A Comprehensive Guide To Massage Therapy School
If you have arrived at this article, you have an interest in becoming a professional massage therapist. We applaud you!
The career you are considering can be rewarding on a number of levels: You can make money while helping people ease stress, pain and other conditions in a way that is natural and drug-free.
As a provider of holistic health care, you will contribute to the well-being of humanity by offering the gift of your positive touch to the world.
You might be wondering how you go about becoming a professional massage therapist. MASSAGE Magazine has put together this comprehensive guide to answer all your questions and get your prepared to begin your journey through massage therapy school.
But first, a little background on massage therapy.
What Challenges May I Face In Massage Therapy School
There may be a lot of learning during a massage therapy program. Not only will there be hands-on exercises but there may be some book studying required as well. Here are some of the areas you may be required to study.
- Introduction to Anatomy and Physiology- Entry-level massage therapists must recognize how muscles work together and affect one another. Through the intro to anatomy and physiology, different muscle groups can be labeled and comprehended in how they function.
- Massage Techniques Different massage techniques are essential because no one style will be appropriate to all clients. When you pursue a career in massage therapy, it is necessary to know all methods because massaging techniques can be customized to a patients needs as far as age, condition, special needs, goals, etc. The more massage therapy techniques you know, the more people you can help.
- Kinesiology The study of movement and bones in the human body. An aspiring massage therapist must know kinesiology to identify weak muscles to correct various issues and ailments. With kinesiology, a massage therapist can work on any muscle group to aid relaxation, loosen contracted muscles, and soothe an overworked body.
Ability To Change Lives
Many massage therapists will say that the ability to improve the health of their clients is one of the biggest perks of the job. You can often get people enough flexibility and pain relief that they are able to move past serious injuries or ailments and get out of bed, walk more easily, alleviate headaches, and feel better overall. When people have less physical pain, their mental health often improves, as well.
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Best Massage Therapy Schools In Florida
In this section, the best massage therapy schools in Florida have been discussed and their website links provided for you to get more info and apply. To gain admission, the schools require a high school diploma or a GED. Taking multiple math and science classes in high school may help a student win admission.
- Hollywood Institute of Beauty Careers
- Broward College
- La Belle Beauty Academy
How Much Do Massage Therapists Make In Canada
According to Indeed.com, the average hourly wage for a massage therapist in Canada is $58.43.
Salaries in the sector can vary greatly depending on the position and number of years of experience.
However, an entry-level position typically pays $43,000, with significant room for advancement.
Independent or on-site massage therapists may earn a salary depending on the number of clients and the standard service cost.
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How Long Is Therapeutic Massage School
Massage professionals must complete at least 500 hours of in-class instruction. The time it takes to satisfy these requirements depends on your course schedule and whether you are a full or part-time student. Massage therapy training programs can take as little as six months or up to 15 months to complete.
The Toronto School Of Thai Massage
Deanna Villa, a pioneer and industry leader, founded TMT in 1998.
Through hands-on practice, teachings, live demonstrations, media coverage, workshops, and participation in trade shows and conferences, it has played a critical role in mainstreaming this ancient type of massage.
However, TMT was Torontos first brick-and-mortar Thai Massage School and Massage Center and one of the first in North America and is regarded as one of the best massage therapy schools in Toronto.
It is a CEU: Continuing Education Approved Provider with 21 years of experience in North America, with locations in Toronto and Mississauga and online.
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Keep A Positive Attitude And Action
Be open to your instructors providing constructive criticism and course feedback. Loraine S., Massage Therapy Student
One tip for being successful in massage therapy school is to keep a positive attitude. Having an open mind with your instructors is also vital. Be open to your instructors providing constructive criticism and course feedback. Ask as many questions as you can think of because most of the instructors have massage businesses, and some have been practicing for several years. Be ready to learn a plethora of massage therapy content. Rest assured all courses you attend will aid in your pursuit of becoming a knowledgeable massage therapist. The hands-on practice with peers and outside of class will build up your confidence and mold your purpose. However, you may feel some slight discomfort or intimidation at first but once you gain more knowledge and practice intentions with your peers youll get the hang of things. You will be ecstatically happy to attend school more and more.
Fast Path To A Degree
Even though massage therapy can be a lucrative career field, it is also one that has a fairly fast path towards licensing. At Pacific College of Health and Science, we offer a Massage Therapist/Asian Bodywork Certificate program that is just 690-credit hours and requires 36 units of study. This allows you to pursue your license with just three terms of study. This means in less than two years, you can launch your career.
