Massage Therapist

What is a Massage Therapist?

Massage therapists must utilize an eclectic array of skills in order to be successful, as the industry demands its workers wear many ‘hats’. They are physically capable individuals with excellent time management and communication skills along with a strong sense of empathy and integrity. Compensation tends to be on the lower end of the spectrum, but this is in large part due to the number of part-time workers in the field. Conversely, the flexibility and positive impact on people’s lives lends a high level of satisfaction to the job.

Over the course of their job, massage therapists usually engage in the following:

• Locate tension or pain in the body of clients; stretch, knead and manipulate muscles and soft tissues of the body to alleviate discomfort
• Discuss medical history and symptoms with clients, their expectations and create a personalized treatment plan to address the problem areas and achieve improvement
• Give clients advice and guidance on how to improve their overall physical condition thorugh strength conditioning, stretching and posture.

A DAY IN THE LIFE

Massage therapists work in a wide variety of locations, such as spas, fitness centers, hotels, clinics and doctors’ offices. Many will work out of their own residence or travel to a client’s home or office to provide a massage. As such, working conditions  vary greatly depnding on the venue in which the massage therapist is operating, the clients preferences and what type of massage is being given. As just one example, if the purpose of the massage is relaxation, then a more dimly lit environment with soft, relaxing music will be more preferable than operating in a brightly lit room with several other clients receving a massage at the same time.

Massage therapists often use massage tables or chairs, along with oils and lotions, during treatment of a client. Massages can theoretically last any length of time, though typically they range from fifteen to ninety minutes. Their jobs are really two-fold in practice: first they must operate as a business administrator making sure schedules and financial obligations are met and in order, but they must also provide hands on therapeutic care. This balance necessitates an ability to juggle responsibilities and employ strong decision-making skills.

While some massage therapists choose to work for companies, large and small, other choose to run their own business and provide services for individual clients on their own time, functionally operating as independent contractors. Massage therapists who are self-employed may need to do a variety of tasks in addition to massages such as booking and soliciting clients, marketing, publicity and handling financial/tax records.

Giving massages is often a physically demanding job, and injuries are not uncommon if careful attention is not paid. Proper technique can alleviate potential damage, as well as exercise, spacing out clients, using good body mechanics and receiving a massage themselves on a regular basis. Additionally, because of the rigors inherent in the job, most massage therapists cannot work a traditional 9-5 job. This provides flexibility in the workday, but presents its own set of challenges.

TYPICAL WORK SCHEDULE

Massage therapists prefer to work part-time as most clients are served by prior appointments. This makes their working schedule flexible and can vary significantly between one day and another. In addition, many massage therapists cannot physically work full-time because of the strength and endurance needed to perform a single massage. In addition to massages, you will also have to spend time contacting clients, preparing your materials and other business tasks. You may also have to travel to the homes or offices of your clients often while providing your own tables, sheets, pillows, oils and other materials which is usually offered to elite clients. The working conditions vary depending on your venue where you perform the massage and on your clients’ requirements.

AREAS OF SPECIALIZATION

There are numerous types of massage. The most popular are deep tissue, sports, Thai and Swedish. The majority of massage therapists are trained in several of these, each of which requires a different technique and approach. The style of massage given correlates to the client’s preference, medical issues and overall physical condition. Certain massage techniques are given to only one type of person, such as pregnant women receiving a prenatal massage.

JOB GROWTH

There are currently around 335,000 massage therapists working in the US. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates that the demand for massage therapists is expected to increase by 21% from 2019 to 2029, which is much faster than the average for all other occupations. This considerable increase is due to multiple factors including the increase of licensing requirements and standards which makes the job more respectful as well as the increasing number of massage clinic franchises. Other factors include the growing interest from the medical establishment in the role of massage therapy. Many sports teams currently hire massage therapists to help the players with injuries and managing pain. This makes the job market for massage therapists promising and you should not find any problem finding a job if you are interested in this field.

TYPICAL EMPLOYERS

Many massage therapists prefer to be self-employed which is more financially rewarding and provides more flexibility and work opportunities. Massage therapists can also be employed by many other employers including personal care centers. There are currently popular massage therapy clinic chains including Massage Envy, Hand and Stone Massage and Facial Spa, Elements Massage and Massage Heights. You can also work as a part in the offices of chiropractors. Other may work with various accommodation institutions helping people cope with their pains or being employed by different sports teams to help the players with injuries and coping with pain.