650 hour Professional Massage Therapy Training for Licensure
Our professional massage therapy training is the cornerstone of what we offer here at The NEST, and meets or exceeds all the standards set forth by Board of Massage of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and the Division of Occupational Licensure to properly prepare our graduates to become licensed massage therapists in the State. It includes 550 classroom hours of instruction in the required subjects of Massage Theory and Technique, Anatomy and Physiology, Pathology, Kinesiology, and Ethics, Professionalism and Business Practices. In addition, 100 hours of supervised clinical internship mustl be completed prior to graduation and licensure.
We feel that the lifestyle practices of yoga and Ayurveda are an important piece to ensuring sustainability through the physical, mental, and emotional demands of the massage profession, and we also feel that the techniques contained in the “myofascial therapies” give a therapist an added edge in providing considerable pain relief and postural corrections that so many clients of today are seeking. Therefore, these practices are integrated into the day-to-day school experience and teaching. If you are considering a career in the massage and manual therapy profession, one in which you have the skills and tools to help relieve people of chronic pain and dysfunction, as well as establishing yourself in your own optimal health and wellbeing, our professional massage therapy program is the right choice for you!
For current and up-to-date programing email info@thenestboston.com for more information.
Professional Continuing Education
Myofascial Therapy Routines: Neck, Shoulders, Arms and Wrists
Taught by Richmond Dickson - Owner and Director of The NEST, and owner of The Bodywork Clinic - this in-depth look into the myofascial pain patterns of the neck and upper extremities will offer new perspectives and techniques for addressing common client complaints, including:
Thoracic Outlet Syndrome
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Rotator Cuff Dysfunction
Whiplash & Torticolis
Tennis & Golfer's Elbow
These protocols will present alignment principles of the upper extremities relative to the neck and head, and assessment strategies for identifying and treating dysfunction in this region. Functional muscle groups and nerve entrapment syndromes will be addressed in lecture, and side lying, prone and supine routines will be demonstrated and practiced on the table. This is a hands-on workshop for all practitioners of manual therapy.
January 31 - February 1, 2026
10am - 4pm
Cost: $350
To register for this course, fill out the form on the admissions page, and submit payment here
* Note: This course is not governed, regulated, or approved by the Division of Professional Licensure of Massachusetts.
Hatha Yoga : In-Depth Studies
About In-Depth Studies The Hatha Yoga In-Depth Studies course has been designed to offer students an opportunity to learn yoga in a methodical way that will support a fruitful home practice. It will focus on foundational practices including Karana, Asana, Kriya, Bandha, and Ayurvedic self-care. These practices have been developed to overcome the energetic and physical obstructions present in the body, for the purpose of rendering the mind sensitive towards the action. This process is intended to prepare the student for the more subtle work of Hatha Yoga and, therefore, should come before it. This approach is largely absent from modern-day yoga styles and systems, which often leads students to grow dissatisfied after the initial gains of the flesh. Without patience, persistence, and proper guidance the Hatha Yoga methodology cannot yield its intended results completely, if at all.
Click here for more information on our Hatha Yoga courses and programs,
* Note: This course is not governed, regulated, or approved by the Division of Professional Licensure of Massachusetts.
Ayurvedic Lifestyle and Wellness Program
The Ayurvedic Lifestyle and Wellness Program focuses on fundamental practices of the Hatha Yoga and Ayurvedic Medicine systems. Led by Richmond Dickson, along with guest teachers, this training is intended to inspire each student to dedicate themselves more fully to their personal practice, and expound upon the defining principles of yoga which, if practiced regularly, will carry the practitioner more gracefully down the path of life.
The NEST Yoga & Ayurveda Program is for anyone who is interested in developing a firm understanding of Hatha Yoga, and its relationship to and integration with the diet and lifestyle science of Ayurvedic Medicine. Our intention is to offer a practitioners training that establishes each student in a “living” yoga practice that will contribute to their understanding of their own health and wellbeing, whether they are an existing or aspiring yoga teacher or a student looking to delve into deeper work.
* Note: This course is not governed, regulated, or approved by the Division of Occupational Licensure of Massachusetts.