Massage Therapist
Job Description:Massage therapists manipulate clients' muscles and soft tissues, treat sports injuries and give help to people with health issues.
Job Category:What you will do:
In a typical treatment session you’ll:
- check the client’s medical history, diet and lifestyle
- identify the client’s reasons for wanting massage therapy
- plan a course of treatment
- apply pressure to areas of the body
- give advice to clients about their wellbeing
- refer clients to medical professionals when required
- create and update client records
Skills:
You’ll need:
- knowledge of how the human body works (human and musculoskeletal anatomy)
- knowledge of massage theory
- to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device
As well as:
- customer service skills
- sensitivity and understanding
- excellent oral/verbal and written communication skills
- active listening skills
- the ability to work well with your hands
- patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations (leadership skills)
- to be thorough and pay attention to detail (organisational skills)
Entry Requirements:
You can get into this job through:
- a college course
- an apprenticeship
College
You could take a course at college that will give you some of the skills and knowledge needed for this role.
In the UK for example, relevant courses include:
- Diploma in Massage
- Diploma in Sports Massage Therapy
- Diploma in Complementary Therapies
Apprenticeship
You could gain some of the skills and knowledge for this role through an advanced apprenticeship like a:
- holistic wellbeing practitioner
- beauty therapist
Career tips
You can specialise in a particular form of massage like:
- baby and infant massage
- Swedish massage
- deep tissue massage
- sports massage
You can take extra training to build these specialist skills.
Working Hours and Environment:
A typical week consists of 37-39 hours of work. You could be required to work freelance/be self-employed managing your own hours.
You could work in a therapy clinic, at a health spa or from home. Your working environment may be physically active. You may need to wear a uniform.
Career Path & Progression:
With experience and a caseload or regular clients, you could set up your own business.
You could also take additional training to offer other wellbeing or complementary therapy treatments like aromatherapy, reiki or reflexology.