I went here for a student massage and it was excellent. My therapist was Sam and she had magic hands. Positive: $35 for 50 minute massage. you cant beat the price for the quality. Check-in is very professional and you are brought back promptly. you are given a posture and range of motion assessment before your massage. A supervisor comes around to address any concerns and treatment plan. Negative (for some): you are in a room with other people. you are behind a private curtained area but you can hear others. So if you are a person who needs absolute quiet to relax, i wouldn't recommend it. read more

I called Soma Institute to enroll in their massage therapy program, ready to pay the full tuition. The first thing they told me is that they only accept U.S. citizens or Green Card holders, which is not clearly stated on their website or in their official admission requirements. Honestly, I had a much more friendly and welcoming experience when I contacted The New School for Massage Therapy and Estelle Medical Academy, where the staff was helpful and professional. A school that calls itself a "national leader" should be more transparent and approachable. read more

I attended soma institute in 2019-20, let me just say how it's been 5 years and they haven't reached out to me regarding my diploma. I was close to graduation. Then, covid happened and they literally went MIA. After months of nothing but waiting we resumed class via Zoom. Some said, they did our ceremony via Zoom. I got pregnant and got busy but continued to wonder why I couldn't get ahold of anyone unless I was behind on payments. They claimed to be under staffed and it was a blur since. I've called multiple times to find help. No one answers. Not even my emails. The teachers were great, most were students and grads from there. But in all seriousness I did not learn much from it. We were unable to practice clinics which was the most important part of my learning experience. Hands on training was awful. I learned from books I bought online. I hope they improved by now, they're very unorganized and I'm hoping they reach out to me regarding my diploma soon, I'm still paying the student loan, so it's quite unfair. read more

I am really sorry to leave this review. I love schoola and learning. While the material is good, the school was unorganized. We often did not have a teacher. The material was rushed through whenever our teacher didn't want to be there late. Our classes always ended early from the very beginning. We were conditioned to expect that. Mr. Ramirez was a really good teacher. He wanted to make sure we fully understood the material. I would not recommend their evening program for someone who is a serious learner. read more

One of my biggest regrets was coming to this school to be a health and wellness coach. They're more focused on their massage career portion of the school as well as the other people who already have experience in the field rather than showing the ones who have little to no experience in it and the so called professionals and teachers need to act as such and to stop showing favoritism plus you won't get a job after you so called graduate unless you have the right qualifications and connections with the right people. Again if you want to be successful in the coaching industry, go to a reputable school with a reputation that'll tell you the truth instead of picking and choosing what they want to tell you or who they want to help out read more

When I was a student there, my instructor took a considerable amount of time in which she was supposed to be observing the students to receive bodywork from one of the students who had had professional bodywork experience in his home country. On one of these occasions, the person practicing traction on shoulder slightly dislocated it. I became aware of this later that evening when I was practicing Pilates. I am also an experienced licensed Pilates teacher and professional somaticist. I was able to realign my glenohumeral joint but I didn't feel safe to continue the certification course there. I emailed the director of the school requesting a refund for my tuition and was ignored. I do not recommend the school. read more

This is the best place to go if you want to learn how to give the best massages ever. This is the place to go to meet your new friends and family. The teachers here are incredible. You get so much clinical and outside experience here. I would recommend this school to anyone who wants to be the best! There are even student clinics open for massages to the public! read more

The Soma Institute - Soma students working on runners at the Chicago Marathon 2018 - Massage Schools Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Five stars for the curriculum and some of the teachers that made learning easy and fun! Three stars for the way everybody cowered over a closeted douch bag named Mike hovie. The man had his head so far up his ass that it was able to bite his "cervical rib." The man was so full of shit that he probably lied about even having one. Graduation time: the commencement speech he gave was to glorify himself and treat us like cattle. I swear I don't understand why students kiss his ass. He insulted two of the teachers at our graduation like he was somewhere near better than them. I tried multiple times to give him a chance. Then he would speak about himself and i just. could. not! I sure hope he's left the school and stoped bothering people with that small stature and those desperate beady eyes. But thanks SOMA, I learned a lot about my body. read more

