MysticMag chats with Mary Light, ND MH LMT, the Director of the Ann Arbor School of Massage, Herbal & Natural Medicine. She is a Traditional Naturopath, Licensed Massage Therapist, and Clinical Medicinal Herbalist. Mary founded the school and also established the Gaia Center for Herbal Studies, a community learning center. Her training spans from 1991 through 1999 and beyond, reflecting her ongoing commitment to expanding her knowledge and expertise.
In what specific ways does your massage therapy program integrate theoretical knowledge with practical skills to provide a comprehensive learning experience?
State-licensed schools like ours must provide specific clock hours in Anatomy, Physiology, Kinesiology, Pathology, Ethics, Business, and supervised hands-on practice within the classroom setting. Transitioning from didactic lessons, including handouts, written material, and lectures, to practical demonstrations and practice is seamless and highly integrated. For example, students may attend a lecture on body systems anatomy and then immediately apply their knowledge in a practicum, locating and palpating organs and glands such as the colon, kidneys, respiratory diaphragm, cranial plates, and more. Another illustration involves a lecture on muscle location and naming, followed by students drawing those muscles on each other using non-toxic washable markers.
Our program also mandates over 80 public clinic sessions, which are supervised and integrated. The community has trusted our intern clinic for massage therapy appointments for over a decade. Students maintain a Field Work Journal with 30 required sessions, providing direct feedback and a means for outside-of-class practice. They also keep a Clinic Portfolio reflecting their in-house clinic session feedback, which is paid for by the School.
Can you elaborate on the process through which graduates can apply for a massage therapy license, and how your program prepares them for this step?
Upon completion of our program, students submit an APPLICATION TO GRADUATE, following a prescribed checklist of documents and fulfillments they have worked on during the program. The curriculum includes a variety of quizzes and drills to prepare for national exams. Graduates can apply for a massage therapy license by contacting the state or territory in which they intend to practice and following the application process outlined by that state. The State of Michigan specifies curriculum requirements, which our School adheres to regarding topic range.
Could you provide examples of the types of herbal medicines and formulations students learn to create in your Herbal Medicine Series, and how these are applied to various body systems and conditions?
One example of our hands-on instruction in class is the creation of simple infusions, decoctions, and extracts under supervision. For instance, students make a calendula oil infusion and transform it into a salve for various skin conditions. They also create a compound powdered formula called Nerve Rejuvenator, intended to improve sleep quality, alleviate anxiety, and reduce spasms and pain. Additionally, they learn to make a powdered Intestinal Soother, which combines five botanical ingredients to alleviate symptoms of food poisoning and intestinal/stomach issues.
How do you measure the success and effectiveness of your program in terms of student outcomes and professional achievements post-graduation?
The Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards, which administers the MBLEX exam, provides us with pass rates and statistics comparing our school’s performance to others at the state and national levels. In the last report, we ranked highest on the list. We also track our students’ post-graduate activities, including employment status and continuing education achievements. Throughout the program, we offer coaching on interviewing skills, wage negotiation, job opportunities within the industry, and potential contractual agreements they may encounter.
Can you describe the role of experiential learning and fieldwork in your Herbal Medicine Series, and how these components contribute to the overall learning objectives of the program?
Each class at the Ann Arbor School of Massage, Herbal & Natural Medicine is designed as a hands-on workshop, focusing on experiential learning through sensory, tactile, and visual recognition, as well as comparative assessments of products. Fieldwork assignments require students to replicate herbal medicine-making methods taught in class, conducting their own preparations between sessions for examination and discussion. Students receive samples of most herbs and formulations to experiment with at home or between class meetings, allowing for a direct experience of botanical therapeutics. The curriculum also encourages questions, discussions of case histories, and integrates these experiences into the overall program.
If you would like to find out more about Mary Light and the Ann Arbor School of Massage, Herbal & Natural Medicine, please visit https://www.naturopathicschoolofannarbor.net/
