CE Retreat Vacations-The New Way to Get Your Continuing Education

by Peggy M. Huff
(Asheville, NC, USA)

Many of us put-off taking our required continuing education workshops to fulfill our State Board and National Certification requirements. It is time consuming, costs us money and there are usually slim-pickins for workshops close to home. And if we are lucky to find a workshop that really interests us, it usually involves traveling some distance, and probably going to a city or town that is less than appealing. Then there are the hotel reservations to consider, and the workshop space itself.

I remember going to a Cranio-Sacral therapy workshop in Charlotte, NC one year, and it was held in cheap hotel conference room. The massage tables were fashioned out of conference tables with swimming pool inflatable mats on top that we actually had to blow up ourselves. The rooms at the hotel were uninspiring and smelled bad, and there were no restaurants within walking distance, let alone in the hotel itself. While the workshop material proved to be interesting, like so many of us, I waited to the last minute to register for something? and the overall experience was grueling, to say the least, costing me more than $1200 overall, with workshop fees, hotel accommodations, meals and a souvenir massage tool or two.

I started a massage school back in 1998. One of my visions in creating an Education Center was to change the CE experience into one that would be much more appealing and all-inclusive. I thought about what would be important to me in attending a required workshop. Well, how about one that is like an educational vacation? One where I could show up and have all of my needs taken care of, and one where the setting was extraordinarily beautiful? And located in a city of great culture and interest? That was it. That was what would make taking CE's something to look forward to, rather than dread and resent. A continuing education retreat vacation, located somewhere fabulous. And that is exactly what I created.

Our Education Center is in Asheville, North Carolina, named the #1 Adventure Town by National Geographic, and one of the top 10 places to live in the world, according to many critics. The campus is located on a private 24-acre campus in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The Education Center itself is beautiful, spacious and shiny new, and there is a Holistic Retreat Center on campus, all with the most stunning mountain views. The Retreat Center hosts anyone interested in a holistic retreat vacation or health retreat package, and is also home to our student housing for our 6-Month Massage Therapy Certification Program.

Having the perfect location, facilities, workshops and abilities, I created my dream CE scenario. An all-inclusive CE Retreat Vacation. For much less than it cost me for my CST workshop experience in Charlotte, one can come to this oasis and take a wonderful vacation while taking care of your education. The package includes a 22-hour NCBTMB Approved CE workshop, a free 3-hour Professional Ethics class, 2-nights accommodations (Friday and Saturday) and all meals, beginning with lunch on Friday afternoon and ending with lunch on Sunday. And all of it for $595 per person for shared accommodations or $695 for private accommodations.

There are generally 24 CE weekend workshops scheduled each year, ranging from Thai Massage to Hot Stone Massage and Spa Therapies. All here, in one exquisite place, and it is grand. Just like I dreamed it could be.

If you are interested in a whole new CE experience, and one that doesn't drain your wallet like all the a la carte options do, this is an option that you will definitely want to check out.

For more information, contact the Center for Massage & Natural Health, 530 Upper Flat Creek Rd. Asheville (Weaverville), NC 28787, call (828) 658-0814 email info@centerformassage.com or visit the website at http://www.centerformassage.com

About the author: Peggy M. Huff is the owner and Executive Director of the Center for Massage & Natural Health in Asheville, North Carolina. This COMTA accredited school is celebrating its 12th year of educational excellence and innovation in continuing education experiences.