I graduated from the SOMA Institue in 2006. Not having any massage schooling prior to that experience I did not have anything to compare it to. Knowing what I know now, there should be an entire program dedicated to the correct body mechanics. I developed tendonitis twice in my wrists before I took a body mechanics course. Unfortuantely, SOMA does not offer such a course so I had to go to a neighboring school where I finally learned the tools needed to take care of my body. I was just on SOMA's site looking for CE's....as usual, the prices are really high and it's rarely a 6 or 8 hour course. Sometimes you want an introduction into a course before dropping several hundred dollars. P.S. Jade, while tipping isn't necessary, it's certainly appreciated. Greatly! read more

My body hates me. I spend too many hours on anti-ergonomic chairs at home and school. What to do when self-muscle rubs are ineffective in relieving pain and you're an unpaid educational volunteer (aka student)? I looked up several student clinics at massage schools for an affordable treat. Not only did Soma have the best price ($25 for an hour), it's also conveniently located in the Loop. The student clinic gets quite busy. Book an appointment ahead of time. You're escorted to a semi-private area similar to hospital rooms (with curtains separating you from other customers). There is soft lighting and peaceful music playing, but it's definitely not quiet. You're in a room with dozens of other people, after all. The student assigned to me accessed my health and conditions before getting to work. Yes, I was practically naked underneath the cloth (optional, but recommended), but I can't imagine enjoying the massage if I was wearing a thick sweater. I enjoyed every minute of it and my body felt like a vegan jell-o afterwards. Mind you, professional masseuses charge $60-$125 for similar services. I have no complaints. Seriously, $25 ... no tip necessary. They really should rename their school to the "Soma-ahhhhhhh" Institute. read more

After receiving a number of their free massages in the lobby of my building I thought I'd try out the full length massage. Big mistake. I get that this is a school but this was about as close to a real massage as a nightclub is to a carrot. First off, it's one big room--very loud room I might add--so you hear everyone's conversation and there are probably 40 people in the room with nothing but a flimsy curtain separating any of the tables. I have no idea why they wouldn't want to at least try to replicate an actual spa envinonment and request that their students not yack like they're at a party. The guy who did mine had no clue how to give a massage and truthfully, it felt like his hands were dirty. Ick. I left about 20 minutes into it-it was that bad that it wasn't worth finishing. And as for the soft music and soft lighting another reviewer noted, if you consider loud talking soft music, then it's there. The lighting is clinical, flourescent tubes, as I recall. As noted in another review, I would never go back and I would never try another student clinic. read more

I'll admit - I'm usually the first guy to pop a few muscle relaxers and wash them down with a glass of scotch at the first sign of any sort of muscle pain. Lately, I'd been really concentrating hard on my hamstring developement and I had gone too far on the squat rack that afternoon lol. I started with the usual combination of flexeril, scotch and my one true weakness , ambien. I knew I needed something more so after I sobered up I scooted on over to the Soma Institute. I got set up with a man named Scott and he worked my hamstrings really well - it was very enjoyable. Afterwards I took a hot shower and a few more flexerils and I have to tell you - I feel fresher than ever lol! 5 stars! read more

I had a tough time finding the right school for me and Soma clearly stood out as the best. I worked with Stan who was incredible to work with. He was very honest and helpful with the process. He made me feel comfortable and confident during my tour and he was super flexible with my schedule. He also wasn't to "salesy" which I cant stand! Being off the red line is great for me and my commute as well. Lot's of grants and financial aid helps a lot as well. Jim was good to help with that. Facilities were top notch and super super clean. I think they just did a big renovation because everything seems nice and new. Looking back, it was one of the best decisions I made. I am making a great income and supporting my family too. They helped me be my own boss too. I would recommend to anyone looking to become a massage therapist. read more

I'm currently a student at The Soma Institute. When I went to register for class, the staff was amazing, very polite, and helpful. I felt the great energy that put me at ease and eager to start right away. I Met the owner Joan she's phenomenal and takes pride in the school. My instructors our very hands on and cares about the students. Willing to stay after school and assist with tutoring. The longs hours can be challenging but throughout the day the stretches and breaks helps. read more

