| Becoming a massage therapist is a big decision to | | | | 2. Medical against Relaxation |
| make. Because the industry is already being regulated, | | | | The various kinds of Massage therapies may also be |
| a career in massage therapy is harder to get into. You | | | | divided into either massages for relaxation or massage |
| need training and sometimes licensure in order to work | | | | therapy for medical purposes. If you feel that you only |
| in a particular clinic. This is especially true if you are | | | | want something simple as providing relaxation, then |
| aiming for those top of the line clinics that really pay | | | | training is easier for this group. All you need to learn |
| well. One of the decisions that you have to make | | | | are specific strokes that will help your client relax their |
| before getting into the field is what kind of massages | | | | muscles. However, if you feel that you want to make |
| will you be specializing in. Like the medical field, | | | | a career out of it that is similar to a medical doctor, |
| massage therapists have specializations. | | | | then you are better off training in the medical area of |
| There are various kinds of massages that are being | | | | massages. Here you will study subjects such as |
| done in clinics. Some are simple enough and only | | | | anatomy, physiology, physical therapy and a lot of |
| requires a specific set of strokes. Others are more | | | | other science subjects. |
| technical and involve pressing certain pressure points in | | | | 3. Spas against nursing homes |
| the body and using oils that are not usually used in the | | | | The clients that you will be servicing will also help you |
| practice. Examples of these are acupressure and | | | | determine the kind of massage therapy specialty you |
| aromatherapy. Before you get into the massage | | | | would like to take. For instance, it you foresee yourself |
| therapy business, know first what you are comfortable | | | | working at a spa or a resort, your clients will primarily |
| doing. If you study one massage and then realize that | | | | be those who just want a bit of relaxation. On the |
| you are not for it, you will be wasting money and time | | | | other hand, if you like to work in a nursing home or in a |
| on your training. Before you plunge in, know first what | | | | hospital setting, then you may want to get into |
| you want. | | | | something that is more medical in nature. Although |
| Below are some of the things that can help you clarify | | | | relaxation may be easier to do, the pay for the other is |
| what you really want to do. | | | | much more competitive so you may also want to |
| 1. Western against Eastern | | | | consider that when making your decision. |
| Although there are a lot of different kinds of | | | | 4. how hard can you do the massage |
| massages, they are divided into just two big | | | | Another consideration in choosing your specialty is |
| groups– Eastern and Western. Ask yourself, are | | | | whether you can take on the massaging itself. |
| you more comfortable doing the more traditional | | | | Remember that massages for relaxation is softer and |
| medical model that is often the characteristic of | | | | more relaxed compared to those being done for |
| western massages or are you more for the eastern | | | | people who have problems with their muscles and |
| types that makes use of essential oils and pressure | | | | their bones. Also, when dealing with medical clients, you |
| points? | | | | also need to be more precise with your massages. |