Author Archive for Gary

Medical Massage On The Upswing

Published
by
Gary
on April 24, 2009
in massage and health, massage career, massage specialties, medical massage and types of massage
. 0 Comments

By Gary Eaton, LMT

Most people think of massage as a way for people to relieve stress and relax.  Although that is true, the benefits of massage go far beyond just relaxation.  As a result of this outdated belief, the medical community has been slow to recognize massage as a legitimate form of treatment for patients with injuries and disease.

Lately, however, massage and its many benefits have caught the attention of the medical field.  Thanks to research studies performed over the last decade, massage is starting to be accepted by doctors as a legitimate and effective option for their patients.

As a result, massage schools are starting to respond by offering medical massage curriculum, and there are more continuing education classes available that train massage therapists in medical massage.  But the big question most people have is, “what is medical massage?”

I personally would classify myself as a medical massage practitioner.  But what people need to understand is that medical massage is not a massage technique.  Medical massage is really a unique approach to massage.

Medical massage combines advanced soft-tissue techniques with patient-specific treatment plans.  It isn’t relaxation massage, it isn’t about reducing stress, and it rarely includes a full-body treatments.  Medical massage is region-specific in that we focus on patient complaint areas that are specific to injury or disease.  Sessions are rarely more than one hour, and many ar as short as 15 or 30 minutes.

The goal of medical massage is to treat specific injuries, such as whiplash, or specific regions, such as the lumbar-pelvic region.  In short, medical massage is really just a term to distinguish advanced, condition or injury specific massage from general relaxation massage.

Medical massage can be performed anywhere.  It isn’t exclusive to a hospital or doctors office.  What separates medical massage from relaxation massage is that it isn’t just a one-size-fits-all body treatment that is choreographed.  Rather, it is a treatment massage that is specifically created for each individual patient based on their injury, pain or condition.

As such, medical massage requires more preparation.  The massage therapist must have a complete case history of the patient.  It also requires the therapist to perform postural and movement assessments in addition to soft tissue assessment.  After this initial assessment, a treatment plan is designed and implemented, and there are regular reevaluations and adjustment to the treatment plan.

What makes medical massage different from other forms of massage is the uniqueness of each patient.  Unlike general relaxation massage that may be the same procedure day after day, medical massage is different with every patient.  This requires a better knowledge of the body, but provides much more diversity and variety.  There is no chance of getting bored performing medical massage.

If you are looking to become a massage therapist and are interested in medical massage, be sure to check with your prospective massage schools to find out if they offer medical massage in their curriculum.  More and more massage schools are adding this as an additional option for massage students and as demand grows it is a great career option for new massage therapists.

Gary Eaton is a licensed massage therapist and writer living and working in Portland, Oregon. He manages a thriving therapeutic massage practice and is a featured writer for Massage Schools Guide.

Massage – Job or Career?

Published
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Gary
on March 29, 2009
in compensation and massage career
. 0 Comments

By Gary Eaton LMT

Most people today have jobs.  Very few of us have careers.  What is the difference?

Well, I am sure there are experts out there that could give you exact definitions, but as far as I’m concerned, the difference is your mindset.  A job is something you do in exchange for money.  It is where you trade hours for dollars, you aren’t particularly attached to the job, and if something better comes along you would jump in a second.

A career, on the other hand, is much more than just a job.  Yes, you are still working for money, but that isn’t the only reason.  A career is something you are interested in, are passionate about, something that provides more than just financial reward.

So, what is massage going to be for you?  A job or a career?  My suggestion is, if you make it just a job you will be sadly disappointed.

To me, massage is a career and so much more.  Massage certainly provides dollars in exchange for my time, but it also offers additional benefits and rewards.  The many rewards of a massage career can far surpass the monetary gain.

First, to be a successful massage therapist it is important to love what you do.  Passion for helping others is important, but you must also enjoy the act of providing massage.  If you look at massage as a job you will quickly become bored and dissatisfied.  That will negatively affect your performance and the result will be unhappy clients and you will struggle to keep them coming through the doors.

