Is Massage Therapy a Good Profession: How Can I Tell if it's Right For Me?
In recent years, people have undertaken a massive shift in how they think about health. More and more people are understanding the important roles diet, exercise, and body care have on our everyday health and wellbeing. From this general trend, massage therapy has grown from what was once a $6 billion niche industry in 2005 to an industry that generated an estimated $16 billion last year.
That's an impressive increase and an outstanding illustration of just how popular massage therapy has become for both those needing physical and mental relief. It's also a great illustration of how needed massage therapists are in today's world.
But what is it about massage therapy that makes it a good profession? And is it the right profession for you? The following is a quick look at some of the key roles and responsibilities a massage therapist has and a few of the key traits of successful massage therapists to help you get an idea of whether or not this is the right career path for you.
The Basics of Being a Massage Therapist
The primary job of a massage therapist is the manipulate the muscles and soft tissues of their clients in order to stimulate movement for health benefits and/or to provide relaxation and reduce stress. There are incredibly more than 80 different styles of massage and so many therapists will specialize in three to five and offer those specialty massages for their clients.
Graduates of a massage therapy program or certification process have several different choices when it comes to the type of role or career they want to pursue with their skills. Those who are more interested in the medical and physical healing side of massage therapy might opt to work within the broader physical therapy industry and partner with a healthcare facility or similar organization.
For those who are interested in helping people relax and de-stress there are similarly an exciting array of career paths to choose from. Everything from the locally owned private practice to high-end resorts and luxury cruises are in need of qualified and experienced massage therapists.
Before enrolling into a massage therapy program, it's important for prospective students to consider whether or not they have the right temperament for the career. The following is a quick look at some of the more important traits and skills that are to be expected by a massage therapist:
Key Traits of a Great Massage Therapist
- Stamina. This is not a job for those who hate being on their feet. Massaging can be very demanding and generally requires a professional to be up and performing massages often six hours out of every eight-hour work day. While there are breaks between clients and massage therapists can choose their own hours, good fitness and stamina are strong prerequisites for this career.
- Compassion. Whether you choose to work primarily on the physical therapy side of the industry or the relaxation and rejuvenation side, as a massage therapist you can expect to encounter all sorts of clients and personalities. Many first time clients are going to be uncomfortable with massages given the vulnerable position they put the client in. It's important for massage therapists to have compassion and be empathetic to such situations. Part of the job descriptions is helping clients get comfortable and in a mental and emotional state where they can relax their physical selves in order to heal.
- Strong communication skills. Helping nervous clients relax is just one aspect of communication that massage therapists must be skilled in. While on its face, massage therapy might appear as a very physical-oriented career and one in which the professional shouldn't feel as though they need to converse too much with their clients, the communication that does happen is very important. It is vital for massage therapists to be able to clearly and effectively communicate with their clients before, during, and after the massage. They need to be sure that they are delivering the massage the client expects and in a way and environment that they are comfortable with.
- Knowledgeable and able to express that knowledge. Massage therapists should feel comfortable and knowledgeable about talking to clients about the pain and tension they might be feeling and be able to choose a certain technique and communicate how that technique will help alleviate their clients' pain. Graduates of a massage therapy program should feel confident in their abilities both to give massages and talk about how and why they are performing a given technique.
Learn More About Massage Therapy as a Career
Interested in studying towards a Massage Therapy Diploma? ECPI University offers this program at an accelerated pace. For more information, connect with a helpful admissions advisor today.
It could be the Best Decision You Ever Make!
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