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The Future of Massage and the Massage ProfessionThe current statistics at the Associated Bodywork and Massage Professionals (ABMP) massage professional metrics section estimates that there are approximately 250,000 massage therapists in the US today. Their fact sheet says "Consumers receive approximately 120 million to 135 million massage sessions annually, making massage therapy a $7 billion to $10 billion industry." While this can tell you that the industry is booming, it doesn't tell the whole story. For more information on current trends and statistics on the massage profession see ABMP's Massage Profession Metrics Section When I first became a massage therapist 20 years ago in Seattle WA, massage was already pretty well known here. In other parts of the US it was still frowned upon and not widely accepted. I remember my mom telling me that a massage therapist was trying to work out of their house down the street from them in Western NY State and all the neighbors were trying to stop it from happening. Even in Western NY State, today massage is being accepted more and more everyday. In the US. we are being recognized as health care professionals and being paid by insurance companies for our services. More and more people are seeking out massage therapists to help them deal with their pain and process of obtaining health.
The medical model defines "health" as absence of disease and/or symptoms. Within the massage profession we all know that there is much more than that to health. Health is an awakening to who we are as a physical, mental, emotional and spiritual body. The ailments that affect our physical body cannot be separated from how we think and feel. Our new managed care system forces massage therapists to work under contract for a profit-minded insurance company. We must accept what they believe is a fair payment and provide a treatment that only addresses the specific injury. The length of treatment is determined by funds available, not whether the client becomes healthy. Health is often forsaken in search of the almighty dollar. There is still some resistance to massage in some communities that is just based on fear and ignorance. In some areas it is also often confused with prostitution services. As a massage therapist, you can expect to get propositioned or called by someone wanting a "full body massage" (meaning you know what!) a few times during your career. Massage school will introduce you to the concept of building your boundaries to protect you from such situations and continued peer supervision can assist you in learning how to deal with such issues. There are so many different types of massage techniques to study and learn that you could study all your life and hardly touch on a few. The future of massage lies in constantly taking the techniques that you learn and make them into your own massage. Through the years when asked what type of massage I do, I often feel like saying "I do Julie massage". While developing techniques and methods of healing is important, the other piece lies in the self development of the therapist. One thing for sure that a career in massage does is push you to become more aware of yourself and learn to take care of yourself. The one thing I have learned in the last 17 years has more to do with how I now take care of myself. It has more to do than just the physical aspects of the job that are demanding. As a profession (U.S.) we are divided into many types of therapies and associations who all believe that their method and way is what is needed for all. This belief is often common among professions that help. Helpers often feel that they need to make an impact and influence everyone in their lives. Helpers often feel a great need to be in control. When we can unite as a profession and accept all who practice, those who are "unprofessional" will be weeded out of business. Our focus will then be to educate and take of ourselves. We will go beyond learning techniques and gathering information to the next level where true healing takes place. We can do this through the use of peer groups, supervision and mentoring which is just starting to come into the massage profession. As the politics fade to the background, true healing will show its face in each and every therapist and client. Massage will be something that every person in the world receives everyday of their life. Massage will expand to where it becomes a regular part of our communities and our families. Our quest for knowledge and wisdom can bring us and our clients to a place of internal peace. The future of massage will depend on us (you!) participating in the profession in what ever way we can. To find out more of the Truth about Being a Massage Therapist, purchase the Ebook "The Massage Therapy Career Guide" Have something to say about the future of massage? Add your article, comment, opinion or story to this site! Share your thoughts or stories on being/becoming a Massage Therapist
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