Massage offers an opportunity to change peoples’ lives in very positive ways.  I have clients that I have worked with for two years and I have seen their lives change in very dramatic ways.  I had a little something to do with those changes and the rewards for my efforts are priceless.

Making massage therapy a career and lifestyle brings you into contact with a wonderful variety of people, it provides incredible personal growth opportunities, and it is a career that is always evolving.  As a massage therapist you are constantly learning.  Massage school is just the beginning.  The real learning begins when you start your massage career, and continues every day.

Despite the faltering economy there are many jobs out there to be had.  But how many of them will bring you personal satisfaction.  In massage, when you do your best your clients reward you with much more than money.  Their appreciation and love for what you do and how you help them is something most people can’t get from their ordinary jobs.

Don’t make the mistake of looking at massage as just another job that pays better then minimum wage.  If you make massage therapy a career choice and invest in it for the long haul, you will find the rewards will be much bigger than a normal job.  And the monetary gain, which can be substantial, will ultimately be much less a reward then the satisfaction of changing peoples lives in positive, tangible ways.

If you are considering a career in massage make sure you take this into consideration.  Massage as a job will probably be as disappointing as any other ordinary job.  But massage as a career, approached with the right attitude, might just be the most satisfying endeavor you could ever choose.

Gary Eaton is a licensed massage therapist and writer living and working in Portland, Oregon. He manages a thriving therapeutic massage practice and is a featured writer for Massage Schools Guide.

Massage Career Options – Cruise Ships

Published
by
Gary
on March 26, 2009
in massage career
. 0 Comments

By Gary Eaton LMT

cruise-shipOne of the great things about a career in massage therapy is the flexibility.  If you aren’t a morning person (like me) you can choose to start work at 10am, or noon, or even later.

Another great advantage of this flexibility is the opportunity to work just about anywhere in the world.  When I was in massage school I had several classmates that were determined to start their careers working on cruise ships.  This wasn’t an option for me personally, mostly because I have children and I didn’t like the idea of being away from them for long periods of time.  Had I been younger, single and more interested in relaxation massage, I may have jumped at the chance to work on a cruise ship.

However, before you get too excited about the prospect of traveling the world for free giving massage to cruise ship passengers, it is important to understand the reality of this kind of work.

Cruise ship massage can be a great opportunity to see the world, but it won’t be like actually taking a cruise and seeing the sites.  You won’t have a lot of time to see the sites when you hit different ports because you will actually be working during a lot of the stops.  On top of that, the pay is lower than average and the lifestyle won’t be quite as posh as you might think.

For starters, if you sign on with a cruise line you will be away from home for an extended period of time.  Contracts vary by cruise line, but you can expect to be on board for 6-8 months.  You will spend the entire time on the ship with no breaks to go home.

As for living on the ship, massage therapists live amongst the rest of the cruise ship crew.  Living arrangements are dorm style, usually cramped quarters near the bottom of the ship, out of sight of the passengers.  And don’t expect to be enjoying the amazing buffets they serve to guests.  The food reserved for workers is not nearly as good as guests receive.

As for the work, like I said, the pay is much less.  Again this varies, but you won’t get rich performing cruise ship massage.  Of course, you don’t have any living expenses either, which helps.  Tips will be the make-or-break for this career choice, and those will vary widely.

The hours can also be very long on cruise ships.  You may be expected to work as much as 10-12 hours a day.  This can be very physically and mentally demanding, and burnout is not uncommon for some cruise ship massage therapists.

As for seeing the world, yes, you will have the opportunity to stop in ports around the globe, but you won’t really have much of an opportunity to see the sights.  Again, cruise ship policies vary, but most of the time you won’t be allowed to leave the ship, and when you can it will be for very short periods of time.

I had a friend work a cruise line in the Mexican Riviera.  He enjoyed his time, but was very disappointed in that he rarely got to get off the ship and explore.  He did come back with a fabulous tan though!

Despite some of the obvious disadvantages, there are some advantages to this kind of work.

