When you're contemplating a career as a massage therapist, you probably have a large number of questions. It's important that you get clear answers to these questions to help you decide if this is the right career option for you.
These questions can be bundled into three overarching questions:
- How do you start a business as a massage therapist?
- What education and training do you need to start as a massage therapist?
- How do you start helping people as a massage therapist?
Let's answer these questions in depth:
How do you start a business as a massage therapist?It's not uncommon for people who graduate from massage therapy school to go to work for a local chiropractor, a gym, a spa, or some other employer. While this may give them security, they will only earn an average of $20 to $40 per hour. Meanwhile, if they were to work for themselves, they could earn from $60 to $120.
Everything changes for you once you go to work for yourself, and the sooner you start your own business, the better. Massage therapy can become a dream career with plenty of freedom, profit control, and the ability to scale up the business through good marketing. In fact, all you need to start your own business is a good business plan.
Once you have a plan, then you can look for a lender. Your well-developed plan will make it possible for you to get a business loan so that you can rent a commercial space, hire other massage therapists, and buy massage therapy tables and other necessary equipment.
Setting up the business itself is not difficult. After you plan your business, you should form a legal entity and register for taxes. Then open a bank account for your business, set up an accounting system, and get whatever permits and licenses are necessary. Finally, you will need to get the right kind of business insurance.
What education and training do you need to start as a massage therapist?You will need a high school diploma to get accepted by a massage therapy school. Once enrolled, you will learn more than just how to provide a good massage. You will learn about physiology, psychology, and business. You will take classes in Medical Terminology, Clinical Psychology, and Business Ethics.
Since massage therapy licensing requirements vary from one state to another, it is difficult to estimate how long your education and training will take. Depending on the school's curriculum and state requirements, it might be a matter of months or it could take you a full two years.
After you have completed your education and training in bodywork and massage, you'll receive a certificate. But you will not be able to work as a massage therapist until you have passed the test for your state's massage therapist license.
How do you start helping people as a massage therapist?One of the best things about a career in massage therapy is that it does more than provide you with the opportunity to make a good living. It also offers you work that's rich in meaning and purpose. You will be able to make a huge difference in the health of your clients.
Massage reduces soft tissue strain and helps with a variety of injuries. By pressing, kneading, twisting, and twisting muscles, you will induce a cascade of health benefits.
Massage therapy reduces stress and tension. It causes cortisol levels to fall and endorphin levels to rise. It improves blood circulation and lymphatic drainage, and it helps internal organs to work better and lower blood pressure. Your clients will experience better moods, sleep well at nights, and experience far fewer aches and pains.
In conclusion, a career as a massage therapist can be rewarding in many ways. It's a lucrative way to earn a living that requires considerable education and training so that you can skillfully improve your client's health and well-being in a number of ways. The career outlook is promising. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, massage therapy is expected to grow by 26 percent up to the year 2026 and this is one of the fastest growing occupations.
