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[I517]Is A Massage Therapist

by M. Jedediah, M.

Tired of having a dead-end low paying job? Or do you hate sitting behind a desk doing other people's dirty work? You have been wanted to find a new career, one that will not only provide a decent income but one where you could set your work schedule and interact with different people all the time. You have had a massage in the past and thought that this might be a possible career change for your future.

Massage therapists work in a variety of different places and can be self-employed or work for others and they are found everywhere today; in private offices, studios, hospitals, nursing homes, fitness centers, sports medicine facilities, airports, and shopping malls. Some self-employed massage therapists also provide at home service to their clients and it is common for them to divide their time among several different settings, depending on the clients and locations scheduled. Massages are given in dimly lit rooms on special tables. Many like to use candles and soothing music to help the customer relax and to be put at ease.

Because this profession is physically demanding, massage therapists must be trained in the proper technique and in most states, they are required to complete a training program that is accredited by a State board or other agency-these accreditations vary from state to state. Most of the boards governing massage therapy require practicing massage therapists to complete a formal education program and pass the national certification examination or a State exam. Some State regulations require that therapists keep up on their knowledge and technique through continuing education.

They are usually training in several areas including a general knowledge of the body systems; detailed knowledge of anatomy, physiology and kinesiology; pathology; therapeutic massage assessment; therapeutic massage application; and professional standards, ethics, business and legal practices.

Massage therapists may want to take the national certification examination for therapeutic massage and bodywork. The exam is administered by the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork. Some States require that a massage therapist pass this test in order to practice. In states that require accreditation, a candidate must graduate from a State-licensed training institute with at least 500 hours of training or submit a portfolio of training experience for review.

The most frequent problem is repetitive motion and fatigue from standing for extended periods of time. This risk of injury to the massage therapist can be limited by the use of good technique, proper spacing between sessions, exercise, and by receiving a massage from other therapist.

The physical requirements of the job and because time needed in between sessions is essential, massage therapists usually work less than 40 hours per week. Therapists who give massages anywhere from 15 to 30 hours per week usually consider themselves to be full-time workers.

If this is what you want to do, make it happen. Find a school, enroll in classes and pass the accreditation test. You will be able to get a job as a massage therapist almost anywhere. And, clients are never a problem as more and more people are learning about the benefits of receiving a great and relaxing massage.

The professional field of massage therapy is often confused with the unprofessional field of prostitution. Many of you reading this article will immediately understand what I'm saying and many of you won't. For those of you who don't, an old prostitution trick is to disguise themselves under the massage therapy profession and provide additional "happy endings" service for their massage clients. This makes it difficult at times for legitimate massage therapists when clients don't understand the difference between these two professions.

As a massage therapist, this thoroughly irks me and yet provides times of amusement. I personally have never been approached for anything more than a massage. I imagine it's because I dress very neutral when working and tone down all outward feminine appearances. Projecting the right image usually gets the results I'm looking for - respect. The funny thing is that most massage therapists who complain of come-on's don't quite grasp image management. My thoughts are, "Well honey, when you wear Daisy Duke shorts and your breasts are just waiting to escape your low cut shirt, what do you expect? Please don't get all innocent on me. You think the guys are just excited about your Swedish massage techniques?" These therapists are harming a wonderful profession and setting themselves up for an ugly experience with a misled, frustrated client.

Clients are funny to. In our business, we screen our clients on the phone carefully to ensure we are getting customers who only want massages. My business partner was chatting with one potential male client on the phone who was asking, very much in detail, what parts of the body did we massage, how did we massage, etc. We work with many tourists, so are very patient with all types of questions. She calmly explained that he would always be draped by a sheet and that yes, there is a massage on the butt if needed (wonderful for sciatica pain!). After all the questions, he finally exclaimed, "You charge all that and there is no sex!?!" I laughed out loud when she told me about it. At least he was honest!

Moral of this story? If you are a massage therapist, don't dress like a hooker. If you are a client, don't expect massage therapists to be prostitutes.

If you are seeking a massage therapist and not sure where to look, I highly recommend the American Massage Therapy Association. The therapists listed on this site are licensed and insured, with the majority of them being true professionals who have a commitment to the art of healing and comfort through massage.

Article Source : Back Massage

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Both M. Jedediah & Tina Woodall are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.

M. Jedediah has sinced written about articles on various topics from Family, Finances and Computers and The Internet. . M. Jedediah's top article generates over 74000 views. to your Favourites.

Tina Woodall has sinced written about articles on various topics from Massage. Tina Woodall is an Orlando FL massage therapist. Her company, , is an elite team of Orlando massage therapists that you can trust your loved ones. Tina Woodall's top article generates over 1600 views. to your Favourites.