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Massage Therapy: Career or Way of Life?
Massage Therapy: Career or Way of Life?
The idea of attending a massage therapy school and becoming a healing professional has always intrigued you. Perhaps it's the sense you get from massage practitioners that their work holds far more meaning for them than a simple paycheck. Learn more about why massage therapy is a meaningful career path for many.
Link to the Past
Massage therapy is one of the most ancient of the healing arts, dating back to 2700 BC, and was practiced in Rome, Greece, India, and China. In fact, of the 80-plus modalities (or techniques) that exist today, many claim roots in these ancient practices. For example, Swedish massage was first introduced during the 19th century, and is still regularly used by modern-day massage therapists. Chinese massage, or Tui Na, is another such modality which can trace its origins as far back as AD 700, when it was studied by physicians at the Imperial Medical College.
Connection to Modern Day Healthcare
Western society has finally caught up to what ancient cultures have known for centuries: massage therapy is a powerful tool in the medical arsenal. In fact, over the past few decades, massage therapy has moved further into the healthcare realm, making this a career field that is expected to grow by 19 percent from 2008 through to 2018.* Industry insiders attribute this growth to the fact that more people are realizing the benefits of massage.
Massage therapy is used to treat a host of ailments and can be found in cancer wards, pain clinics, intensive care units, neonatal departments, rehabilitation centers, AIDS hospices, and long-term care facilities. A wide variety of massage therapy services can also be found within spas and salons.
Possibility of Truly Helping People
Massage therapists truly make a difference in the lives of others by using their skills to:
- Provide pain relief to patients suffering from serious injuries
- Speed the recovery of newborns in incubators
- Decrease the sense of isolation that people in long-term care facilities can be prone to
- Help athletes stay in peak physical condition
- Treat a wide range of conditions, such as osteoporosis, arthritis, fibromyalgia, migraine headaches, and more
Another benefit of massage therapy sometimes overlooked is its ability to reduce the harmful effects of stress. Scientific research is linking stress to everything from the common cold to more serious conditions, such as cancer, heart disease, depression, and diabetes.
Creating a Sense of Meaning
Connecting to something larger than yourself is one way to create a sense of meaning in your life. Many massage therapists feel connected to the history of their art, as well as to the knowledge that their work is making a real difference in the lives of their patients, and the healthcare system, overall.
Are you ready to begin your own journey toward a meaningful career? If so, your first step is to find a program that fits your goals. Get started today by checking out this guide to massage therapy programs, and finding schools in your area!
*Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2010-11 Edition, web site accessed on Nov. 29, 2010
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