Reasons to become a Massage Therapist

Massage therapists develop treatment plans for client’s physical needs and provide massages to relieve pain and other symptoms, focused on the joints and soft tissues of the body. People may choose this career because they like to interact with people and assist them on their path to healing. 

To start working in the field, many choose to get a college diploma in a massage therapy program, where upon graduation you will become a registered massage therapist, meeting government and industry standards for the work. Massage therapy is quite high in demand, with 79 percent of employers recruiting in the past year. 

There’s many advantages to becoming a massage therapist, for personal fulfillment, monetary, and other reasons. In this blog we’ll talk about a few of the things that make massage therapy an attractive career to consider. 

Helping people in pain 

You’re able to provide a helping hand. The service that massage therapists provide is invaluable to many clients because lots of them suffer from injuries, chronic pain, and other physical conditions. It’s a relief for these clients since massages can alleviate some of the symptoms they have without them having to take medications, and allows them to finally relax and feel at ease while they may be feeling anxious about their pains otherwise.

Many registered massage therapists are in the field because they like to help people, and appreciate the rewarding feeling they get after they know they’ve taken some people’s pain away, even if it’s temporary. You can indirectly work in the healthcare field, which many people are looking for. As well, if the client likes how you connect with them and your massage techniques, they’ll be sure to come back for more appointments.  

Shaping your bright future

You will get to choose how you want to shape your future. Being a massage therapist will give you the choice and the opportunity to work in a variety of different environments. This can include medical settings like hospitals or other health centers, resorts and spas or vacation spots, or you can even open up your own business and have clients come to your home.

Having these options can boost your experience and make you a well sought after massage therapist with a bit of time. It’ll also give you the experience and know-how to work with different types of clients, helping you expand your client base. This includes those who want a leisure massage,  those who require it for medical purposes, and those who fall somewhere in the middle. 

Setting your own schedule

You have the ability to set your own work schedule. If you work for yourself you have this flexibility, to book appointments with clients at your discretion and the times that work best for you. Even if you are the employee of a company that offers massage therapy services, you might be able to negotiate the hours that you want to work, leaving the rest of your time to do other things that are important to you or other commitments that you may have at those times.

While you have the ability to do this, make sure you’re not strictly thinking about yourself. Sometimes it’s good to decide on a middle ground if you’re having trouble fitting a client in at a time that works for both of you. This will benefit both you and your client in the long run. 

Deciding your own income

You have the capacity to earn more. Whether you’re renting an office space, working from home, or for another company, you can decide how much you earn. Of course, the more clients that you can take in in a day; the higher your pay will be. As well, you can set your own rates for different types of massages which factors into how much you earn.

Some clients may want to get a massage in different areas, so the amount that you earn per client will vary as well. The average pay per hour that a massage therapist earns in Alberta is $33.61, so that’s something to consider when you’re shaping your career and figuring out what works best for you. 

We hope this helped offer some insight into what it would be like to work as a massage therapist. If you would like to learn more about becoming a massage therapist, you can visit ABM College’s Massage Therapy Diploma page to find out the courses you’ll need to know and the experience to enter the exciting industry of massage.