Showing posts with label Canada. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Canada. Show all posts
Things you should know before carving a career in Massage therapy
With the onslaught of massage therapy clinics in the country, more and more people are considering a career in it. After all, the pay not be as high but people will be raking in a lot in tips for good service. In fact, people who work in these clinics make their living out of these tips. This is especially true if you are working in high end massage therapy clinics in New York and in the Beverly Hills area.
But if you think that becoming a massage therapist is as easy as filling up an application form, it’s not. In fact, before you start kneading and massaging, you need to be first trained and certified. Because of the popularity of massage therapy clinics in the country, therapists have been regulated by the government. Unlike before when anyone can just work as a massage therapists, now the industry is more discriminating.
So if you are thinking of getting yourself a career in massage therapy, know first that it is not easy but not impossible too. Here are some of the things that you should consider when you are determined to carve a name for yourself in this fast-growing industry.
No federal regulation for the industry
Having just boomed in recent years, massage therapy is still not regulated by federal laws. Only state laws are being used in this industry right now. This means that when you go from one state to another, different laws will apply. In fact, in Canada, only three states have so far regulated the practice— Ontario, British Columbia and Newfoundland. The other provinces have yet to formulate their own regulations about the practice.
This can get confusing especially when you are looking for a career in massage therapy outside your mother state. For instance in Canada, massage therapists in the three provinces where it is regulated will carry a professional title that will distinguish them from other pseudo practitioners. Some will even have their own specialties similar to medical doctors.
These specialties are taken from the kinds of massages that they have expertise in: Acupressure, Hot Stone Massage, Thai Massage, Shiatsu, Aromatherapy and a lot more. Some will of course have more than one specialty but each should come with a certification. They should also first have a license before they can be allowed to practice in that particular area. This is attained when they have submitted all the necessary requirements asked of them and have met the standards of the state or the province’s regulatory board.
These regulating standards often include a specific number of years in total training in any field or specialty. These training courses are not the usual massage lessons that you foresee. Often, these lessons include subjects similar to what medical doctors take: anatomy, pathology, physiology and physical therapy. Because of these regulations, people who already have a license can actually assess and treat health conditions and injuries just like a doctor.
So before you apply, make sure that you know first the state regulations. To know about them, you can go to massage therapy associations and organizations in the state. Their websites will surely have the current regulations prevailing in the area.
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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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Things to consider before going to a massage therapy clinic
Although every one can certainly go to massage therapy clinics and avail of their services, there will also be times when it is not a good idea to get themselves a massage. Here are some of the reasons why you should first forgo with the massage and just relax the old fashion way at home with hot water and a good book.
1. You don’t have the budget
It is good to de-stress once in a while but if you don’t have the money to spare for one, don’t do it. It will be ineffective anyways because you will be stressed over being broke. Having no money is the number one stressor for most people and for sure you are not immune to it. So instead of wasting your money on massage therapy clinics, be contented on just lying on the couch and enjoying a good book. Save your money until you have enough to splurge on one great massage on that hip massage therapy clinic that you have been dying to go to. That is one ultimate stress buster!
2. You just went the other day
The body can take so much massage in one week. Be kind to your muscles and flesh by giving them a rest day. A respite from all that kneading and pounding will surely be welcome. Although there really is not recommended number of times that you can go to a massage therapy clinic, it is good to space out the visits to give your flesh a time to breathe and rest. A once or twice a week visit to the clinic is already good for most people.
3. You have a sprain
If you sprained yourself in of those softball games or while fixing the roof at home, don’t go to the massage therapy clinic for a cure. Go instead to your doctor and have him check your injury. That way, you can be sure that proper medical attention has been given to it. Remember that though people in massage therapy clinics are expert in massages, they are by no means an authority when it comes to sprains and injuries. In fact, they can even exacerbate the situation if they apply too much pressure on the problem area. That is why it is good to ask your doctor first if it is okay to go to a massage therapy clinic before you go.
4. Your last visit resulted to sore muscles
Although sometimes a visit to the massage therapy clinic will hurt some of your muscles, sore muscles are entirely different. Sometimes, too strong pounding and too much kneading can hurt the muscles and bones. So be careful with the massage therapy that you avail of. If you are the type of person who easily bruises, opt for the softer or milder ones.
If you had sore muscles from your previous visit, then it is safe to say that you need something milder than that.
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How to choose a good massage therapy school
Still, state laws are state laws and one cannot do anything about it unless of course they want to go to another state and see if the laws are different there. But most people would like to stay in their states and continue the services that they have already established in the country. In fact, most are going to massage therapy training schools in order to obtain their certificates. After all, schooling will be a breeze considering that they already know what they will be training for. They just need the paper.
One problem though that face these people is how to find the right training school that will fit their schedule and their budget. Here are some tips to help them.
1. Location
One way to save money and time is to find schools that are near your home or your place of work depending of course in your schedule. For instance, if you are going to school after work it is logical to look for schools that are near the massage therapy clinics you are working for.
2. Tuition fee
Another big consideration for people is the tuition fee. This is especially true with people who don’t have enough money to send themselves to school. As much as you can, look for programs that have flexible payment terms and If possible, a school that offers a scholarship programs. You can offer to teach part time or to work in the school in exchange for a discount. Some people have more time than money in their hands so this can work.
3. Certification
Remember that not all schools are recognized by the governing bodies that issue the certification and the license. It is important that before you enroll, make sure that the school you have chosen are certified by the state regulatory board. Otherwise, all your time and money will go to waste. Actually, as an advice: ask for a list of the schools that they are recognizing before you look for a massage therapy school. That way, you can be sure that whichever you choose is already legitimate. No time is wasted looking for schools that is not accepted in the first place.
4. Specialization
Like ordinary schools, there are massage therapy training schools that have more expertise in a particular field. If you want to focus on a particular field then it is logical for you to choose the school that is known for that field. This way, you will be able to benefit from better education as most of the instructors there will probably be specializing in that field of specialization.
This is especially true if the field that you want to get into is the more technical one that may require more difficult training and study.
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