How Massage Education Has Changed

When choosing an Alabama Massage School that is right for you consider the following. The field of Massage Therapy has grown by leaps and bounds over the past decade. Once thought to be less than reputable, massage is now a mainstream and booming career opportunity. Everyone from professional athletes to those seeking to reduce stress consider massage as a first-line defense and treatment choice. And, with this boom there has been a corresponding boom in the Alabama massage school industry and how massage is taught.

Traditionally massage schools have been owned and operated by massage therapists. This meant that the programs were designed and regulated by those that knew the most about the field. Now, many career colleges, technical schools and even State Colleges offer massage programs as a part of their curriculum. This often means that administrators who may know very little about massage are making decisions about the programs. Make sure you do your homework when choosing an Alabama massage school. Check with graduates to see how they feel about their training. You can also check with those hiring massage therapists to see what schools they recommend.

One major factor when considering an Alabama massage school is the cost and how you are going to pay for it. In the best of all possible worlds financial matters would not be an issue. However, in the real world this is often the primary factor in deciding which school to go to. Unfortunately this can dictate which school you have to go to as opposed to which school you want to go to. If you have no financial resources and you either have no or poor credit, then one possible way to finance school is through some type of grant such as a Pell Grant. The problem with this is you are usually required to take courses that have nothing to do with massage. You might have to take English, speech or math as part of a core curriculum. Ultimately a program like this may take several years to complete and there are still costs that fall on you above what the grant will pay.

When you think of paying for an Alabama massage school realize that you are investing in yourself. By making the sacrifices and putting forth the effort you are positioning yourself to make a better livelihood and have a career that you enjoy. If you rely solely on others to finance your education you may find that there are strings attached, and often these strings can restrict what you really want to do. Check to see if you are eligible for some type of loan such as Sallie Mae Loans. These are based on credit and can be paid back over a ten-year period. For more information go to Alabama Massage School You will usually know within a 24-hour period if you qualify. Of course if you have been in the military you will also want to check out what VA options are available.

Another thing to consider when choosing which Alabama massage school to attend is the experience and training of the teaching staff. With the recent boom in massage many schools are starting programs with a teaching staff that has only been in the field a few years themselves. Then graduates from these schools are becoming instructors at other new programs. As a result, the level of education is quickly diminishing and industry competency is being compromised. This has become a real concern among long-term practitioners as they watch their profession become diluted with more and more practitioners that show less and less skill. If things continue in this direction it could ultimately mean the demise of professional massage, as we know it. Right now massage is highly respected even by physicians and physical therapist. But if we are unable to deliver what we say we can, it may not be long before this respect is lost.

With the boom in popularity of massage, the job market is becoming more competitive. So, it is important that you become the best therapist possible. Your success will ultimately be determined by how good you are. How good you are is determined by how well you have been trained. So, take the time to do your homework when choosing a massage school. Check out all of the schools in your area. Visit them, inquire about the staff, and ask all the questions you need to get a clear picture about the program. Then when you have decided, jump in all the way and enjoy the experience. You will learn amazing things, make lifelong friends and start your way on a wonderful career.

Arnold Askew is co-founder and owner of Red Mountain Institute for the Healing Arts where he is the senior instructor. He has extensive training in both manual and movement therapies and has been on staff at the Pain and Rehabilitation Institute since 1992. He is a member of the Alabama Board of Massage Therapy and is Nationally Certified in Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork.

http://www.redmountaininstitute.com

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