Tuesday 26 February 2013

Find the Best Massage Therapy Program To Enhance Your Career

Although the use of massage therapy predates recorded history, it did not become a popular form of complementary medicine in Western society until the 1980’s.  Before then, individuals determined to practice massage therapy had to learn from workshops or abroad as comprehensive education was not available in the United States. Today, over 80 types of massage therapy techniques are being taught nationwide in various Massage Therapy Programs. To ensure that students are well-prepared for the competitive field that massage therapy has become, it is important that they acquire proper education from an accredited school.


Due to the large variety of massage therapy modalities practiced in the Western society today, it is important for students to research the employment opportunities available to them upon graduation prior to choosing their massage therapy program. Some modalities of massage therapy include Shiatsu, Swedish Massage, Tui Na, Medical Massage among others. Licensed professionals knowledgeable in such techniques can find employment in hospitals, wellness clinics, spas, health clubs and also open their own practice. Students interested in establishing their own massage therapy practice without prior experience in business ownership are advised to choose a massage therapy program that offers business management courses as part of its curriculum.

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, massage therapy is one of the fastest growing fields in the United States, projected to grow 20% between 2010 - 2020. In fact, approximately 30% of Western physicians are referring their patients to holistic medicines such as massage therapy, acupuncture and holistic nutritionists. As a result, some Western physicians choose to enhance their careers by becoming licensed massage therapists and incorporating massage therapy into their medical practice.

New York College offers an institutionally accredited massage therapy program, the curriculum of which includes Asian Bodywork, Medical Massage and Swedish massage, Oriental anatomy and physiology as well as Western health sciences. Additionally, students are required to gain hands-on practice during clinical internships and take classes in T’ai Chi Chuan, Yoga and Qi Gong to help them better understand their own body’s movements and abilities.  Upon successful completion of this program, graduates receive an Associate in Occupational Studies degree. New York College was the first in the United States to award an independent massage therapy degree in therapeutic bodywork. With its main campus in Syosset, New York and 3 locations in New York City, New York College is conveniently accessible to most students residing in New York’s tri-state area.

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