Imagine a career where you can heal, relax, and transform lives every day. A career that might even take you to exotic locales where the weather’s always nice and the sun’s always warm.
Sounds nice, right?
Well, those are some of the aspects you could look forward to when you become a massage therapist. It might not be a career you’ve given much thought to previously, but graduates of massage therapy programs are enjoying all kinds of perks they weren’t experiencing in their previous careers!
In the following paragraphs, we’ll walk you through 3 big reasons why you should become a massage therapist.
Reason 1: Diverse Work Environments
Massage therapy training opens a lot of doors – especially for people who like to work with their hands! Here are some of the areas where massage therapists might find themselves working over the course of their careers.
Spas and Getaways: Probably the most common destination for massage therapists is working in a spa setting – whether it’s locally in the neighborhood, at an outdoor getaway, or even on a cruise or at a resort! Whether you’re skilled in classic techniques such as Swedish massage or other in-demand techniques such as deep tissue or hot stone, there’s going to be more than a few spas looking for someone with your skills.
In these locations, massage therapists focus primarily on the relaxation angle of the business, helping clients unwind and treat themselves to a little bit of self care. Often, these environments are calm, tranquil, and just as relaxing for the massage therapist as the client.
Clinical Settings: Massage therapists have skills that go beyond helping induce relaxation and overall wellness. By understanding muscles and having a relatively holistic approach to wellness, they can also find themselves working in clinics specializing in patient recovery.
In these settings, massage therapists focus primarily on the rehabilitation process, helping manage pain and working with injury recovery. The therapeutic techniques you’ll gain from training can help alleviate discomfort, improve mobility, and improve the quality of life for patients.
Sports and Fitness: Athletes and fitness enthusiasts rely on massage therapists to enhance their performance and prevent injuries on a regular basis. Whether it’s with marathon runners training for a race, weightlifters at the gym, or even professional hockey players, working in these settings you’ll play an essential role in helping maintain the physical wellbeing of athletes.
Reason 2: High Job Satisfaction
According to various job satisfaction surveys, massage therapists have some of the highest satisfaction ratings out there, with over 88% commenting favourably on their careers.
When you look at the work they do, it’s hardly a surprise! Belo are some of the reasons that contribute to their high career satisfaction ratings.
Direct Impact Of Your Work: One of the most rewarding aspects of being a massage therapist is the direct impact you have on the lives of your client. After every session, you’ll be able to see firsthand the positive aspects of your training, from being able to reduce pain, release tension, and generally leaving your clients feeling revitalized.
Strong Client Relationships: Building long-term relationships with clients isn’t uncommon for massage therapists, as clients tend to bond with their favourite therapists and book repeat visits. Over the course of your career, you’ll be able to build trust with your clients who rely on your expertise along with your therapeutic touch to maintain their overall health and wellness.
Reason 3: Work Flexibility and Growth Opportunities
Becoming a massage therapist is about as far away from the usual 9-5 workweek as you can expect. Here are some of the ways this career stands out in terms of opportunities and flexibility.
Flexible Schedules: Lots of massage therapists work different hours from week to week depending on the needs of their clients or their own personal availability. Whether you prefer a structured spa environment or the freedom of freelancing, massage therapy offers flexibility in scheduling a work week that best fits your lifestyle. Plenty of massage therapists also work only part-time, as a relaxing way of moonlighting away from their other careers.
Career Advancement: Not all massage therapists simply provide Swedish massages from one day to the next. There are speciality techniques you can learn, ranging from sports massages, to prenatal care, or even finding ways to incorporate holistic therapies into your routine. These can lead to working in different settings and also sometimes seeing higher salaries alongside the opportunities!
Personal Entrepreneurship: Many massage therapists, after working for some time in spas and other settings, also decide to set out and start their own practices. This lets you really tailor your services based on your own specialized techniques or for specific client demands and preferences.
Final thoughts about careers as a massage therapist
Like we mentioned at the start of this article, becoming a massage therapist isn’t just a career choice. For those who truly enjoy their work, it’s also a pathway to making a real tangible difference in people’s lives.
Do you have a passion for helping others? Interested in a hands-on career that takes you places? Consider becoming a massage therapist! Our accelerated massage therapist training program is also fully accredited at our campuses in Barrie, North Bay, and Sault Ste Marie! Why not consider how CTS Canadian Career College can get you to your dream career sooner?
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