By Gary Eaton, LMT
In these unstable economic times, many of you are probably wondering if now is a good time to spend your time and money becoming a massage therapist.The cost alone might cause concern for many.
But what might be the biggest fear is that when you do get done with your massage school training there might not be any massage therapy jobs.I mean, massage is a luxury right?When finances are tough, people cut back on luxury expenses and won’t spend money on non-essentials.
Well, if you think that way, you are not alone.In fact, most people believe that to be true.But the fact of the matter is there is no better time to go to massage school.
Yes, there will be some areas of the massage industry that will struggle. High-end spas, for instance.Those that charge $200 for a two-hour treatment that includes some kind of mud bath, a wrap and a massage will probably see a decrease in business.And possibly a large decrease.
However, most areas of massage will continue to prosper, and those therapists that know how to market as well as provide excellent services will not just survive but thrive.Think about it – people still get injured in a down economy, people still have auto accidents, work accidents.And maybe most importantly for massage therapists, these economic times create more stress.
Where do many people go when they are stressed and need relief?That’s right, to a massage therapist.So if you look at things from a different perspective, the troubled economy is actually good for massage.Not that I like seeing all the people losing their jobs, but it is a fact.The more people are stressed, the more they need us therapists to help them.
Let me give you a comparison.Most of my patients are motor vehicle accident patients.I don’t like to see anyone injured in car accidents, but the fact is people get in accidents all the time and they need help to recover.
As such, winter time and the snow and ice creates a lot of auto accidents.So I know come winter I am going to get busier.A few weeks ago we had a big winter storm and I new in a few weeks I would have several new patients.Last week I picked up four new patients.Bad for them, good for my business.I don’t rejoice about their pain, but I am happy to see people coming in for massage because my livelihood depends upon it.
Well, this economy is the same.With the increase in joblessness, millions of homes getting foreclosed and uncertainly about the future, many people have a huge increase in the stress in their lives.As massage therapist we are uniquely qualified to help relieve that stress and help them to better cope with the struggles in their lives.
As far as I’m concerned, this might just be the best time to get into a massage school and get licensed.Those who seem to be in the know are saying that we are in this mess for a while and it won’t end anytime soon.
One more positive for the massage industry is the increase in massage being utilized in the medical profession.I have come to realize that I made a wise choice in focusing my practice in the area of therapeutic deep tissue massage.I work with a couple of doctors in a clinic and I have come to understand that the healthcare field doesn’t suffer during an economic downturn.
You might consider that when you get into school and start to decide what direction you want to take with your massage school.There is never a bad time to become a massage therapist if it is the right career choice, but there may never be a better time then the present to start massage school and get your license.
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.
© 2012 Massage Schools Guide