The first thing you need to do is consider whether you have the right personality that fits this position. As a massage therapist, you will have to be calm, mature and discreet. If you enjoy helping others and are comfortable with a demanding and rewarding profession, massage therapy could be for you. Massages therapists are required to have good communication skills, ability to stand for long periods of time, fit physically and are able to use their abilities and strength in a way that benefits their clients. Some massage therapists are known for having problems with back pain and carpal tunnel syndrome, but today, there are techniques that therapists can use to use their total body strength and position in order to avoid worsening these conditions.
Once you have determined this is the career choice you would like to pursue, you will be happy to know that there are a variety of work settings to choose from. You can work full or part time as a massage therapist inside of a hospital, cruise, spa, private office, mall, nursing home, airport, private practice or fitness center. You can even open up your own practice within an office or in your home. Some therapists even travel to their clients. You can work regular hours or even on weekends, holidays and evenings. In most cases, massage therapists do not have to work more than five hours a day.
You will need to understand the duties of a position in massage therapy. Your duties may vary depending on where you're working. Some therapists have to receive clients, interview them and explain mandatory release forms. Therapists will also have to outline the process for massages and go over any problem areas and/or health concerns of the client. Afterward, when the client is lying down and fully covered with a sheet, the therapist begins the massage. The massage given is determined by the needs of the client. Once the massage is over, the therapist may provide the client with follow-up instructions. General office duties may also be required tasks of the therapist. Some of the fields you can look into in massage therapy include medical massage, hot stone massage, shiatsu, sports massage, myofascial therapy, reiki and reflexology.
Before you can enjoy this rewarding career, you will need to obtain training that is affordable for you. In many states, there are special regulations regarding the practice of massage therapists. In some states, it is required that you have a high school diploma, receive formal training in massage and pass the state exam. Many programs offer training that involves teaching ethics, physiology, anatomy, kinesiology, business management and hands-on training.
Now, you need to get your license. Before you can start working, you will need to pass the state or national license exam, which can be done after completing training from an accredited program. In most states, licenses have to be renewed periodically. Study as much as you can to ensure that you fully understand the practice. Take a look at this site to see a list of accredited training programs, www.accsc.org.
