Rocky Mountain School of Animal Acupressure & Massage

What Rocky Mountain School of Animal Acupressure & Massage does

Rocky Mountain School of Animal Acupressure & Massage (RMSAAM) is a privately held, accredited educational institution headquartered in Sedalia, Colorado, that trains animal bodywork practitioners. Founded by Tracy Vroom, who also established The CranioConnection approximately 20 years ago, the school delivers a structured curriculum of certification and continuing education courses in canine and equine massage, animal acupressure, and craniosacral therapy. The core offering comprises three progressive certification levels for each species (Introduction, Sports, and Advanced Massage), a multi-level Visionary Craniosacral Therapy ladder (up to 7 equine levels and 5 canine levels), NBCAAM-approved Animal Acupressure programs, and specialty modalities including Animal Frequency Balancing, trigger point therapy, manual lymphatic drainage, and animal communication. The school holds approvals from IAAMB, NCBTMB, NBCAAM, the Colorado Department of Higher Education, and the Washington State Department of Health, and graduates are eligible to sit for national board certification exams.

The business operates on a direct-to-consumer enrollment model through its Wix-based website, supplemented by on-campus instruction at the Sedalia, Colorado facility (in partnership with Happy Dog Ranch), correspondence/online hybrid programs, and mobile pet-lover courses at multiple U.S. locations. Revenue is generated entirely through one-time tuition payments, with full certification programs priced at $1,500-$2,000, specialty courses at $150-$850, non-certification pet lover courses at $200, and business coaching classes at $75 each. The school partners strategically with Northwest School of Animal Massage (NWSAM) for acupressure and manual ligament therapy courses, and with HEAL (Holistic Equine Academy of Lymphedema) for lymphatic drainage certification. Marketing is digital-first, relying on content marketing, organic social media (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn), and email newsletters, with a 10% multi-class discount and scholarship program to incentivize enrollment.

The school's customer base is highly fragmented, serving aspiring animal bodywork professionals, practicing therapists seeking continuing education credits, and hobbyist pet owners. With 200+ certified practitioners distributed across the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Singapore, Hong Kong, Italy, and China, the alumni footprint extends globally through correspondence delivery. The institution operates with 11-50 employees under a founder-led model, with no disclosed external funding, parent company, or revenue figures.

Name

Rocky Mountain School of Animal Acupressure & Massage

Legal name

Rocky Mountain School of Animal Acupressure and Massage

Website

https://rmsaam.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Rocky Mountain School of Animal Acupressure & Massage (RMSAAM) is an accredited Colorado-based school offering certification and continuing education courses in canine and equine massage, acupressure, and craniosacral therapy. It serves aspiring animal bodywork professionals, practicing therapists, and pet owners across 8 countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Animal Bodywork Vocational Education

NAICS

Other Schools and Instruction (6116), Veterinary Services (54194)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYAFAEALAM

Livestock Showing, Training & Performance Support Services (Non-veterinary)

Agriculture & Food Production/Animal Production & Aquaculture/Animal Welfare, Boarding & Production Support Services (non-veterinary)

SECONDARYHSADAHAH

Craniosacral Therapy

Home & Personal Services/Fitness, Wellness & Personal Training/Massage Therapy & Bodywork

Keywords

• Animal massage certification
• Animal acupressure training
• Craniosacral therapy education
• Equine massage courses
• Canine massage certification

Headquarters

HQ city

Elizabeth

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Certification Course Tuition: One-time tuition payments for certification programs. Students pay full tuition upon enrollment (due 3 weeks prior to class start). Prices range from $1,500 to $2,000 for full certification programs.
2. Continuing Education Courses: Shorter courses and workshops for practitioners seeking continuing education credits or specialized skills. Prices range from $150 to $850.
3. Non-Certification Pet Lover Courses: Non-certification courses for pet owners wanting to learn massage techniques for their own animals. Prices at $200 for pet lover programs.
4. Business Coaching Classes: Stand-alone classes ($75 each or $300 for all 4) covering business branding, financial planning, marketing/sales, and client retention for practitioners starting their businesses.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

RMSAAM is an accredited vocational school that delivers certification courses in canine massage, equine massage, animal acupressure, and craniosacral therapy, along with continuing education and pet-lover non-certification courses. Programs are structured as multi-level progressions (Introduction, Sports, Advanced for massage; Levels 1-7 equine and Levels 1-5 canine for craniosacral) and are offered both on-campus in Sedalia, Colorado and via online/correspondence hybrid delivery.