First, you will be performing a lot of massage.  For a new therapist this is a great way to build experience and confidence.  You will also be living and working with other therapist and many will become lifelong friends.  And since you don’t have living expenses it is a great way to save some money to start your own practice back home or just to pay off your massage school loans or other bills.

Cruise ship massage is not for everyone.  You must be able to handle living in a small space and working long hours for six or more months.  But if you have an adventurous spirit, the freedom to get away from your everyday life, and the desire and fortitude to work hard, you will have the opportunity to gain valuable experience and see parts of the world that you otherwise would never see.

If cruise ship massage is something you are interested in, make sure to do your own research while in massage school.  There are many websites that promote cruise ship massage jobs, so check them out understand the industry so you aren’t jumping blindly into something that might not be the right massage job for you.

Gary Eaton is a licensed massage therapist and writer living and working in Portland, Oregon. He manages a thriving therapeutic massage practice and is a featured writer for Massage Schools Guide.

Finding A Mentor Is Key To A Successful Massage Career

Published
by
Gary
on March 25, 2009
in continuing education and massage career
. 1 Comment

By Gary Eaton LMT

Like many professions, finding someone who is an expert in the field that is willing to share their knowledge and experience can make the difference between success and failure as a massage therapist.  Being a successful massage therapist is not impossible without a mentor, but having that guiding hand will certainly help move your career forward at a much faster pace.

When I attended massage school I made a great connection with one of my instructors, who ultimately became my mentor.  This relationship was an integral part of my school experience, and played an even bigger role in my successful transition into a professional massage therapist.

The positive impacts of a mentor can’t be overstated.  If you really want to succeed, do your best to find a massage therapist that would be willing to be your mentor.  I was lucky enough to find one even though I wasn’t exactly looking for it.  But I benefited greatly from her insight and advice.

A mentor brings much more than just technical knowledge about massage.  My mentor actually practices a completely different style of massage, and yet she has given me more relevant information and advice about my massage career than I could have received from any massage school class.

One of the best nuggets of advice I received from my mentor was about motivation.  She instilled in me the importance of having the right motivation in becoming a successful therapist.  Basically she told me that if I looked at massage as a means to an end – i.e. just about the money – I would be very disappointed.  Massage would just become a job like any other.  She instilled in me the passion for helping others.  This advice helped me stay focused on why I wanted to be a massage therapist in the first place.

Aside from the obvious advantages of a mentor, such as career advice, learning from their experiences – both successes and failures, a mentor can provide the emotional support we need to succeed in an industry that can be very demanding.  People who don’t practice as massage therapist don’t understand the demands -  physical, mental and emotional – that are required to be a successful massage therapist.  A great mentor will understand those demands, and through their wisdom they can impart advice that you won’t find from anyone else.

If you are getting ready to start your massage training, or are thinking about going to massage school, keep in mind how important a mentor can be to your success.  If you have a chance to connect with other massage therapists or massage instructors, don’t be afraid to ask one of them to be your mentor.  Most therapists are already helpers by nature, and would be honored to help another massage therapist to succeed.

Gary Eaton is a licensed massage therapist and writer living and working in Portland, Oregon. He manages a thriving therapeutic massage practice and is a featured writer for Massage Schools Guide.

Massage School Curriculum Blends Theory and Practical

Published
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Gary
on March 21, 2009
in massage and health, massage career, massage school and massage specialties
. 0 Comments

When some people think of massage school, they envision spending their days giving and receiving massage.  But the fact is, to get a proper massage education it is important to have a balance of both hands-on clinical massage training as well as theoretical classroom training.

Although massage schools vary greatly, quality programs will properly blend the hands-on training with a proper amount of theory.  The bottom line is you can’t safely lay hands on clients without knowing what you are doing.

So what is the difference between theory and practical hands-on training?  Simple.  The classroom theory part of your schooling is like the who, what, where, when and why of massage.  The hands-on clinical training is the how.

The foundation for your massage school training will be the how, in the form of basic massage techniques.  You will learn the technical aspects of Swedish Massage, as well as other techniques such as deep tissue massage, maybe some lymphatic drainage techniques, as well as many other specific modalities.  Again, every school is different in what and how they train their massage students.  But Swedish Massage is the foundation of all massage, and you will spend many hours learning and perfecting these techniques.

