Boulder College of Massage Therapy

I first considered BCMT in the mid-​90s, and it took me over a decade to make the leap to attending massage therapy school. When I decided it was time, I looked at different programs throughout the U.S. It was a no-​brainer for me to apply to BCMT — the curriculum and atmosphere were much more collegiate than any other programs I visited. The program turned out to be challenging in so many ways, pushing my boundaries and teaching me much more than simply human anatomy and massage techniques. I walked away a more mature, grounded and compassionate human being, and practicing massage is truly a gift — it doesn’t feel like «work.» I love what I do, and I love working with clients. I love the flexibility that massage afford me in my life, and I couldn’t ask for a better foundation than I received at BCMT.

I decided to give the college clinic a try given that I’ve had to increase my massage frequency to treat a shoulder injury. Classes (and student clinic) were out for winter break so I made an appointed with Suzanne at the professional clinic. The professional clinic runs $ 50 for 60 min, $ 70 for 90 min, still a great deal in contrast the usual Boulder rates (~$ 60−90/hour last I checked).
After reviewing my chart Suzanne went over her planned treatment regimen but still checked in with me over the course of the session. She covered all of the areas on which I asked her to focus and was clearly competent. Afterward she gave me some printouts on stretching exercises and nutrition recommendations. The only downside so far is that the college in located in Gunbarrel so it’s a bit of a haul.
Helpful Hints: The intake and HIPAA forms are available online.

Took a two day weekend Intro to Massage Therapy Course. We learned a lot in just 14 hours and the class was quite affordable. I would recommend it for an interesting weekend activity. Now I need to find guinea pigs and put it to use!

I have received multiple massages in the BCMT clinic and have been happy with each and every one of them. Each therapist has their own style and technique. I recommend getting a massage there, especially because of the low rates. Try out a few different therapists and if you find one you like, then make another appointment with them. Everyone likes a different type of massage.

I have received several massages from massage schools and have been very happy with my services. However, BCMT has let me down three times now. I have not been happy with any of my massages there. The last time I went in, I even went to one of their «graduate» students who already had a certificate in massage and was getting additional training and I STILL was not impressed. I think the biggest complaint I had was I didn’t feel listened to. I asked for specific work and got full body massages. Two out of the three massage therapists also made conversation while I was on the table! Being a massage therapist myself, this is the ultimate no-​no in my world. Ultimately I have decided I will not return. Feel free to make up your own mind, but maybe after reading this, you might spare yourself.

Ehhhhhhh. First experience there wasn’t all that great, as raved by previous Unilocalers. I had a decent massage, but I also felt like I was at a yoga/​meditation session. More massage, less visualization techniques/​talky-​talky please! I know how to do that latter stuff on my own… I’m paying you dollah dollah bills to work out the knots in my moose-​skulls, ok?

I can’t say enough good things about ALL of the massages I have had here, and I have have a lot! Not only are the students the very best massage therapists I have ever had, but they are the least expensive. I have had massages in some of the finest spas in many places around the world, and I still like the ones I get here the best!!!

If you need regular bodywork, but can’t afford the $ 70 for a 60 minute session, come to BCMT student clinic for $ 30 for a 60 minute session. Highly professional and supervised, get much needed massage for half price in a clean and professional environment.

I had a fabulous massage from Miguel a couple of months ago and I just had to share. He is WONDERFUL! Especially if you like deep tissue, therapeutic, get-​the-​knots-​out massage. I’m not into nicey-​nicey, langourous stroke massages — I don’t want someone to pet me like a kitty, instead, please get my stiff muscles to release/​relax so that I leave more mobile and flexible! I paid a little extra because he’s a graduate, but well worth it! Miguel actually deeply massaged my stomach (great for digestion issues) and walked on my hamstrings! Talk about getting the muscles to release– woohoo! Love him!
The middle-​aged receptionist was not very friendly, but she didn’t massage me (thank goodness). Besides her not-​so-​friendly face, I have absolutely no complaints about BCMT!

Very well-​trained massage students! Value here is awesome — the least expensive place to get a good, safe massage in Boulder. Note: students do not take tips, price is flat fee.
The only downside: booking appointments is limited. There are only a few (~10) hours per week the clinic offers student massages. You can get professional (graduated student) massages more often.

