If you are someone who enjoys helping others, enjoys making a difference, has patience, and likes hands-on work, then this may be your calling.
Becoming a massage therapist has many rewarding benefits that can lead to a successful career.
However, it pays to do your homework to find out if the career change is right for you.
Here are eight reasons why you should consider becoming a Massage Therapist.
1. What’s involved in becoming a massage therapist?
The answer to that question varies based upon where you enroll, how long the courses are, and what it is intended for.
No two schools offer the same exact curriculum or field of experience.
Therefore, it’s up to you to do the research and find the right massage therapy course for your goals.
Once you have completed your training of choice, then make sure you get hands-on experience.
Listen, all massage schools mean well, but the truth is that none of them can teach you everything you need to know for you to feel super confident in offering treatment, no matter what they told you when you signed up.
A textbook and a teacher can only teach you so much.
Nothing is going to teach you more than real life experience!
Your clients will be your best teachers!
The second thing is to work out if you want to work for someone or do your own thing and then, depending on which option you take, you’ll then need to learn how to manage bookings and all admin duties.
2. Are you open to continuing to learn new skills to enhance your treatments?
This never really stops.
The truth of the matter is that your course only really gives you a piece of paper.
It’s up to you to improve your skill set more.
There are many short courses around, so the choice is endless, which ties nicely to the third thing.
3. What do I want to specialise in?
I actually thought about putting this in the number 1 spot because this really well dictates where you decide to study.
What style of massage lights you up?
What areas interest you the most?
I’m a big believer in specialising in a certain area so that you can service clients who need your help rather than being a “jack of all trades”.
Selecting a specialty area has a lot to do with what type of clients you wish to attract and what area of expertise you feel more passionate about.
You may have a fitness background and wish to specialise in sports massage.
Or you might love the idea of working in a day spa nurturing clients.
Or work more with energy and emotional release.
All are needed and valuable services, but each has a completely different skill set required, so work out what kind of treatment you want to give and then go and find courses that support that.
4. Exploring options for career options
Gone are the days where you had to work for someone in a massage clinic.
Fortunately, you are really only limited to your imagination.
Here are a few options to get you thinking about!
5. Do you want to own your own practice or work for someone else?
You have the opportunity to start your own practice, or work for someone else if you choose to.
Depending on your lifestyle needs and goals, be sure to make a list of pros and cons between both options and decide which would work best for you.
I’ve listed a few for you to consider.
Pros of working for someone…
Cons..
Pros of working for yourself
Cons of working for yourself
6. What are the set-up costs for being a massage therapist?
After you have completed your training, you will be required to do a first aid course if it wasn’t done on the course and then get professional indemnity insurance, then you are ready to help people feel better.
Of course, there may be other things you need to get, but to get started in the massage industry, all you really need is insurance in place.
Equipment wise is pretty low cost compared to other business setups.
You will need a table and linen and a way to collect payments.
Here’s some more details on getting started
7. How can I become a qualified massage therapist?
The next step in your career as a massage therapist is to begin looking at credible massage therapy courses in your area.
There are a range of learning centres that offer massage courses.
Most educational institutions will offer a diploma of massage course, which is recommended if you want to work for someone else or specialize in sports massage etc.
This is also the best option if you want to be able to claim their session on their private health cover.
Years ago, this is what most people did.
However, with the increase in premiums and the reductions in what health funds paid, a lot of people are dropping their extra covers and just having the hospital cover so it is no longer as attractive as what it was.
To become a Therapist that offers health fund rebates as a provider, you must complete a course of nationally recognised training from a Registered Training Organization (RTO).
The other option is to get a certificate in massage therapy.
There is no right or wrong way to go.
Everyone will have a different reason for wanting to be a massage therapist.
If you are starting your massage career later in life, weigh up how much it costs to study remedial massage, and how long it will take you to get your investment back.
Now days a lot of people are building up their skill set by taking a bunch of small courses.
Ready to begin your career in massage therapy?
By completing a course in Toowoomba with us with either our 3 day course or the longer 7 day course, you will gather the skills and training needed to START your massage therapy career with confidence.
From there, you will be able to apply for professional indemnity insurance, allowing you to start your own business or work professionally in over 26 countries* (after joining the IICT – International Institute for Complementary Therapists).
If you would prefer to study with an RTO, jump on Google & find a school that you feel drawn to.
Live Life with Passion,
Heartworks Lomi Lomi massage (level 1) is the cornerstone of Lomi lomi massage and this training is perfect for the hobby therapist to learn a very gentle style of relaxation massage or professionals who want to bring more flow into practice. Perfect for reiki practitioners who feel drawn to connect more with the body.
This holistic approach covers the whole of the body including neck & shoulder, middle & lower back, chest & abdomen, front and back of the legs & thigh, arms & hands, head, facial, and foot massage.
Lomi Lomi massage (level 1) is a great foundation to start your massage career.
In this training you will learn all the relaxation techniques and offer therapeutic sessions.
It is a fast-paced, intensive week and designed for people who don't want to stuff around, with assignments and months of studying!
AUTHOR
Debbie K Barker
Debbie's has a passion and interest in the holistic understanding of the Mind Body Connection. She has studied with 6 different Lomi Lomi/Kahuna schools (a Level 7 practitioner), a Heartworks Lomi Lomi instructor, Remedial Massage therapist and has 20 years of nursing experience to draw on combining her knowledge both with the therapeutic techniques with the lomi lomi flow.
Whether you want to learn how to give heart centred treatments or enhance what you already do, or maybe, you are looking for someone to show you how to build your business and attract amazing clients, then you have come to the right place.
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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Just a few answers to our most common questions.
Our training school is based in Toowoomba, Queensland,. However, we will run training throughout South East Queensland and overseas as requested. Please contact us if you would like to know more.
Every teacher has their own unique gift and way of teaching, therefore students are required to start at level 1 in order to avoid the feeling of overwhelm that comes from inexperience as well as the basic body mechanics necessary to avoid injury to themselves or their clients.
If you have completed Heartworks lomi lomi beforehand and can show proof, you may apply for a reduction in price for level 1, however you will still be required to attend.
When Lomi is a path that you are passionate about, no training will be wasted but will all serve the greater understanding of the practice as a whole. Because you have learned from another teacher, it will assist you with a more rapid integration.
After each course is completed, students receive a certificate of completion with the Nationally Approved Provider verification information for continuing education points.
Currently, we are certified with MAA (Massage Association of Australia).
As Australia and New Zealand are deregulated in massage therapy the certificate IV is NOT the minimum certificate to start your massage career or business.
Via our 2.5 days “Heartwork Lomi Lomi Course” you can work legally and professionally.
If some training centres told you the minimum certificate is Cert. IV to start your massage career IT IS 100% WRONG and it is only because of their business and their policy.
To earn the qualifications to have a health provider number, then you will need to study remedial massage, however this course will allow you to work and earn full hourly rate while you are studying, if you choose to.
It is our pleasure to schedule a call to answer any and all of your questions. Send an email to hello@debbiekbarker.com and we will get right back to you!
If, for any reason, you need to cancel*, a 15% of workshop fees will be charged and the remaining portion fully refunded.
Cancellation 30 days before the course begins, 50% will be refunded.
Once the course begins, there will be no refunds.
Any fees collected may be used for another Lomi Lomi training up to one year from original class date.
*For Covid-19 related cancellations, you may transfer your tuition to another Debbie K Barker training event of your choice with no fee.
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