By Terrie Yardley-Nohr

    As I sit at my desk at work for the last time, it is a great time to reflect on what an adventure my career has been.  It was over 31 years ago that I graduated from Kaleidoscope School of Massage.  So much has happened since then.  I have been blessed with so many mentors such as Donna Zieger (owner of Kaleidoscope), the late Diana Gordon and Cherie Sohnen-Moe.   All are incredible individuals in the massage community.   I guess that I looked at my career as an adventure, something new with a lot to do.  The massage community was just getting started in Missouri and I was pleased to work with a team of people (Estaban Ruvulcaba, Jennifer Peters and Juliet Mee) on the legislation for the state.  Being involved with the AMTA at the chapter level enabled me to meet so many wonderful therapists that were dedicated to moving our profession forward.   As I moved on to the National level of the AMTA, a whole new world opened up to me.  Meeting so many wonderful therapists and educators helped educate me about the massage community and provide mentorship for me in the field. 

    During my career, I quickly realized that I could never do any of this alone.  There is always a team of people involved.  From the state and national chapters of the AMTA, to the schools such as Missouri College, Anthem and The Healing Arts Center, there is always a team of people there to help.  I thank each and every one that has been there helping and supporting along the way.

    I am not totally fading into the sunset with retirement.  I was recently offered an opportunity to write for a national magazine and there are several other projects in the works.  Feel free to friend me on Facebook to see future adventures.   I am looking forward to some travel time in the RV with the animals and friends.  And I am still serving on the Board of the Alliance of Massage Educators (AFMTE) for several years to come.  What a great group of dedicated people. 

    To the students that I have had the privilege of teaching,  Thank you.  I always learned from you and that helped to write a book and to help future students in their careers.  A student recently asked me what advice I would offer to a new therapist.  My advice would be to remember that every therapist makes an impression on the public about our profession.  We hope that it will be a positive impression of nurturing, kindness, patience, integrity and ethical behavior.  Those that came before us paved the way for a career that can be rewarding, fulfilling and wonderful.  Now you can carry on and pave the way for those that will follow you.  Take care of you and show the clients what a wonderful therapist you can be and above all else – stay ethical!!!

In peace - Terrie

     Terrie earned a Bachelor's of Science degree in healthcare management from Anthem College.  She received her massage therapy training from Kaleidoscope School of Massage.   She was the owner of Therapeutic Massage Associates for nearly a decade before the state of Missouri required professional licensure for massage therapists.

​     She was also involved with the American Massage Therapy Association, having been a Chapter President for three  years.  She was deeply involved with the lobbying effort that lead to the state of Missouri passing its first licensure statute that brought massage therapy into the realm of licensed wellness care professionals.  She has also served as the National Chapter Relations Chair of the AMTA for five years, working with chapters and training for officer positions. Terrie currently serves as a director on the board of the Alliance for Massage Therapy Education. In addition to that, she also serves as a valued member of the Alliance’s Conference Planning Committee and is board liaison for the Teacher Resources Development Committee.

       Terrie's administrative career has covered a lot of ground.  She was program director for the Anthem Education Group wherein she managed massage therapy education across seven campuses.  She was also an instructor at the Fenton campus.  When Anthem closed its doors, Terrie came to The Healing Arts Center in 2014 where she wore a variety of hats.  She has taught the business program during her entire tenure at HAC but has also been the school's compliance officer managing HAC's regulatory compliance with ACCSC (HAC's accrediting body), the Missouri Department of Higher Education and the United States Department of Education.

     "Terrie's knowledge and experience when it comes to compliance has been invaluable to HAC and to me personally", said David Kenyon, HAC President.  "I came here knowing a lot about business development, but not necessarily much about educational and massage-profession regulation.  She has been my mentor over the past four years and it has helped me run the school in many important ways."

     Terrie enjoys camping in her RV and sewing.  In fact, she takes her sewing machines with her when she goes camping with her dog Cooper.  For years, Terrie has made fleece scarves for every student at HAC for Christmas.  She is a mother and a grandmother and will be very busy during her retirement spending time on adventures and with her family.  Everyone at HAC wishes her well in her retirement which is well deserved.

Every school session The Healing Arts Center publishes a newsletter about happenings at the school and helpful and interesting information for students and others alike. Stop by the school to pick up a copy, or click the image below to read the latest issue of The Fire Bowl.

     Massage Essentials is a free workshop for those people considering massage therapy education.  This free class, taught by HAC's Headmaster, Tom Tessereau, allows all participants to "test-drive" the Healing Arts Center's highly unique Massage Therapy Training Program.  HAC is the oldest, largest and most comprehensive massage therapy training program in the region. 
    The school is known for blending top-shelf training in massage technique with holistic healing modalities such as Reiki, Pranic Healing and Transformational Breathwork.  This multifaceted approach gives its graduates a much larger tool kit with which to create a successful professional career.  Every HAC graduate is taught an entire term of Myofascial Release, an advanced massage technique, that can treat a wide spectrum of health issues from sports injuries to relieving the pain of mastectomy scars.