Choosing a massage therapy school involves considering the type of massage training offered, program length, reputation, techniques, and where one wants to practice. Cost and job placement services should also be considered. Research is important to find the best fit.
There are several things to consider when selecting a massage therapy school, including the type of massage training a school offers, the length of its program, and the school’s reputation. By carefully thinking about these issues in advance, students can select the schools that best suit their needs and will have a more rewarding massage therapy school experience. Like other schools offering technical and commercial training, the massage school should be viewed as an investment that requires careful research.
Before starting to look for massage therapy schools, prospective students should think about the type of massage they want to do. Experience with massage helps, as people can personally experience different styles and get an idea of how they feel. Students may also want to think about cross-training in various techniques. For example, knowing basic Swedish and deep tissue massage is very helpful, but more clients are available if a student learns another modality such as Thai massage, lomi-lomi, watsu or hot stone massage. Students may also want to think about whether or not they are interested in adding energy to their massage practice, as this will also influence their choice of school.
After thinking about techniques and modalities, students should also think about where they want to practice massage. Different regions have different training requirements, ranging from a few hundred hours to over a thousand, and students must ensure that they have adequate training to legally perform massages in the area they wish to work. Students can also consider whether they want to work for spas, conduct a massage therapy clinic in an office or clinic, or travel to private homes, hotel rooms, and other locations for massage.
Once the student has determined how much training is needed and what massage techniques he or she wants to learn, it’s time to start looking at massage schools to find a good fit. A great resource for massage schools is practicing massage therapists; if someone has a good massage, he or she should ask where the therapist trained. Professional massage organizations are another search, as are trade publications.
Ideally, the student should have a list of massage therapy schools with philosophies and lists of course offerings that seem like a good fit that he or she can narrow down to find a good candidate. One consideration to think about is the length and intensity of the program; Would a student prefer to dedicate an entire year just to massage training, for example, or would it be a weekend program that allows the student to work during the week and receive massage training on the weekends? The show’s website is also something to think about; a massage therapy school can be more enjoyable if it is in a pleasant or interesting location that allows the student to enjoy himself when he has time off.
Cost can be another factor that should be considered when looking for a massage therapy school. Training can be expensive, and students may not have the funds available. Some schools offer financial assistance, such as grants and loans, and others may offer work exchanges so students can work for part of their tuition. Job placement is also a service that people might be interested in. If a massage therapy school offers job placement services, it means that graduates can get a job as soon as they are certified, instead of having to look for a job.
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