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