Receiving a high quality massage therapy education is not only beneficial for a brand new massage therapist, but also the clientele. With two massage clinics and eleven private treatment stations, USTA is Chicagoland’s leading choice for massage therapy training.

Our 650 hour State licensed massage therapy school curriculum will take students through human body systems with a balanced focus on muscular structure and function, anatomy, Massage Therapy School Chicago multiple massage modalities as well as career planning, client retention and preparation to sit and pass the MBLEx Exam. At USTA, our 9 month day or 11 month evening massage therapy programs offer a balanced study of anatomy, physiology, pathology, kinesiology, Eastern energies, Western techniques and professional development. Curriculum includes trigger point therapy, neuromuscular techniques, polarity therapy, swedish massage techniques, and pregnancy massage.

What is included in our massage therapy program.

• Tuition includes the initial massage therapy licensing fee for Illinois
• Free massage table
• Self marketing and business education
• Aromatherapy education
• Internships available
• Financial Aid
• Instructors with knowledge of classic and contemporary techniques
• Day and evening classes available
• Fitness, Yoga and Meditation rooms

Classes included in our massage therapy curriculum

MIND

• Anatomy
• Contraindications
• CPR Certification
• Client Documentation
• Massage Ethics
• Kinesiology
• Medical Terminology
• Pathology
• Physiology
• Nutrition & Juicing
• And more!

BODY

• Aryurvedia
• Body Mechanics
• Chair Massage
• Clinical Massage
• Cupping
• Deep Tissue
• Hot Stone
• Hydrotherapy
• Lymph Drainage
• Elderly Massage
• Disability Massage
• Pregnancy & Prenatal
• Reflexology
• Spa Body Treatments
• Swedish Massage
• Sports Massage

SPIRIT

• Aromatherapy
• Craniosacral Therapy
• Meditation 4. Polarity Therapy
• Reiki
• Yoga

Choose between our 9 month day schedule or our 11 month evening schedule. Are you ready to start a career in massage therapy? Join the growing network of professional therapists and technicians who all started their education at Universal Spa Training Academy. Contact us by calling 630-968-6800 or apply online on our website here. We look forward to working with you!

Strive to live have an overall healthier, more productive day? Make sure your mornings get off to a great start! How you spend the first few hours after waking up can determine how you spend the rest of the day. There are many benefits to starting your day with exercise that other times of day just can’t provide. Below are 4 morning fitness tips you don’t want to miss.

4 Morning Fitness Tips

1. Drink 8 oz of water upon waking up. As soon as we wake up our bodies can be dehydrated overnight. Replenish what was lost and kickstart your digestive system. Spice it up by adding a little lemon to your water.
2. Eat a healthy breakfast. What you put in your body to start the day can make all the difference in the choices throughout the day.
3. Stretch. Keep your muscles flexible to prevent injury.
4. Do at least 20 minutes of activity. Whether you are comfortable with a work out from home, outside for a run or to the gym, get active first thing in the morning!

Benefits Of Exercising In The Morning

1. Great source of energy. If you feel like a zombie in the morning, exercise can help to create the energy used to tackle the rest of your day.
2. Helps to kickstart your metabolism. Excess Post-Exercise Oxygen Consumptions (EPOC) is used in the fitness industry.  It means that your body burns more calories after your workout, even when you’re sitting at a desk or driving in your car.
3. Improved physical and mental clarity. Exercise and fitness are known to help with not only the physical aspect but also the mental.
4. Promotes better sleep. No doubt your body will be in need of rest at the end of the day. Say goodbye to sleepless nights or having a hard time falling asleep.

At USTA, we promote not only a healthy body but a healthy mind as well. Our massage therapy and aesthetic programs incorporate just that!

You know it feels like Spring when the air gets warmer, the days get longer and the trees and flowers start to bud. We all spring clean our homes this time of year, why not spring clean your mind? The seasons create change and renewal, and a thorough spring cleaning can be more than just an opportunity to dust the shelves. Think of the activity of spring cleaning. It is a way to de-clutter our homes, wipe away the dirt and grime of winter and open the windows to allow the fresh breeze to circulate. We want to give you more insight into doing this in your mind, so that you can fill it with the things that really matter. In this article, we are going to share a few “cleaning of the mind” tips to keep moving forward to better mind health!

Ways to spring clean your mind

–Take a mental note. Maybe it is more than just your email inbox piling up! Write down the things that are taking up mental space in your mind, then address it.

–Meditate. When you meditate, you clear away the information overload that sometimes builds up during the day. During meditation, you focus your attention and eliminate the stream of jumbled thoughts that may be crowding your mind and causing stress. Our meditation room is FREE for all students who wish to use it.

–Make time for fun. With all the hustle and bustle of our every day life, spend time doing things that bring joy. Maybe it is dinner with friends or sitting and reading a good book. Take 15 minutes a day to focus on those activities that bring happiness.

–Remember you are good enough! Sometimes it just takes another person to remind you that you are good enough.