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Less Toxic Work Environment
Today, many people deal with problems due to chemical sensitivities to cleaners and perfumes. In a massage therapy setting, you may have less exposure to toxic chemicals. You can choose your cleaning products, and you wont have to deal with many employees and the multiple smells they bring into the office.
How Much Money Will I Make As A Massage Therapist
The typical massage therapist salary depends both on where you work and the type of massage therapy in which you specialize. Your income will also be affected by the demand for your services in your area, as well as factors such as what you charge per hour, if you accept and bill insurance for your sessions, and if you sell retail products in addition to your massage therapy services.
According to the U.S. Department of Labors Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median pay for a professional massage therapist was $39,860 per year in 2016thats $19.17 per hour. Most massage therapists income is a combination of wages and tips.
Keep in mind that if you are an employee, your taxes should be withheld from your pay by your employer if you are self-employed and work as an independent contractor, you will be responsible for withholding and paying estimated quarterly taxes yourself.
If you are a business owner, you will also have to factor into your total income the expenses of doing business, such as supplies, employee wages, and property and sales taxes.
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What Will My Massage Therapy Career Be Like
If you work in private practice, you may work alone as an independent contractor or you may choose to have employees.
Either way, you will have complete control over how you work, but be aware that you will also be responsible for making decisions for and funding all aspects of your business, including but not limited to booking and confirming client appointments marketing your services setting prices and collecting client payments renting a space for your business and paying for its utilities hiring, training and firing employees withholding and paying income tax collecting and paying sales tax if you sell retail products handling details of business licensing and permits dealing with laundry and purchasing supplies such as tables, linens, bolsters, lubricants and uniforms.
Choosing to work as an employee may mean not making as much money per massage as an independent contractor, but it also means having many business-related issues and associated expenses handled for you.
As an employee, you may not have control over how many clients you massage each day, the massage techniques and routines you use, marketing tactics, or details such as how you dress or what hours you work.
Many massage therapists choose to work as employees to gain experience and save money before opening up their own private practices. Others may work part-time for an employer while also seeing clients privately in their off hours. Still others build a fulfilling career working for an employer
Should I Become A Massage Therapist
If you have the passion and drive to become a massage therapist, you should pursue a path to become one! Like any craft, you will need to practice, learn, and grow, but passion may make it much more enjoyable and manageable.
Let Dorsey College help you on your journey to becoming a massage therapist. By learning and understanding what is expected in massage therapy school, you can know what to expect to determine your level of challenge while you attend a massage therapy school.
The most rewarding things you do in life are often the ones that look like they cannot be done but are the ones that get accomplished through perseverance and dedication.
Contact Dorsey College today to have the opportunity to learn hands-on techniques, work with clinical professionals, and gain valuable experience. Your journey toward a rewarding career in Massage Therapy starts now!
The Dorsey College Massage Therapy curriculum fulfills the educational requirements for licensure in the state of Michigan. Dorsey College has determined that its Massage Therapy program curriculum is sufficient to fulfill educational requirements for licensure in the State of Michigan only. No educational determinations have been made for any other state, district or US territory in regards to licensure requirements.
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Is It Tough Finding A Job As A Massage Therapist
Massage therapy is a growing industry, generating billions. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics says job opportunities for massage therapists are expected to grow more than 21 percent in the next ten years, its an unprecedented opportunity.
Employment options include working for yourself, as an independent contractor for an established practice, or for a salary in a hotel, spa or massage franchise. The American Massage Therapy Association also reports that some massage therapists work part-time hours in healthcare settings, including hospitals and hospices, with treatment goals ranging from relief of post-surgical pain to stress management for cancer patients. Its not unusual for massage therapists to work in more than one place, flexibility is what attracts many students to massage as a career.
But while getting your foot in the door in the massage industry is easy, finding your dream job can be a challenge, everyone starts at the bottom and has to pay their dues. Seasoned massage therapists advise working hard to set yourself apart as an expert in one particular type of massage, whether its your passion or a niche in your community. Your skills become more valuable with experience, and soon, the skys the limit.
Massage Therapy Resources For Staying Informed
No matter where you are in your career, its important to stay on top of the latest massage techniques, philosophies, and changes in the industry to keep current and competitive in order to offer massage clients a full spectrum of services.
