Background

Background of RMTA of NA

Rhythmical Massage Therapy in North America began with Frau Irmgard Marbach, Director and main teacher at the Margarethe Hauschka Schule für Künstlerische Therapie und Rhythmische Massage in Bad Boll, Germany. From 1978 to 1990, Frau Marbach came to North America each summer to teach home care courses in different regions – Wilton, NH; Spring Valley and Harlemville, NY; Ann Arbor and Detroit, MI; and Toronto, Canada. These courses awakened interest in RMT, leading to American massage therapists and nurses taking full RMT training in Germany.

In 1988 the Rhythmical Massage Therapy Association of North America (RMTA NA) was informally formed. With this step, Frau Marbach began to teach continuing education courses in North America for graduates of the RMT training in Bad Boll. This was also the first year RMT training in English was given in Bad Boll.

In 1996 The School For Rhythmical Massage was incorporated as a non-profit organization through the collaboration of members of the RMTA NA. That year began the first USA training of RMT in Harlemville, NY. It graduated 18 practitioners in 1998. The second class took place in Harlemville, NY, and Kimberton, PA, and graduated ten practitioners in 2001. Heidrun Marx, Kathleen Lazare, Barbara Cavanagh, and Elisabeth Pisla were primary teachers.

In 2014 the RMTA of NA formally incorporated as a non-profit association in the state of California. This association brought responsibility for professional development and new training together in one association. From 2014 to 2018, an RMT modular training took place in Fair Oaks, California, graduating ten RMTs. Marlies Schade, Margret Kerndt, Marei Blitz, and Kathy Strutz carried this training from beginning to completion.

Since 2001 the RMTA of NA has held annual continuing education courses for Rhythmical Massage Therapists. Continuing education credits from the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCBTMB) are earned for attending. Master Teachers Heidrun Marx, Ricarda Meyer, and Aoine Landweer-Cooke have been vital to these courses. Plans for basic training courses in Rhythmical Massage Therapy are currently in consideration for August 2021.