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Massage therapy is a rewarding and caring profession. However, massage therapy is demanding on your mind, body, and soul, making it a that much more of a challenge to stay in top form.

According to Herbert Freudenberger, a German-American psychologist, burnout is a condition of fatigue from work and from feeling overwhelmed by work-related problems. It’s not uncommon for massage therapists to experience burnout some point during their career. Here are six things to consider and put into practice as a future massage therapist which can help prevent burnout.

1. Listen to your mind and body first. Always take time for yourself before you begin your massage schedule. Collect your thoughts, eat complete meals, stay hydrated, and exercise. Any form of exercise or physical activity, such as yoga, stretching, and aerobics, reduce your risk of injury. When your mind and body is off, your massage therapy will be too. Your massage therapy is a reflection of you; so, take care of yourself first before taking care of your clients. 
2. Write a set of rules and guidelines before you begin your practice. Keep them simple, one or two sentences for each, and keep them visible. Post them on your refrigerator and your website, if you have them. This keeps you in control of your practice. It also lets your clients know that you are professional.
3. Another way to stay professional is to stay organized. Simple ways to be organized include keeping a calendar, updating client folders regularly, following up on client queries within 24 hours, and using a computer-generated spreadsheet to record expenses. Many therapists may rely on a smart phone to keep organized, but always have a paper backup. Today’s technology, though efficient, isn’t without its quirks.
4. Keep up to date on the latest massage therapy techniques. Attend one or two monthly massage seminars. Network with other therapists in your community. Review your books regularly. Subscribe to a few massage therapists blogs or newsletters. Knowing the latest information in massage therapy will keep you on your game. 
5. Another incentive for keeping up on the latest massage therapy news, is learning what to charge for your services. You should charge a rate that is reasonable but also one that you deserve. Too many therapists under charge for their services to build up clientele and end up resenting clients in the long run. One way to prevent this is to offer a new client discount rate for one, two, or three sessions or to provide a referral rate when clients’ refer friends and family to you.
6. Learn to say no when you’re feeling out of balance. In other words, don’t push yourself to work when you need a break. It’s important that you remain professional. Notify scheduled clients a day beforehand if possible. Better yet, schedule regular days off and time away from massage regularly.

Staying in tune with your mind, body, and soul will result in a long and successful career in message therapy!

If you are truly serious about entering into a fulfilling career as a massage therapist, you will need to find a great massage therapy school for your training. Northwest Academy for the Healing Arts is an excellent place to begin that journey and get the best massage training available.

The Advantages of Studying Massage Therapy at Northwest Academy
Whether you are changing careers or just starting out in the world, Northwest Academy is an ideal place to learn massage therapy. Its programs are small and personalized, meaning that you get plenty of direct attention from your instructors and you are never left to feel as if you are simply a number among many students. 

Through the school’s science-based curriculum you will learn about the human body and how to treat it with time-tested massage techniques. The academy puts a great deal of emphasis on externships and community outreach, so you will be getting practical experience and helping people in no time.

Schedules and Payment Options
Furthermore, you will find that the class schedules are incredibly flexible. Even if you have other obligations, it is easy to make massage training at Northwest Academy work for you. 

Worried about being able to pay for your education in massage therapy? Often tuition is a scary topic; however, Northwest Academy has tuition payment options that are affordable and will help you meet your educational goals within your budget.

Recognizing the Importance of Self-Care
Massage therapists focus so much on the health and care of their clients that it is not unusual for them to neglect themselves. The fact is that a massage therapist’s work is physically demanding and can be taxing on their own bodies. That is why Northwest Academy emphasizes the importance of self-care in its massage training. Weekly Yoga, Qigong, and monthly Acupuncture are among the self-care methods that the school has its students utilize to ensure they maintain their own health.

Choosing Northwest Academy for Your Massage Training
Taking all of these advantages into account, you can see why Northwest Academy for the Healing Arts is well loved by its students and very well may be the perfect choice of school for you. Should you choose Northwest Academy you will leave having mastered the best techniques for using massage to treat people in pain, to promote relaxation, and soon you will be on your way to a wonderful career as a massage therapist!

For more information about our massage program visit our program page.

Employment vs. Self Employment: Which is Right For You?

