Becoming a massage therapist can be a very rewarding career, and massage classes will help you get on the path to this exciting and fulfilling career. Not long ago this mode of therapy was considered a luxury. However, now more people are now acknowledging the fact that massage therapy is the perfect complement for better health. Those interested in following a career in massage therapy will find countless job opportunities by taking massage therapy classes and getting licensed.

The massage therapy field has a very high demand today, with new positions growing as more people experience the benefits and more doctors recommend massage therapy. According to the American Massage Therapy Association, roughly 32.6 million, or over 15 percent, of adult Americans had a massage at least once between July 2013 and July 2014.

This number is expected to grow in the next few years as, according to recent surveys, most of these adults believe that massage is effective in reducing their pain. In fact, more than 54 million Americans discussed massage therapy with their doctors or healthcare providers, and, in turn, 71 percent of these doctors have referred them to a massage therapist.

A Deeper Appreciation of the Body

There’s more to massage classes than learning how to perform massage techniques. During classes, students also learn about muscles and other anatomical systems, since it’s important for therapists to have good understanding of how massage affects the whole body.  They also receive an education in what happens to the body during illness, injury or disease.

Massage therapists work with people at all stages of their lives, people who have a variety of medical conditions, as well as a growing number of people with workplace or other injuries. The education that massage therapy students receive helps them easily understand these conditions and how massage therapy helps them.

Communication and Compassion

Since massage therapists are looked to by millions of people to help them experience pain relief, it’s also important for massage therapists to have solid communication skills. Effective communication between client and therapist is key to understanding the sources of pain and using massage to effectively relieve that pain.

More importantly, massage therapists must also learn how to be compassionate. Despite the physical demands and the constant stream of clients, massage therapists know the value of creating a calming and compassionate atmosphere as a way to foster and maintain loyal clients.

As more people are valuing their health and wellness, following a career in massage therapy allows you to help them in the most meaningful way. In fact, most massage therapists feel fortunate in following this career, as they have found one job that they truly love.

Sources:

Starting a Career in Massage Therapy: What You Need to Know, American Massage Therapy Association

Industry Fact Sheet, American Massage Therapy Association