Massage Therapy Training Programs

If you’ve ever had a massage, you probably remember it one of the most relaxing experiences you’ve ever had. Behind the relaxation, though, is hours of practice and classroom study on the part of your massage therapist, all part of the rigorous massage therapy training programs that he or she had to complete before seeking employment.

While a college degree is not a requirement in order to become a massage therapist, one must complete an accredited program that teaches the basics of biology—like kinesiology and anatomy and physiology-and offers plenty of practical experience in working with clients to master various massage techniques, of which there are many. Among the more popular massage types, or modalities, are Swedish massage, sports massage, reflexology, hot stone massage, and shiatsu.

Many graduates of massage therapy training programs work in spas, fitness centers, and physical therapy offices, but an increasing number of professional massage therapists are opting for self-employment. This is because there are a growing number of options for receiving massages that take clients and therapists out of a traditional spa or office setting—have you ever seen a client getting a chair massage in a busy airport or in an office? Massage therapists are getting increasingly creative in where they can offer their services, and clients are all too eager to take advantage of that creativity.

Is self-employment in your future? If so, you are in good company. In fact, many massage therapy programs are offering a business component to the curriculum, which allows students to study basic sales and marketing techniques that they can infuse into their own work, which will get them a larger and more regular clientele.

When it comes to choosing from among the many massage therapy programs available across the country, it helps to review the curriculum offered to make sure that it fits in with your goals of working with future clients. After all, most massage therapy programs offer the same type of basic coursework, but when it comes to learning advanced techniques and the business side of the wellness industry, make sure you enroll in a program that offers all of those opportunities.