The following Soma graduates have recently been hired into the massage therapy workforce:

• Lynn Criscione – Massage Envy; Chicago, IL
• Dylon Zicchino – XSport Fitness; Chicago, IL
• Misty Villafuerte – Asha Salon; Chicago, IL
• Beatriz Rodriguez – Sculpt Medical Spa; Chicago, IL
• Kim Murphy – Spa @ The Wit; Chicago, IL                                               

Congratulations to these recently employed Soma graduates!

Congratulations to Pamela Possen, Clinic Developer, for her new baby, Gabriella Ann Fernandez, who was born at 9:06 a.m. on January 21, 2012 at 7 lbs. 4 oz. and 19 in long.

Also, congratulations to Kevin Kosovich, Faculty Instructor, for his new baby, Israel Quincy Kosovich, who was born at 12:12 p.m. on January 24, 2012 at 8 lbs. 1 oz. and 22 in long.

The following Soma graduates have recently been hired into the massage therapy workforce:

• Luz Lozano – Equinox; Chicago, IL
• Maite Hernandez – Chicagoland Comprehensive Care; Chicago, IL
• Catherine Mingledorff – Spa at Oak; Oak Park, IL
• Christopher McDaniel –Chicago Chiro and Sports Injury Center; Chicago, IL

Congratulations to these recently employed Soma graduates!

The Soma Institute hosted the 2012 Winter Graduation at the Fairmont Hotel in Chicago on Sunday, January 15, 2012. Over 120 Soma students graduated. Amongst them were seven Valedictorians, three Perfect Attendance Award recipients, and 42 President’s Honor List students.

The graduates consisted of five massage therapy classes: 2010 September day program, 2010 April day program, 2010 October day program, 2010 August evening/weekend program, 2010 November day program and 2011 January day program. The Valedictorians from each class were Paula Bosak, Audrey Farrell, Sarah Farsales, Caitlin Glavan, Norma Martinez, Catherine Mingledorff, and Meghan Murphy. 

Make sure to check out some pictures and a special Graduation video to be posted this week to our page on Facebook! http://www.facebook.com/somainstitute 

Congratulations to our recent Soma Graduates!

Below is a pie chart from the 2011 AMTA Fact Sheet showing health care professionals who recommended Massage Therapy in 2010.

Here are some facts about Massage Therapy from the 2011 annual consumer survey sponsored by the American Massage Therapy Association. 

• 90% of consumers believe Massage Therapy is effective at reducing pain. This number increased from 86% in 2010.
• 30% of consumers have used Massage Therapy for pain relief, up from 25% in 2010.
• 69% of Americans have or would recommend Massage Therapy to a friend, acquaintance or relative.

The 2012 January Day program had their New Student Orientation today at 8:30 a.m. Accompanied by the Soma Student Escorts, the 1201D students were introduced to the program through first-hand knowledge and experience of clinical massage therapy.

Welcome students!

In an article by Jeff VanDyke entitled “8 Lessons from a Massage Therapist” in the December 2011 issue of Massage Magazine, Jeff gives eight lessons that he lives by as a massage therapist that any massage therapist can learn from:

1. Be clean and neat.
2. Develop unique skills.
3. Be a big fish in a little pond. It’s always good to be in the public eye if you have your own practice.
4. Stay put. Your clients may not always follow you.
5. Get paid, no matter what. Strike a balance between being a healer and a business person.
6. Be yourself.
7. Be nice.
8. Join Facebook.

For more information on how to become a massage therapist, contact Soma at (312)878-4635.

According to the AMTA 2011 Massage Profession Research Report, consumers of massage therapy are looking for pain relief, stress reduction and relaxation, and massage for medical and health reasons.

In fact, 86% of Americans agree that massage can be beneficial for health and wellness, including pain relief; 40% of Americans are getting massage to relieve their stress; and over 39 million American adults (16% of the population) discussed massage therapy with their doctors or health care providers.

Contact Soma to start your career today!

The following Soma graduates have recently been hired into the massage therapy workforce:

• Erin Bretts – Chicago Chiro and Sports Injury Center; Chicago,IL
• Mary Fuller – Advanced Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation; Chicago, IL
• Juan Oloarte – Salon 44 Spa; Chicago, IL
• Jennifer Guyton – Elements Therapeutic Massage; Orland Park, IL                                               

Congratulations to these recently employed Soma graduates!