DOWNEAST SCHOOL OF MASSAGE - WALDOBORO, MAINE

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The Downeast School of Massage was established in 1981 for the purpose of training individuals in the health professional career field of Massage Therapy. DSM began with the founder-director, Nancy Dail, and four determined students. As the years passed, the school has grown with its graduates and the profession. Although the program began with a strong core curriculum of Swedish Massage and related courses, additional courses and program shifts gradually developed, as the vision of the profession became reality. DSM became committed to giving students a quality personal education that included more choice in diverse selections of Shiatsu, Sports Massage, or Body/Mind Courses.

The class of 1993 was the first to graduate from the new facility. Built with growth in mind, the passive solar building offers a spacious learning environment, as well as a library, the DSM Store, student lounge, spa, and sauna. Students are able to stroll around the campus trails during breaks and off-hours, seasonally utilizing sneakers or skis. They even enjoy skating on the 30-acre pond.

January 1994 launched a new program start: students are now able to start in either September or January. The September program has the widest variety of schedules, including part-time. The January program allows us to run through the summer months and comprises mostly day classes. Excluding guest speakers, currently there are 18 instructors who teach a wide variety of courses and schedules to over 50 students.

The year 2007 began with changes in our concentrations. The Body/Mind content has been absorbed into the core curriculum, and a new Energy Quest concentration was born, embracing Polarity, Quantum Touch, and CranioSacral. Pathology hours have increased and we have added more hours to Clinic. Sports Massage was updated to include assessment and treatment of chronic injuries. A Reflexology Certification can be taken for continuing education. Fall 2008 ushered in the 42nd class to begin their journey toward mastering the art and science of massage therapy.

In 1995, our program received accreditation from COMTA (Commission on Massage Therapy Accreditation) and was newly reaccredited in 2007. The status of COMTA institutional accreditation assures the student that the school carries a quality program; one that has been tested, inspected, and found credible. Our graduates are enabled to become licensed in the state of Maine without further testing. For those who seek National Certification, continuing education at DSM has been approved by the National Certification Board for recertifying purposes.

As a physical therapist, one of the primary reasons I enrolled in the DSM was to expand my hands-on manual therapy skills in my therapeutic “tool box.” I chose DSM because of their commitment to providing a scientific background as a foundation for all their students, as well as their reputation for providing a thorough massage education. The courses in Anatomy, Physiology, and Kinesiology were comparable with those of my undergraduate education in exercise physiology. What I came away with from the school was far more than I expected. Not only did I expand my collection of manual therapy skills, but also I gained a whole new level of understanding of the healing benefits of hands-on treatment and massage. The addition of massage in my practice will help bridge the medical model of client care with the more holistic health model of wellness and prevention.

Susan Volmer
12/03/08

Student Massage Clinic Schedule

Make an appointment for a massage by a DSM student
in our Student Massage Clinic. Many choices of days and times.
View schedule on-line
Download printable schedule (pdf format).

Down East Magazine - January 2000

Sarah Goodyear's article
Evangelist with a Smile
profiles Nancy Dail and
the Downeast School of Massage

Click HERE for an excerpt

Available Now!

A Gift of Touch
Dimensional Massage Therapy with Nancy Dail

Learn how to do a full-body massage, or improve your existing skills with this new DVD. The companion Manual (also available separately) provides a written description of the techniques on the DVD, plus bonus techniques not on the DVD, as well as chapters on body mechanics, contraindications, and more. FMI or to order/purchase.