Work
as a Massage Therapist
In today’s
fast-paced world, we all experience stress. Recent medical research
points to stress as a prime factor in life-threatening illnesses
such as stroke, cancer, and … We can also experience a lot
of chronic pain from stress such as backpain,
tight shoulders, stiff neck, and many similar problems.
If you like
helping people, as a massage therapist you can be a benefit to many
people whose lives are filled with the stress-related problems of
this fast paced world we live in. One of the most satisfying aspects
of this career it helping clients to reduce stress and ease chronic
pain.
This is an exciting
time to become a massage therapist. The field of massage therapy
is escalating as never before. It is believed that it has tripled
in the last decade because more and more people are choosing it
as healthcare approach instead of the old idea of using prescription
drugs to relieve symptoms of stress, pain or other forms of discomfort.
You will have
to decide if Massage Therapy is the right career for you. There
are a few simple steps to take to answer your question.
One important
question would be is if a Career in Massage Therapy is a match for
you?
Is Massage
Therapy a Good Career Choice for You?
Before deciding on a career as a massage therapist, you should first
ask yourself the following questions:
• Am
I a “people person”? In short, does it make me happy
to work with people?
• Do I find it rewarding to be a caregiver?
• Can I listen to another person talk about their problems,
aches, and pains and not get caught up in it?
• Am I someone who is self-motivated and does not need a
supervisor to tell me what I should be doing? In other words,
am I a leader or a follower?
• Am I a good listener? Does conversation come easy to me?
• Am I comfortable working on my own for most of the day,
without much conversation with fellow workers?
• Am I punctual and able to create and follow a schedule
carefully?
Were your answers
“yes” to the above questions? If so, you may be one of
those who does well as a massage therapist. You may have noticed
how much this field is opening up. We now see massage therapists
in health-food stores giving massages to weary shoppers, in corporations
where they massage works during their coffee and lunch breaks, and
even in outdoor markets or malls where short massages can be schedules.
Quality hotels and even cruise ships now contract with massage therapists
to satisfy their guests’ quest for feeling better during vacations
and business travel.
What Are
the Requirements to Get Certified or Licensed?
The programs at massage schools vary greatly and required hours
of practice may vary from 250 to 1000, depending upon the degree
of specialization and the licensing requirements of each state or
city / county. This kind of information may be found on the web
by searching by state or city and career area, for instance, “California
massage therapist license”. Such a search pulls up information
that licensing in California is by City and varies from place to
place. Do then a search by specific cities where you would like
to work.
What Areas
of Specialization Are There?
We see advertisements for many varieties of massage therapy, for
example, Swedish Massage, Esalen Massage, Shiatsu Massage, Deep
Tissue Massage, and Trigger Point Therapy, to name some well-known
specialties. One good way to learn more about them to check is to
look through the yellow pages and / or contact your local Chamber
of Commerce to identify a few successful massage therapists. Phone
them and ask for a telephone interview to find out what is their
specialty, what kinds of massage their clients favor, where they
learned their trade, whether they take additional courses or workshops
to learn new techniques, and so forth. First-hand opinions are often
our best source of up-to-date information. Call more than one to
get a variety of answers.
Choosing
a School
Massage therapy schools can be identified online, from yellow pages,
and by talking to those already in the business. Write down a list
of possibilities and contact a number of them. Ask for written materials.
Ask to visit the schools and watch students in classes. Are you
comfortable with the teaching style, the setting, and the location?
Talk to students, if possible. Are they happy with their program?
Is the school recognized by the licensing agency? Does the school
have a placement center? Does the curriculum include small business
tips and training?
What is Your
Goal?
Deciding on an area of expertise, finding a school, and completing
requirements are all critical to success. Even so, a relevant aspect
of the profession that is often overlooked is clarity about your
personal goals. Often, trainees go through all the steps, assuming
that a job will be waiting at the other end. Not so most of the
time! The more you are definite and clear about what you want to
do, including picturing yourself working in a particular area with
appreciating and paying customers, the greater your chances of success.
Goal setting is a great benefit here, perhaps even specifying the
kind of career you want, the day you want to start, the annual pay
you expect, and the kinds of clients you want. Those who do this
kind of envisioning are a success long before those who “hope
for the best.”
Once a Student,
Practice, Practice, Practice
The more experience you have, the easier it will be for you to launch
your career. In addition to the massages you give at school, practice
on friends, relatives, and, if applicable, participate in outside
activities such as massages at retirement centers, churches, or
whatever is legal and beneficial. This will allow you to work with
a variety of people and to polish your professional approach.
The Move
from Student to Professional Massage Therapist
This is without a doubt the most critical area, the one that demands
concentration and perseverance. Massage therapists who succeed are
usually those who easily assess the client’s needs and give
them what will reduce stress and send them off feeling good and
lighthearted. In addition,
There are several
questions to answer:
• Are
you looking for a steady job? Which massage schools have good
placement success? Are there massage centers or spas in your area
that hire regularly?
• Do you have what it takes to set up your own business?
Working for someone else for a time may give you excellent training
in doing so.
• Do you intend to do massage full time or part time?
• Do you intend to specialize in an area where you may get
referrals from the medical community?
Attract Clients
and Keep Them!
This is a key to success. Chat with people in the grocery line,
the coffee line, wherever you meet them. Ask them about themselves.
Avoid talking about yourself until you can say that you are so excited
about being a massage therapist and…who do they know who might
enjoy a massage? Pass out cards. Get referrals—write down the
names and numbers. Market yourself! Talk with medical professionals
in your area. Volunteer and ask for referrals. Follow up, follow
up, follow up! A medical receptionist noted recently that many people
drop by with materials but fewer than 5% of them ever call back
or come back.
Remember, whenever
you are interacting with a present or potential client, that individual
is not there to hear about your life but rather to talk about theirs.
A good thing to remember is that most people want to have an enjoyable
experience and listening to you talk about yourself, however wittily,
is never as enjoyable as them talking about themselves. As that
person contemplates getting a massage from you, he or she is thinking,
“What’s in it for me?”
There are many
books on how to do this: look them over and find one that includes
ideas for prospecting clients and for follow-up. This is one of
the keys to building success in your business
Be an Advertisement
for Good Health
You are your own bet reference—eat well, dress attractively,
be rested and properly nourished. You never know where you will
run into some of your clients or prospective clients. Follow an
exercise program and schedule your own “release” sessions
where you can let go of patients’ problems and renew your own
goals. Use “automobile university” to listen to CDs or
tapes that focus on building success.
Keep Current
in Your Business
Your clients will hear about new techniques so make sure you are
up to date! Watch for books, lectures, and workshops to expand your
expertise. As you grow, your confidence will grow and your clients
will notice. And remember to get massages yourself so you get to
experience what others are doing.
Sources:
“FabJob
Guide to Become a Massage Therapist” by Sharon A. Alfonso,
LMT
“You
Were Born Rich” by Bob Proctor
“Spiritual
Marketing” by Joe Vitale
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