Hands on Training - Couple Opens New School To Train Next Generation Of Massage Therapists - Greenville News

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What happens when the Upstate needs more programs to graduate massage therapists? If you are Caroline and Don Taylor, you open a school – Urban River Massage Institute in Greenville.

Urban River has graduated 25 certified massage therapists who completed 650 hours of study and clinical work since the school started its first class late in 2023.

“It is a great career,” Caroline says. “A new massage therapist can make $40 or more an hour, and there are many avenues for employment. It’s rewarding work.”

Massage therapists help their clients “move better, feel better, and live better,” she says.

The Taylors have run Massage Envy franchises in Greenville since 2007 and served on the advisory board of the massage therapy program at Greenville Technical College until it was discontinued several years ago.

“They had a good program,” Caroline says. “We were disappointed when Greenville Tech closed their program. We knew the Upstate would need another program to meet the demand.”

Massage therapists must complete a program approved by the State of South Carolina before they can work in the field. So, Don started working on a business plan for Urban River Massage Institute as soon as he learned about Greenville Tech’s decision.

Caroline says the process was daunting but worthwhile because it positioned the school for success.

“We met and exceeded standards set by the state so that we can grant a vocational program certificate,” explains Don, a military veteran with master's degrees in Engineering and Business Administration.

Don says the school is designed so that graduates are qualified to work in any spa or clinic. Students can complete coursework, pass a state exam, obtain their licenses, and be ready to work on their first day at their first job, he says.

“They won’t need more training. They're ready to roll as soon as they get their license," he says.

All 25 graduates of Urban River passed the state-required Massage and Bodyworks Licensing Exam on their first try. Nationally, only 67% of students pass the test the first time they take it, Don says.

“Since we work in the business and partner with other employers and industry leaders – our dedicated staff are all massage therapists – we know what graduates need to be successful. Many graduates secure great jobs immediately after they are certified,” he says.

The institute offers both part-time and full-time massage therapy certification programs. The next full-time day program, about six and a half months of study, starts June 26. The part-time evening course takes about 11 months to complete; the next session begins Sept. 2. Continuing education programs also are available.

The institute employs a full-time program director, a full-time lead instructor, an enrollment specialist, two adjunct instructors and an office manager.

Before the school even opened, the Taylors networked with local and national spa owners, individual practitioners, and massage schools around the country.

They’ve now established an Urban River Massage Institute Board of Advisors, comprised of local professionals, a current student, and a recent graduate.

They also seek out spa owners, clinic managers and other professionals to participate in the curriculum; mentor students; take part in mock interviews, a career fair, monthly lunches with open discussions – and ultimately hire graduates.

Recently, a co-founder of the Massage Envy franchise, Shawn Haycock, visited and shared insights with students to help them feel confident and prepared for their careers after graduation, Caroline says. And this month, the institute will host a continuing education course by Oncology Massage of the Carolinas so that therapists can learn to meet the needs of people undergoing cancer treatment.

“Those are the things that make it a well-rounded program,” says Caroline, who taught school for several years after graduating from Clemson University.

Urban River teaches Swedish relaxation, deep tissue, sports and prenatal massage, as well as hot stone and neuromuscular massage and reflexology, she says.

“We want to make sure that our students graduate with a strong foundation of techniques and are prepared to work wherever they want,” she says.

Graduates might choose to work in a luxury spa, with a chiropractor or physical therapist, or at a practice that helps athletes or people with injuries. Some may start their own businesses or use their knowledge and skills to jump-start other careers in health care, Don says.

Massage therapy is physically and academically rigorous, he says.

Students study anatomy, physiology, kinesiology, pathology, massage theory and technique, business, ethics, safety, stretching, basic CPR and first aid.

Students practice massage on each other and spend about 100 hours giving massages to outside clients.

The clinical work is essential, Caroline says. For $40, anyone can schedule a massage by calling the school. Students and instructors review questionnaires completed by clients.

By mid-summer, the Taylors expect that Urban River will have accreditation from the Commission on Massage Therapy. COMTA, recognized since 2002 by the U.S. Department of Education, researches a program for one year before granting accreditation.

Tuition at Urban River Massage Institute includes academics and clinical work, plus the equipment students need for classwork and to start working after graduation, Caroline says. “That’s their tuition, as well as the starter kit.”

Financial assistance is available.

Students must be at least 18 years old. But Don says people of all ages, including retirees, have become massage therapists. It's a flexible career because full- and part-time work is available after graduation, Don says.

Before applying to the program, potential students can complete a quiz on the school’s website (urbanriver.net) and check out the school’s Facebook and Instagram pages to determine whether massage therapy is a good fit. A staff member speaks to applicants and invites them to tour the school and meet the instructors and other students.

“It’s part science, part art. We're looking for people who want to help people,” Caroline says. "We're excited to partner with other spas, franchises and employers to provide more avenues for massage therapists. We are excited to do this for the Upstate community.”


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