How to become a Massage Therapist

How to become a Massage Therapist Looking to take your job into your own hands? You should be a Massage Therapist…Massage Therapists use a range of techniques to manipulate their clients’ muscles and soft body tissue, with the overall aim of improving health and wellbeing.There are a number of different types of massage therapy they could employ (e.g. Swedish, shiatsu, sports and deep tissue), and benefits of regular treatments could include pain relief, improving circulation, injury recovery and even alleviating the effects of stress, depression and anxiety.Typical duties for a Massage Therapist could include:Consulting with clients to determine problem areasLearning more about medical history  lifestyle, and devising  treatment plansApplying pressure to ease tension areasAdministering specialised treatments, such as deep tissue massagesAdvising on how to maintain improvements in life, such as changing postureBooking follow-up appointments, and completing courses of treatmentReferring to medical professionals i f further care is requiredIs it right for me?Excellent interpersonal skills, as well as the ability to build trust in clients from all walks of life, is essential for anyone looking to become a Massage Therapist.Regardless of why they’re there, having a massage is an incredibly intimate experience for a client. Being able to put them at ease right away, and having the confidence to deal with their issues personably and professionally, will be similarly key to your success.N.B. Those with intimacy issues need not apply…Other key skills for a Massage Therapist include:Manual dexterityDiscretionPatienceTactEmpathyExcellent listening skillsA good level of physical fitnessCareer Progression Massage TherapistUp to £14,000 Massage TherapistUp to £30,000 Clinic ManagerUp to £40,000What's it really like? A typical day for me usually consists of performing consultations for new clients, meeting with regulars to assess their treatment plans, and administering treatments. My speciality is deep tissue massages, and a lot of people I see suffer from a lot of sports injury and joint pain, so it’s great for that. And it’s not just calming for the client â€" it’s actually a relaxing environment to work in too. The best part of the job is definitely meeting new clients, and helping relieve people’s pain and tension, some of which go back years. Oh, and free massages. Those too… Get qualifiedYou won’t need to have a degree in order to become a Massage Therapist. However, some employers may prefer you to have  a recognised certification like the International Massage Diploma  or Level 3  CPD. Apprenticeships in massage therapy are also available.