Former world-class gymnast Kristal Uzelac, 19, of St. Michael knows the value of a massage and that was instrumental in her decision to enroll at Laurel Highlands Therapeutic Academy to become a certified massage therapist.

The school, which is owned and operated by Becky SanGregorio of Ebensburg, is located at 3135 New Germany Road in the Ebensburg Mini-Mall.

“Prior to competitions, I would get a massage to ease the tightness of my muscles and to give me more flexibility,” Uzelac said.

She participated in the elite competition, where she captured the gold medal eight times at the National Championships and became the first woman to capture three straight junior national all-around titles, doing so from 1999 through 2001.

“Even before going to college at Penn State, I considered becoming a massage therapist,” Uzelac said. “Now, I know that this is a career that will make me happy.”

Uzelac joins a growing number of people across the state seeking to get into massage therapy.

According to the Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals Web site, there are almost 200,000 massage therapists in the United States, and more than 50,000 people are entering the field each year.

SanGregorio, 27, worked in the industry for several years before starting her school in May 2005. The first class of six students graduated in December.

While there are no state regulations governing massage therapists, SanGregorio said there is legislation on the table to require licensing.

“That’s why all of our students are required to take the boards given by the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork,” she said.

“The cost of the test, which is included in our tuition, is $225 and the test is given daily in Monroeville. Once the legislation passes, the students holding such certification will be grandfathered into the state licensing procedure.”

The state does not regulate message therapists, says Richard McGarvey, a spokesman for the state Department of Health.

“There are no licensed massage therapists in Pennsylvania,” he said. “We license auctioneers, barbers, funeral directors and beauticians, but not the massage therapist business.”

The 600-hour academy course costs $6,500 a semester and no financial aid is available at this time, since the school is in its infancy.

The academy focuses on teaching the Swedish massage technique. SanGregorio said the method is known as a “pampering” massage, which is usually associated with spas.

“We also teach infant massage, canine and equine massage techniques, as well as hot-stone massages,” she said.

SanGregorio said graduates often find jobs with chiropractors, physical therapy offices, beauty salons or gyms, or they open their own businesses.

Statistics from the state Department of Labor show that in 2002, 2,600 massage therapists were employed in Pennsylvania, earning a median income of $15,500.

The Labor Department projects by 2012, more than 3,400 therapists will be employed.

“I would estimate that the average massage therapist earns $20,000 annually,” SanGregorio said. “Some are making as much as $50,000.”

Melissa George of Portage, one of three instructors, said animal massages are taught because they can be as beneficial to dogs or horses as they can be for humans.

“If a dog has been injured, such as a broken leg, we can give it a deep massage that will increase blood flow to the area and help healing,” she said.

“We also teach prenatal massages for expectant mothers that help with the discomfort ranging from swollen ankles to back pain.”

Mary Beth Rykala, another student at the academy, knows about stress. She dealt with it in her marketing and sales career until she decided to make a midlife change. Instead of experiencing stress, she hopes to relieve it in others.

Rykala, 42, of Franklin Borough is a single mother of two sons, ages 16 and 7.

“This is something I always wanted to do and thought if I was going to make a career change, it should be now,” she said in an interview during an anatomy class at the academy.

Rykala began her six-month course in January and initially has used the classes to teach herself how to unwind.

“To be a massage therapist, you have to be grounded and centered yourself in order to be in sync with your client,” Rykala said.

The academy offers three daytime semesters a year with classes running from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays. Semesters are scheduled for January, June and September.

An evening session is under way and if enough interest is shown, additional classes may be added.

“We can accommodate 14 students in each class,” SanGregorio said.

“Prospective students are welcome to come in and have one of our instructors demonstrate a massage and answer any questions.”

Massages are available to the public from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays. Cost is $25 for an hour-long session.

SanGregorio says she posts job openings and writes letters of recommendations to assist her students.

“We teach everything a person needs,” she said.

Tuition covers everything a student needs to get started, including a massage table, books, cost of the national exam, uniform shirts and insurance.

Information: 471-6871.



Tom Lavis can be reached at 532-5054 or tlavis@tribdem.com.