Physical Therapy Schools|Benefits Of Massage Therapy Schools

Before you can start working as a massage therapist, you have to perform a massage interview to get the job, and interviewing for a massage position is quite different than most other interview processes. For many massage therapists, the first job they hold directly out of massage school is for a chiropractor, or a spa / salon owner instead of working as an independent contractor, and it's important to know what to ask in order to accept the right position. Understanding if you will work as an employee or an independent contractor - especially when a massage therapist is beginning his or her practice - is helpful when deciding where to work.

Why You Need a Resume and Cover Letter When Interviewing for a Massage Position

While you will not be sitting at a desk or crunching numbers, you do need to prepare a resume and cover letter for your anticipated massage interview. Even though it is a non-traditional environment, your employer will want to see that you are a professional massage therapist who can represent himself or herself adequately, and a well-written cover letter can show that you have good communication skills - an invaluable asset when working with a diverse set of clients. Be sure to include information about your school, your modalities, and your intended certifications - the more a potential employer knows about you and your specific interests, the more you will stand apart from the rest of the crowd and the higher the likelihood that you will soon be interviewing for the massage position.

Coming in for a Massage Interview

When you receive a call to come in for an interview, prepare to actually give a massage. This might surprise some applicants, but you are interviewing for a massage position, and your employer wants to know what you can do and what your style is like. Because you want to be comfortable while giving the massage, be sure to wear an appropriate outfit for both a massage and an in-person interview. Often, clean, long black yoga pants and a collared shirt will do just fine. Unlike most interviews where applicants are expected to wear slacks and a button-down shirt, your potential employer will expect a massage therapist to be dressed for the test massage. Just to be sure, when you schedule the massage interview, ask over the phone what would be appropriate attire. Additionally, it is always a good idea to arrive at the massage interview fully prepared - a massage therapist should bring supplies to the interview such as sheets, and lotion or oil. While the interviewer will likely have these supplies on hand, it is always a good idea to be in control of the session by being fully prepared.

When interviewing for a massage position, depending on the size of the business, a human resources person or the owner will likely be the first person to sit down with you for a few moments and talk with you about your education and experience. During the massage interview, be prepared to talk about what you learned in school, what your strongest and weakest modalities are, what you envision for yourself as a massage therapist, and about your previous experience with clients. Then you will give a test massage, either an abbreviated (30 minutes or less) or standard (one hour) massage, showing your abilities to give Swedish and deep tissue massage. Interviewing for a massage position sometimes, but not often, involves you being asked to display competence in additional modalities that you have listed on your resume such as hot stone therapy, or sports massage.

It is important to be yourself during the massage interview. Just relax and give the same massage that you would give to a client. Do not be nervous, because it will come through in your touch. Your employer is looking to see your skill as a massage therapist, and the more natural and relaxed you are the better interviewing for the massage position will go.

Getting the Job and Working

If the massage interview goes well and you get the job, you will likely begin either as a full-time or part-time massage therapist. Be sure to speak with your employer up front about the method of compensation and your designation as either an employee or an independent contractor, because these are very different and can make a big impact on your revenue and tax filing at the end of the year. This is a very important question to ask when interviewing for the massage position as employees are expected to work during a set number of hours, can only work for one employer at a time, and must comply with the employer's standards of service and instructions about how to deliver massage therapy. From a financial standpoint, make sure that you understand during the massage interview if you will be an employee, as employers pay the majority of the employee's taxes, and the massage therapist is often eligible for benefits such as health insurance and paid vacation time.

Unlike employees, independent contractors are typically able to set their own hours, and are paid a percentage of the total revenue they bring into a business. They tend to have more flexibility about the type of massage protocol delivered and the types of services offered. If this is the type of work environment you have envisioned, you should establish this when interviewing for the massage position. For example, a massage therapist who is an employee at a large spa will be expected to adhere to the standard services as listed on a published menu of services but a contractor should legally have more flexibility. During the massage interview, ask if customers expect to receive a comparable massage regardless of which therapist they see, and if therapists are expected to closely maintain a massage protocol. If a massage therapist works as an independent contractor in a smaller spa or for a chiropractor, he or she is more likely to be able to decide upon which services to offer, the rate of the services, and the hours during which those services will be available. Another reason to clarify your status as an employee or contractor when interviewing for the massage position is because independent contractors are responsible for their own client records, and have control over those client records when and if they decide to leave their place of business. It's important to understand this early on in the massage interview, because with this independence comes the expectation of independent costs - contractors do not have taxes paid for by their employers, and often pay a large amount of money out-of-pocket at the end of the year.