Soma is an amazing massage school and a great place to go for a massage when you have a tight budget and need some relaxation! All staff very helpful, friendly and accommodating. Get an hour massage for a price you won't find anywhere else by students who are finishing their training as clinical massage therapists. If you're interested in becoming a MT, you can call the school and do a tour during class hours :) read more

My friend decided to treat me to a massage for my birthday and I truly had a wonderful time. The massage that they gave me here was amazing. The staff was friendly and I felt so relaxed afterwords. read more

This is a great massage therapy school! They have so many resources for students and graduates alike such as tutoring, career services, financial aid advising, and more! The instructors are great. You really get so much if you are willing to put in the time and effort to learn the material and the skill. Thanks Soma! read more

I am a recent graduate of Soma. I loved the program and the instructors at Soma, they were absolutely wonderful. Everything leading up to completing the program was great. However, they staff that works behind the scenes in the offices are completely incompetent. Claudia, who works on your exit exam for financial aid, breezes through everything without even pausing between sentences, not allowing you time to absorb what she is saying and pressures you to read faster and sign quickly. She wrote everything down on scratch paper, and clearly didn't know how to explain this process to students. I'm very familiar with working with financial aid at school, but I also never sign what's placed in front of me without reading everything. Brooke is only there for a few hours (9am-2pm), does not get back to you on emails until you notify Joan about her not getting back to you. Then when you speak to her on the phone to confirm what has been taken care of, she talks in circles and back-tracks what she says. I have to go through her to get my application submitted to take my state exam, and I'm pretty sure it will be delayed due to her incompetency and multiple communications. Stan works in admissions. He will lie and tell you anything you want to hear just to get you to sign up for the school. I specifically asked him if I would be able to take my state licensure exam before graduating since (at the time) you only needed 500 credit hours to graduate. He ensured that I would be able to do that, but I would have to pay out of pocket to do so, which was fine for me as I wanted to get my foot in the door as soon as possible. When that time came, Soma would not release my transcripts proving 500+ credit hours for me to take my state license exam. Stan will feed you anything to get you to go to Soma. I'm not even sure if he really understands the curriculum or any of the processes for getting licensed. I could see right through his BS that he was feeding me, except being able to take the exam early, I fell for that one. The only staff behind the desk that were ever helpful was the receptionist (there's several girls that worked behind the desk, and they were all very sweet and knowledgeable). There's also a man that works helps with getting financial aid for students, I cannot remember his name for the life of me (grey hair, tall, slim), but he was fantastic, patient, and very knowledgeable. And again, the instructors are wonderful. Another thing to mention is the quality of the student body...I'm not sure where they advertise to get the students that attend, but the majority of them do not take the school seriously. Many of the students are unskilled, disrespectful, and unmotivated. I understand it's only massage therapy school for a license and not undergrad or graduate school, but I take it seriously as it's a stepping stone for me while I am completing my undergrad doctorate program. But due to the school being so for-profit, there is no point where they tell students that this is just not the career for them, when certain students show obvious signs that they will never meet standards or excel in this career. Overall, the education I received was great, all thanks to the wonderful instructors. But be prepared to have to make sure people are doing their jobs in certain departments or your license will be held up by incompetency. I wish I could giving two ratings on here....I would give the instructors 5 stars, and the rest of Soma would get 1-2 stars. Instructors Mike Hovi-Amazing Dan Laske-Amazing Lambert Caldwell-Amazing Rob Laubach-Amazing Julio Veaz-Amazing Jason VonGerichten-Amazing Sarah McLaughlin-Amazing I would recommend for all prospective students, go to the teaching clinic several times to receive a massage, you will see what I'm saying in regards to quality control. Come prepared with questions written down to ask. If you are not confident in the answer given by Stan, ask one of the instructors or students during the tour. There is nothing wrong with getting a second opinion. Soma is definitely more clinical than some of the other schools, so you really get a better understanding of the human body, but they lack in teaching techniques. I did get to work the Chicago Marathon and on the athletes at Loyola, which I gained the most hands on experience with Lambert. read more

