| ling power of touch is not unknown. A | | | | enhance your prospects as a massage and spa |
| personalized massage regimen not only relieves | | | | therapist. A certification course or a degree that |
| the body of the toxics generated within, but also | | | | is recognized by a national accreditation agency |
| helps the person regain vitality emotionally and | | | | and offering a minimum 500 instruction hours is a |
| mentally. A career as a massage or spa therapist | | | | good option. Many states that regulate massage |
| can be particularly rewarding for this very reason. | | | | and spa therapies ask for these criteria from the |
| If assisting people relax and find peace through | | | | practitioner. Taking up the national certificate |
| touch therapy thrills you to bits, there could not | | | | exam for therapeutic massage and bodywork is |
| be a better career option. And since what you | | | | the next step towards a career. Meeting the |
| give away comes back to you, you can revel in | | | | requirements of the local body governing or |
| the satisfaction that comes from doing a job well. | | | | regulating such therapies is imperative. Be aware |
| A career in massage and spa therapy would | | | | of their requirements and stand in compliance of |
| ideally be perfect for a person who rejoices in | | | | them. |
| others’ relief. A pleasurable job comes | | | | A massage therapy is both an art and a science. |
| sans work related stresses and hence increases | | | | See if your chosen program offers both |
| the chances of you enjoying it manifold. | | | | theoretical and particle knowledge. Make sure that |
| The present scenario | | | | the basic of massage therapy is covered by the |
| The spa and massage industry has experienced | | | | curriculum in depth. Try to find out if the course |
| an unprecedented high in the last decade. Several | | | | encourages the development of your touch skills. |
| trends in massage suggest that the opportunities | | | | The importance of continuing education cannot be |
| for massage therapy careers are exponentially | | | | pooh-poohed either. Advanced training in the |
| rising, with an increasing number of people opting | | | | departments of therapies for sports, orthopedic, |
| for massage and spa relaxation to relieve | | | | neuromuscular therapy, therapeutic touch and |
| themselves of stress and pressure. A spa | | | | polarity and Shiatsu proves to be an added |
| therapist hardly ever faces a dearth of job | | | | advantage and decreases the competition you |
| opportunities, which makes this area of study one | | | | might face in your career as a massage therapist. |
| of the most rewarding fields in current times. | | | | Marketing or business administration courses, |
| Massage and spa therapies have come a full circle | | | | though not essential, will definitely add value to |
| and are today known to supplement traditional | | | | your basic course. These will be of immense help |
| medicine. The myriad specializations that can be | | | | in targeting the niche clientele your business |
| pursued have only made the profession more | | | | focuses on, and retaining them. |
| organized and hence, respectable. From relaxation | | | | Making a career |
| massages to specialized clinical applications that | | | | Once you are armed with the necessary degrees |
| require rigorous training, students of this vocation | | | | and certifications, its time to contemplate what |
| can choose to work with medical offices, clinics, | | | | exact option would you like to plunge in. Do your |
| spas, or varied segments of clients including | | | | home work and decide whether you want to set |
| athletes, infants, elderly or people with injuries, | | | | up your own saloon or work in association with |
| sicknesses or handicaps. The most preferred | | | | other businesses? Are you looking for a full time |
| option, though, is the setting up of a massage | | | | career or do you want this career to supplement |
| saloon. | | | | your other income generating work? |
| Massage therapy as a career option | | | | If you decide to work in conjunction with some |
| The decision of whether or not to take up | | | | other businesses or want to get employed at a |
| massage therapy as a career depends upon a | | | | spa as a therapist, choose the type of spa you |
| number of factors. Answering a few basic | | | | would like to work in — be it a day spa, |
| questions — such as 1) Do I like interacting | | | | resort spa, destination spa or a medical spa. |
| with people? 2) Am I satisfied with the smile on | | | | Writing a good resume listing your qualifications |
| their faces at the end of a session? 3) Do I | | | | and experiences along with a precise cover letter |
| believe in the power of touch therapy to cure | | | | is half the battle won. Since it is the first |
| illnesses? 4)Do I love contributing in my own way | | | | communication from your side, avoid spelling |
| to the overall well being of an individual through | | | | mistakes, and grammatical errors in the |
| personalized care? - would put to rest the | | | | document. Speaking up with the managers of |
| dilemma. Deciding whether this field is the right | | | | spas that you intend to wok in will give you an |
| choice as a career goal is not as difficult as | | | | idea of the ambience and work culture there. |
| pursuing this goal. | | | | Forward your resume to all the businesses you |
| The training required | | | | intend to work with. |
| Recognizing the needs of the growing spa | | | | A personal interview is the best opportunity to |
| industry, many institutions have come up with | | | | convince the manager of your strengths. Explain |
| courses on massage therapy. These dwell upon | | | | in what way you could contribute to the growth |
| the overall anatomy of the human body with | | | | of the spa. Reaching a little while early than the |
| detailed emphasis on muscles and their particular | | | | scheduled time will not only help you prepare for |
| functions in the body. Apart from this, the | | | | the discussion, but will also help you gauge the |
| certification courses involve giving and receiving | | | | ways of the employees and superiors. |
| massage to learn about the intricacies of touch | | | | A career in massage therapy is a way to help |
| therapy. | | | | people overcome personal anxieties and allows |
| Choose a course keeping in mind the | | | | the practitioner a unique personal interaction with |
| requirements of the industry. A course that is in | | | | fellow beings. |
| conjunction with the industry standards will help | | | | |