You've made it to massage school. The financial aid questions have all been answered and classes have begun. Now that you're digging deeper into anatomy, physiology, and kinetics, you're finding you have an awful lot to learn about the human body. At times, it may seem overwhelming, so here are some tips to help you get through your studies.
Study Every Night
It doesn't matter if you are going to school every day, every night, or just on weekends. Make a little bit of time every single night for studying. Review all of your notes and spend a little more time rereading information on concepts that are more difficult for you. This process will keep the information fresh in your mind and will make it easier to prepare for tests later on.
Muscle Coloring Books
Visit the health and/or nursing sections of your local bookstore and pick up an anatomy coloring book. Yes, you're an adult and you may believe you are past the coloring stage of life. Trust me when I say that these pages will be your best friends - especially when it comes to learning muscles. I used to copy the pages, color them, and hang them around my house so that no matter where I looked I was faced with at least one or two muscles. Add some notes about how each muscle is used, insertions, and origins and you'll have 24/7 study guides around your house.
Flashcards
It's an old-school study method, but it works. Make flashcards with important factors and keep them with you at all times. Use them while you're waiting for a doctor's appointment, during commercial breaks, on your lunch break, or during your regular study session. They'll help you to remember key points about neurology, muscles, and even pathologies.
Study Groups
Get together with a few people from your class and form a study group. You can help each other through difficult concepts. You may understand one thing better than someone else; and you may each have a strong point to contribute. When I was in school, there was a guy in my class who was great at making visual representations of concepts (like using bundled wires to show what nerves really look like). Another student was great at making the laws of neurology make sense. Use each others' strengths to support each other. If a group isn't working for you, ask the school if there are tutoring options available from seasoned instructors.
Massage school is no different than any other sort of school or classroom setting. You'll need to pay attention, practice, and practice some more. Before long, you'll know more about muscles than the average doctor!
