Licensure in Massage therapy
Massage therapy as a profession has come a long way. From the first few years where anyone good with their hands can do the kneading and the massaging to now where only the licensed can perform massages.
With state laws regulating massage therapy clinics, people can now breathe a sigh of relief. No more problems with massage therapists who don’t know how to massage. Now, when you get a massage, you don’t have to be afraid that you will end up having sore muscles and aching bones instead of the relaxed feeling that you are aiming for. Nowadays, you can be assured of a superb service that will be worth every penny that you paid for.
You will find, however, that different laws govern different states. This is because the laws in massage therapy have not yet reached the federal stage. This is the reason why every state has unique regulations. It seems that the government feels that this is an issue that is best dealt with per state and not federally. And the United States is not alone in this regard.
Canada, for instance, only have three provinces that actually enforce massage therapy regulations— British Columbia, Newfoundland and of course, Ontario. Only these three have registered and licensed therapists working in clinics. The other provinces are still non-regulated. This means that anybody can do the job without having to get some training.
Getting regulated is actually advantageous to clients who expect good service. Besides they deserve to put their bodies in the hands of those who know what they are doing. Because of the regulation and additional training, massage therapists do not only act as masseurs but also health advisers and sometimes even doctors.
They can assess and sometimes also respond to medical issues especially if it involves physical wellbeing and injuries. Another benefit in the regulation is that massage therapists are also given identified according to a field of expertise be it shiatsu or the more technical aromatherapy and acupressure.
This however is bad news to massage therapy practitioners who still don’t have the time or the money to avail of the training that is required of them. You see, in order to get a license you need to be able to pass the standards that are set by a group of massage therapy experts. Sometimes, these standards can be very hard to reach.
Industry regulating standards often focus on the education and training. In Canada, for instance, one must need about 3000 hours of training in order to get a license. That is equivalent to years of training. And though massage therapists have the skills to get through these training programs, most of them cannot start because of lack of money and time.
Some of them need the money to support their families and would rather use their earnings to buy food and other necessities than send themselves to training schools. Some feel that the number of experience in the job should also count for something when getting a license.
To answer this problem, many massage therapy organizations have established programs where people who are experienced in the industry can avail of scholarships and free training. Morning and Night classes have also been started to cater to those who have job shifts and have no time to go and study.
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What to expect in a massage therapy job
With how stressful life is right now, people are looking at new ways to de-stress and just relax their minds and their bodies. Massage therapy is the answer to many people’s need for de-stressing. This is the reason why it is one of the fastest growing industry.
A career in massage therapy can be pretty lucrative. Clients, who are mostly well to do or those who have money to burn, are known to give big tips especially if you have given them great service. It is actually through tips that you can earn a lot in this kind if industry. But it can also be harrowing and stressful. In order to survive on the job, you need to have the following set of characteristics.
1. Gift of the hands
Hands down, (no pun intended) having the gift of a comforting set of hands is the number one requirement for a career in massage therapy. To win customers over, you need to be skilled not only in massaging but also in relaxing. This may seem the same for most people who are not in the industry but once you are already part of it or is an avid client of massage therapy, you will know the difference.
A massage therapist can do all the right strokes to the letter but will not give comfort to the client. Some, on the other hand, may not do the conventional strokes but do relaxes the client. Some people’s hands naturally have a strong firm grip but others have a stronger grip that can be hurtful to the muscles.
2. Gift of Gab
Another way to charm your clients into giving you really big tips is the gift of talk. Actually, when you think about it the best way to talk to your clients while massaging them is to listen. Let them talk to you. Let them tell you about their problems at work and at home. Most people will have something to complain about in their career. After all, they are there in the massage therapy clinic to de-stress aren’t they?
This is the main reason why there are a lot of massage therapists who are privy to the deepest and darkest secrets of their clients. You see, when people are in a relaxed setting, they are more prone to speaking about their problems. This is especially true when they are in the company of strangers who would not really know who they are talking about. They feel that massage therapists are not really part of their world.
3. Gift of patience
Working in a massage therapy clinic will allow you to meet all kinds of people. This may be good if all of them are interesting and affable. But what if they are not? And I assure you, you will come across people who you would just like to forget because of their attitude and their personalities.
In this kind of job, you need to have the patience of a saint especially when you have a client who is obviously so wrong but is still insisting that they are right. And the worst thing is, you can’t argue because as they say, the customer is always right. You fight with them, you lose your job. That’s the way the game is played.
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