Patti Santiago's path to becoming a massage therapist is truly remarkable. From her diverse experiences living in different locations, she discovered her passion and sense of belonging in Samara, Costa Rica while attending CRSMT.
At the Costa Rica School of Massage Therapy, Patti discovered a program that not only met but exceeded her expectations. With a curriculum that rivals traditional nine-month programs and an environment that fosters growth and camaraderie, Patti's experience highlights the transformative power of education and community.
Can you tell us who you are and where you’re from?
My name is Patti Santiago and I, I'm from planet Earth as I say, because I've kind of lived all over the place. But I grew up in Texas and New Mexico. Although Samara has kind of become my new home.
How attracted you to massage therapy?
When I was looking at going back to school, I was actually trying to decide exactly what it was that I wanted to do with my life. And massage therapy has done so much for me personally, and I thought what better way to give back to the thing that helped me out so much.
Tell us about studying massage in an accelerated program.
The school is incredible about making sure that you have everything that you would consider a traditional massage school thrown in. I don't feel like I was shorted on any bit of information, having gone from a nine month program to a four month program, there's every bit as much if not more of the content that's needed to really, I would say, train a person in massage therapy and not have them go home feeling like they still have to do a whole lot of studying afterwards to be able to pass the MBLEX.
And it's fun too. Jan does a really great job about ensuring that the program is a lot of fun and that people stay engaged. And interacting with each other, I really appreciate the body work rotation schedule so that we do work with each other classmate.
What’s one of your favorite parts of the program?
I love the student clinic. It's probably one of my favorite parts of being in school, being able to put what we've learned, even what we learned that day, and apply it in practice. Like real life practice, because we really are working on the local public.
What's a memory from your time at CRSMT that will stay with you forever?
One of the memories that stands out the most is when I found an Iguana in my closet after school one day, where else are you going to have an experience like that? I really could not tell you. Watching the monkeys and the trees, all the critters that are around the campus, and the town of Samara is awesome.
Tell us about the town of Sámara.
There's a few grocery stores available where you can find anything that you really need or want. All of the restaurants are awesome. I don't think that I've found a place that I haven't enjoyed eating at. Specifically, I love the farmer's market. They just kind of fed me for the week. I would go every Saturday morning and stash up on fresh produce.
What was your experience learning Craniosacral therapy like?
Cranio Sacral is one of my favorite things now. As far as cranio in the ocean, that was such a magical experience. I actually don't know how to swim. And I have a psychological fear of submersion. But after arriving at the site where we were going to be doing this, I could see all the different steps that our instructor had taken to make sure that not just the whole class in the water, but especially me, it felt very personal.
What was it like jumping into this program with a group of people you'd never met before?
They did a great job of selecting the students. We all just kind of got along. We were super cohesive. We’re definitely lifelong friends. Many of them, it feels like I already knew them before coming here. We just kind of settled in so well together. We've all just been surrounded by each other and showered in love.
What will you do next?
I'll be going back to the States. I am ready to take the MBLEX now. So that's going to be the first thing. And get licensed in Oklahoma. And then I'm still choosing a few other states I want to make sure and license them up front so I can hit the ground running.
What would you say to someone considering CRSMT for their massage education?
If you're able to do it, do it. Don't wait, like at least get signed up for class, do your research. I wouldn't wait. If you've got the means and ability to be gone and you give yourself the opportunity to be put forth with this challenge, it's definitely worth all of that gold at the end of the rainbow.
Since this interview, Patty has returned to the United States and embark on her professional journey, she carries with her the invaluable lessons and friendships forged in Samara. Her time at the Costa Rica School of Massage Therapy has equipped her with the skills and confidence to succeed in her career. For those considering a similar path, Patti's story is a testament to the life-changing potential of this unique program. If you have the opportunity, take the leap – the rewards are truly worth it.
The Costa Rica School of Massage Therapy is the world’s premier study abroad program for massage therapy. We offer a 600 to 750 hour COMTA Accredited Massage Therapy course which satisfies the licensing requirements for massage therapy in most of the United States. Additionally, we offer continuing education for massage therapists.