At our massage therapy and aesthetics school we believe in having overall health from the inside out. Classes starting soon! Apply online TODAY!

Love the way your body feels with these Valentine’s Day inspired raw juice recipes! Here at USTA, we incorporate nutrition and juicing as a part of our curriculums. How you feel on the inside directly reflects on the outside. Juicing extracts the vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients from fruits and vegetables. There are incredible juicing benefits including skin health, reducing inflammation, cognitive health and much more. So go ahead and try these red delicious recipes during this lovely season!

Pineapple Strawberry Mint 

1 cup pineapple

1 cup strawberries

1 handful fresh mint

Pineapple juice contains vitamin C, bromelain and antioxidants, which are beneficial in the treatment and prevention of acne, fine lines, sun damaged and uneven skin tones.

Watermelon Mint Cooler

2 cups watermelon

1 large cucumber

1/2 lime

10 mint leaves

Watermelon is packed with vitamins A, B6 and C, lots of lycopene, antioxidants and amino acids.

Razzmatazz 

1 cup pineapple

1/2 cup raspberries

1/2 cup strawberries

Raspberries are high in ellagic acid, and have been shown to have anti-inflammatory properties.

All about the Beets!

1 red beet

1 apple

1 inch piece of ginger

3 whole carrots

Beets are high in immune-boosting Vitamin C, fiber, manganese, potassium, Vitamin B and folate.

Beet roots contain valuable nutrients that may help lower your blood pressure, fight cancer and inflammation, boost your stamina, and support detoxification.

Tomato Detox

2 large tomatoes

1 stalk celery

1 cucumber

1 handful fresh parsley

1 pinch cayenne pepper

1/2 tsp pink Himalayan salt

optional: pour juice over ice

The handful of parsley and celery make this detox juice great for healthy skin and hair.

Interested in becoming a massage therapist or aesthetics professional? Here at USTA, we are always up to date with recent trends in aesthetics and massage therapy. We look forward to helping train and guide you into a successful career in either massage therapy or aesthetics. To learn more, contact us at 630-968-6800, option 1 to speak with an admissions representative today.

As a future student, deciding what beauty school is the right choice for you takes time and effort. In your research, visit all schools that interest you. During your search, you may come across the term “Nationally Accredited“. This accreditation process is completely voluntary and currently not a requirement to operate a school in the state Illinois.

What to look for when choosing the right massage school.

• The curriculum. Does the school offer a curriculum that will not only teach the skills needed for your career but prepare you for life outside of school?
• Nationally accredited. As stated above, it is a choice for a school to have this accreditation. When a school is Nationally Accredited, it means: 1. The US Dept of Education may recognize the school for participation into Title IV financial aid programs. 2. The school has successfully met national standards of educational performance for its curriculum’s. 3. A financial audit has been completed to ensure that the institution is financially sound to operate and students tuition is not at risk.

• Tools and Aid. Does the school offer the right tools for you to be successful? Do they offer financial aid or any discount programs? These are all questions to research and find answers for.
• Job placement success. What is the beauty school’s graduation, licensure and placement rate? These statistics should be revealed for potential students to review. These same statistics at USTA are posted, and reported to NACCAS.

Interested in becoming a massage therapist or aesthetics professional? Here at USTA, we are always up to date with recent trends in aesthetics and massage therapy. We look forward to helping train and guide you into a successful career in either massage therapy or aesthetics. To learn more, contact us at 630-968-6800, option 1 to speak with an admissions representative today.

Valentine’s Day is right around the corner so why not show your skin some love with these unique DIY facial mask recipes. The star ingredient? Rose water! Rose water is suitable for all skin types and has useful properties such as:

-cleaning, toning and soothing skin

-reduce redness

-helps reduce and eliminate acne

-removes dirt and oil

-hydrate and moisturize the skin

-helps balance pH

-strengthens skin cells and regenerates skin tissue

-packed with antioxidants and antibacterial properties

-anti-aging; reducing fine lines and wrinkles

Think Rose water is a powerhouse product? We do too!

Valentine’s Day Inspired DIY Facial Masks

The Goodbye Acne Mask

1 tablespoon lemon juice

1 tablespoon rose water

Apply to skin, leave on for 30 minutes. Rinse and moisturize.

Strawberry Rose Mask

2-3 strawberries

1/2 cup plain greek yogurt

1/4 cup raw honey

1 tablespoon rose water

Combine in blender until smooth. Apply to skin. Leave for 15 minutes. Rinse and moisturize.

Chocolate Rose Mask

2 tablespoons cacao powder

1 tablespoon rose water

1 tablespoon honey

2 tablespoons oatmeal (for smaller oats, put in blender before mixing)

Mix ingredients together and apply to skin. Leave for 10-15 minutes. Rinse and moisturize.

The Dry Skin Mask

2 tablespoons banana (mashed)

2 tablespoons rose water

Mix ingredients together. Apply to skin and leave on for 20 minutes. Rinse and moisturize.