However, without the proper classroom theory, the who, what, where, when and why part, you will be hard-pressed to become a truly skilled massage therapist.  Most states regulate the massage industry, and for good reason.  It is important for massage practitioners to have a thorough understanding of the body and how to properly administer a massage.  Without that knowledge people can get hurt, or at the least receive a very ineffective massage.

When it comes to the classroom training, you will be learning all about the body, and specifically the muscles and joints.  This study of muscles and joint movement is called kinesiology.  For those wanting to practice more therapeutic or treatment massage, kinesiology will be a very important course for you.

Another critical aspect of leaning massage theory is what we call contraindication.  Contraindicated basically means that in certain circumstances or with certain conditions, specific massage techniques (or all massage) should be avoided.  For instance, if a client has an open wound, massage would be contraindicated for that specific area of the body.

There are a lot of contraindications, and it is an important part of any massage therapists’ education to learn these.  For instance, massage is contraindicated for people recovering from open heart surgery.  There are also contraindications for diabetics.

Gary Eaton is a licensed massage therapist and writer living and working in Portland, Oregon. He manages a thriving therapeutic massage practice and is a featured writer for Massage Schools Guide.

Which Massage School Is Right For Me?

Published
by
Gary
on March 17, 2009
in compensation, health issues, infant massage, massage blogs, massage career, massage school and sports massage
. 1 Comment

By Gary Eaton, LMT

Deciding to become a massage therapist is a life changing decision. After weighing all the pros and cons of a career in massage and determining that massage therapy is the right decision, the next step is finding a massage school. But how do you choose? Which one is best?

Those aren’t always easy questions to answer, but there are ways to narrow it down and make an informed decision. But first, let’s try and understand the actual role of massage school.

Unlike some careers, where you go to school is less important then than other factors. I have never once been asked where I went to massage school by a client. That isn’t to say you won’t get a better education from School A then School B, but in the end it isn’t the most important factor.

When I decided to become a massage therapist I had four schools to choose from in my area. So I started by finding a few licensed massage therapists from each school who graduated in the last couple of years and asked their opinion. Not surprisingly, all of the therapists I talked with recommended their school over the others. That didn’t help much.

Next, I visited each school, met with admissions counselors, checked out their facilities and studied their programs. There were advantages to each, depending on where your interests were. So how did I choose? How can you choose?

There are several things you need to consider that will help you decide on a school. The first is cost. Although all four schools were close in costs, a couple of them offered better financing options. Most massage schools are expensive (but worth the investment in my opinion), so finding the best value is important. So the first question is can you financially afford the school?

The second thing on the list for me was schedule. I was working full-time, so I needed classes to be available in the evenings. I also didn’t want to go for two or three years. I was committed to working full-time and going to school full-time for a year. That eliminated two schools for me, as their programs took longer to complete even though actual class hours were about the same.

Another factor I considered was the success rate of graduates in passing the state board exams. I live, and massage school, in Oregon, which has some of highest requirements to become a therapist. Not only do you have to complete a certain number of class hours (these vary by state) but you also have to pass the national exam and a hands-on state board exam. These requirements are topped by just a couple of states, so I wanted to know how well graduates of the two schools did when it came to passing the state boards. The result? It wasn’t even close.

The school I chose had over 90% pass rate, compared to about 75% for the other school. That was what did it for me. You see, I believe I would be just as good of a massage therapist regardless of the school I went to. But in the end, the massage school’s job is to teach you the basics and prepare you to pass the national and state exams.

Learning to become the best massage therapist is great, but if the school doesn’t prepare you to pass the tests you might never become licensed and it will be a big waste of time and money.

Of course there were other factors involved in my decision process. I had a good feeling about the school I chose from the first moment I walked in the door. It was in a good location, the facility was clean and professional, and the people were friendly and helpful. But when it came down to decision time, for me, it was all about the knowledge. Did I feel confident that they were going to be able to help me do my best at getting licensed as well as being a knowledgeable, skilled massage therapist?

