What Courses Do You Take to Become a Massage Therapist?
With noted health benefits such as reduced stress and pain, heightened immune system function, and relieved depression, massage therapy has become increasingly popular as a holistic medicinal approach. While massage therapy is regulated on a state-by-state basis, prospective "hands-on healers" will find a common curriculum.
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Choosing a School
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The first step in massage therapy education is to choose the correct school. There are numerous agencies that offer massage training, and to qualify to practice massage therapy, candidates must attend training in a state-approved school. Each state regulates the massage therapy practice slightly differently. In North Carolina, the profession falls under the North Carolina Board of Massage & Bodywork Therapy, which approved 20 in-state massage therapy programs as of February 2011. Most states require a minimum of 500 hours of training.
Hands-on Training
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The majority of courses that prospective massage therapists take concern physical massage techniques. At the Kneaded Energy massage school, students spend 132 hours learning the basic strokes of massage, body mechanics and reflexology, then move into over 100 hours of specialized topics such as advanced massage therapy, aromatherapy, sports massage, hot stone massage, hydrotherapy, prenatal massage and reflexology. At the Privai Academy, courses include spa therapies, Asian theory and bodywork, special populations, medical massage, chair massage and essential oils.
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Health Focus
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Although massage therapy is a hands-on career, massage therapy schools typically dedicate a portion of their training time to health and science topics, so therapists understand the effects of their work. At the North Carolina School of Advanced Bodywork, for example, students spend a total of 230 hours on anatomy and physiology, covering body pathology, the muscular and skeletal systems and foundations of movement. Students at the Privai Academy also study anatomy and physiology, along with pathology, somatic psychology and stress management.
Business Best
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Massage therapy programs prepare students to join the workforce with a few courses in business-related topics. At the Privai Academy, with a 700-hour required program, students take courses such as assessment and documentation, state laws and regulations, and four levels of business courses.
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References
- National Institute of Massotherapy: Benefits of Massage
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Massage Therapists
- North Carolina Board of Massage & Bodywork Therapy: Schools Approved by the NC Board
- North Carolina School of Advanced Bodywork: Course Descriptions
- Privai Academy: Massage Course Curriculum
- Kneaded Energy: Hands On Curriculum
- Photo Credit Massage therapist giving a massage image by MAXFX from Fotolia.com
