ITM offers 3 courses of study, and several certification and continuing education programs to help you learn massage at 6 locations in NJ. The Massage & Bodywork program prepares you to be a multi-faceted therapist trained in Swedish and Medical Massage, the Massage Therapy & Personal Training program offers a dual certification as both a massage therapist and personal trainer, and the Eastern Bodywork Program is for those interested in becoming a Shiatsu practitioner or wants out of state licensure.

The Institute for Therapeutic Massage was established in Pompton Lakes in 1994 by Lisa Helbig, LMT, and was quickly approved by the New Jersey Department of Education. Classes began in 1995, and in April of 2001, the school became accredited by the Commission on Massage Therapy Accreditation (COMTA) – 1 of 3 CAM (Complimentary and Alternative Medicine) accrediting agencies recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

Our Tinton Falls location, which has since moved to Red Bank was added in 1999, and our first hospital-based training program was started in 2000 at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ-Newark). We have since opened 3 more hospital-based programs, with our Morristown Memorial Hospital location opening in 2002, the Deborah Heart & Lung Center opening in October of 2003, and Community Medical Center, in Toms River, an affiliate of the Saint Barnabus Health Care System, starting in March of 2006.

With our core program in place, we then went on to develop a hospital-based Medical Massage Program with both the University of Medicine & Dentistry of New Jersey – Newark, and Morristown Memorial Hospital. This is an advanced program for massage therapists to master the art and science of medically based massage while working with doctors and nurses in an active teaching hospital. Participants in this program will gain valuable hands-on experience and learn to provide massage therapy to actual patients. Students were now able to learn massage in a true medical setting - one of the fastest growing and most important aspects of massage therapy.

Along with our core Massage and Bodywork Studies Program, ITM also offers a Massage Therapy and Personal Training Program, an Eastern Bodywork Program, and over 30 different continuing education classes.

While the Massage and Bodywork Studies Program helps students learn Swedish, medical, and other hands on massage forms, the Massage Therapy and Personal Training Program adds another dimension by developing cross-trained health and wellness professionals. The Eastern Bodywork Program is designed to advance the knowledge and skill-sets previously learned in the Massage and Bodywork Program and place emphasis on eastern massage philosophies and Shiatsu techniques.

The Institute for Therapeutic Massage is proud to see that students come to our massage school from virtually all walks of life to learn massage therapy. Students range in age from 18 to retirement, male and female, on job hiatus or with a full-time career. The atmosphere at the school is conducive to, and the staff is very much focused on, providing a well-rounded, supportive and gratifying learning experience for those motivated to achieve the highest standards of performance within the massage profession.

As massage therapists, we know about the many rewards and potential challenges in being a part of the health and wellness industry, and strive to pass this experience along to our students; thus preparing them for their lives as bodywork professionals through lecture, hands-on, and real world applications. To do this, ITM maintains a student-to-faculty ratio of no more than 8:1 in the hands-on classes, and no more than 20:1 in the lecture classes to give our students the maximum instructional effectiveness and individual attention and support that they deserve.

We are also fully committed to developing advanced course-work and continuing education offerings so as to provide our students with the most current practical, theoretical, scientific, and ethical foundations of massage-based healthcare.

Affiliated with: University of Medicine & Dentistry of New Jersey, Morristown Memorial Hospital, Deborah Heart & Lung Center, St. Barnabas - Community Medical Center

Accredited by: COMTA

Approved by: NCBTMB

Member of: ABMP, IMMSA, AMTA Council of Schools

Our goal is to ensure that Institute for Therapeutic Massage (ITM) graduates exceed the expectations of the massage, bodywork, and wellness community as competent, qualified, and ethical professionals.

Our philosophy of education is to utilize a combination of academic study and hands-on techniques to incorporate late breaking research, and thus offer the students at our massage school, with 6 locations in New Jersey, a learning environment to obtain the highest level of knowledge and skill to work safely and effectively with the public-at-large.

Office Hours

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M-Thursday 8:30am - 6:00pm

Friday 8:30am - 3:00pm

Saturday 8:00am - 12:00pm

School Hourse

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Daytime and Evening Classes Available

Payment Information

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If your interest is to learn massage therapy, shiatsu, or become a personal trainer in Pompton Lakes, Morristown & Newark, New Jersey please call:

Phone: (973) 839-6131

If your interest is to learn massage therapy or become a shiatsu practitioner in Red Bank, Toms River & Browns Mills, New Jersey please call:

Phone: (732) 936-9111

Our Massage and Bodywork Program is a 620-hour, NJ State approved course. Upon successful completion, graduates will have received comprehensive training in the art and science of massage therapy. This includes the study of Anatomy & Physiology, Myology, Pathology, Medical Terminology, Business and Ethics, and various massage modalities. He or she will also be competent in performing Swedish, medical, and other massage forms, and have the knowledge to be able to communicate effectively with their client and attending medical personnel.

