Massage therapy schools can prepare you for becoming a member of the growing industry of healthcare providers, in a relatively lucrative, interesting, and varied field. But, what are massage therapy schools all about? You will be wise to do some research about massage therapy, massage therapy schools, and massage therapy educational programs before enrolling in a school or a course of study to learn this trade.
A solid massage therapy education may begin in a local vocational or technical school or community college, or you can take the plunge and attend one of the many massage therapy schools that devote all their energies to developing specialists in the field.
There are various types of massage and varying degrees of education to be realized in massage therapy education programs. The type of massage taught by an individual massage therapy school will depend on the fundamental orientation of that school. As a rule, massage focuses on relaxation of muscle and connective tissue to promote physical recovery from stress or injury. The Eastern approach to massage therapy, however, integrates physical, mental, and spiritual health through massage for the specific purpose of promoting wellbeing of the total human being.
Many massage school programs are quite basic, teaching methods of applying pressure, manipulating, and moving muscle tissue, soft tissue, and ligaments of clients to invoke relaxation with the use of gentle, medium, or intense touch. Massage done simply for relaxation or energizing a client is not considered to be true massage therapy, but simply massage.
True massage therapy is medical massage performed by a thoroughly trained practitioner who applies specialized techniques for effecting medical health benefits. Medical massage schools are often found in medical schools or four-year colleges and universities that contain specialized medical massage education programs.
Specialization in massage can actually take more than 80 different approaches! Schools that focus on Eastern approaches to massage teach the promotion of total body and mental and spiritual health and wellness. Massage therapy schools of this sort generally teach much more than massage techniques for promoting relaxation. Eastern massage therapy can incorporate herbal medicine, aromatherapy, hydrotherapy, reflexology, acupressure, and many more variations of massage that induce beneficial mental and spiritual responses.
Swedish massage is a form of deep tissue massage that uses exaggerated strokes that may extend the length of the back, arm, or leg. Sports massage and neuromuscular massage are additional approaches to massage therapy that promote healing of injury or reduction of pain. Massage therapists often specialize in different modalities that require variations of techniques, such as quick, percussion-like strokes with cupped or closed hands, hour-long full body massage, or short five- or ten-minute neck or scalp massage.
The field of massage therapy is wide open. You can choose to become master of your own small operation, to work in a local gym, to work for an athletic organization, or to provide massage therapy in corporate offices, or to work in a luxury spa, an exotic resort, or on a cruise ship.
The type of massage you give depends on the type of client you choose to serve. The client's needs and physical condition are the key to the choices you make in this professional field. You can choose to specialize your practice to serve the elderly, athletes, those with physical injuries, or those who are simply seeking relaxation. There are also specialized forms of massage intended solely for prenatal patients or infants.
Whatever style of massage or massage therapy you choose to undertake, a session begins by conducting an informal interview with the client to determine medical history and the desired results. The therapist decides which techniques will be most beneficial to each client. Objectives, ailments, medical history, and stress or pain will determine the type of massage to employ.
Whatever you decide is the best type of approach to meet your goals, you can begin with a basic course to get started in the massage therapy business. Once you are established and have determined your long-term ambitions, you can on to a more in-depth program of study as you progress in your profession. This is a good approach if you are uncertain as to whether massage therapy is the ideal occupation for you.
To learn more about Massage Therapy Schools and even Online Massage Therapy Schools, search our site for more in-depth information and resources.
DISCLAIMER: Above is a GENERAL OVERVIEW and may or may not reflect specific practices, courses and/or services associated with ANY ONE particular school(s) that is or is not advertised on SchoolsGalore.com.
Copyright 2006 - All Rights Reserved
Michael Bustamante, in association with Media Positive Communications, Inc. for SchoolsGalore.com
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Michael Bustamante is a staff writer for Media Positive Communications, Inc. in association with SchoolsGalore.com. Find Natural Healing Schools, Colleges, Universities, Vocational Schools and Alternative Medicine Schools at SchoolsGalore.com; your educational resource to locate schools.
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