A massage therapist is a health care provider who specializes in massage and bodywork. Massage therapists range from those who perform basic Swedish massage to those who specialize in more esoteric fields such as trigger point therapy. The goal of a massage therapist is to relax his or her client while also promoting overall health and well-being. Massage therapy focuses on treating specific health conditions and addressing congenital muscular problems in some cases.
Massage and bodywork have been practiced on one another for thousands of years. A friendly human touch is thought to be beneficial to both psychological and physical health. Several cultures, such as Hawaii’s lomi lomi and Japan’s Shiatsu, have developed their own distinct branches of bodywork. Traditional Chinese Medicine, for example, incorporates bodywork into a larger holistic healing practice. Massage is an important part of many people’s personal health and beauty regimens all over the world.
A massage therapist’s job entails working with a diverse group of people. Many people seek massage therapy for the sole purpose of relaxation and comfort, but others seek a massage therapist for more in-depth work. A massage therapist applies his or her education to treat each client individually. He or she could work as a freelancer, in a spa, or in a medical clinic, and charge different rates for different services. To supplement their massage practices, some therapists provide additional services such as facials and body treatments.
The requirements for becoming a massage therapist vary by region; some regulate massage strictly, while others have more lax licensing requirements. Many massage schools offer basic certification programs that can be expanded upon to learn more advanced techniques such as deep tissue massage or traditional massage such as Thai massage or acupressure. A familiarity with the anatomy and physiology of the human body, as well as a discussion of unique conditions that concern massage therapists, such as muscular tension and cancer, are all part of the training. Workshops in ethics and business practices are also available at a good massage school.
Because it is often confused with another ancient profession, prostitution, this very old profession has a bad reputation among some people. Massage therapists prefer to stay as far away from sex work as possible because their work is focused on healing and professional touch. Massage therapists do not provide sexual services, despite the fact that they are frequently performed on a naked body. They also prefer the term “massage therapist” over “masseuse,” because “masseuse” is frequently used as a euphemism for “sex worker.”