If you are interested in a job where you can help people on a personal level, not to mention make good money without working excessively long hours, then becoming a licensed massage therapist might be the right path for you. If you think you’re up for it, read our brief guide below on how to get started on your career path.
To become a massage therapist, you must first earn your license and complete between 500 to 600 hours of clinical training. The National Education Association (NEA) offers an online exam periodically to test current therapists on skills like Swedish Massage. Therapists use in their practice some topics about techniques for achieving maximum relaxation during treatments with clients by using proven methods based on traditional Chinese therapy theory which can be used by novice practitioners too!
People within the profession report a variety of benefits including:
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Multiple work locations
Some people don’t like to work in the same location every day, so many massage therapists are employed at two or more locations.
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Flexible and part-time hours
Are you not a morning person? Then you don’t have to accept appointments before 11 AM if you don’t want to! In addition, most massage therapists don’t have to work 40 hours a week in order to make a living. You will be able to enjoy generous tips that will help you put a roof over your head (and then some!). You may also find this factor useful if you have a busy home life and require an appropriate balance.
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Self-employment prospects
Perhaps you want to start your own massage parlor. If you always dreamed of being a business owner, you can become your own boss. Want to be closed on your birthday or your anniversary every year? You can do that!
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Massaging your clients works up a good sweat
Forget about having to go to the gym after work or on your days off. You will already be getting enough exercise at work alone. That will ultimately save you money on not needing a gym membership. Not to mention getting enough physical activity during the day will help you sleep much better at night compared to those who have non-active occupations.
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Helping others
If you are somebody who wants to devote their life’s work to helping others, there are many routes you can take. You can become a medical doctor or a licensed therapist, but if neither of those sounds like they are up to your alley, then becoming a licensed massage therapist may be a good alternative for you. Peoples’ stress tends to physically manifest into deep knots, and you can learn to provide them with almost instantaneous relief from that – and what’s better than making a positive impact on someone else’s life (and making a living off of it?!)
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Largely growing professional field
The massage therapy profession is expected to grow by 22% by the year 2024. That is 15% higher than most jobs.
Most importantly: enjoy the journey! Your career is often considered the foundation of your life. Everybody has to work, so you might as well pick something you can look forward to doing each day!
