Massage Therapy
Get your hands on a rewarding career in massage therapy
Massage therapy has a history that stretches back thousands of years and spans the globe. The earliest written record of massage therapy dates back 3,000 years ago to China.
By pressing and kneading different areas of the body, a massage therapist is able to relieve pain, relax, stimulate and tone the body. Although it largely affects those muscles just under the skin, its benefits go much deeper. The many benefits of massage therapy include:
* relaxing
* soothing
* healing
* reassuring
* easing tension
* easing stiffness
* easing pain
* improving breathing
* improving circulation
* enhancing well-being
The notion of getting a massage therapy job first gained widespread acceptance during the 1960s. Massage therapy as a profession has grown steadily since that time and has expanded in reach to include related forms such as sports therapy, medical massage and neuromuscular massage. Today you can find massage therapists in a number of various business settings, including:
* chiropractic offices
* corporations
* health clubs
* private businesses
* spas
Earning your massage therapy certification
For more than 10 years massage therapy students have been able to take the National Certification Exam (in place in 30 states at present) in order to gain massage therapy certification. Requirements vary by state.
Selecting a massage therapy school is a big decision. The key to making the right decision is to make sure the school or program is accredited. Accreditation means a school has gone through a rigorous examination to make sure that you receive a quality education.
Compensation as a massage therapist
Those massage therapists who own their facilities usually earn the highest salaries among those in the massage therapy profession. On the other end of the scale, the massage therapist who works for an hourly wage generally earns the least. They do not, however, have the overhead expenses that they would have if they owned a facility.
Incomes for massage therapists are usually dependent on the following considerations:
* location
* level of experience
* technique
* form(s) of massage practiced
* type of practice
Massage therapists in an urban setting may charge as much as $60 to $70 per hour, while massage therapists in small towns usually charge $35 to $50. It is possible to work as an independent contractor. Generally, a massage therapy contractor works in a clinic and
shares a percentage of their earnings with the clinic.
There is no such thing as a traditional career ladder for massage therapists. Advancements are not achieved through promotions. The way to advance in massage therapy is to take additional courses so that over time the massage therapist can gain skills and experience and, eventually, more clients and additional revenue.
Massage Therapy Schools: Studying for a career in massage therapy
As the field of massage therapy explodes with growth, so do the requirements to become accredited as a massage therapist. Most massage therapy schools and training programs now recommend at least 500 hours of classroom time in order to earn a massage therapy certificate, and most states are adopting this as the norm as well. In these classes, massage therapy students learn about anatomy, physiology and business, and most emerge with the understanding that they have learned both a science and an art.
Massage Therapy – a great career is waiting for you!
