Ready for a career change?
They say a change is as good as a rest and there could be several reasons why you want to take a different path in your career. Deciding to retrain can be daunting, of course, but a career change can also open a world of possibilities.
There’s no doubt that working life has become more stressful in the last decade for a variety of reasons. If you work in the service industry and feel that your career is stagnating, you may already be thinking about making a change.
Training as a massage therapist has a wide range of benefits, not least because it’s a growing industry with a lot of opportunities. Here we take a closer look at some of the reasons why you might want to consider a career change.
What is a Massage Therapist?
A massage therapist is a trained professional who uses touch to manipulate the soft tissues of the body, working on areas such as muscles, tendons, ligaments, and skin. Their primary goals are to help clients relax, reduce pain, improve circulation, and increase their range of motion.
Massage therapists typically begin by assessing the client’s needs and history and what they want to get out of a session. They use a variety of techniques, such as Swedish massage and deep tissue massage to help alleviate a client’s potential symptoms.
During a massage session, a therapist will use their hands and fingers to apply gentle pressure to the body. Some will use oils, lotions or other products to enhance the massage experience.
Massage therapists can work in a variety of settings, including spas, health clubs, hotels and even hospitals. Some work independently and make house calls to clients. Massage therapists need to have good communication skills, as well as a good understanding of anatomy and physiology.
Types of Massage
There are various types of massage and training in one or more areas can help you not only find work in places like spas but also provides an option of going it alone and starting your own local business. Some of the most popular types of massage today include:
- Baby Massage: Teaching baby massage to mums is a very rewarding way to earn a living – you’ll need to already have a body massage certificate but it’s a great skill to add to your repertoire.
- Swedish Massage: This popular type of therapeutic massage uses long strokes, kneading, friction and other techniques to help relax and energise the body. It typically involves the use of oils or lotions and is often used to help reduce stress, improve circulation, and alleviate muscle tension and pain.
- Deep Tissue Massage: This type of massage involves applying firm pressure and slow strokes to target specific areas of tension and chronic pain, and is used to help alleviate muscle knots and chronic aches, as well as improve range of motion.
- Indian Head Massage: Focusing on the head and neck, this uses various massage techniques, such as kneading, acupressure and tapping, to help relieve tension, improve circulation and promote relaxation. It can alleviate headaches, neck and shoulder pain and stress-related symptoms. This is a great option if you are offering massage in people’s homes.
- Hot Stone Massage: This involves the use of smooth, heated stones to warm and relax tight muscles. The therapist may place the stones on specific points on the body or use them as a massage tool to release tension and improve circulation.
5 Reasons to Train as a Massage Therapist
Of course, a career change can be challenging. Here are just a few reasons we think that learning to be a massage therapist might benefit you.
1. A More Meaningful Career?
Massage therapy is a rewarding career for those who enjoy working with people, have good communication skills and are passionate about health and wellness. Many massage therapists find their work fulfilling as they help clients reduce stress, relieve pain and improve their overall well-being.
2. The Rise of AI and the Threat to Jobs
This might seem like an odd reason but with the explosion of artificial intelligence, many people are beginning to see their roles in places like offices and online either overtaken by faceless machines or at least significantly diminished. Where this goes in the future is anyone’s guess but training for something more ‘hands-on’ like massage may give you a few better options if you do feel that your career might be under threat.
3. Flexible Working
Training as a massage therapist also opens the potential for flexible working. You can add it as a second job and earn some extra money to support your main income. Many organisations that employ massage therapists offer flexible working hours that make it a better fix if, for example, you are bringing up children or caring for someone and need a job that isn’t strictly nine to five.
4. The Chance to Go Solo
One of the main reasons that people choose to learn a skill like massage is that it gives them the chance to start their own business. It’s relatively easy now to set up a website online and start developing a local client base. And you don’t need a lot of resources to do it.
5. High Demand
The popularity of massage is growing as people realise its health benefits, particularly for problems like stress which is so common in modern society. The spa chain Champneys, in a post-pandemic survey, asked around 2000 people and found that health and well-being treatments like massage were on the increase.
How to Train as a Massage Therapist
One of the great things about becoming a massage therapist is that you can add lots of different skills to your repertoire over time, improving your employability as well as giving you a great range of services if you are thinking of going it alone.
If you live in Sussex, Absolute Holisitics offers a comprehensive range of competitively priced massage courses throughout the year.