. In British Columbia, the title "Chair
practitioner" is most commonly used.)
There are estimated to be about 10,000 alternative health
care practitioners in the Greater Toronto Area alone. A
large percentage of these people do massage or bodywork
including Shiatsu therapists, Reflexologists,
Aromatherapists, Swedish massage
practitioners, estheticians and others.
Legislation in the States is a little different. A little
over half
of the States have legislation that regulates the "act" of
massage. Because of the nature of the legislation in these
particular States, it is unlikely that you will be able to practice
chair massage without becoming a massage therapist first.
Check here for an overview of various State requirements
for doing massage.
There may also be local or municipal by-laws that may put
certain restrictions on your ability to do chair massage. So
please contact your local government office to determine if
this is the case for you. There are likely over 9,000
municipal offices throughout Canada and the USA. It's
impossible for us to be current on all the possible by-laws
in all these centers, so you are responsible for doing your homework.
Are you coming from another country? Great!
We've had students from the Australia, the Caribbean and
even the Middle East come to study with us. They have taken
our two-week intensive programs. Like everyone else, do your homework before you
make the trip to Canada. If you want to do chair massage for
a career, make sure that you'll be able to practice chair
massage once you return to your country. Contact your various levels
of government.
What happens if
I hurt someone doing this massage?
Searches through
medical or legal databases show that the chances of harm
arising from massage are almost non-existent. You can check
it out yourself. Look up the term "medline" on
your browser to find web sites where you can access the
Medline database. This is the largest medical database in
the world and indexes millions of articles from a wide range
of international journals. Search this database for cases
of reported harm.
For a detailed discussion of reported cases of harm by
massage refer to the
Massage Law Newsletter (Volume 17, Issue 2 provides a
summary).
As part of your training, you learn a systemized screening
process to determine when it may not be advisable to do
massage. The safety of customers is our foremost priority.
How can I protect
myself from getting sued?
Getting professional
liability insurance doesn't hurt in the event that someone
mistakenly believes they were injured by your massage. Relax
to the Max certification give you access to professional
liability insurance at excellent rates. Our certification
is recognized by major massage associations including the Association of Massage Therapists
and Wholistic Practitioners (Canada's largest massage
association) and the ABMP (the second largest American
massage association). You can get reasonably priced
liability insurance from these associations as well as from
other providers who we are affiliated with.
As a student, during class time and practical supervised
placements, you are covered under our extensive professional
liability policy.
There is a lot of confusion around the issue of certification.
In Canada, massage is public domain. That means that anyone
is legally entitled to do massage for a living providing
their business is in compliance with local by-laws.
Certification is only as meaningful as:
1. The credibility of the certifying body
2. The criteria used for certification and
3. The public perception of the credential
Who is certifying
me?
The seated massage industry is very new. It started in 1986
in the United States. Relax to the Max was the first doing
it in Canada in 1993. Despite the large number of practitioners,
an estimated 10,000 who have trained specifically in seated massage,
a non-partisan group that regulates the industry either
in Canada or internationally does not exist at this time.
Although Relax to the Max has taken initiatives to foster
the development of such an organization, we remain at this
point in time the most qualified to set standards. We offer
the only entry-level program in chair massage in the world
and provide the most comprehensive training in seated massage
available today.
What criteria are
used for certification?
Relax to the Max practitioners have to demonstrate not just
competence, but proficiency at performing chair massage.
They have to complete a required number of class hours,
document practice hours, complete a written exam and pass
a one-on-one practical exam with a trained and experienced
instructor. The most rigorous standards in the industry
How does the public
perceive this certification?
Because the industry is so new, the public is just becoming
aware of the existence of chair massage as an alternative to table
massage or massage therapy. Relax to the Max is working to keep the visibility
of the service high through an ongoing public relations
program. We have appeared nationally in both print and televised
media. Certified practitioners can assist the process by
publicizing their credential on business cards and other
educational and advertising materials.
The other related factor affecting public perception of
the credential is the number of practitioners to who it
applies. This number is still relatively small, but
we are making plans to progressively expand training across
the country and the numbers of practitioners will increase
dramatically in the coming years.
