- A Special Note From Owner And Head Instructor Sandy Fritz
Health Enrichment Center is 24 years old this September (2009). The school has undergone many changes over the years. It
grew very large and then it got too big. I made the decision to downsize. At the same time massage became very popular and
schools popped up all over the place - some good - many not so. It was hard to watch the changes in educational quality and
to know that the educational standards for massage therapy were going to increase - while I was watching them decrease
because of substandard education. Michigan does not license massage therapists yet (the bill has passed… change is
inevitable). The Michigan Department of Education tries to oversee and promote the typical national standard of 500 contact
hours with curriculum requirements for anatomy, physiology, kinesiology, pathology, safety and sanitation, massage theory
and practice and professionalism and ethics but until licensing of massage therapists in Michigan is implemented, massage
education can be just about anything. Please carefully investigate any school you are considering.
Take your time. Michigan finally passed licensing for massage therapist. It has not yet been implemented but should be
within 12-18 months. The new license requires schools to offer a minimum of 500 supervised hours of instruction. During this
transitional period it is likely that massage educational standards will vary as schools work to come into compliance.
PLEASE CAREFULLY INVESTIGATE ANY SCHOOL YOU ARE CONSIDERING. TAKE YOUR TIME.
I wanted my graduates to be able to transfer credit to a college for a degree and worked to negotiate an articulation
agreement with Siena Heights University. We have continued to provide innovative and quality education that was more than
up to date than most because I write the major textbook line for therapeutic massage. You can at other pages on my personal
web site to see all of the books I have written. I have to anticipate what massage education will be like at least five years in the
future since that is the typical revision schedule for textbooks. So far I have been very accurate and considered an expert
internationally in the massage therapy field. I have been around a long time and am very good at what I do. Experiences in life
shape personal values. There are three major events that have impacted my life:
life and death.
• In 2007 my oldest son got married, was expecting his first child (my first grandchild) and two weeks later was hit by a
car and killed while walking across the street. So life and death again, not mine but my son. This was the very worst
thing that could have happened to me. As a family we have pulled together in the worst of circumstances and made
the best of unspeakable grief and loss. We cry but we laugh too.
• Baby Calee was born August 2007 and is a joy, blessing and healer of my heart. Greg (my son and her daddy) had
a flexible work schedule and was going to be the primary care giver for the baby, while his wife, Nicole would work the
more traditional 9-5 schedule. So I am committed (as is the rest of the family) to taking care of Calee.
After all that happened I could have quit. I had an excuse. No one would have blamed me. Managing and teaching in a small
single program massage school is hard work. I am getting older. I have been doing massage for 30 years and teaching for 24
years. However as I searched my soul I know that it is important to move forward with determination. But I also know that time is
precious and not to be wasted and things would need to be different. What does this have to do with the school and you?
You are going to invest time and money in your education and should know what motivates my commitment. This brings me to
the main point of this discussion. Massage education is changing again. The standards for practice of therapeutic massage are
increasing. You need to receive a education that prepares you for this new and exciting future The 4th edition of Mosby's
Fundamentals of Therapeutic Massage and the 3rd edition of Mosby's Essential Sciences for Therapeutic Massage will be
available April 2008. There have been major changes in the textbooks to reflect the current and upcoming changes in the
massage profession. Now it is time to bring the curriculum in line with the textbooks. So - Health Enrichment Center is moving
forward and in some ways returning to the original roots of the school. It is very important for you as a prospective student to
understand the core values of Health Enrichment Center. So for me what is important at the school is:
• To only train those that really want to be the best massage therapists they can be.
• To train those who are willing to put forth an effort for quality education even though they may have struggled during
previous educational experiences (I have dyslexia).
• That I am able to do a majority of the teaching while taking care of my granddaughter
• To implement the most current curriculum content and be innovative in educational strategies.
• To train the future generation of massage therapy teachers.
• To provide continuing education to graduates.
For me to achieve my goals for the school, you, and myself, the number of students will have to be limited. The new curriculum
will require more time to complete and assimilate. The school will use a linear cohort system. This means a group (cohort) starts
together, completes the course requirements in the scheduled sequence (linear) and will graduate together. The two scheduling
options will be limited to 12 students per cohort. A core group of educational and administrative staff will support us.
will require more time to complete and assimilate. Three schedules will be offered. Each is designed to support the student's
travel and time commitment, unique career development, clinical experiences and my ability to be in the classroom. The school
will use a linear cohort system. This means a group (cohort) starts together, completes the course requirements in the
scheduled sequence (linear) and will graduate together. The three scheduling options will be limited to 12 students per cohort.
A core group of educational and administrative staff will support us.
education. Even if you have struggled in education before if you can demonstrate a real passion for this career I am confident
that we can teach you. If you are serious about quality education and willing to commit to my high standards, I will want to
personally speak with you. My schedule is really busy so the conversation may happen on the phone or we will set up a time in
the office. If you are under 21 years old, I would also like to speak with your parents. Health Enrichment Center will remain
unique in massage education because we are willing to make the effort to do it right even if it is hard. With the new system only
a few will get the opportunity to learn from me but I know that those that do will have a huge impact as the future unfolds. The
effort will be worth it.
Sincerely and with commitment and confidence - Sandy
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