Longevity as a Massage Therapist (Employee or Contractor)

It is important to understand all of the different elements that go into interviewing for a massage position, and know which questions to ask before you get hired. In addition to being prepared to give a hands-on trial massage, you should also determine during the massage interview what your potential employer expects from you in terms of compensation, hours, employee status, massage type, and career ambitions. That way you can be sure to begin a long-term, profitable, and enjoyable job as a massage therapist, either as an employee or an independent contractor.

Are you interested in learning the art of massage? If your answer is yes, you would surely need to find a good and certified school to train you. There are plenty of factors that you need to consider in order to find the perfect massage therapy school.

Before we take a look at what you need to do, you would have to ask yourself some questions - are you going to begin your own massage centre or would you look for employment once you complete the course?

Whatever the case; if you're good at it, you'd find plenty of customers as it's not just travellers that love massages; but, these days almost everyone goes for an occasional massage.

Tips to find the best massage school

Let's take a look at what you need to do in order to find the perfect school:

Come up with a list

The first thing that you need to do is come up with a list of possible institutes wherein you would want to learn this art. You could do a bit of research online or ask some family and friends to help you out - they may know someone in this industry really well.

Find out more

Once you've got your list created, the next thing that you need to do is shorten it. Begin by considering the fees they charge; if it's out of your budget - drop them. Next, take a look at what kind of courses they offer and whether or not they're certified. Another important step that you should never forget is - personal reviews.

What have the past students said about the institute? Are they doing well now that they've completed the course from the particular massage school? These are some really important questions that you need to find answers to.

Visit the schools

Once you've got a shortlist of possible massage schools that you would love signing up at, the next step involved in the process would be personal visits. Contact the schools and ask them to give you a tour of the services they offer.

If you're happy with the campus and services as well as the qualifications of the people teaching you, you should go ahead and sign up. But, before you make a hasty decision, visit all the schools on your shortlist.

If you've got any sort of questions regarding the school make sure to ask the people in charge. If you don't receive a satisfactory answer the students would always answer your questions.

There are many reasons students might want to attend school outside of a traditional classroom. One of these has to do with pursuing an athletic dream.

Serious athletes who want to be able to devote many hours a day to training simply don't have time to attend a traditional school. They need an academic environment that can adapt to their busy schedule, which is why many of them turn to cyber schools.

Cyber schools allow athletes training for elite events to:

• Dedicate hours a day to intensive training


• Devote themselves to their sport of choice, while still getting a great education


• Attend school during the hours they are not training


• Take their studies on the road with them


• Turn any space into a classroom


• Learn on their own time, at their own pace

Having the flexibility to learn anywhere, at any time is important to children and young adults who want to pursue athletic dreams. They don't have to sacrifice their education in order to excel in their sports.

Some of the young athletes who take advantage of attending a virtual school include those who:

• Have a dream of joining their country's Olympic team


• Want to play a sport at a Division 1 college


• Are interested in going pro in their sport

These are not your average grade school or high school athletes. These are children and young adults who have a dream of developing their talents to the point where they will become part of a truly competitive group of athletes. In order for this to happen, they have to be able to devote themselves to hours of practice every single day and travel for competitions.

Cyber Schools Have the Flexible Schedule Competitive Athletes Need

It's easy to see why these types of athletes are not able to sit in a traditional classroom for eight hours a day. They need a unique learning schedule that fits in and around their intensive training regiments.

That's why cyber schools have been instrumental in helping today's elite athletes pursue their dreams while still staying on top of their education. Whether they are on the road, in the locker room or spending some down time at home, all they need to do is turn on their computer to get connected to their school - and their education.

