Welcome to the Society of Massage Archives (SOMA). We believe we secure our discipline’s future by infusing our collective history.

For your consideration, we offer two productions to assist your breadth and depth of understanding of the discipline you build competency in every day.

Book club – Emergence of Massage Therapy in North America

Our virtual book club provides a once/month, 90 minute virtual deep-dive into Dr. Patricia Benjamin’s book,
The Emergence of the Massage Therapy Profession in North America: A History in Archetypes.

You’ll gather with your professional kin – including a number of luminaries – where we’ll review The Emergence chapter-by-chapter. You will have opportunity with others to reflect on the historical narratives, ponder the trajectory of your discipline, and consider how our past informs our current and future circumstances.

Discussions are moderated by SOMA’s Board of Directors, with special guest hosts, followed by a discussion period. Bonus! Q&A sessions regularly include the author, Dr. Patricia Benjamin.

Registrants will receive access to the e-book format, courtesy of Southerland-Chan School of Massage Therapy of Toronto, Ontario, Canada (which holds the publishing rights). The gathering is free to attend, and access to the chapters for each session are provided in advance.

Register for free, including access to the discussion, chapters for pre-reading and recordings of past discussions.

"Lack of historical perspective has deprived massage therapists of a sense of being a part of a long and extraordinary tradition" - Dr. Patricia Benjamin

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Oral Histories via Hands of History