Lesson 1: Massage Therapy as a Profession
The Massage Therapist
A massage therapist is a person trained, certified and licensed to perform different manipulations to a client/customer. A massage therapist is expected to do the following:
Develop massage practice
Consult with the client/customer
Perform body massage
Organize and maintain tools, equipment and supplies in the work area
A massage therapist must undergo a competency-based training and must complete 160 hours of on-the-job training. These two trainings are required before taking the National Assessment from TESDA, the only governing body/agency which issues national certification (NC) for massage therapy. Those who pass the TESDA assessment shall be issued the TESDA National Certificate for Massage Therapy.
Although certified, massage therapists are not considered as medical practitioners. One should refuse to diagnose possible medical conditions, and instead refer the client/customer to a physician for a proper assessment.
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Advantages and Challenges of Working as a Massage Therapist
Working as a massage therapist has the following advantages:
Flexible work schedule or control over one's schedule thus giving one the time to do other activities or get a second job.
Mobility or the opportunity to build one's clientèle base and later on put up one's own massage clinic; or choose to work in other industries such as personal services or health care.
Earning power increases as a massage therapist builds his/her reputation and gain experience. Additional earnings may also come from tips of satisfied clients/customers.
Challenges of being a massage therapist as a practitioner:
Physical demands - Performing a full-body massage strains the massage therapist's body especially when the clients/customers are lined up and the therapist have no time to take a break. It is advisable to take breaks to rest and to appropriately perform the correct body mechanics to avoid strains.
Money - Performing massage as a business is client-based. Your earnings depend on the number of clients/customers you build. Less clients/customers would mean less earnings. When working on your own, practicing different modalities also gives you the freedom to set your own reasonable rates.
Unrealistic client expectations - Clients/customers might expect that the pain in their body will be totally gone after a massage, so it is important to explain to them the post factual effects of the massage prior to a session.
Negative misconceptions - Massage therapy involves close interactions with clients/customers and sometimes lead to negative connotations towards massage therapists as sex workers.
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The Massage Therapist's Career Path
Here are the possible paths that a massage therapist can take.
As you examine the paradigm, you could now imagine your career as a massage therapist. You could choose whether to become a practitioner or an entrepreneur, and can either work in massage spa/clinics, hospitals or ships.
