Make Up Your Mind: Careers in Massage

by T. Jansen
t.jansen@careertrainingdirectory.com
Career Training Directory Columnist

Have you ever thought of starting a career in massage? If so, you should know that there are many types of massage that require specific kinds of training. Before you enter a massage school, make sure you know what style of massage you want to practice.

The Many Moons of Massage

When it comes to massage techniques, there are actually hundreds that you can choose from these days. Knowing something about the types of massage will help you realize the important decisions you’ll need to make about your career before you choose massage school. Here is a list of some of the most popular massage techniques:

• Deep Tissue Massage—this kind of massage works to release and relax the “sub-layer of musculature and fascia,” treating longstanding problems.
• Hot Stone Massage—this technique is usually practiced in spas and helps people relax.
• Myofascial Release Therapy—works to relieve “cervical pain, back pain…headaches” and more through a three step process.
• Shiatsu—is a popular kind of acupressure created in Japan which uses finger-pressure as its main technique.”
• Swedish Massage—is probably the most common kind of massage in the West.

There are countless other massage techniques in addition to these, but you’ll surely encounter the ones above when choosing your massage training program.

Massage School Makes Sense

Whether you’re interested in massages that help people relax, heal, perform, move, or simply feel more comfortable, you will want to consider the many different kinds of massage training that will be made available to you at your massage school. The U.S. Department of Labor writes that in 2004 there were “roughly 1,300 massage therapy postsecondary schools, college programs and training programs throughout the country,” and each one varies greatly. The necessity of massage training is clear; the more you know about the different kinds of massage, the more you can offer your clients. With the job outlook for the next 10 years expected to “increase faster than average,” now is the perfect time to work your way into a career in massage.

Sources

The U.S. Department of Labor
Holistic Online
MassageTherapy.com

About the Author

T. Jansen is a freelance writer who specializes in career development and business. He holds a BA and Master’s Degree in English.