Today, massage therapy is becoming one of the fastest growing careers, most notably because the healthcare industry in general is beginning to recognize that massage therapy can treat a variety of conditions. For example, it\’s been shown to be beneficial to the body both in terms of what it can do medically, and for the relaxation it produces. It\’s also fast becoming one of more popular alternative therapies for a variety of ailments.

Getting an education as a massage therapist

You can\’t simply set up shop and become a massage therapist because you want to. Like almost any profession, massage therapy requires some formal education. Today, you can do a lot of your education online, although you\’ll also need some hands-on guidance in the proper techniques for your particular type of massage therapy.

What training involves

Most massage training begin with a general overview and then may or may not move into specializations such as Reiki, which will require further training. The most common type of massage therapy is Swedish massage. With Swedish massage, you\’re simply massaging tired and stressed muscles, giving patients relief from stress and minor pain. You may also wish to receive training in other techniques, such as sports massage, acupressure, and deep tissue massage.

What will you learn as part of your training?

The school you attend should be accredited by the Commission on Massage Therapy Accreditation and other professional organizations. Many states also require that you get a bachelor\’s degree before you pursue massage therapy jobs. You\’ll also need to study coursework like kinesiology, body mechanics, and anatomy.

Receiving certification

Once you\’ve completed your training, you\’ll receive certification in your particular specialty. Not all states require certification, but it\’s certainly a good idea if you want to pursue this as a viable career. It shows potential clients that you are a competent therapist and may even affect whether or not your clients\’ insurance covers the services you offer.

Other requirements to get massage therapy jobs

Although many people don\’t think about this, you will have to have superior upper body strength in order to be a massage therapist, and your hands must also be very strong. You\’ll be using them as the tools of trade on a daily basis, so you\’ll need to make sure you\’re up to the task physically as well as educationally.

Where to get massage therapy jobs

Today, massage therapy jobs occur in just about every setting, from airports (for \”quick\” massages between flights for tired passengers) to clinics, hospitals, and private spas. For example, you may decide to that you would like to work with clients in a physical rehabilitation center, or in a fitness center, as the case may be. Once you\’ve gotten some on-the-job experience, you may also wish to set up your own massage practice, whereby clients come to your location for treatment.

Employment outlook

This is a great profession to choose if you want to have job security at present. In fact, many experts are saying that demand for this profession will grow by 20% through the year 2016. It’s indeed a good time to get started.

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Author Bio: Copywrite Kenneth Echie. Kenneth is a Writer, Expert Author, and Publisher. He currently writes for Medical Assistants Schools. Get free scholarship report and find Massage Therapy Schools by visiting.

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