Day in the life of a Licensed Massage Therapist
If you’re just starting out in the massage profession or considering becoming an LMT, you may be wondering, “Is this the right field for me?”
Or, maybe you’re just a regular ol’ person who’s always been curious about the massage career. After all, every time you get a massage, don’t you wonder, “aren’t your arms tired?!”
Being a massage therapist definitely means being strong, there’s no doubt about it.
But being a massage therapist is a lot more complicated than that!
What do massage therapists do for training?
First and foremost, Licensed Massage Therapists are required to go through a rigorous massage education, usually in a 650-800 hour certificate program, depending on state regulations. There we study anatomy, physiology, kinesiology, body mechanics, massage techniques and pathologies of the human body.
We also learn some of the “soft skills,” such as professional boundaries, ethical issues and business management practices.
Vanessa, Licensed Massage Therapist since 2015
What’s a typical day like for massage therapists?
As you can imagine, in any profession that requires you to be on your feet and doing physical work, maintaining your own physical well-being and having solid self-care routines in place is of the utmost importance.
As the saying goes, “you can’t pour from an empty cup.”
A good workday starts with excellent sleep the night before. Sleep has been shown to be just as important to our health as diet & exercise.
Some nutritious movement once you wake up is also key to a good day of massage. This might mean light stretching, foam rolling, a brisk walk, or all of the above!
Foods high in protein are also important to get you through a long workday, so high-protein smoothies, energy bars, string cheese, yogurt, nuts or turkey slices can be excellent additions to your diet.
Once you’re at work, regularly drinking water (but not so much that you have to run to the bathroom during your sessions!) and sipping on a protein-rich smoothie or healthy snacks in between sessions will help you with your strength and longevity throughout any given day.
Try your best to keep junk food to a minimum, which only causes spikes and crashes in your energy.
While you’re working, it’s a good idea to look up occasionally, not only for your neck and to maintain proper body mechanics, but to keep perspective.
It’s suggested you practice asking yourself, “how far away can I see right now?” while you’re working to switch your focus and maintain good eye health.
At the end of your work day, it’s crucial that you have good post-work self-care routines in place. This helps to “wash off” the day and let go of any difficult client experiences that may be lingering in your body.
Things like:
taking hot shower
attending dance class
playing with your pet
listening to your favorite music
going on a brisk walk outdoors…
These are all excellent techniques to do regularly at the end of the day.
What’s it like to be a massage therapist?
It’s not always easy! Especially if you run your own business, but being an employee can certainly bring it’s own set of challenges.
Things that can be great:
Setting your own schedule (if you work for yourself)
Helping people feel at peace and relaxed
Clients are always happy to see you!
Little to no cancellations (who wants to miss their massage appointment?!)
Low stress environment
A relatively high hourly rate of pay
Things that can be challenging:
Clients that can’t relax or don’t like your work
Being overly sore yourself
Exhaustion at the end of long work days
Running your own business: scheduling clients, returning phone calls, etc.
Fielding inappropriate advances (very rare, but it happens!)
Not being in charge of your schedule or pay (if you’re an employee)
Recommendations for massage therapists
Build up and maintain strength. Whether you’ve been an LMT for 3 months or 20 years, we need to strength train regularly.
Be absolutely crazy about your self-care routines. Figure out what really helps you feel your best (be that receiving massage, going on daily dog walks, swimming laps, yoga class) and do those things religiously!
Outsource. If you’re a small business owner running your own massage business, ask yourself what systems are in place that aren’t working well or that you need support with. If your website is severely lacking (or you just don’t have a website at all!— eek!!) then it’s time for an upgrade.
Blue Skies Web Designs can help you build the website of your dreams and take some things off your plate, like fully automated scheduling, online intake forms, clear policies & procedures, and showcasing the work you do.
Want more tips & tricks for being the best superhero— er, massage therapist— out there?
Just drop your email below this super cool image of me giving a Thai-style treatment a few years ago (have you ever tried Tok Sen tools from Thailand??)