What are the benefits
of being certified?
Association with the Relax to the Max name.
Being a Certified Relax to the Max practitioner identifies
you as being committed to the highest standards in the industry.
Support. You have access to a directory
of all Relax to the Max practitioners. Being a pioneer in
an emerging industry is exciting, but it can be lonely.
We actively encourage communication and support amongst
practitioners and support both formal and informal opportunities
to stay in touch.
Access to our members only web site. An
excellent way to communicate with other graduates and keep
up to date on the latest happenings in the industry.
The opportunity to join professional associations.
Our certification is currently recognized by two associations:
1. Associated Bodywork and Massage Professionals - one of
the largest American massage associations with over 40,000
members, and...
2. The Association of Massage Therapist and Wholistic
Practitioners - the largest Canadian massage association.
We would be happy to apply to other associations for recognition
of our graduates if you request it.
Eligibility for professional liability insurance.
You are eligible to be insured by one of the above associations
or by one of our affiliated insurance brokers.
How do I get certified?
To become certified by Relax to the Max as a seated massage
practitioner you must go through the following steps:
1. Completion of Relax to the Max seated massage techniques
workshop
2. Documentation of 20 hours of practice massage
3. Completion of a short written exam
4. Completion of a one-on-one practical evaluation by a
Relax to the Max instructor
Could you give me
more details on the process?
Step 1: Complete the Relax to the Max seated massage techniques
workshop
The technique workshop is intense. Everything you learn
is vitally important information. You must attend all ten
days of classes.
Step 2: Document 20 hours of practice massage
You are expected to practice the massage techniques between
instructional periods. You don’t improve by thinking
about doing massage. You improve and become more proficient
by actually doing the massage and by repeatedly practicing
the techniques you learn in class. For this reason, we require
that you complete a minimum of 20 hours of practice on your
own time.
This practice massage must be completed within six months
of the final day of class, although we suggest completing
it within two months of finishing. You may include any massage
done after the fourth day of class as part of your required
practice hours.
Step 3: Complete a short written exam.
There are 20 multiple
choice questions on the exam. This exam covers the following
information:
· anatomy
· directional and movement terminology
· screening
· side effects and contraindications
· body use principles
Step 4: Complete a one-on-one practical evaluation
After you have completed your documented practice, you may
make an appointment for your practical evaluation. (In the
two-week intensive programs, all exams are scheduled for the
last Sunday of the program.) The evaluation typically takes
about one hour, but may be extended as necessary. You will be working
on the instructor.
We appreciate that students have various levels of anxiety
surrounding exams. Think of this experience as a private
tutorial. It is conducted to help make you the best practitioner
possible. This evaluation is an excellent opportunity to
get good critical feedback from an experienced instructor.
Details on all four steps are included with your package
of introductory study materials.
How is chair massage
different than other kinds of massage?
Chair massage
removes all the barriers that prevent people from using
massage. For the first time ever, massage has become accessible
to the main stream public. It's very exciting.
Can you tell me
a little bit about how this all started?
In the early
80's a gentleman from the States, David Palmer, who was
trained in an ancient form of Japanese massage started doing
seated massage in corporations. He quickly realized how
popular this kind of massage could be. Unlike table massage
which historically has low rates of utilization, short relaxation
massages through the clothing appealed to almost everyone.
In 1986 he created the first massage chair that supported
the individual getting the massage. This crystallized an
image for the industry. From that point on chair massage
became to be the fastest growing segment of the massage. Since then, it is estimated that up to 100,000 massage
chairs have been sold world-wide.
We'll give you more historical perspective in your introductory
study materials.
If people love it
so much, why don't I see it around more?
Several reasons.
It's still relatively new. Relax to the Max was the first
one doing this is Canada in 1993 - that's not very long
ago. Secondly, in Canada, massage therapists are trying to
create a professional image for the industry by focusing
on rehabilitation services. In the process, they have disregarded
simple relaxation massages or backrubs. So therapists who
should have developed the chair massage industry in Canada
have largely put it aside. The situation in the States is
somewhat different because American therapists typically
have lower training standards and focus largely on relaxation
massage. For the American therapists, it is not a great
leap to go from doing relaxation massage on a table to doing
relaxation massage in a chair. Lastly, except for Relax
to the Max's unique chair massage training, there is no entry
level education program in chair massage in North America.
