This post is a variation of a blog I wrote on citrus-rose.com, you can check it out by clicking here.
I get a lot of weird comments from people when I tell them I am a massage therapist.
I have been called a “masseuse” which essentially means a sex worker.
I have been asked why I like to rub people down.
I also get people who straight up ask me to give them a massage, “ooh I have this knot in my neck, can you work it out for me right now?”
I will politely decline the people who straight up ask me for a massage; who wants to work and not get paid for it?
As for the sexualization and diminishing description of massage therapy, I usually ignore those kinds of comments, but I realized I’m doing a bad job at defending the profession that I care so deeply about.
Some people understand massage to be for relaxation and relieving tight muscles, which isn’t completely wrong. But, as a person who went to school for two years to study the musculoskeletal, nervous, and circulatory systems of the human body, I can easily say that massage therapy is a lot more than just that.
*I am not comparing massage college to med school by any means, just pointing out that massage school is more in depth than most people think
First of all, for us to be considered a “registered" massage therapist, we had to go to a school that provides us with 2200 practical hands on hours. This allows massage therapists in Manitoba to be a part of a professional association, and allows our clients to use their insurance on our services. Unfortunately, Manitoba and a few other provinces, doesn’t provincially regulate massage therapy. This means, there are people practicing “massage” without having completed the proper schooling and doing who knows what in the treatment room.
A couple of ways to make sure your massage therapist is “legit” and has the proper credentials:
Ask them which professional association they are with or look for their certificate from that association. All active members are listed in a database, so if you feel they are lying to you, reach out to that specific association and ask. Additionally, if you ever experience something you are uncomfortable with in the treatment room, first chat with your massage therapist and if you aren’t satisfied with the outcome, talk to the association they are apart of, they can help you too!
Most insurance companies accept massage claims, and most of us have provider numbers to many insurance companies. Insurance companies also make sure we are part of a professional association. If your therapist wants to be paid under the table or your claims for their services don’t go through even when you are covered for massages, that is a sign you should check their credentials.
All registered massage therapists are unique. Some like to focus on relaxation techniques that promote new blood flow and decrease stress. Relaxation massages can be applied with various amounts of pressure and have a distinct flow to them.
Some massage therapists like to focus on making more measurable changes in the body by assessing range of motion, improving asymmetries, and reducing pain. Others like to do a mix of both.
Not one way is the best way, it really just depends on your needs.
If stress reduction is your main focus, finding a massage therapist who specializes in relaxation is beneficial.
If you have a specific ache or pain that you want to work on, seeking a massage therapist who focuses on assessment and rehabilitation would be more beneficial.
Common goals to have before seeing a massage therapist are: reducing stress, increasing range of motion, reducing the frequency and severity of pain and/or headaches, and eliminating numbness and tingling to name a few.
Regardless of the goal, it usually takes about three equally spaced out sessions for you to notice a change; but everyBODY is different.
I think everyone should consider adding Massage Therapy to their self-care routine and treatment plans with other modalities like physiotherapy, athletic therapy and chiropractic.
I hope this post answered any questions about massage therapy and our profession. Of course if you want clarification on anything comment below!
As a final note, please refer to all massage therapists as MASSAGE THERAPISTS, anything else is just disrespectful.
~Felicia
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