Rude as Hell! I called the school late last week to ask about tuition and courses. The individual I spoke to was very rude and cut me off multiple times during the conversation. By this point I had already decided this wasn't the school for me but was still polite and tried to end the conversation politely. The individual I was speaking to made a loud noise of disgust before hanging up as if it were the most annoying conversation he had all day, although I was merely asking about enrollment. This same individual contacted me via text just last night and this is how the text conversation went: Rude Person: So are you coming in tomorrow morning at 11am? Yes/No? Me: No, I will not. Rude Person: Is there another day/time this week that would work better for U? Me: The person I spoke with over the phone was a bit rude. He talked over me multiple times and made a loud, exasperated noise just before hanging up. I think I'll be looking elsewhere for courses. Rude Person: That was me. Maybe you should look elsewhere as we don't appear to be a good fit for U. Your version of our conversation is bizzare to say the least. Me: Wow This individual, who was representing the institute, was far more concerned about defending his "bizzare" fragile ego than promoting the school. If your first encounter with an organization is this blatantly rude theres no reason to look further into it. And although I was met with such rudeness, I still stayed polite and didn't call his personal phone to tell him what a bitch he was being. After looking at the other reviews of this place the attitudes present there seem to be pretty consistent! Apparently, they all need a massage! read more

I've been massaged here by the students. Who can complain about a free massage? Not me. Sometimes the massages are out of this world. Sometimes the massages are like being checked by a medical professional for tumors. read more

I was on the phone with an admission or a recruiter. But I have decided to go to cortiva institute instead and I apologized for that. But he than proceeded to tell me I made the wrong choice they are getting all of cortivas students and that he hopes I get a job after I graduate all in a very rude tone. It was unprofessional and I have him a reason why I chose cortical instead. But he didn't want to hear it so I as rudely as he spoke to me hung up on him. read more

Student Clinic---- They ask far too many questions about your medical history that are none of their business and are not necessary at all. My massage girl, Kate, gave me only 45 minutes instead of the hour I was promised. And she did not do my whole body or even half of it. She didnot seem to know how to release my tension with deep tissue work. She must be a raw beginner. So I would avoid her if you go. I would give this place NO STARS based on my experience. I will not be back there. (I hope the other girls are better!) I have had much better experiences at other massage schools! read more

I looked into Soma as a choice for massage school for myself. Never have I been to a school before where I debated about leaving before even meeting the admissions staff. I actually texted this idea to a friend of mine as I sat waiting, and wondered if it would be too rude to run for the door and not return. As I stood up to leave, the admissions staff member came out to greet me. Ugh. Stuck. The entire meeting and tour I kept thinking I should politely excuse myself as this was a waste of their time and mine, and I knew there was no way I would attend. The staff member was nice, but totally unprofessional, unqualified to be doing admissions work, and to be blunt, they are blatently dishonest and misleading to potential students. They have coined the phrase "clinical massage", which is genuinely more of a marketing term than anything else. There is no such thing as "clinical massage". And anyone who knows anything about the healthcare or massage field knows, the biggest downfall of the entire massage field would be if it became medically billable to insurance carriers who would dwindle down all earned payment of therapists just as they do to clinicians in the medical field. One of he biggest benefits of massage therapy now is that fact that it is largely not affiliated with the medical community, and is an excellent holisitc option for people who are looking for alternatives or additions to western medical treatment, an option that is therapuetic and healing without being invasive or forcing you to spend time in cold sterile hospital or doctor office environment that feels stuffy and draining. The "interview", which I found to be an oddly inappropriate term considering it was a sales meeting for them to sell me on their school rather than the other way around, was largely focused on making sure I know they are the one and only true school of professional or "clinical" massage and the others are merely teaching people how to work in spas and give loofah scrub downs. The reality is, there are many excellent massage schools out there, and most of them seem to have a far greater and deeper grasp of the whole mission behind massage therapy as a therapy in the first place. This school is set up like a hospital, right down to the "clinic" where students practice giving massage on members of the public, in a room that is like an ER, with individual beds seperated only by hospital curtains. Yes hospital curtains. No, there will be no soft music here, no privacy, no soft conversation with your therapist about which areas need more attention or if you need to lighten up the pressure etc. This my friends is all you need to develop of heavy case of white coat syndrome, right there on a massage table. After suffering through an entire tour and high pressure sales session, I finally stumbled back out onto the street, thankfully feeling my time was not completely wasted, as I knew now more than ever, that I would never attend Soma school of massage, nor would I ever recommend it to anyone else, nor would I ever go there for a massage. For those looking for a massage or a massage school in the Chicagoland area, try a more professional, comfortable and therapuetic experience, like New School of Massage, or Cortiva. These folks seem to have a handle on the fact that clients want to be treated like people, not patients, they want to be pampered, not prodded, they want to receive therapuetic massage from highly skilled individuals who have a firm grasp of the human body and also the human spirit. If I want "clinical", I'll got to a doctor, if I want healing I'll see my massage therapist, who will have trained anywhere other than Soma. read more