So there are few practitioners being trained. The demand
for this service is simply not being met.
Can you tell me
more about Relax to the Max?
Click here
to read the About Us section (coming soon).
How many practitioners
are doing this kind of work?
In the States,
there are well over 10,000 practitioners who have been specifically
trained to do chair massage as well as thousands of therapists
without specific training doing this kind of work. In Canada,
there is probably less than 1,000 chair massage practitioners
across the country.
Can I make money
doing this?
Absolutely, there is a lot of demand for this kind of
massage. Your income potential is largely determined by your
level of ambition. You can do it part-time to supplement
your existing income or do it fulltime. There are many chair
massage practitioners doing this successfully as a career.
Some go beyond a private practice and develop larger
businesses. Cary Cruea was profiled by the Massage Therapy
Journal. At the time the article was written, she had
already made over $3 million at her Seattle Airport
Massage Bars (TM). The Great American Backrub Company, a
retail chair massage company, was actually launched as a
publicly traded company in the stock market.
How much do you
usually charge for chair massage?
Testing shows
that a dollar per minute ($60 per hour) is a very acceptable
price for this kind of massage. That fee may be higher or
lower depending on the circumstances involved.
How many massages
can I do in a day?
You should
be able to easily do five hours of massage per day. Since
the standard massage time is about 15 minutes, you could
do 20 massages a day or more.
Don't your hands
get sore doing this all the time?
Not if you have the right training. Massage is physical
work, but your body should feel great after a day of massage.
At Relax to the Max you will learn to integrate seven essential
body use principles. This emphasis on using your body properly
will allow you to get the maximum results with minimal effort.
The chair allows you to leverage your body weight so you
don’t have to use your muscles. It’s easy on your
back because you remain upright instead of bending over
a table.
How do "therapists"
feel about people like myself doing chair massage?
Some are upset
because you have a better income potential with less training.
Others recognize chair massage as a valuable way to introduce
massage to the mainstream public and increase the overall
utilization of massage in North America. It makes massage
more visible and will have a positive impact on their personal
practices. We've had many massage therapists who have
already had thousands of hours of training take the course.
Can I do remedial
or rehabilitation massage using the chair?
Doing rehabilitation
or medical massage requires a great deal of training. That's
beyond the scope of the Relax to the Max chair massage training.
Where can I work
once I'm certified?
Because chair
massage appeals to almost everyone, you can do it almost
anywhere. Click
here to go back to the information page to see a list of some of the environments in which chair
massage practitioners are working.
Click here to hear the
stories of successful graduates.
How do I start my
own business?
Doing massage is one thing; running a business is quite
another. Since most massage professionals are self-employed,
we recognize the importance of making sure that you have the
resources you need to be successful. So for a limited time,
we are making the Chair Massage Marketing 101 e-course from
BodyworkBiz available to all our students. This is normally
priced at US$99. It's the most comprehensive course of its
kind and will guide you step-by-step through the process
over a five month period.
Here's a table of contents.
In addition, we provide a whole host of other resources. An
online discussion list where jobs are posted and where you
can share information with fellow graduates, monthly
networking meetings by teleconference calls, post-graduate
workshops, and access to a password protected resource site
set up specifically for our graduates. Of course, you can
call the office anytime to speak to one of the Relax to the
Max staff.
What is the best massage
chair and where can I get it a good price?
Special Announcement... You can
get your chair for FREE when you register before December
31st, 2007! Ignore anything on this site that refers to the
price of the chair.
More info...
Click here for information about our recommended
massage chair. Although you don't have to buy the chair
from us, we can include it in a special package price that
includes the course and the chair. You'll get one of the
best chairs on the market and save hundreds of dollars.
Note that we do not sell the massage chairs to the public,
we supply them to our students only as a courtesy. Just one
of the many benefits of choosing Relax to the Max.