The truth is, you will learn more about being a massage therapist AFTER you graduate and become licensed. Those first few months working full-time will teach you much more then school. Massage school will give you the foundation necessary to build your career. But that career won’t get off the ground if they don’t prepare you for the licensing tests.

So when considering a school and all of the needs and requirements you have, don’t forget to check the success rate of their graduates. All things being equal, that becomes an important statistic.

If you are struggling with where to go to school or whether massage is right for you, drop me an email or comment on this or other posts. I am open to answering all of your questions, and I know you have many. So ask away!

Gary Eaton is a licensed massage therapist and writer living and working in Portland, Oregon. He manages a thriving therapeutic massage practice and is a featured writer for Massage Schools Guide.

What Does The Average Massage Therapist Look Like?

Published
by
Gary
on March 12, 2009
in compensation and massage career
. 0 Comments

By Gary Eaton, LMT

When deciding whether to make pursue a career in massage therapy, it is important to look at the massage industry as a whole to determine if it is right for you.  To help you better understand the “average” massage therapist and who they are, I thought I would throw some statistics at  you about current massage therapists.

Thankfully, the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA) has put together a nice compilation of U.S. government statistics, surveys and clinical studies into a nice report that I recently read.  This report paints a broad picture of the massage industry and I thought you readers and future therapists would benefit from this information.

Much of the report concurs with my positive opinion on the massage industry and the future growth, and some of this information will help educate you on what the average therapist looks like, how much they make and what their working life looks like.

To start, it was noted that in 2005 it was estimated that the massage industry was projected to take in anywhere from $6 to $11 billion.  That seemed like a large spread to me, but even $6 billion is an amazing amount of massages.  They also estimated that there were around 300,000 massage therapists and massage therapy students in the U.S.

As for industry growth, the U.S. Department of Labor expected a faster than average growth for the massage industry (compared to all occupations), with an expected 20% growth from 2006 to 2016.  That bodes well for those of you just entering the massage profession or those thinking about going to massage school.  And when it comes to the average American, almost one-fourth (24% to be exact) of adults had a massage at least once between August 2006 and June 2007.  That is about 75 million people!

As for the makeup of the average massage therapist, here are some interesting statistics:

  • Massage therapy was most likely to be a second career
  • Females make up 85% of professional massage therapists
  • Average age is in the early 40’s
  • Most therapists are likely to be sole practitioners or independent contractors (76%)
  • The average therapist provided 19 hours of hands-on massage a week
  • Average rate for a one-hour massage was $60     Average earnings for a massage therapist was $39 per hour (for all work, not just hands on)
  • The average therapist provided 41 massages a month
  • Seven years was the average length of therapists working in the industry

As for overall income, the average for massage therapists was $30,000 per year, based on providing 15 hours of massage per week.  This compares to other industries such as a healthcare support worker ($28,170 per year), medical assistant ($27,190 per year) and occupational therapist aides ($23,290 per year).  But understand that those other three professions are based on working full time – 40 hours per week.  So massage definitely provides more money for your time.

So hopefully these statistics will help you understand a little of what the average therapist looks like.  Of course, these are just averages, and there are therapists on each end of the spectrum.  But the fact of the matter is that if you work full time as a massage therapist, which averages about 19 hours of massage, you are likely to make an above average wage.  All for under 40 hours of work.

The ability to make a better than average wage while working less was a big factor in my decision to become a massage therapist.  That and performing a much-needed service to people that greatly appreciate what we do.  All that combined makes massage therapy a great career choice for those willing to put in the effort.

Gary Eaton is a licensed massage therapist and writer living and working in Portland, Oregon. He manages a thriving therapeutic massage practice and is a featured writer for Massage Schools Guide.

What’s So Special About Specialization?

Published
by
Gary
on March 3, 2009
in massage and health, massage career, massage school, massage specialties and sports massage
. 1 Comment

By Gary Eaton, LMT

Most people who decide to pursue a career in massage therapy fall into one of two categories; they either had a very specific massage experience that enlightened them and drove them to become a massage therapist, or, frankly, they knew very little to nothing about massage.

