Apparently, more than you would think. Hands-on experience is an important part of continuing education, especially when you’re looking to forge a path to a successful career. In considering massage as a profession and finding a suitable massage therapy school, strength and quality of program becomes an important part of the decision making process . CNI College of Orange, CA really takes training to another level in their 720 hour massage therapy licensing program, preparing prospective massage therapists in all facets of the business from massage technique to business planning, design & implementation.

You wouldn’t think it absolutely necessary for a massage therapy licensing program at a vocational school, but CNI College can’t be faulted for lack of thoroughness in taking their Anatomy 200 students to visit a local plastination and cadaver lab. The students are able to gain a deeper understanding of the bones, muscles and joints of the body through the unforgettable experience. The plastination lab let the students view organs in a preserved state similar to how they see it in their textbooks, with the difference being that the real world models never really look exactly like the textbook models. The cadaver lab helps the students see internal organs and muscle structures up close and personal. The whole experience is designed to internalize an understanding of what is really going on under the skin, an invaluable experience for a prospective massage professional.

Plus, it’s pretty damn cool. Not many people get to say they’ve spent time in a plastination or cadaver lab.