Twelve years ago I was a stay-at-home mother with two young children. While I enjoyed this role as mom immensely, I wanted to do something for just me. I looked into courses I could study and checked out my options for following that study with a career I could build around my life as mom. I chose to study and get involved in the allied healthcare industry as a massage therapist.
Why I Chose to Study Massage Therapy
I chose to study massage therapy for a variety of practical reasons. First of all, in the state I live in, you need to be licensed to practice massage therapy. I was able to find a course that met two evenings a week and one weekend a month for about a year. This school schedule fit my life as a stay-at-home mom well. And I knew that I would be able to stick to a similar schedule as far as making massage appointments.
During school, it was nice to put my mommy-brain to work studying anatomy and physiology, kinesiology, the body and its systems, as well as studying the practice and theory behind massage itself.
Upon completing the massage therapy course, I took a national certification exam to obtain my license in the profession.
Where to Work as a Massage Therapist
There are a variety of work options available to a licensed massage therapist. Massage therapists can be found working in a clinic setting such as for a chiropractor or hospital, in a spa setting practicing therapeutic massage and spa treatments, or a massage therapist can choose to work independently.
I chose the latter option so that I could set my own hours to suit my current lifestyle. A home office was easy to set up using a spare room in my home. I kept all of my files, my massage table and supplies in this room and it was clearly set apart from the others. When a client would come to my home office, they felt comfortable and there was no mistaking that this room was a massage therapy room.
At times, I visit clients in their own homes. This works well for elderly patients who have difficulty driving or navigating stairs. It is also convenient for couples who schedule massages together. One can wait in the comfort of their own home while the other is receiving a massage.
A Typical Day for a Massage Therapist
Each massage therapist will develop their own method for scheduling appointments and how a session should run. When a client first comes in for a massage, we go over a health history or any changes since the last time they were in. If they have received massage treatments from me or another massage therapist in the past, I like to ask if there was anything that they particularly liked or disliked about their massages.
I have a good split between clients who wish to have an hour long full-body massage and those who wish to have specific spot treatments, like a back, neck and shoulder massage. While the benefits of regular full-body massages for health and stress reductions are great, if a client only wishes to have trouble areas treated, then they should be able to choose that as an option.
Thinking about getting in to Massage Therapy?
I am glad I decided to study and pursue a career in massage. Even though it is only a part-time business, the rewards in helping others to feel better are great. It is also a good fit for working around my life as a mom, which is important to me.
If you are considering a career in massage therapy, check with your state guidelines and check in to schools that offer massage therapy programs. You may also want to schedule an appointment for a massage and ask your massage therapist why they got into the field and where they studied.