Tell us how much you love these Valentine’s day inspired diy facial masks on our facebook page or tag us on Instagram at #USTA.

Interested in becoming a massage therapist or aesthetics professional? Here at USTA, we are always up to date with recent trends in aesthetics and massage therapy. We look forward to helping train and guide you into a successful career in either massage therapy or aesthetics. To learn more, contact us at 630-968-6800, option 1 to speak with an admissions representative today.

If you browse the internet and look for top wellness trends for 2018 you will find one of the biggest trends are eating bugs. Although interesting, it is not what we will share with you in this article. 🙂 When we think of wellness we think of mind, body and soul.

Top 5 Wellness Trends for 2018

–Moringa

Moringa leaves are rich in many important nutrients, including protein, vitamin B6, vitamin C, riboflavin and iron. It is also rich in various antioxidants, including quercetin and cholorogenic acid.

–HIIT Training (High intensity interval training)

HIIT is a form of interval training, a cardiovascular exercise strategy alternating short periods of intense anaerobic exercise with less intense recovery period.HIIT is the concept where one performs a short burst of high-intensity (or max-intensity) exercise followed by a brief low-intensity activity, repeatedly, until too exhausted to continue.

–Mindfulness and Energy Healing

Mindfulness meditation is the practice of intentionally focusing on the present moment, accepting and non-judgmentally paying attention to the sensations, thoughts, and emotions that arise.

–Non-Toxic Beauty

More wellness trends for 2018 includes non-toxic beauty products. Consumers are now looking for natural hair, face and makeup products, and companies are listening by removing harmful chemicals, fillers and dyes in their products. In 2018, we are more aware of not only what we put in our bodies but what we put on our hair and skin.

–The Mushroom Craze

Ever heard of mushroom coffee? How about a mushroom antioxidant elixir? One of the top health trends is the power packed, anti-fungal mushroom. Many products are emerging to help combat stress and inflammation.

Interested in becoming a massage therapist or aesthetics professional? Here at USTA, we are always up to date with recent trends in aesthetics and massage therapy. We look forward to helping train and guide you into a successful career in either massage therapy or aesthetics. To learn more, contact us at 630-968-6800, option 1 to speak with an admissions representative today.

Here at USTA we believe incorporating mind, body and soul is an essential part of daily life. Now that the holiday season is in full swing, staying on top of taking care of yourself is necessary. While thinking of others as the holiday’s approach might be your top priority, it’s also important to consider your own physical and mental health.

Here are a few ways to manage stress brought on by the holidays.

1. Exercise. Sometimes, the holiday season can throw us off of our usual schedule. Do your best to maintain your regular fitness routine.

2. Watch what you’re eating. While most of us love holiday food, it’s important that we don’t over-indulge. Choose options high in Vitamin C to keep your immune system thriving.

3. Take a breather. There’s nothing wrong with taking a “time out” from a gathering when you need it.

4. Reflect with gratitude. Often times we can become too consumed with the hustle and bustle of the holidays. While it is nice to stack up gifts for loved ones (and even yourself) take some time to reflect with gratitude. Be grateful for the year and its challenges as well as wins.

5. Embrace every moment. Be present with family and loves ones. Embrace and enjoy every moment!

6. Meditate. Research published in the Health Psychology journal stated that meditation is not only associated with feeling less stressed, it’s also linked with decreased levels of the stress hormone cortisol.

Interested in becoming a massage therapist or aesthetics professional? Here at USTA, we are always up to date with recent trends in aesthetics and massage therapy. We look forward to helping train and guide you into a successful career in either massage therapy or aesthetics. To learn more, contact us at 630-968-6800, option 1 to speak with an admissions representative today.

Here at USTA, you will benefit from FREE business classes, included with every program! We help you prepare yourself for life after school. Marketing your business is a year round must, but what about marketing your beauty business to push for the year end? In this article, we want to cover some tools and strategies that you can implement today to generate more sales and overall gear up your business marketing into the New Year!

Strategies to market your beauty business

Advertising on a budget

As a business owner, expenses can be tight. How to you effectively market your business on a budget? Allocate a certain dollar amount to marketing and stick to it!

Create discounts on products/services

Offer a sale on services and products. For example, offer a 10% off a certain product for the month or period of time. With the holidays approaching, customers are more prone to buying products and services for a discount price. Be careful to not give away too much, but just enough for it to be a win win!

Host a ‘How To’ workshop

Stand out by positioning yourself as an expert in your field. For example, host a workshop for application to turn a natural makeup look into a night time holiday party look. Theme them to get a clear message to your audience about what you will be offering and the value.

Build an email list

Don’t really know who to market to? Building an email list of clients who want to be in the know of what specials, promotions, events

Get Social!

Promoting your business online is an absolute must! Use tools such as Hootsuite or Postplanner to schedule your posts for the week or month.

USTA is a leader in this type of career preparation for its students. Classes are taught by the owners; who hold medical and business degrees and built a successful day spa from the ground-up. Learn more here!