Alumni Feedback THE GREAT: 1. The teachers were wonderful and with a variety of backgrounds to share much knowledge with us (Chiropractors, Massage Therapists and Science Professors from local universities.) 2. The classes were intense and I found myself having to study a lot in order to pass my exams (I do not remember having to study this much for my undergraduate degree.) Subjects included are Pathology, Physiology, Anatomy, Kinesiology, Histology, Principals of Massage, several massage modalities and clinicals. 3. Our class was made up of 7 working adults who worked in other fields and were looking to make a switch. I enjoyed the small class environment. WHAT NEEDS TO CHANGE: 1. Parking is expensive (Weekend and Night parking was $17 and since it is in downtown the only other option is public transportation.) 2. The Business Training offered as part of the program is useless. They need to focus on hiring an instructor that can give students the necessary administrative/business/marketing training to be successful entreprenuers. 3. During the initial tour and admissions process, they should make sure they do not deceive students by making them think that securing a job with high salary potential is a piece of cake. They will show you a list of jobs that pay over $35 an hour but what they do not tell you is that you will not be working 40+ hours a week like people in other fields. Massage Therapy is taxing on the body and most can't perform more than a few massages per day. In addition, This is a very competitive industry and starting out you will not have an established clientele to keep you working 40+ hours a week. Every MT I met had to remain working in other fields in addition to being MT's in order to sustain their lifestyle. On average what I consistently heard from practicing therapists is that it took them about two years to build a clientele to sustain themselves solely on their MT career. As an MT you will be a contractor for the most part which means that you will be paying your own taxes and overhead. The pay that I Chiropractor/Spa/etc. will pay you is not your take home pay. There are other job opportunities in chain spas, gyms and hotels that hire MT's as employees but they either pay you a very low hourly rate or want you to have a significant amount of work experience. Keep in mind Massage Therapy is an expensive program to study and most likely you will have debt to pay back, it is taxing physically and emotionally so it is unfair to accept a low wage for your services. 4. They need to teach services that are in demand and cut down on the sciences (Pregnancy Massage, Infant Massage, Shiatsu, Thai Massage, Reflexology, Aroma Therapy, Light Therapy.) 5. They need to revisit the body mechanics they teach students to use. I left there with a lot of pain in my thumbs. 6. Also having students work on other students before knowing enough is dangerous. I still feel extraordinary pain on the right side of my neck from students taking the stretch too far. read more