Whether you’re just getting started, or are well into your massage therapist training, congratulations! You’re on the path to a rewarding career. You’ve faced or will soon face a lot of important decisions. In deciding where to go to school, you’re probably looking for personalized classes with flexible schedules and affordable tuition payment options, as well as a dynamic school with a strong community outreach program. Even if you haven’t started training yet, it’s not too early to start thinking about whether you will open your own practice or go to work for an employer. There’s no “right answer” to this question. Different personality types will be attracted to different choices. As you explore these options, ask yourself questions to help discover which is right for you.

First let’s look at employment. Massage therapist training opens doors for you in many industries such as healthcare, spas, and sports/fitness. Employment may be right for you if you have the following traits:

• You like a structured environment. Your employer will likely set your schedule and rates.

• You don’t like to deal with bookkeeping. An employer will pull the appropriate taxes from your paycheck.

• You need health benefits. While being an employee may pay less than being self-employed, employers often offer health benefits, which is crucial for some.

• You hate marketing yourself. Being part of an in-house team will alleviate the need to self-promote.

• You enjoy groups. Working for an organization could increase the amount of people you interact with and give you access to social outlets such as a company cafeteria or break room.

Maybe you’re thinking employment sounds pretty good. And it is a great choice if you are not an entrepreneurial person. As you go through your massage therapist training, pay attention to how you like to work. If the points about employment were not appealing, you may prefer self-employment. Consider whether or not you have the following traits:

• You like to set your own hours.

• You have strong opinions about how you are being represented and enjoy self-promotion.

• You want to create a unique space for your massage practice.

• You like to be in charge of your rates and manage your income.

• You’re self-motivated and can work just as well alone as with others.

• You like to do things your way. (There’s nothing wrong with this!)

Once you complete your massage therapist training, you’ll be making a highly personal choice. Some people may want the best of both worlds and choose to work part time for an employer and work for themselves the rest of the time. Or maybe you’d rather start out as an employee to get a feel for how other people run their business before setting out on your own. If you are still having trouble deciding, talk to massage professionals and see how their experience relates to your preferences. Good luck—a wonderful world of opportunity awaits!

Want to learn more about a career in massage therapy? contact our admissions department at admissions@nw-academy.com.

Thinking massage therapy is the next career move for you?  Well get ready to experience a unique program at Northwest Academy for the Healing Arts that teaches valuable skills you’ll use for the rest of your life.

1. Ever wonder how the leg bone is connected to the knee bone, the knee bone is connected to the thigh bone & the thigh bone is connected to the hip bone?  Our Anatomy & Physiology instructors keep you on the edge of your seat as you explore the wonders of the human body.   So put on your thinking caps and come with an open mind because you’ll learn more fascinating things about the human body you never knew were possible! 

 2.  It takes a village to pass a test.  Seriously, to be successful in school, you’ll need a small collection of classmates, family, friends rooting for you all the way.  Invest in some good highlighters and a sturdy notebook because you’ll be taking scores of information down in and out of class.  The more people you have to study with and help support you while you stay up past your bed time, the more confident you’ll be at passing your tests.

 3.  Dig deep!  What was the name of that person you ran into at the grocery store who said they had a friend who needed a massage therapist?  Don’t remember?  We will introduce you to the art of networking and marketing yourself.  Most therapists will tell you the best way to build a practice are referrals.  In fact, you could build your entire practice on referrals if you’re smart about it.  Our business course prepares you with not only business cards, but an entire business plan for your future massage practice! 

 4.  Leave your dirt at the door.  Good massages depend on good energy from the therapist.  During school you’ll learn to leave any unnecessary stress behind, allowing you to provide the best possible treatment for your client.  After all, the last thing your client wants to hear about while they’re trying to de-stress is your stress.

 5.  Just keep swimming!  Famously stated by Dori in the movie Finding Nemo, this expression exhibits the final lesson of massage therapy school: Never Give Up.  Clients will come and go, jobs will change, life will be a little challenging at times, but keeping steady in your desire to grow a successful business will surpass all that.  So no matter what gets thrown your way, know that your ability to alleviate someone else’s pain is a unique gift.

For more information about our massage therapy programs visit our website at www.nw-academy.com. 

Alexa Severtsen, LMP – Director of Admissions
Northwest Academy for the Healing Arts
Seattle, Washington