Cortiva's New Hoboken Campus to Offer Massage Therapy Programs Designed to Meet Educational Requirements in New York, New Jersey

HOBOKEN, N.J., Sept. 29 /PRNewswire/ -- Cortiva Institute Schools of Massage Therapy will open its 11th location at 2 Hoboken Place in Cortiva's headquarters' city of Hoboken.  The school is currently recruiting students for its class start, set for October 25 at the new location, which is located across the street from the Hoboken Terminal and just a 12-minute PATH train ride from midtown Manhattan.

Cortiva's Hoboken location will offer a 1,080-hour program that is designed to meet the educational requirements for New York State licensing along with a 600-hour program that exceeds New Jersey educational requirements.

Massage therapy continues to be among the fastest growing career fields, according to the U.S. Department of Labor's 2010-2011 Occupational Outlook Handbook.  In fact, the handbook states that employment for massage therapists is expected to increase 19 percent through 2018, faster than average for all occupations.

A recent study conducted at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles and cited in The New York Times showed that a single session of massage caused biological changes, as evidenced by blood samples taken immediately before the massage and up to an hour afterward.  Volunteers who received Swedish massage experienced significant decreases in levels of the stress hormone cortisol and increased levels of lymphocytes, white blood cells that are part of the immune system.  In addition, study volunteers who had a light massage experienced greater increases in oxytocin, a hormone associated with contentment.  The study was published online in The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine.

For many, massage therapy tops the list for realizing monetary and spiritual rewards within a manageable time frame.  The profession seems a natural fit for career changers.  Many massage therapists are in their 40s, and have entered the profession as a second career, according to the American Massage Therapy Association.

"One of the most attractive reasons to consider massage therapy as a career is the flexibility that it affords," says Arlin Schmidt, CEO of Cortiva Institute.  "Massage therapy is a career that fits around your life, versus life fitting around your career. It is very flexible, every day is different, and every person is different."

Cortiva Institute – Hoboken will offer a variety of opportunities to learn more about the new location and the field of massage therapy in the coming weeks.  Cortiva will offer a Continuing Education course, partnering with Taya Countryman, on Oct. 2 and 3 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. to introduce Cortiva to the local massage therapy community.  Cortiva – Hoboken will participate in the Hoboken Arts & Music Festival on October 3, with a booth where Cortiva professionals will offer information and schedule school tours for interested parties.  

In addition, Cortiva Institute – Hoboken will offer an open house event, The Massage School Experience, on October 9 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.  Details on all of these events will be available as they are finalized at www.cortiva.com.  

"Massage therapy is also a career from which its professionals can gain a great deal of both spiritual and monetary rewards," adds Ted Havelka, vice president of admissions for Cortiva Institute.  "For people who have toiled behind a desk or in a dead end job, massage therapy is a chance to take control of your future, but also do something that makes a difference in your clients' well being each and every day."  

About Cortiva Institute

Cortiva Institute, headquartered in Hoboken, N.J., is a community of Massage Therapy Schools with 11 locations nationwide, offering full and part-time massage therapy instruction, continuing education courses, student clinics that are open to the public, and career services for graduates.  Cortiva schools take a holistic and integrated approach to ensure that our graduates are prepared to work in clinics, hospitals, health clubs, spas, resorts, sports therapy clinics or start their own private practices.  Go to www.Cortiva.com for more information.

SOURCE Cortiva Institute