6 Reasons to Learn Massage
By Matthew Chan
The massage industry is expanding at a rapid rate, and there is a growing influx of job opportunities for massage therapists. However, there is more to learning massage than just the career prospects. Whether you are considering massage therapy as a career, or just want to study for personal reasons, learning massage can improve your life and the lives of those around you. Here are the six surprising benefits of studying massage therapy.
- It helps with confidence
Massage is all about incorporating positive thinking. Positive thinking is considered to be good for mental and emotional well-being. In massage therapy school, students are taught techniques that help create a positive environment that allows clients to relax before a massage. Learning massage can assist in increasing your self-confidence and self-worth due to the self-discovery you experience when studying massage. Classes such as Helping Relations and Sexuality taught in our Swedish massage course will force you to step out of your comfort zone and reach new levels of self-awareness and growth. Completing all the course modules of a massage therapy program will also give you the confidence to respond to clients’ health related questions and needs. By enrolling in massage therapy classes, you will learn more about yourself while networking with other massage therapists, learning different health practices, and associating with a multitude of health related groups. The more people you know that are associated with this field, the more confidence you will build.
- You are able to help others
Stress and anxiety can be relieved by a good massage. In fact, research reveals that a massage session induces a sense of serenity that can assist in lowering stress. By learning how to conduct a relaxing massage, you are assisting individuals to relax and release any negative emotions that may build up during a hectic day. It is shown that the human touch, in a setting that is secure, pleasant, and professional, can be immensely soothing and calming. A massage treatment will decrease your levels of cortisol (a stress hormone) and promotes the creation of serotonin and dopamine. This results in a less-stressed mood and lower blood pressure.
It is very rewarding to be able to help loved ones reduce their stress by giving them a relaxing massage. Relaxing massage techniques taught in our Swedish massage course, for example are very effective in reducing tension. Kinesitherapy(KINE 1) and Sports massage teaches you to help relieve pain from certain injuries and even muscle cramps. Learning pre-natal massage is also very useful for helping your pregnant loved one reduce pregnancy-related pain and stress. Having hands that helps others is amazing!
- It helps with Insomnia
Getting a massage from a skilled massage therapist can lowers stress and induces relaxation. There’s a reason many folks doze off on the massage table. A massage enhances delta waves, the brain waves linked with profound sleep. Scientists have shown that therapeutic massage can help you fall asleep faster, remain asleep longer, and promote good quality sleep. Better sleep correlates with a stronger immune system. Learning massage therapy gives you the knowledge required to perform self-massage techniques on yourself, helping you to relax before bed, resulting in improved quality of sleep. Additionally, massage courses often teach students relaxation exercises, incorporating meditation, tai-chi, chi kung and yoga as a form of self-care. Practicing these types of exercises can help you relax and facilitate sleep.
- Helps improve intimacy with your significant other
Yes! Studying massage can help improve your relationships. Massage training helps you develop the ability to tune in with a client’s body, allowing you to find their knots, tension spots, trigger points, and to execute the proper massage techniques to relieve those areas. This skill, which demands sensitivity, empathy and body awareness, translates to better non-verbal communication with your partner. In massage therapy classes, students learn about the human body and how it reacts to touch. Naturally, this has a direct impact on your ability to better connect and improve intimacy with your significant other. Massage training also teaches students to communicate with clients to make them feel comfortable, relaxed and safe prior to getting on the massage table. These skills create better communication and thus, greater intimacy with your loved ones.
- Improve your professionalism
Being a competent massage therapist isn’t just about knowing how to massage. You may desire to establish your own business; in which case you may require formal education that will help you enhance your professionalism and boost your prospects for commercial success. If you want to work for someone else, you will require the communication skills – and conversely, abilities that will enable you to succeed in job interviews. A good massage therapy school will teach you the unique ability to attract customers, establish your fees and create your own schedule, as well as how to conduct yourself in a job interview. Classes like Professional Aspects taught in Swedish massage course prepares students to succeed in running their own business and acquiring employment for other businesses.
- It can help you improve your communication skills
A pleasant discussion can only occur when someone feels at home. From the time of initial contact, it’s up to a massage therapist to make their clients feel at ease. Massage training teaches you how to develop your communication skills so that when a client comes to you, they will feel comfortable expressing their concerns. Delivering outstanding customer service is the cornerstone of creating and maintaining any client-focused business. The only way to achieve that is to properly grasp what your clients want, need, and anticipate. Your professionalism will assist your clients to relax, and relaxation increases communication, which in turn fosters mutual trust. Professional massage therapists interact in a number of ways with clients during the consultation process. They can employ verbal and auditory (listening) communication skills with clients whenever needed during the initial client interview, as well as during the massage evaluation and treatment process. Clients who are uncomfortable in their engagement with a massage therapist for the first time are unlikely to reschedule treatments. Classes such as Professional Aspects and Helping Relations taught in Swedish Massage teaches students the proper communication techniques required to succeed in the massage industry.
In conclusion
Time spent learning a new skill is always time well-spent. Learning massage will not only teach you skills that carry over into all aspects of life, but also gives you skills that can allow you to help others improve their well-being.
Did this information regarding the benefits of going to massage therapy school pique your interest in pursuing a career as a massage therapist, or entice you to try out an introductory massage workshop? If you’re interested in learning about the therapeutic benefits of massage and want to start helping others recover and relax, go for a massage course now!
