Should You Go to Massage Therapy School?

A massage therapy career is not the right choice for everyone, but it might be a great one for you. Let's talk about the massage therapy education you will submit yourself to and the challenges that await you.

Massage therapy training covers a wide range of topics

Some courses you should expect to take are anatomy, physiology, and kinesiology. Those courses all deal with studies of the human body - location of organs, muscles, tissues, how the body's mechanics work. Of course all that is necessary knowledge for someone who will dedicate his or her career to healing people's pains.

In addition to learning about the physical aspects of massage therapy, many massage institutes teach courses that at first may seem irrelevant. Some of these courses may be ethics, or business management. Really, though, these courses are just as important because a massage therapist not only performs on clients, but must build relationships with them. The relationship should be businesslike; it has to be one of trust and commitment. In school you learn how to build these therapist-client relationships, the ethics of running a business and the ethics of dealing intimately with your clients.

You will have to touch people

Get used to it! Hands-on training cannot be avoided, and, really, why would you become a massage therapist if you can't stand touching people? In order to learn to give proper massages you will have to touch human beings.

Hygiene, kindness and communication

You'll want your clients to feel comfortable around you. While you're in massage school, you'll have to learn to keep good hygiene of your hands, tables and other materials that you'll use. You will also have to develop bedside manners--treat your teachers, classmates, clients, and anyone else in the industry with the respect that they expect! Learn to listen. Open communication between a massage therapist and his or her client allows everyone to feel relaxed, and your sessions will feel much less tense.

Study, study, study! Getting high marks on your work should be an obvious priority, but don't lose focus. Concentrate on the material because the better you know it, the better you will eventually be able to treat your clients. Happy clients equals more money!

If you think you can dedicate your time in school to the things listed above, then you should go to massage therapy school. There's a lot of opportunity once you receive your certification. It will take hard work and dedication but it will also be fun and rewarding. So if you think it's right for you, start checking out massage therapy schools and apply to one that you think will be best for you. It's your first step to starting your massage therapy career!