Careers in Massage Therapy
Future of Massage Therapy
Massage therapists use touch to treat their clients’ bodies, manipulating soft-tissue to relieve pain, improve circulation, increase relaxation, rehabilitate injuries, and aid in the overall wellness of their clients. Although it was originally considered a luxury for wealthier clients, massage therapy has more recently evolved into the mainstream and is increasingly associated with the healthcare industry. More and more healthcare professionals recognize the benefits of massage as these services become part of medical practitioners’ treatment plans.
In recognition, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects massage therapy employment will grow 23 percent from 2012 to 2022—adding close to 30,000 more professionals to this field, more than any other occupational growth. A participating factor in this jump in demand is the baby-boom generation who seek massage as a way to maintain their health as they age. In addition, sports teams and athletes are relying on massage therapy to help rehabilitate injuries and reduce pain. Lastly, the inception of the massage franchise has made massage more affordable and mainstream, opening services to a wider range of customers.
Working Environments & Opportunities: Massage therapists work in a variety of settings
With the increasing demand for massage services, massage therapists have more career options than ever. Besides working in traditional spas & resorts—who offer massage as a form of comfort and relaxation, massage practitioners are now transitioning into private practice. In 2012, 46 percent of massage therapists were self-employed, either traveling to clients’ homes or offices, or opening their own offices. In addition, sports teams and fitness centers are relying on massage therapy to treat their clients.
Expected Pay & Education Required
Massage therapy certification and educational programs usually include classroom and hands-on practice of massage techniques. Depending on the state requirements, educational programs require anywhere from 500 to 1,000 hours to complete certification. Most programs train students through clinical applications of massage techniques, including: hydrotherapy, sports massage, trigger point therapy and lymphatic drainage. Some programs also offer industry support or job placement. In 2012, the average massage therapist could expect to make $35,970 per year working part-time, or about $17.29 per hour.
I Go Walking
If one of your New Years resolutions was to get back in shape, but you don’t think gym life is for you, I’d like to make an argument for a very simple exercise you already know how to do. Walking.
Two Reasons I Walk
Walking is good exercise.
It’s not great exercise, but it’s pretty darn good. At a three mile per hour pace it burns about 100 calories per mile (of course this is different depending on your weight, height and speed), and it also gets you places while you do it. If you walk five extra miles you just walked off a pretty decent chunk of calories.
Studies have shown again and again that walking, aka low-grade cardio, is the only proven method of staving off cognitive decline. That means people who walk more stay younger longer and don’t suffer from chronic diseases (Alzheimer’s, Congestive Heart Failure, Diabetes, etc) as much. Simply walking an extra hour a day has been shown to add years to your life. And you have to get places anyway, right?
Park the car a little further away. Get off the train a stop or two sooner than normal. Don’t turn on the TV when you get home, go for a walk.
Walking calms the mind.
The stressors of life often wreak havoc on our bodies which aren’t built to cope with the emotional stressors we face on a daily basis: mortgages, taxes, the ozone layer, work, spouses. We’re equipped to fight a problem or run away from a problem. When we’re forced to sit and anguish over a problem, our cells get bathed in corrosive chemicals that can eventually lead to some very serious health problems. Walking helps with this.
Meditation helps, too. But if sitting in a dark room alone with your thoughts is something you don’t think you can do, try a walking mediation instead. There are several online instructions, books and apps that can guide you through this, but here’s the simple way I do it. I put in my headphones but I don’t turn on the music. I just want people to leave me alone, and they’re more likely to do that if they think I’m jamming out. Location helps but is not crucial. I’m lucky enough to work in downtown Chicago (one of the most stressed out cities in the country, btw), so after work I can sometimes walk home along the lakefront. The more nature the better, but I used to walk home right through the center of downtown, and it still left me feeling pretty at ease, despite the traffic, bikers, and the other, slower people. Being close to nature has some sort of calming effect on the mind, and you won’t even realize it until you get home and your thoughts sound like whispers.
And then just walk. Walk at the fastest pace you can walk without feeling like you’re forcing yourself along. I’m 6’4”, and most of that is leg, so I walk at a pretty good clip. Try to clear your mind of debris as you walk. Most mindfulness practices will tell you to acknowledge thoughts as they arise, and then let them go. Acknowledge, move on. I realize this is not always as easy as it sounds. Life’s problems have a way of reaching their grubby little fingers into the crevices in our brains and snuffing out all our peaceful intentions. Acknowledge this, too. Just try not to dwell on stuff.
Breathe deep into your abdomen, let the sunshine cover your face, clear your mind, and enjoy the view as the world moves slowly past you one step at a time.
A Massage Teacher’s Confession
I have a confession to make.
Every time we have a graduation ceremony, I have the same daydream. It’s very simple. Both Hovi and Rob can’t be found, and somebody has to give a speech. Can you wing it, Jason?