Once you begin working as a massage therapist, youll also want to consider networking with your peers at workshops, conferences, and online. Attending these types of events can help you connect with other professionals, build your reputation, increase your expertise, and boost your job opportunities.
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Take Your Skills To The Next Level By Investing In Learning Anatomy
The more you invest yourself in anatomy and the fundamental knowledge behind your actions, the more reliable and credible you will be! Jody H., Massage Therapy Student
Let me share with you some of the top tips and tricks I have learned along the way to help you get the most out of your schoolwork and professional career to come! My advice for every new massage student is to take their massage knowledge to the next level by investing in learning the anatomy and science part of massage. This is one of the main factors that has put me beyond several others in my class. The solid foundation that I have worked to build in anatomy and other massage sciences has taken me to the next level when treating my clients. This will allow you to improve your massage techniques and become an informative massage therapist to help your clients better understand their pain and guide them through it by knowing the muscles and why things are causing them pain. It is one thing to be a good massage therapist by technique. Still, it is another thing to be a great massage therapist and understand and relate that information to your client in a positive and informative matter. People want an answer for pain. The more you invest yourself in anatomy and the fundamental knowledge behind your actions, the more reliable and credible you will be!
Welcome To Evolve College
The Natural Choice for a Natural Approach
It is with great pride that we welcome you to our website. We value this opportunity to introduce you to the evolution of our great college. Evolve College of Massage Therapy , which first opened its doors in 1994. For almost 25 years, we have graduated into the profession, exceptional massage therapists who have gone on to work and excel in numerous exciting and rewarding environments. While the years at our previous Wolseley Avenue location were incredibly rewarding, we believe we have expanded and evolved into one of the most technically advanced and aesthetically beautiful massage therapy schools in North America.
Our new location at 1445 Portage Avenue, on the fifth floor of the iconic Clarion Hotel, provides us the space we have always dreamed of, and has allowed us to modernize all aspects of our program.
Large classrooms with state-of-the-art technology, and warm, private clinic rooms for treating patients, are just a few of the improvements you will notice from our previous facility. Our new College allows us to provide a learning experience and curriculum that is unique to our profession and the extra space ensures we can make social distancing modifications where necessary.
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What Does A Holistic Massage Therapist Do
The skilled Holistic Massage therapist studies all of the parts of the clients body and works on it by improving fluid circulation and lymphatic drainage.
This can be done by asking the client to change their diet, engage in exercise and other modalities such as massage or herbal remedies in order to restore health.
This lifestyle manipulation will help ignite the circulation of oxygen and nutrients to the bodys cells and at this same time, this circulation will be eliminating toxins in the body, relieving stress by freeing up the muscular tension and boosting the immune system.
Working In A Salon Or Spa Is Not Always What You Think It Will Be
A salon or spa could be a great place to work. You will already have a client base and new treatments you can learn. If you are interested in learning body treatments, a spa could be the best place for you to work.
However, there are always drawbacks to any position. The contract is sometimes a drawback. Before accepting a position that requires you to sign a contract, have a lawyer look it over and make sure that you understand what you are signing. If you are not completely satisfied with the contract, do not sign it. This is your future, and you need to protect yourself.
You should know the answers to these questions: What kind of work will you be expected to perform? Will you need to help with the reception desk, take care of the laundry, sweep up after the hairstylists, or such? Are you expected to perform free massages for advertising? Do you receive more than 30â50% commission?
A medical clinic could be a good place to hone your skills and gain valuable experience in your field. The same considerations apply to a position in a medical clinic. What is the pay, what are the expectations, and is there a contract? Those are the need-to-know questions. Also, try to talk with someone who works there or is familiar with the establishment. They can provide you with inside information that you will not receive in an interview.
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Outside Of Your Comfort Zone And Appreciate Feedback
For the ultimate successful school experience, be prepared to step out of your comfort zone, keep an open mind, and use this time to genuinely connect with others. Shay M, Massage Therapy Student
In school, you may have to learn about different cultures, philosophies, and beliefs from other parts of the world, . Sometimes, it can really challenge your thinking and may even cause you to re-evaluate some of your core beliefs. It can feel foreign or uncomfortable, but I encourage you to push out of your comfort zone. Be open to explore more of the energetic, emotional, and spiritual side of massage therapy and take what resonates with you. Integrate it into your purpose for being a massage therapist and shed any old, outdated ways of thinking that are no longer serving you. I have learned that when I follow my own advice above, I am more calm, at peace, and I can really ground and center my energy better to provide a more positive experience for both myself and my client.