I was actually in more pain after wards than I was before I went here. Apparently this is really the «luck of the draw» whether you get a good student, or at best, a mediocre one. The one I lucked out with, Carly, had only studied and practiced integrated massage for one whole week, lucky me. I was not informed what it was, nor did she do anything I requested, like working on my back, instead she started to work in an area where I told her not to worry about, since I pay a top Physical Therapist to work there twice a week. Needless to say my back was skipped for the most part, it was seriously 5 mins of the weakest work there, and that was in the end. I told her when I came there that my back was sore & the main reason I was there was to relax. Instead she didn’t listen to a word and proceeded to try to BE my PT. If you go, don’t disclose any medical conditions, for they will then ignore what you want, and try to screw you up, because they are curious, might think you are a guinea pig, or whatever. I ended up having to call my PT for an emergency appointment. Worst $ 35 I ever spent, and I didn’t feel like it was even worth $ 1, I would have payed $ 35 not to have that experience, and in the end I was not relaxed one bit.

I love this place! Though I’m not sure if it was a great idea to have the one of the admissions staff give us the tour, because now I want to go to the school!
All the staff that we met were very friendly and knowledgeable, and I learned a lot, not just about the school. It seemed like a lot of the staff had either finished or was going through the program at the college. I loved walking around and getting to see the different classrooms, each one designed for a certain purpose and most of them lacking any type of furniture save for those little chairs that we used to use in elementary school (you know, the ones that have a little cushion for you to sit on and then have a metal frame to support your back), some pillows, and in one classroom two sleeping people disguised with the pillows and blankets. To help the students get the hours they need and to help the community they have a message board where people and organizations post different massage necessities. There are even sign ups for different animals such as working sled dogs and the rabbit rescue.
The student clinic has some great prices and it helps the students fulfill their hours. Where else can you get a great hour massage for $ 35? Before you start you do have to fill out a pretty extensive medical history and there is also a survey at the end of your massage so the student can go over with their supervisor what they did well, etc. I think with that the students try even harder than if you were to pay for a massage from a professional at a spa, because they are aware that you are going to in essence grade them and also because everything is so fresh in their mind. A supervisor does come in and check during the massage to make sure their student is doing all right, but it wasn’t very intrusive and I was still kinda in a daze from being so relaxed.
REALLY GREAT EXPERIENCE, I hope to be able to make it back soon!

Now I am a sucker for a massage! I have gone many times to the Denver school of massage therapy. See my review– -
But this place is for sure a step above the rest! Here are the things that aren’t the case anywhere else.
1. These people REALLY REALLY learn their stuff. We saw students who had to using different colored clay sculpt the muscles on a plastic skeleton. Not only place them in the right place, but had to know each of those muscles and how they interact with everything else. Wow what a great teaching tool.
2. They are all encouraged to choose from a long list of electives to hone their skills and broaden their abilities! Reflexology, aromatherapy, prenatal and post natal massage, animal massage, among others!
3. There students come from all over the country and the world! That is impressive and shows what a great school it is!
4. You get to enjoy your massage in a private room unlike most schools.
5. An instructor checks in with your therapist and you during your massage to see how everything is going and offer help or advice.
6. They keep a file on you so the therapist can continue to work on reaccuring problems or see past work. I thought this was great!
In the interest of honesty I got to have my massage for free with some fellow Unilocalers. We got a great and very informative tour of the campus, got taken to lunch, received a wonderful massage, and got treated as honored guests. Who knew I was going to fall head over heels for this place. Part of the reason was my massage therapist who was just amazing! She is from New Zealand! I could barely stop talking to her during the massage something I never do! She had the most amazing touch and worked out several evil knots on my back and neck. She also offered the most amazing stretches for me to do at home. That was icing on the cake. I will absolutely be back!

I am going to call this review two part Harmony.
Part 1: I was part of the lucky group of Unilocalers who attended the tour of the Boulder School of Massage. If you are thinking about a career as a masseuse, this is one of the top notch schools in the United States and for that matter, the world. It is a nonprofit educational facility offering an intense program which educates you in the human body, the business of massage, and offers electives in animal massage, aromatherapy, and herbology. I am impressed by their community involvement. For example, they have massaged up to 1700 of the Bolder Boulder runners at one time, local firemen, and horses for the Healing Hearts with Horses program.
Part 2: The Boulder School of Massage offers great discounted massages. The rooms are clean and quite. Your student masseuse is in their last quarter of school and know what they are doing. I had Rachel and we bonded very quickly; she asked me a few questions and began to rub away the stress of the world. These massages are an hour or longer and cost $ 35.00 and for all you seniors on Unilocal,senior age is 55!!! Not that I consider 55 senior but what the hey, $ 5.00 discount is $ 5.00 discount. My massage was so good, Sandi D commented on how youthful I looked afterwards, IMO, that is a good massage.
Harmony: If you do not know Harmony O, she is a pretty funny lady; she egged me into this part of the review. I have had massages all over the world and was talking about them on our tour. I even told Rachel, my student masseuse, the story of the Muff Massage in India. I was in India at a Palace receiving a massage from some well known Indian masseuse. He started in the normal manner and about after an hour, I could tell he was getting close to the lady parts. However, I wanted to be a cool American instead of a prude so we continued until the girls started to perk up. At that point, I decided it was the end of the Muff Massage. As I learned after telling the story to Rachel, we have muscles in all sorts of places and my Muff Massage was probably not as weird as I thought it was.
So there you go, two part Harmony. And 5 stars for the Boulder School of Massage.