This course is offered at all six of our massage school locations, with various schedules available to meet the needs of our students. The Massage & Bodywork Studies Program not only meets the requirements of New Jersey's certification standards, but also exceeds most state requirements, while reflecting the most current techniques and research. Graduates are prepared to sit for the National Certification Examination for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCE) that is offered by the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCBTMB). For more information on scheduling at each location, visit our Calendar.

ITM maintains a student-to-faculty ratio of no more than 8:1 in the hands-on practice class and no more than 20:1 in the lecture class for maximum instructional effectiveness and individualized attention and support.

Upon meeting the graduation requirements, the student will receive a certificate acknowledging competency in Massage Therapy as well as a formal copy of their transcript. The graduate will have ample hands-on experience and stamina to work in a spa, salon, medical practice, health club, cruise ship or anywhere else that that desires to have a massage therapist on staff. They will also have the opportunity to become self-employed by going into private practice.

Additional Offerings/Flexibility

We understand that there are unexpected circumstances that arise during a student’s education, and in order to afford the greatest level of convenience and flexibility, the classes in our Massage and Bodywork program are conducted during both day and evening depending upon location. Should a student not be able to attend their regularly scheduled session, for whatever reason, there will be an opportunity to make up the missed material either the same day, or shortly thereafter.

Our 800-hour Massage Therapy and Personal Training Program contains both classroom teaching and supervised, hands on gym/massage time. It was developed to accommodate the growing need for qualified health and wellness professionals. Together, this gives the student one of the most comprehensive courses to date. This program is also suitable for those who are adding skills to their current profession as health care workers in nursing, massage or other health-related fields.

Upon completion of this program, graduates will have received extensive knowledge in the art and science of human movement, nutrition, exercise and bodywork. You will also have the ability to perform massage for wellness and sports, the testing skills to assess a client's state of fitness, and the knowledge and practical experience to recommend and implement a safe fitness, nutritional, weight management and wellness program in a variety of settings.

All graduates who successfully complete the program will receive an Institute for Therapeutic Massage Therapy and Personal Training Certificate, be prepared to take the national certification examination given by the American Council on Exercise (ACE) and The National Certification Exam for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCE). They will also qualify for New Jersey State Certification as a massage therapist.

As of this writing, New Jersey does not require a license as a personal trainer. Licensing varies from state to state so please check with the individual state.

The 620-hour Eastern Bodywork Program is ideal for those who are looking to become a Shiatsu practitioner. Prior students have also utilized this program to acquire the additional hours required to sit for various out-of-state licensing boards.

Upon successful completion of the program, graduates will have a thorough knowledge of eastern philosophies and Shiatsu as well as how the body works through training in Anatomy & Physiology, Pathology, Myology, Kinesiology and Neurology.

They will know the 12 primary meridians and major points along them, body mechanics, stretches, Hara diagnosis and back evaluation. Students will also study Five Element Theory using basic associations and patterns of disharmony and relationships within the generation and control cycles.

By the end of the program, students will be able to structure a one-hour Shiatsu session with any client for maximum effectiveness, either alone or incorporated into their Swedish Massage.

The Eastern Bodywork Program, when combined with the Massage & Bodywork program, provides a curriculum that exceeds all state requirements (with regards to the number of hours of attendance) while reflecting the most current techniques and research. If there are any additional requirements not built into the program due to an individual states licensure demands, the student is welcome to fulfill said requirements at no additional cost.

Graduates are prepared and eligible to sit for the National Certification Examination (NCE) in Massage and Bodywork.

This program is currently available only at the Pompton Lakes and Red Bank location.

The Institute for Therapeutic Massage offers this exciting 100-hour Hospital Based Massage Therapy Program in conjunction with the University of Medicine & Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ - Newark) and Morristown Memorial Hospital.

This advanced program is specifically designed for massage therapists, and will provide the opportunity to work with doctors, nurses, and hospital patients to learn how to master the art and science of medically based massage in a real clinical setting.

The patients receiving massage will have a medical history that includes: cancer, neurological problems, cardiac conditions, as well as other acute and chronic conditions within the hospital environment.

This program is offered at both the University of Medicine & Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ – Newark) and Morristown Memorial Hospital. Please contact us for more information regarding the location schedule and other details.