We hope you’ve enjoyed our “a day in the life” blog post series. Last but not least, let’s talk about what it’s like to be a massage therapist. This might be the toughest blog to write, because massage therapists can have so many different work environments and lifestyles, but we’ll give it a shot.
Did you know that there are over 80 different kinds of massage that can be used for relaxation, pain management, and healing of injuries? If you specialize in one of these types of massage, you can work with a small facility or start your own private practice by marketing that specialization. However, since massage centers and spas are cropping up all over the United States, let’s take a look at a day in the life of a spa massage therapist.
Massage Therapist as a Team Member
If you’re working in a spa, you’re working with other people. You’ll be on a team that includes other massage therapists, front-desk receptionists, and managerial staff. You might not think of massage as “dangerous,” but all kinds of incidents can happen, and it’s your responsibility to inform management when they do and maintain a safe, healthy space so that the facility can operate smoothly. Your spa will have policies about sterilization, hygiene, and preparatory requirements related to massage; you’ll learn them on the job and follow them each day.
Massage Therapist as an Educator
In addition to giving relaxing and therapeutic massages, you’re an expert in wellness. Clients and visitors to your facility will ask general and specific questions about the benefits of massage, the kinds of exercises they can do at home to avoid muscle tension, and whether they should recommend a certain kind of massage to their friends. It’s your job to talk to them and help them learn about massage – who better to teach them about its benefits than a trained professional?
Massage Therapist in the Massage Room
Of course, your primary duty as a massage therapist is giving massages. After you train at ACHT, you’ll be able to administer professional, consistent massages without supervision. As a massage therapist, you’ll need excellent communication and listening skills: your customers might not mention that they’re uncomfortable right away, but you should be able to tell if they need you to ease up or change what you’re doing. Some patients want to talk to their massage therapists; others might doze off for a little bit.
Your most important skill as a massage therapist is your ability to respond to patients’ needs. As long as you can provide great service and high-quality massages, your job at a spa should be pleasant and rewarding.
Have a gift for giving a great foot rub but not sure if you can make money on it? ACHT’s massage therapist program is growing, and so are the job opportunities for massage therapists. Give us a call and ask about our massage therapy program; we’d love to hear from you!