I’ve known many from both categories (and a few that don’t fall into either).  Those that had their lives changed by a massage therapist, usually following a serious injury or disease, usually entered massage school knowing exactly what they wanted to do as a therapist and what type of massage in which they wanted to specialize.

The other category, those that knew little to nothing coming into massage school, didn’t even realize there were specialties in massage.  To them, massage was massage, and usually their only experience with massage was a relaxation massage by someone using Swedish Massage techniques.

If you are in the latter group, don’t feel bad.  Most people don’t understand specialization in massage.  So let me help you understand a little about this so you can make a more informed decision about your career as you approach massage school.

In the world of massage there are hundreds of specialty techniques that we call modalities.  A modality is basically a unique massage technique with basic rules and maneuvers.  Swedish Massage is a modality comprised of very specific, well defined massage techniques and is usually considered the foundation of most massage,  All massage schools will start by teaching this modality (at least they should!)

I won’t list every massage modality here, as the list would be too long and I don’t even know the names of every technique out there. In the future I will talk more about some of these techniques, but the most common techniques in addition to Swedish Massage are Shiatsu, Deep Tissue, Craniosacral Therapy, Rolfing, Thai Massage, Hellerwork, Structural Integration, Trager, Sports Massage, Neuromuscular Therapy, and the list goes on.

Depending on the massage school you attend, you will probably become adept at two or three modalities before graduating.  Deep Tissue Massage should be another modality you learn.  Like I said, there are hundreds.  However, you will only learn a few at massage school and maybe become really good at one or two.  Additional techniques are learned in continuing education classes after massage school.

Upon graduation, however, it is very common to start to focus your massage practice in a certain direction.  Why you ask?  Well, the better you are at a certain modality or treatment style the more results you will get.  This makes for happier customers, which in turn results in referrals, more business and a successful practice.

Specialization is a personal choice.  Some modalities will make sense to you, others will seem strange, uncomfortable, or even too difficult to perform.  But when you find one that resonates, one that seems natural, it is important to really focus on that modality and get proficient.  You can be proficient at several, but it takes years to get really good at more then just a few.  Specializing in a modality or even a specific area, say Sports Massage, isn’t mandatory.  You can do whatever you want.  Even massage therapists at spas are specialists, as many have perfected the art of Swedish Massage in bringing their clients to the ultimate in relaxation.

The point is, the better you become at specific modalities and techniques, the better you will be at satisfying your clients.  That is your ultimate goal.  There are no right or wrong modalities.  It is all a matter of personal choice.

Learn about the different modalities now and while you are in massage school you can start to form in your mind what direction you want your career to progress.  You will have a better idea of what techniques to learn and how to become a more specialized, and as a result you will become a very special massage therapist.

Gary Eaton is a licensed massage therapist and writer living and working in Portland, Oregon. He manages a thriving therapeutic massage practice and is a featured writer for Massage Schools Guide.

Massage Therapy Consumer Survey Shows Stress On The Rise

Published
by
Gary
on March 2, 2009
in health issues, infant massage, massage and health, massage blogs, massage career, massage certification and massage specialties
. 1 Comment

By Gary Eaton, LMT

The American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA) recently released its 2008 Massage Therapy Consumer Survey Fact Sheet.  The results, although not surprising, show that stress is the biggest reason people seek treatment from massage therapists.

The current economic situation in the United States has caused fear for a lot of us in the massage industry, as we worry people won’t spend as much money on massage treatment.  But the opposite may actually be the case.

According to the study, 59% of the 1,012 adults surveyed (504 men and 508 women) reported feeling more stress this year than last, with 45% blaming the economic woes as their greatest stress.  The study revealed that more people are using massage as a way to relax and reduce their stress.

In this year’s study, 36% of Americans reported getting a massage for stress reduction or for relaxation in the last five years.  That is up from just 22% in last year’s survey.  And 38% of Americans state that they have considered massage as a stress management solution.  Other reasons stated for getting a massage; 31% said medical reasons, 19% stated the reason as pampering, while 11% said the reason was“other.”