Product overview

Rocky Mountain School of Animal Acupressure and Massage (RMSAAM) is an accredited educational institution offering a comprehensive portfolio of certification and non-certification courses in animal massage, acupressure, and craniosacral therapy. The program is structured around three core disciplines—Canine, Equine, and Animal Acupressure—each with progressive certification levels (Introduction/Therapeutic, Sports, and Advanced). The curriculum includes complementary modalities such as craniosacral therapy (Levels 1-7 for both canine and equine), trigger point therapy, manual lymphatic drainage, manual ligament therapy, animal communication, herbalism, and frequency balancing. Courses are delivered through on-campus instruction, online correspondence programs, and continuing education workshops. The school partners with external organizations including NWSAM (Northwest School of Animal Massage) for acupressure and manual ligament courses, HEAL (Holistic Equine Academy of Lymphedema) for lymphatic drainage, and guest instructors for specialized workshops.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Canine Massage Certification Program Three-level certification program (Introduction to Canine Therapeutic Massage, Canine Sports Massage, Canine Advanced Massage) preparing students for professional canine massage practice, covering anatomy, physiology, sports massage techniques, gait analysis, geriatric/post-surgery massage, lymphatic protocols, and pain management. Each level includes 28 live seminar hours plus 72-122 home study hours. Tuition $1,700 per level ($1,500-$1,700 with Canine Trigger Point Therapy).
• Equine Massage Certification Program Three-level certification program (Introduction to Equine Therapeutic Massage, Equine Sports Massage, Equine Advanced Massage) preparing students for professional equine massage practice across all disciplines including dressage, eventing, endurance, jumping, and trail horses. Each level includes 35 live seminar hours plus 72-158 home study hours. Tuition $1,800 per level.
• Visionary Craniosacral Therapy Program Multi-level proprietary craniosacral therapy program (Equine Levels 1-7 and Canine Levels 1-5) developed and taught by Tracy Vroom, covering fundamentals of evaluating and treating the nervous system, cranial bones, fascial system, visceral work, and energy work including shamanic techniques, chakras, clearing, light frequencies, distance work, animal totems, and crystals.
• Equine Acupressure Certification Course 200-hour NBCAAM-approved foundation acupressure course taught by Kim Bauer in conjunction with NWSAM, covering Traditional Chinese Medicine theory, Zang-Fu Organ Systems, acupressure points, channels, assessment techniques, and equine common conditions. Tuition $2,000.
• Animal Acupressure Correspondence (Level 1) Online home study course covering Traditional Chinese Medicine concepts, landmark anatomy, acupressure points, meridian pathways, Yin and Yang theory, Five Phases of Transformation, and case studies. 120 home study cognitive hours.
• Canine Trigger Point Therapy with Ken Bain, LMT Combination online plus 4-day hands-on course teaching canine trigger point therapy based on Travell and Simons techniques, functional anatomy, range of motion evaluation, and detailed protocols for treating trigger points in the neck, shoulders, elbows, lumbar back, hips, and stifles. Tuition $1,500.
• Canine Massage for Pet Lovers Non-certification course for pet owners to learn canine massage techniques for their own dogs, covering anatomy, pre-massage considerations, massage strokes, techniques, and post-massage care. Available at multiple U.S. locations. Tuition $200.
• Equine Massage for Horse Lovers Non-certification course for horse owners to learn equine massage techniques for their own horses, covering anatomy, pre-massage considerations, massage strokes, techniques, and post-massage care. Tuition $200.
• Equine Manual Lymphatic Drainage NCBTMB-approved course offered in conjunction with HEAL teaching fundamentals of equine manual lymph drainage massage. Provides 16 continuing education credits. Covers anatomy and physiology of the equine lymphatic system, six basic strokes, and clinical applications. Jointly developed with HEAL (Holistic Equine Academy of Lymphedema).
• Equine Manual Ligament Therapy Course offered in conjunction with NWSAM teaching Manual Ligament Therapy techniques developed by Arik Gohl and adapted for horses by Lola Michelin. Reduces hypertonicity in muscles and restores joint balance. Includes online preparatory course and 3 days of hands-on training. Tuition $750.
• Animal Frequency Balancing Equine Program Three-level program (Levels 1, 2, 3) using sound, frequency, and vibration via tuning forks to facilitate healing in horses. Covers protocols for health and well-being, energy field balancing, distance balancing, and spiritual body work. Tuition $850 per level.
• Equine Applied Behavior Clinic 2-day course taught by Elena Bajona focusing on horse behavior, natural communication principles, and understanding wild vs. domesticated horse behavior for more effective equine bodywork. Tuition $600.
• Animal Communication 1 with Gill Edwards 5-hour in-person course teaching essentials of animal communication, opening natural intuitive abilities, and using techniques including a 10-step process for two-way communication with animals. Tuition $275.
• Herbs for Animals and Humans Course covering 10 powerful herbs for common wellness issues, teaching healing properties and preparation methods including tea, tincture, ointment, and infused oil. Instructed by Tracy Vroom. Tuition $150.
• Market & Grow Your Business Standalone business classes taught by Gill Edwards covering branding, financial planning, marketing/sales, and client retention for practitioners starting their own businesses. Four modules (Getting Started, Financial and Business Planning, Marketing & Sales, Client Retention). $75 per class or $300 for all 4.
• Canine Anatomy Correspondence Course Beginner-level anatomy correspondence course covering muscles, skeleton, ligaments, tendons, and organ systems of the dog. Includes certificate of completion.
• Anatomy of the Canine and Equine Correspondence Course Beginner anatomy correspondence course covering muscles, skeleton, ligaments, tendons, and organ systems of both dogs and horses. Includes certificate of completion.

