By Pete and Lee Whitridge
It’s been a busy spring filled with workshops around the state and country. With our license renewal biennium approaching its final months, it’s time to complete your continuing education requirements prior to our August 31 deadline.
The question was raised recently about taking CE classes in-person as opposed to virtually. Of course, massage therapy is a touch profession and having a hands-on experience makes perfect sense. But beyond that obvious response, we were interested in how recent workshop attendees would answer that question based on their own experiences of being in class. We’ll let them tell you why they preferred their live, embodied rather than virtual, experience.
It was so much fun having our own former teacher and colleague, Catie Miller, in class with Pete recently. Her take on the matter: “Online classes will never exceed in value the experience of being in a classroom with other students and a skilled teacher. Why? Because we humans are social creatures. We thrive on social interaction and being in community, whether that is a community we live in or simply a weekend community of like-minded people. Online classes allow us to be unfocused and not truly present because we basically are alone, though sort of with others. Online classes have their time and place but I love being in a classroom, interacting with others and enjoying their physical presence.”
We loved this response from Susan Gage, FSM grad, Massage Therapist and Episcopal Minister: “OK….first I had to wrap my mind around the idea of anyone thinking that online education for massage therapy is a good idea. I know we had to do it during the height of the pandemic, but really??? This is about therapy for the whole body…not just the pixels on the screen. With the preamble out of the way…here’s my short answer: ‘I loved my in-person class experience! Not only because I could meet, practice, and connect with other therapists; it also meant I could return to FSM and spend two days in a place of deep healing and beauty.’” (We know she didn’t really mean for the “preamble” to be included but it echoes our sentiments completely and made us smile!)
Another seasoned LMT and massage establishment owner, Leigh Ann McNair responded: “I appreciate the opportunity of attending CE classes live. I honestly can’t imagine learning a skill/modality any other way. I prefer, need and want the chance to connect with the teacher. I appreciate their guidance, direction & help. I love hearing other students’ questions & thoughts. And most importantly, I want the opportunity to touch & practice on bodies. All different types of bodies. This is how I learn & this is how I can grow as a massage therapist.”
What would YOUR reason be for attending an in-person CE workshop? Learning new skills, being with actual humans giving and receiving massage, having your specific practice questions answered by your instructor and colleagues, having time to yourself to RECEIVE?? To experience all of the above, you can choose to attend one of the many upcoming workshops scheduled at FSM between now and the end of renewal in August. We hope to see you soon!
Pete has three more CE workshops, and two Big 3 Required classes scheduled in Gainesville through August. Come enjoy a bodywork weekend, reconnect with the school, and have fun in class. Visit our website: whitridgewellness.com for more information and to see Pete’s workshop schedule at https://www.whitridgewellness.com/schedule.html where you can register for upcoming classes.