Another interesting statistic from the study shows that massage therapy is more popular among the younger generation as well as lower income Americans.  In the 18-24 year old category, 56% say they would consider massage for stress management, while 46% of consumers earning less than $25,000 actually get a massage for health reasons.  That is more than any other group in the survey.

Something from the study that I found very encouraging was in relation to medical doctors.  The survey showed that 57% of those surveyed who talked to their doctor about getting a massage reported a strong recommendation or encouragement from their doctor.  In the 18-24 year age group, almost 70% reported a strong recommendation from a doctor.  This shows massage is making real headway in the eyes of medical doctors.

One of the problems for many seeking massage therapy is the fact that the service isn’t covered by their insurance.  The study reveals that 60% of Americans desire massage to be covered by their health insurance plans.

Those seeking massage treatment for medical or health benefits, as opposed to relaxation/stress reduction, is also on the rise.  The older generations tend to seek medical massage treatment more often, with 41% in the 55-64 year old age group and 44% of 64 and older group receiving massage for medical reasons.  Younger generations, however, are also seeking medical massage on a more regular basis.

Gary Eaton is a licensed massage therapist and writer living and working in Portland, Oregon. He manages a thriving therapeutic massage practice and is a featured writer for Massage Schools Guide.

New State Law To Improve California’s Massage Therapy Industry

Published
by
Gary
on February 22, 2009
in massage certification and massage licensing
. 0 Comments

By Gary Eaton

One of the biggest struggles for the massage industry is legitimization.  Many people still see massage therapists in the same light as massage parlors and their illicit activities.  National massage organizations such as the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA) and the Associated Bodywork & Massage Professions, Inc. to name a couple, have spent years bringing respect to the massage profession.

Most states require some form of certification or licensing in order to practice.  This has been brought about by the AMTA and other organizations in order to separate professional bodyworkers from prostitution rings that present themselves as massage clinics.

Currently there are 42 states that have state-wide regulations.  California wasn’t one of them.  Until a new law went into effect on January 1, individual cities regulated California massage therapists.  This meant that in some cities there were no requirements at all.

If you are a prospective massage therapist looking to go to massage school in California or are interested in practicing massage in the state, this is good news.  It is important for professional massage therapists to separate themselves from the more dubious “massage parlor” image.

As more and more states choose to regulate massage therapists, the massage industry will become a more legitimate industry and be accepted as not just a way to relax the body, but as an alternative treatment for injuries, pathologies and disease.

As a massage therapist that practices in the medical industry, it is important to me that people understand the difference between massage of the past (i.e. massage parlors) and the skills and abilities of todays massage therapists.  When states regulate massage they require a certain amount of training (usually a certain number of class-hours from a certified massage school), and they usually require therapists to at least pass a national exam.

These regulations bring conformity to the industry, help to insure safety for the general public, and help bring massage into the 21st century as a legitimate medical treatment option.

California has been hit-and-miss as regulations varied greatly from city to city.  This new state law will bring a positive change to the California massage therapy industry and make it easier for therapists to know what will be required to practice in the state.

Although California’s law is a great first step, it has minimal requirements.  Hopefully in the future they will put more teeth into the law to ensure better trained and more professional requirements for therapists.  These requirements will help move massage into a better light and provide more safety to residents looking to massage as an option for treatment.

A more critical reason for legitimizing massage is acceptance by the medical community.  Massage is slowly creeping into acceptance by many medical professionals.  But in order for massage to reach acceptance nation-wide, it will be important for more standardized training and requirements.  This is coming, but it has been a slow road and probably won’t come about for a few years.

If you are attending massage school and preparing to become a massage therapist, make sure you check out the state (or states) you are interested in practicing in order to understand their requirements.  Some states have much higher standards then others and it is important to find a massage school that will meet those requirements.

If you are looking to become a massage therapist in California, it just got easier to practice statewide thanks to this new law.

Gary Eaton is a licensed massage therapist and writer living and working in Portland, Oregon. He manages a thriving therapeutic massage practice and is a featured writer for Massage Schools Guide.