Children and young adults who want to pursue competitive athletic dreams can find an educational model that meets their needs in today's cyber schools.

If you are considering a career in massage, this article prompts you to ask yourself five vital questions.  Answering these questions will not only give great insights into many important aspects of what a massage career entails, it will also help you determine if a massage career is right for you.

1 - Do You Care About People?  

Firstly let me elaborate on the question. Everyone cares about at least some people. I mean do you generally care about people, do you enjoy caring for people.  

This is an important first question to ask. If you want a long term career in massage, you want to be able to answer honestly that you do, because it's the primary role you will have in your career. Everything you learn in preparation for your massage career is to prepare you for your primary role, caring for people.  

2 - Are You a Good Self Manager?  

After embarking on your career in massage you will need to be a good self manager. While some will find employment in spas, sports facilities or medical clinics, most will enter into their own business which means you are the boss of you.  

You will need to have good time management skills and manage your book keeping, although you will be able to outsource some of that if you wish. Also you will need to manage your discipline as you will predominantly work unsupervised.  

At the very least you need to understand that self-management is an important asset to have in a massage career. You should be willing to learn the skills if you don't feel you already have them.  

3 - Do You Have Good People and Communication Skills?  

This is an important question. Some people think that a massage career is perfect for a quiet, maybe even an introverted person. In many ways this is true, but keep in mind that you will need very good people and communication skills for 2 reasons.  

• You need to deal with clients before and after treatments, including dealing with initial face to face or phone inquiries. If people don't like you, they will not book a massage with you, no matter how good you are as a massage therapist.


• You need to effectively communicate to find out any health issues they may have prior to treatment. Sometimes health issues are of a sensitive nature and they will not divulge them unless they feel very comfortable with you, so people skills are vitally important to ensure the best treatment for your clients.

4 - Do You Enjoy A Quiet Work Place?  

Obviously working as a massage therapist means working in a quiet work place. No busy office chatter, and during treatments it means up to an hour of quiet, although it is common to have relaxation music in the background.  

Of course this can be extremely desirable for many people. Most massage therapists actually love this environment and enjoy the quiet of treatment time. They even find it meditative and it can be very therapeutic for them even while they perform the treatment.  

Also, if you choose to work part time in your massage therapist career, perhaps from home, then this quiet time may be a very welcome respite after your busy and noisy day.    

If however you love busy chatter and noise in the workplace as some do, maybe this would not be an ideal environment for you and you may want to reconsider a massage career for yourself.  

5 - Do You Have An Interest In The Human Body?  

This might sound like a strange question. I recommend you ask it to yourself for 2 reasons.  

First the obvious one, during a career in massage you will spend many hours per week in personal contact with human bodies, not working near people like in most jobs but actually touching their bodies. While it is always non-sexual, it certainly is an intimate profession.   

From personal experience and from speaking with other therapists I have found that it really helps job satisfaction if you have a genuine interest in the human body and how it functions.  

Second, the not as obvious. Many people seeking out schools for massage to begin their journey into massage therapist career are attracted by the 'art' of massage. And rightly so, the best therapists are certainly masters of their art.   

However don't forget that massage is also a science, and in the course of training for your massage career you will have to do intensive study of the human body; anatomy, physiology, biomechanics, structure and function. A genuine interest of the human body will help make this time not only more valuable but intensely enjoyable as well.  

Conclusion  

Firstly let me say that while answering each of the above questions with a resounding 'YES' would certainly make you a perfect candidate for a massage career, it is NOT necessary to have a 'perfect score.'  

I would simply encourage you to take time to have a conversation with yourself where you ask these questions and most importantly, you answer them honestly.  

These questions are designed to give you insights into what a massage career entails, and to clarify your thinking about whether a career in massage is right for you. They should also help to reveal potential challenges that you may need to deal with either now or during your massage career.

