Opportunity Knocks
By Joan Hannant, Founder & CEO of The Soma Institute
I founded The Soma Institute for one big reason. I saw an opportunity to help people achieve independence and financial freedom through a rewarding career. I’m passionate about empowering people and giving them an education that provides career options and opportunity. I’ve long believed in the future of the health and wellness industry, and we are now at a fascinating and exciting time. Despite a pandemic going on now for more than a year, the industry is hiring.
Resilience in the Year of COVID-19
By Joan Hannant, Founder & CEO of The Soma Institute
One year ago, things at Soma, and in life, came to a screeching halt. On March 16th, we shut down our institute and told everyone to stay home. In one way, it was an easy decision because it was the right decision. In another way, it was one of the most painful decisions I’ve ever made. Here at Soma, we are so proud of our ability to give people a fresh start, a chance at a better career and a better life, and suddenly, I felt like I was taking that away from our students.
Veterans Day
By Joan Hannant, Founder & CEO of The Soma Institute
Veterans Day is a special time in this country. It’s a day we all come together to honor and thank our military veterans. At Soma, we’ve had the honor of working closely with veterans for many years. One of the most noble things I’ve observed is the continuing desire they have to serve others. When I ask these students what appealed to them about clinical massage therapy, I get different answers, but almost every single time the students circle back to a desire to find a career where they are serving others – making someone else’s life better.
The Powerful Desire to Help People Feel Better
By Joan Hannant, Founder & CEO of The Soma Institute
The health and wellness field attracts a certain kind of person. For years, we’ve been hearing one theme from new students and applicants. It’s a simple desire, but a very powerful one. Our students want to help people feel better. For those interested in massage therapy, they all have this one thing in common. It’s what draws them in, what motivates them and, ultimately, what makes them great at their jobs.
Massage Gets Back to Business
By Joan Hannant, Founder & CEO of The Soma Institute
One of the cruel ironies of 2020 is that when people are stressed or tense, they need massage more than ever. Clearly, this has been a stressful year. Add to that all the people who are working remotely and bent over odd workstations or composing spreadsheets while sitting on a couch and you get a long list of physical problems that massage is great at addressing. But, due to COVID-19 and government mandates, for months massages either weren’t available or didn’t feel like a safe choice.
Now that the massage industry is opening back up, it’s not a surprise to be hearing from so many Soma graduates about demand for massages being high. We recently reached out to a few employers and Soma graduates to get their thoughts on “getting back to work,” new safety procedures and how the pivot to online communication has changed our industry for the better.
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