Be A Massage Therapist - Tips to Get Started
Massage therapy is certainly an in-demand and growing field, but is it the right opportunity for you? Here's an article to help you determine if it's a good opportunity for you, requirements to get started and other advice (or simply click here to get a downloadable step-by-step guide):
10 Steps to a Fab Job As a Massage
Therapist
The world can be a stressful place. Most of us feel like
we're living at the speed of light, running here, there, and
everywhere. And to top it off, because of life's pace, a lot of
us have chronic pain. Tight shoulders, aching necks, tired lower
backs. And we seem to get sick more than we used to.
As a Massage Therapist, you can help others overcome chronic
pain, recover from injuries and illness, reduce stress, and just
plain help them feel better.
Now is an exciting time in the field of massage therapy, which
is expanding like never before. The public's use of massage as a
healthcare modality has tripled in the last decade, which in
turn has caused a tremendous increase in the demand for
therapists.
Massage therapists can be seen working almost everywhere, and
spas, healthclubs, cruise ships, physician's offices—even the
local mall—are just a sampling of the places where a therapist
can work.
Here are 10 steps you can take toward your dream career as a
massage therapist, based on the
FabJob Guide to Become a Massage Therapist.
1. Is a Career in Massage Therapy for You?
Before deciding on a career as a massage therapist, you should
first ask yourself the following questions:
* Do I like working with people?
* Do I enjoy caring for and helping others?
* Can I work quietly, without much conversation, for much of
the day?
* Can I empathize with someone, without taking on their
"stuff"?
* Can I work independently, without much supervision?
* Do I have strong communication skills?
If your answer was yes to the above questions, a career in
massage therapy may well be for you.
2. Discover the World of Massage Therapy
As a massage therapist, you will be trained in the fundamentals.
Swedish Massage, Deep Tissue Massage, and Trigger Point Therapy
are usually taught by most massage therapy programs. However,
there are many other forms of bodywork out there, ranging from
Myofascial Release to Reiki (a form of energy work.) Not only
are there many different modalities of massage to choose from,
there are many areas of specialization as well, including
Pregnancy Massage, Medical Massage, and even Animal Massage.
Do some investigating to find out what types of massage might
appeal to you as a practitioner. Contact local therapists or
schools and ask questions about the different types of massage,
or do a search online using the terms "massage therapy",
"bodywork", or "therapeutic massage" to find out more.
3. Know the Requirements for Practice in Your Area
Before choosing a training program, one of the first things you
should investigate are the requirements for becoming a massage
therapist in the area you wish to practice in. Each state and/or
city or town has different requirements for massage therapists.
If you are unsure where to gain information about practice
requirements, contact the school/training program you are
considering, or contact a local massage therapist. Either should
be able to point you in the right direction.
4. Training for Your Career as a Massage Therapist
There are many different types of schools and training programs
available to someone who wants to become a massage therapist. To
find a program that suits your needs, check your local yellow
pages under "Schools" or "Massage Therapy". You could also do a
search online using the phrase "massage therapy schools" or
"massage therapy training", or contact some local massage
therapists to find out what schools/programs they attended.
Once you have found some training programs and/or schools, make
sure to check out several. Each school or training program will
more than likely have a different curriculum and philosophy, and
you will want to choose one that will match your needs and
personality. Especially important is that the school or training
program meet the educational requirements for practicing in your
area.
5. Volunteer Your Services
Once you have begun your training to become a massage therapist
a great way to get more "hands on" experience is to volunteer
your services to others. You can volunteer to work on friends
and family, or offer your services to community organizations in
your area. This is also a great way to start building a
clientele even before your training is finished.
6. Finding a Job
Once you've finished your training, it's time to start working
as a massage therapist! If you've decided owning your own
business is not for you, you need to find a job. One way to find
employment as a massage therapist is to check with the school or
training program you attended. More than likely, they will have
a list of employers who need to hire massage therapists.
Otherwise, you can check your local paper, check online
employment sites, or even create your own job. Numerous types of
employers need massage therapists including medical clinics,
health clubs, spas, and corporations.
7. Start Your Own Business
If you've dreamt of being your own boss, a career in massage
therapy can be the perfect way to go. However, keep in mind that
being your own boss means just that—you decide on everything
from how many hours you work, how many clients you see, and how
to set up your office. But you also have to make decisions on
whether to incorporate your business or not, whether to do your
own taxes or hire an accountant, and what fees to charge. The
Small Business Administration has many resources for new
business owners, and the best part is, they're all free!
8. Get and Keep Clients
If you have already been volunteering your services, chances are
you already have some clients. Once you have a few clients, you
should be generating some word-of-mouth advertising, which means
your clients will be telling others about you.
If you are still in need of more clients, you could establish an
alliance with other healthcare professionals in your area. This
would entail contacting someone (say, a chiropractor or
physician) by mail and enquiring whether they would be
interested in establishing an alliance where you would refer
clients to one another.
To keep the clients you already have, make sure your practice is
client-centered. Your clients are doing you a favor by utilizing
your services. Make sure you return that favor by giving the
best service you possibly can!
9. Take Care of Yourself
Massage therapy, by its' very nature, is a caring profession.
But in the process of taking care of others, we can often
neglect to take care of ourselves. Recognizing the signs of
self-neglect can go a long way to prolonging your career as a
massage therapist. If you feel like you just can't listen to one
more client's problems, and you'd rather be on the massage table
yourself, you may be on your way to burn-out.
Try these steps to regain some balance in your life:
* Eat balanced, nutritious meals—at least three per day.
* Get enough rest. Studies have shown we all need a half
hours sleep for each waking hour of our day.
* Get exercise. Even though massage is a physical
profession, you still need to get in about 30 minutes of
physical activity each day.
* To stay flexible, limber and mentally centered try Tai Chi
or Yoga.
10. Grow as a Professional
As a massage therapist, your success will also center on your
growth as a healthcare practitioner. Taking classes in new
techniques, reading books about different types of bodywork, and
getting massage from other practitioners can all aid you in your
professional, as well as personal, growth.
Massage Therapy is a rewarding and challenging field. Not only
do you help others, massage therapy is a career that will
enhance your own life over and over. Now that's a Fab Job!
Based on the
FabJob Guide to Become a Massage Therapist by Sharon A.
Alfonso, LMT.The complete guide gives detailed advice on how you
can get hired as a massage therapist or start your own massage
business. Visit
Fab Job
for information.
How do you get started?
1. Learn more about getting educated, setting up your marketing plan and gaining new clients. Click here for your massage therapist guide.
2. Attract Clients: For a successful
massage business, you need a way to have your potential
clients to learn about you, your business and your services. A
great way to reach your target customers is by setting up your
own website. It's easy to do with the
Internet Based
Family website builder...and you can try it free
for 10 days.
