February 25-26, 2017, Toms River, NJ – The Ocean County Chamber of Commerce hosted its annual Mall Expo, an opportunity for local businesses to promote their services, and shoppers visited tables to learn about banking services, home health care providers, medical services and, of course, career training at the American Institute.

“The Mall Expo spotlights chamber members to the Ocean County community-at-large,” said Toms River Campus President Tim Rodgers. “This year, shoppers got an extra treat – free massages from our talented massage therapy students.”

Over the two-day event, a dozen American Institute students performed more than 50 chair massages for Ocean County mall shoppers. Each free massage lasted about 15 minutes.

“So many people came for massages that we often had a line around our table,” said Mr Rodgers. “It is great for students to see how many people want to be worked on. It helps build confidence in our students and the industry they chose.”

The Mall Expo showcases local businesses like American Institute, providing a direct connection to future students and clients. “Events like this allow us to reach out to the community in a unique way that not only promotes the school, but also spotlights our massage clinic and the rewards of pursuing a massage therapy career,” said Mr Rodgers.

American Institute students also benefit from the opportunity to practice their techniques in a real-world setting. They are able to see different kinds of people with different types of injuries or situations, which helps broaden their skills.

“One woman who used a wheelchair thought that she would not be able to participate, because she would be unable to sit in the massage chair,” said Mr Rodgers. “When she was told that our student could massage her in her own chair, she beamed from ear to ear. She was ecstatic that she, too, could enjoy the experience. That left us all with a feeling of great joy and satisfaction.”