And I hem and I haw, but eventually I agree to try. I reluctantly approach the microphone, stumbling over my words at first, maybe my voice cracks, too, and eventually, with a bit of struggle, I get to the heart of what I’m going to say. This last ceremony, I thought I would say this:
As we’ve all seen repeatedly this past year, there are many terrible things in the world. (And in my head I would be thinking, should I say school shootings, or war, or religious extremists, or racism, or Trump, or just keep it as “terrible things?” And I would decide that there was no need to actually say these things out loud. Everyone would agree, sometimes, sometimes too often, the world can be terrible.) Maybe we’ve only witnessed these things on the news, or maybe terrible things have happened to those you love, or maybe, as I know from being with you for the past year, terrible things have happened directly to you, and you’re left asking yourself, why me? And I’m sorry, but I don’t think I’ll ever have a good answer to that question.
And maybe you’ve found yourself thinking that the world is in a downward spiral, that people are irredeemable, rude, egotistical, petty little jerks, (they are) or that the government is out to get you (it is). And I’m not going to waste your time by suggesting that every challenge is a learning opportunity, because despite their silver linings clouds are still just clouds, and metaphorically speaking, we’d all rather just do without them. And maybe, just maybe (here’s where I really punch them with the sad) you’ve found yourself ready to give up on the world, because from your perspective it can never be made right again.
But you’re wrong (I’d say, trying to find a smile somewhere in between uplifting and like I know something they don’t know, but not in an obnoxious way).
Not to oversimplify our profession, but with your newfound skills as a massage therapist, you get to help make the world right again. With the simple art of caring touch, a person’s life can be changed forever for the better. Even if you’re not treating a specific condition, which you are all trained to do, but if you’re simply just there for another person, you are helping put some black back in the ledger. You are, quite literally, making the world a better place. (At this point I would begin thinking I was being too schmaltzy, but that it would probably play well with this crowd. Keep going!)
So thank you, students, for choosing a career path that makes the world a nicer place to live in. It’s very easy to get depressed at the state of the world, or even just the state of our city, but I take comfort in the fact that I’m part of a practice that helps heal people, both physically and emotionally, and that by teaching you how to do that, maybe, somehow, we’re helping to tip the scales in favor of the good guys. Even if we’re not directly helping one of those poor people on the news, we’re at least doing something good, which I hope, and which I believe, helps to balance the karma of the world.
Thank you, once again, for choosing to do something positive with your lives. (Here I would either pretend to wipe a tear from my eye, or be genuinely moved by my own words and actually wipe a tear away.) It’s been a pleasure teaching all of you, and I look forward to seeing all the good you do for the world.
At this point I would step away from the microphone, and there would be silence, and I would think, oh no, I totally messed that up. But then one student would start clapping, and then another and another, until they are all clapping in unison, and on their feet, and somehow they manage to lift me and carry me through the door, a’la Rudy.
And freeze frame!
Massage with a Purpose
The Soma Institute believes in massage with a purpose. Soma’s Clinical Massage Therapy program prepares you to do more than just traditional massage—we prepare you for the career of your dreams. With industry support and hands-on training, Soma trains its students to become ambassadors to health. Students are trained in the main elements of massage, including hydrotherapy, traditional bodywork, and sports massage techniques.
If you’ve thought about a career in health and wellness, consider massage therapy. Therapists are in the exciting position to be able to use natural methods to treat their clients’ ailments and health concerns. Soma’s graduates are confident and prepared to enter the workforce—knowing they have the practical training they need to succeed.
The 750-hour Clinical Massage Therapy Program tailors classes to fit the busy lifestyles of our students—choose from either weekday classes or night & weekend classes. The Soma Institute offers support and guidance from our experienced Career Services professionals and gives you access to our extensive employer database.
If you’d like to learn more about Soma’s Clinical Massage Therapy Diploma Program and Soma’s January 2016 enrollment, give an Admissions Representative a call at 1-800-694-5314.
Massage For Better Sleep
A Good Night’s Sleep
Trouble getting a good night’s sleep during the holiday season? From Thanksgiving to New Year’s Eve, many people complain of later nights, more stress, and less sleep. One way to combat the effects of sleep problems in winter months is through massage therapy. Massage Therapy has been found to assist with resetting our bodies’ clocks, which in turn improves sleep.
Sleep problems can lead to substance abuse, depression, or low work performance—negatively affecting a person’s quality of life. As recent studies point towards massage therapy as a beneficial and natural treatment, The Soma Institute is dedicated to being part of the solution.
The Soma Institute in Chicago, Illinois offers a Clinical Massage Therapy program designed to train students in the major methods of massage therapy, including: hydrotherapy, bodywork, and sports massage. With an 11 and 15-month program, we offer weekend and nighttime classes in order to cater to our students’ busy lifestyles.
If you’re interested in a career promoting the health and wellness of others, and are looking for a rewarding career that fits your lifestyle, Clinical Massage Therapy could be the right fit for you. To speak to an Admissions Representative, give us a call at 1-800-694-5314.