ASHA has multiple meanings. ASHA is the acronym for the Academy of Somatic Healing Arts. Each word has an important meaning for our school, our students, and our philosophy of education. ASHA also means "hope for the future" and "all that is good" in other languages.

Academy  An Academy is usually a private secondary school that provides instruction in science and/or arts.

Somatic  In the English dictionary, somatic means pertaining to the physical body. However, somatic comes from the Greek root word soma, which means the body, mind, and spirit as a unit. The flavor of the original Greek meaning more closely matches the holistic perspective, spirit, and philosophy of ASHA. In short, when you receive massage therapy, you are impacted on all levels.

Healing  Healing means to restore health or wholeness. In a true medical sense, because of our strong clinical focus, ASHA-trained massage therapists have the knowledge, skills, and confidence to help restore health and wholeness. Furthermore, you will be healthier from the massages you receive, from the personal growth classes you attend, and from the relationships you form.

Art  Art means any system of rules and principles that facilitates skilled human accomplishment. That fits ASHA perfectly because it is a school that prepares massage therapists to artfully heal bodies. While you are taught individual techniques, each of us is a potential artist, and your individual expression will be encouraged. And because of the interdependence of body, mind, and spirit, healing bodies inevitably has a healing effect on the mind and spirit as well.