Quantifiable outcome

• Graduates can sit for NBCAAM national board certification exams
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Northwest School of Animal Massage (NWSAM)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint development of Equine Acupressure Certification Course (200-hour NBCAAM approved foundation program) and Equine Manual Ligament Therapy course. RMSAAM co-offers these programs with NWSAM, with Kim Bauer from NWSAM serving as the Animal Acupressure master instructor.
• HEAL (Holistic Equine Academy of Lymphedema)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint development of Equine Manual Lymphatic Drainage certification program. This is the first program of its kind for equine MLD, offered in conjunction with HEAL. Provides 16 continuing education credits.
• NBCAAM (National Board Certification Agency for Animal Massage)coreOthersNBCAAM is the national board certification testing organization. RMSAAM courses are NBCAAM-approved, allowing graduates to sit for national certification exams. NBCAAM requires additional hours for correspondence students to qualify for testing.
• IAAMB (International Association of Animal Massage and Bodywork)coreOthersNationally recognized approval and endorsement by IAAMB, one of the primary industry associations for animal massage and bodywork professionals.
• NCBTMB (National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork)coreOthersNCBTMB approval indicates that continuing education courses (such as Equine Manual Lymphatic Drainage) meet NCBTMB standards for professional continuing education credits.
• Happy Dog RanchminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFacility partner providing the location for on-campus courses in Sedalia, Colorado. The facility hosts massage certification courses and serves as the primary hands-on training location.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves1 record

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Northwest School of Animal Massage (NWSAM): NWSAM is a direct competitor and strategic partner that co-develops RMSAAM's Equine Acupressure Certification and Manual Ligament Therapy courses. Both schools target the same aspiring animal bodywork professional student with similar massage and acupressure certification programs.
• Tallgrass Animal Acupressure Institute: Tallgrass provides animal acupressure certification programs directly comparable to RMSAAM's 200-hour NBCAAM-approved acupressure course, serving the same aspiring practitioner segment with traditional Chinese medicine-based animal bodywork training.
• Healing Touch for Animals: Healing Touch for Animals offers energy-based animal bodywork certification and workshops that overlap with RMSAAM's Visionary Craniosacral Therapy and energy work programs, targeting the same holistic animal wellness student demographic.
• PetMassage: PetMassage offers canine and equine massage training and certification programs similar to RMSAAM, serving the same aspiring animal massage practitioner market with comparable curriculum and pricing.
• Chicago School of Canine Massage: Chicago School of Canine Massage delivers certified canine massage training programs directly comparable to RMSAAM's Canine Massage Certification, competing for the same aspiring canine bodywork professional segment.

Broad incumbents

• Bancroft School of Massage Therapy: Bancroft is an established human massage therapy school with NCBTMB accreditation that overlaps with RMSAAM in therapeutic massage/bodywork education, though focused on human rather than animal modalities.

Others

• International Association of Animal Massage & Bodywork (IAAMB): IAAMB is the primary industry association that endorses RMSAAM's programs. While not a direct competitor, it shapes the animal bodywork education ecosystem, practitioner standards, and continuing education pathways relevant to RMSAAM graduates.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/RMSAAMofficial
• Instagraminstagram.com/rmsaam
• Xx.com/rmsaam
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/rocky-mountain-school-of-animal-acupressure-and-massage

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Rocky Mountain School of Animal Acupressure & Massage