Wow. A full hour massage for $ 35; discounted to $ 30 should you be a student or senior. How can you get better than that? Free, you say. Ok. Free is always better, and free I got since I was one of those lucky Unilocalers who was rewarded with a free massage.
This was my 1^st UYE, and what a treat it was. BCMT (The Massage School) were the most incredible hosts, but I’m not giving the School 5 stars as a Quid Pro Quo — they deserve each and every 5 stars for the service they provide, at the price they provide it at.
Most of the time, you get what you pay for. Just not the case here. This is one of those rare great deals, and not colored by rose glasses. You can tell by the exiting patrons, that the Massage Students performing the massages were just as good as any spa, or health club therapists.
My massage therapist did some modalities for my lower back/​hamstring area that is usually reserved for those who do medical or sports massage. I was really impressed. The therapist was confident in her work, and talked to me the whole time, adjusting her touch constantly.
I’m just sorry I don’t live closer to Boulder. You guys are so lucky to have this resource at your ready.

I learned a lot of interesting facts about this school yesterday during our tour. For instance, did you know that this was the 5^th massage school created in the U.S. 5^th, people! Or that at any given time they have between 180 and 200 students at the school? By the way these students over the years have come from all 50 states and 33 countries. It’s quite a diverse place.
The classes look super casual, super fun and really hands-​on (pun intended). So, if you’re considering becoming a masseuse I’d recommend checking this school out.
However, if you’re like me and want to receive rather than give the gift of massage I highly recommend trying the BCMT. For $ 35 you can get an hour massage, but why not go for the hour and a half for a mere $ 50? And there is a strict no tipping the students policy so you pay just the flat fee. Of course, I was with the other Unilocalers that were guests for the day, but I’ll be back for another relaxation period.
The people working on you are all students, but they have a supervisor that comes around to check how they are doing and my girl Dawn was excellent. She was a great communicator and really made me feel comfortable. Plus after she was done I could hardly keep my eyes open I was so relaxed.

A lucky bunch of Unilocal people got a guided tour of the BCMT today, followed by a pleasant & tasty Indian buffet lunch (see my Gurkhas review – I plan to write that next) which the BCMT treated us to (:o) Thank You!) and then we each of us got a free massage (they gave me a rain check which was especially cool!)
What a lovely school it is! Huge classrooms, lots of detailed anatomical instruction is offered in the program, as well as interesting electives such as herbology, stone massage, hydrotherapy, etc. The students spend hundreds of hours working on each other, and then on clients from outside the school. Some of the students massage animals such as horses, dogs, and wild bunnies. Yes, I said wild bunnies!
I was impressed with the professionalism & sincere friendliness of the faculty and staff at the Massage School. When this school opened it was one of the first in the country. Now there are many, but this school is apparently one of the best. Students come here from all over the world!
Their clinic offers very affordable student or graduate massages for the public and they have mainly Swedish and Shiatsu massages.
I think I’m pretty lucky to be so closeby…
P. S. Check my photos for the picture I took of Tiffany shaking hands with a cute little anatomical skeleton in the school’s book store…

I just had a 75 minute massage for $ 35. I can barely type I am so relaxed. Normally during a massage I am stressed about how much money I am spending, or how much I should tip them at the end, or both. Here, you pay your flat fee up front, tipping is not allowed, and they do a great job. Very professional.

One of the greatest races in the country: the Bolder Boulder.
One of the greatest parts of the Bolder Boulder: The free post-​race massages that the Boulder College of Massage Therapy provides in the rec center.
I ran the Bolder Boulder today, and then got in line for the massage. The wait is long, but soooo worth it. In 10 minutes I felt like a million bucks. I can’t say enough about the great work they do.

I can’t tell you anything about the school, but this is a great place to get mooshed for cheap. I’m talking $ 25 –45 an hour!
Call ahead to make an appointment, the slots can book up quickly. Also, remember this is a school so they have winter, spring and summer breaks.