| Spa Wellness Articles :: Massage Therapy // Wellness Schools |
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| Earning a Living With Your Hands: Massage Therapy Schools |
| by Paul D. Rosevear |
Massage Therapy Schools offer students an opportunity to make a living capitalizing on the growing consumer demand for Massage therapy. With clientele that range every age group, a growing number of spas across the country, and the rapidly expanding nature of the massage field itself, it's no wonder student interest in Massage therapy schools has escalated as well. In fact, according to the 2004 Massage Therapy Consumer Survey, commissioned by the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA), more than one in five adults surveyed - 21 percent - received a massage in the past 12 months. On the academic side of the industry, the survey indicated there are 1,135 massage therapy schools that offer programs of a minimum of 500 in-class hours - an 80 percent increase from the 628 programs that existed two years prior.
Numbers aside, students attend massage therapy schools not just because of the growing career possibilities, but because they have a love for helping people and for contributing to their clients well-being. If you possess a passion for health care and contributing to your community, massage therapy schools can turn those interests into a paycheck. Flexibility is also a large part of why many people pursue a career as a massage therapist. Work environments for massage therapy include spas and hotels, to physicians' offices and clinics, beauty salons, group practices, and even home offices.
Massage therapy schools will help you get the experience and credentials you need to begin your career as a massage therapist, but according to the AMTA there are several things you can do to educate yourself before you enroll. For starters - and this can hardly be considered research - go for a massage from several massage therapists and get their opinions on various massage therapy schools, programs, and the industry as a whole. Nobody knows better than people who are already in the field. Additionally, narrow down the exact type of massage therapy you'd like to practice. Some programs at massage therapy schools focus on relaxation massage therapy, whereas others are geared more toward rehabilitative or more medically inclined practices.
If you're considering massage therapy schools, it's always a good idea to keep up on current trends in the industry. According to the aforementioned survey, those polled suggested massage for pain management is becoming preferable to Chiropractic or physical therapy treatments. Larger numbers of health care providers are acknowledging massage therapy, and in general the Baby Boomers of the American population are growing older and demanding more massage therapy.
Check out massage therapy schools for a program that best suits your interest today!
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