I had to submit an application to get readmitted and then had to go through a meeting with financial aid all resulting in them which I feel was the run around because I was told I would be notified as to how to best place me, but I had to also pay $50 a month while taking classes. I had enough I was exhausting my finances just to get through this place and only to get the run around. I decided I was not going to return to Soma because I didnt feel that it was the best decision to do in terms of my education and my chance at establishing myself as a serious massage therapist. I only hope that my review will help others make an informed decision about the schools they apply and attend and graduate from. I didnt want to walk away, but I don't want to have a repeat of being dismissed from school again only permanently. I also noticed the last time I was there that the school seemed to be having a hard time keeping people enrolled.. When a school starts putting out an unusually high number of pamphlets out on their front lobby table that's a sign they're seeing a decline in enrollment into the school. Apparently, people are getting better at screening schools through reviews here on Yelp and talking to people who had gone through the school. In the time I've spent there and talked to a few who graduated they were having a time trying to find a job so that also shows an area that is lacking is the better preparation of finding a job after graduation. I've seen people in other massage schools getting jobs straight out of school. Some of the instructors who I really had the great pleasure of being in their class can actually take their talent as instructors to other schools and be considered a valuable asset to that institution as teachers of massage therapy. Also Joan who is the head of Soma made a comment to me which I felt was not appropriate she made a remark about my line of work about how I would make better money as a massage therapist than making $10 an hour as a home health aide. Not only was the comment out of line, but she made it seem as if my job was beneath me. Seeing the current reviews here also say otherwise. In looking for a massage school look for a place that you will feel confident that you can get through, where you'll fit in and not feel out of place, where the cost of tuition won't exceed your financial limitations. read more

I went to school here and had an amazing experience. The instructors are incredibly knowledgeable, supportive and wonderful people. I am now thriving in the industry and love my career! Thanks to Soma my life has improved immensely. I wouldn't change a thing! read more

I graduated in 1999... Since than i only moved forward in world of manual therapy... That was a very good choice of school. Its a good base to build on in future. read more

Great school! !! The instructor's are awesome. A big thank you to everyone , I am happy that I had the opportunity to be a student here!!!!!! read more

I was a new soma student at the beginning of this year and I feel it started out positively, my professors were great and knowledgeable. I was really enjoying the classes and feeling very positive and motivated to make this change for my future. I am no longer a student there due to a meeting I had with president of the institution. I had missed a class and needed to make up a test so I had this meeting to set up a retake. While in the meeting the president was very insistent on asking me where I went to school previously and when I told her she started speaking down towards me. My grades were average in all of my classes high and low B's and some A's and I was asked if I was "special ed" by the president. She stated how this probably wasn't for me, I was to slow to finish. After this my motivation, positive thoughts and desire to learn was gone. I had emailed and reached out to other administrators in the institute and no one was responding or taking the time to talk with me. Going to class made me anxious I never felt good enough or smart enough and eventually my attendance declined. When going to an institution like this one I feel like there needs to be support and guidance for their students. Overall I feel it is a very unprofessional, racist/prejudice and thoughtless organization. read more

I went twice to Soma Institute, because the 1st time I was not impressed, so I thought I would give it another chance. Unfortunately, it left much to be desired, even for a student clinic. I will say, the students I had were very nice and professional, but the treatment was very lacking. And it had nothing to do with the hospital-like setting, which is expected since this wasn't a spa. I don't have any medical problems, so I sometimes go for a massage just to relieve some generalized muscle tightness, especially in my upper back and neck. At Soma, I basically felt like someone was gently running their hands across my back (and by the way, they didn't use oil for the 1st 20 minutes, so I felt like they were giving me a rug burn!). Even for a Swedish Massage, this was way too gentle. Now granted, I only have one other experience to compare this to, which another school that is located in Skokie (I won't mention the name of this school, as to avoid being accused of being a shill). There, I had a student who was able to detect "knots" in my muscles, and focus on them with intense manipulation until the tension was gone. While I am the type of person who likes to talk during a massage (as opposed to falling asleep), the student at the other school explained to me what she was doing, and I really sensed that she had an understanding of physiology and anatomy. I am a doctor, so I could tell that she knew her stuff. So in closing... I will say, just because this is a student clinic, isn't an excuse to get substandard treatment. And before you say "you get what you pay for", I will say this is not true... as proven by the other school I go to, where I get way more than what I pay for (and no, I'm not talking about a "happy ending", haha). read more