Massage Courses

Why become a Massage Therapist?

• Supplement your existing income with an additional, scalable revenue source.
• Work for yourself and run a business from home.
• Choose to work the hours that suit you.

These are just some of the reasons why training to become a Massage Therapist could be a great idea for you.

Massage Therapists are predominantly self-employed and have the freedom to choose their own working hours. With a myriad of working options at their fingertips, you will have the utmost work flexibility. Opt to work for an establishment on a full time or part time basis, find your own clients and work entirely for yourself or balance any combination of the two.

Work can be easily scaled up or down as needed, making this the perfect job for those who want a secondary or supplementary income.

The average earnings for Massage Therapists in New Zealand are $23,500 a year (Statistics New Zealand). Over 60% work part-time and 70% are self-employed.

Massage Therapy in New Zealand

Demand for Massage Therapists is on the increase as it becomes a more popular avenue for addressing muscle pain. Many General Practitioners are also recommending massage therapy as a treatment to patients which is raising awareness and promoting its benefits. Some medical insurers even cover it in their policies!

Across New Zealand job prospects for this profession are rated as average, with demand higher in the more populated areas of Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch.

Beware that as demand for the service increases so does the volume of people training in this area and establishing massage therapy businesses. Competition for clients can be high, undertaking a course and obtaining a relevant qualification to stand out from the crowd is strongly recommended.

Therapeutic Massage 101

So what exactly is therapeutic massage? It’s a general term that covers any form of massage which aims to relieve pain, reduce stress or work on a specific muscular problem.

As one of the oldest health and relaxation practices in the world, massage has spun out across different countries and belief systems to exist in many formats.

Health benefits of massage are wide-reaching with different techniques providing their own particular benefits: From reducing stress and anxiety to increased mobility and pain management. A sample of commonly known techniques are Remedial Massage, Swedish Massage, Deep Tissue Massage, Sports Massage and Shiatsu. But if you look deeper into this field you will discover a multitude of other techniques all with their own specialisations and nuances.

What does it take to become a Massage Therapist?

Whichever technique or practice takes your interest, there are a few fundamentals you’ll need knowledge of to work in this profession;

• Basic human anatomy
• Musculoskeletal structure
• Massage techniques and equipment
• Some basic medical terms

If you’re planning to work as a self-employed Massage Therapist, a grasp of business skills will also help you manage the work that comes with this choice.

At its core, this career is focused on people and providing care. A natural ability to empathise with others and a love of working with people are essential to this job. To help understand your patient’s injuries and accurately assess their treatment you’ll need excellent listening skills.

From a practical angle, you will need strong hands and arms and basic fitness, as working on people’s muscles and tissue for several hours requires stamina and concentration.

There are no legal training requirements to enter this profession in New Zealand. However, it is strongly recommended by Massage New Zealand to earn at least a certificate in Therapeutic Massage and a First Aid Certificate before starting out. You would also be strongly advised to register with Massage New Zealand.

If this sounds like the career you’ve been waiting for, check out these courses to start your career!