| Some professionals, such as physicians and | | | | increase your business by offering different types |
| nurses, are required to complete a certain amount | | | | of massages. If you were trained in Swedish |
| of continuing education each year. This is to make | | | | massage, consider looking to other types of |
| sure they keep up to date on the newest | | | | massages to help expand your massage |
| techniques available to help their patients. While | | | | repertoire. Look at continuing your massage |
| having a massage therapist license might not | | | | development by taking classes in different types |
| mean you must take continuing education, it is still | | | | of Asian massages such as Thai massage, Thai |
| very important and you should consider it a high | | | | foot massage, Thai herb compress massage or |
| priority. After all, you are helping heal individuals | | | | Chinese Tui Na massage. You may want to study |
| just as doctors and nurses are. It is important | | | | more conventional western forms, such as sports |
| that you provide the utmost up-to-date service | | | | massage, pregnancy massage or aromatherapy |
| to your clients. Most professional associations | | | | massage. |
| require it these days and you insurance may | | | | If you are already well versed in Asian massage |
| depend on it. | | | | techniques, maybe you should focus your |
| Continuing professional development or education | | | | continuing professional development on a specific |
| as a massage therapist will not only benefit your | | | | part of the body. There are courses which |
| clients, but you and your employers (if you work | | | | concentrate on the assessment and treatment of |
| for a company) as well. Employers love for their | | | | upper limbs, cervical and thoracic spine, freeing the |
| employees to keep up-to-date on the latest | | | | shoulder, freeing the lower back and hips, focusing |
| techniques that apply to their field. This means | | | | on the lumber spine hip/pelvis and lower leg. |
| that no only do they have a skilled and qualified | | | | There is deep tissue or Remedial massage, which |
| employee, but they are providing the best service | | | | works on specific joints or muscle groups. Going |
| possible to their clients. Even if you work as an | | | | even deeper we have neuromuscular therapy, |
| individual massage therapist, the same rules apply. | | | | which focuses on pain relief in specific 'trigger |
| By continuing your professional development, you | | | | points' and deepest of all, there is myofacial |
| can let your clients know that you have the skills | | | | release, which works to release tension in the |
| needed to provide them with excellent massage | | | | connective tissue layers. |
| therapy. This will keep clients happy and happy | | | | To continue your professional development as a |
| clients are returning clients. Acquiring new skills will | | | | massage therapist is very important to both you |
| also allow you to charge more for your services. | | | | and your clients. Check with your local clinics and |
| Clients who find a quality massage therapist with | | | | community colleges to see what classes are |
| credentials to back up their services will be willing | | | | offered that might help compliment the techniques |
| to pay more for a massage. You can also | | | | you already know. |