Many massage therapists offer nutrition counseling as part of a wellness package that focuses on the body – both inside and out. Because so much of what a massage therapist does has to do with improving quality of life through diminished pain, enhanced muscle strength, and better relaxation, looking more closely at diet makes sense. After all, no number of massages will help flush out high levels of lactic acid buildup in the muscles if a client doesn’t get the proper amount of water. And the ratio of minerals and vitamins within the body might increase or decrease athletic performance, regardless of what a sports massage professional can do.
How Massage Therapists Can Help
Many massage therapists are dividing their time between traditional bodywork and nutrition counseling as a way to address health issues from a whole-body perspective. Nutrition counseling allows for professionals to gauge a client’s current diet to look for problem areas that might be contributing to weight gain, low energy levels, or bodily aches and pains.
This work may include:
• Coming up with ideal meal plans specific to the client
• Providing a guide for healthy weight loss
• Eliminating processed or damaging foods from the diet
• Changing overall lifestyles
• Educating the client on the role of nutrients, minerals, and vitamins
• Treating digestive orders (such as IBS or Crohn’s disease)
In a spa or holistic healthcare setting, this type of a focus on nutrition makes sense. Most people go to these types of places in order to feel good, whether this means getting a massage or flushing toxins out of their system. By providing different layers of services, business tends to do better and clients have more of a reason to return.
For massage therapists, getting additional education or certification in nutrition simply means that their scope of services is that much larger. It’s a great way to avoid putting too much strain on the body by virtue of doing massage alone, and it can make you more marketable as a professional.
What about Nutrition Training?
Nutrition counseling isn’t something that just anyone can do, however. There are two- and four-year degrees available in nutritional services, and those degrees tend to have a heavy biology, chemistry, and medical focus. In order to work in a medical setting, it’s likely that you’ll need a degree and be certified in the field. Remember: it is never okay to provide health counseling without the proper education, even if it is in the capacity of a massage therapist.
© 2012 Massage Schools Guide