Some practices hesitate to switch software for physical therapists, nervous that it might negatively impact the staff or the client's experience. However, with proper planning and implementation, having up-to-date EMR software can actually improve the employee satisfaction and customer experience within your office. Whether a practice is considering changing to an electronic method of recordkeeping and office administration, or just upgrading the programs being used, learn what advantages there are to making the switch.

Physical Therapy Scheduling Software Keeps Therapists Booked

Implementing physical therapy scheduling software helps keep your staff busy consistently, and helps to prevent no-shows and double bookings. This not only keeps the morale of the employees up, but also ensures that your clients are attending their appointments regularly. Patient frustration is reduced significantly when there are no double bookings, and using a scheduling suite of products keeps your office better organized. A well-run practice presents more professionally, which in turn keeps clients happy and confident that they are well taken care of, not forgotten, and a priority for their therapist.

Software For Physical Therapy At-A-Glance Display Helps Give Better Recommendations

With the many types of software for physical therapists available, choose a suite of products that offers an at-a-glance user interface. This enables the administrative staff to easily book appointments, see a particular therapist's schedule, get up-to-date insurance reimbursement information, see what accounts receivable amounts are owing, and make appointment reminder calls.

This user-friendly type of display is of great value to the therapists themselves, as they can quickly view a patient's history, past exercise recommendations, outcomes, future appointments, and discharge notes. The staff will be happier not having to maintain bulky paper file folders, flipping through copious amounts of paper documentation in front of patients for whom time is already short. With increased client satisfaction, your therapists and office staff will also be happier, and therefore more productive. In turn, improved efficiency helps increase customer satisfaction, completing a very positive cycle.

Encourage More Personal Interaction

Physiotherapy is an incredibly useful tool for patients, and helps restore or maintain bodily functions. However, it's important for the employees of a physiotherapy practice to get to know their clientele and form close bonds with them. This loyalty and trust will improve the relationship, reduce cancellations, and ideally, promote positive outcomes. Integrating this type of recordkeeping fosters an environment in which members of the practice can interact more with the person in front of them, instead of being buried in the burden of paper files and lost or unorganized information.

In addition, the efficiency that software for physical therapists provides will mean the physiotherapists will have more time in the session for what matters: helping the patient. With consistently booked days, fewer cancellations, less searching for patient history, and a happier administration staff, client satisfaction will soar. Plan well for the transition, and your physiotherapists, management personnel, and administrators will all reap the benefits of this type of program.

If at all you're interested in becoming a professional masseur, you're going to need a certification and to get this you'd need to attend a massage school. It's not just for the certificate that you need to join; whilst you're at this school you'd learn a lot about the art of massage.

But, how do you find that perfect massage school that would cater to your needs? Well, it's not going to be easy; but, it's surely going to be time well spent. There are plenty of factors that you need to consider before you pick a school, let's just take a look at some of the most important ones:

First and Foremost come up with a list

There are surely going to be plenty of massage schools in your locality or they may be set up in your neighbouring cities. Therefore, the first step towards finding the right school would be by creating a list of all the possible schools in your area. You should use the internet in order to come up with this list or get yourself some sort of brochure that contains a list.

Find out more about the schools

When it comes to massage therapy schools, you first need to get rid of the schools that don't meet the industry standards; as per law they would all have to meet the minimum standards, but minimum isn't what you need. You should aim for a school that is perfect in what they do. Just do this and you'd see your list shorten drastically.

Ask previous students some questions

There are going to be various groups on Google Groups, Facebook as well as Yahoo Groups that are built on each massage therapy school. You should try and join in and get to know the people in the group. Once you're familiar with the surroundings the next thing that you need to do is ask them whether they found the school useful, if it helped them and whether they would suggest attending it.

Finally visit the school

This may be the last step on our list, but it's by far one of the most important. You need to make sure that you visit every school on your short list before you make a decision. This would give you a first-hand experience of the atmosphere that prevails in the school. If possible visit during class hours to see what exactly goes on.

Once you're happy with a particular school, go ahead and sign up; but, make sure that the fees are reasonable and affordable as well.

Great educational establishments give activities that bring out the best in their pupils. It is through extra-curricular activities like football, theater, and glee club that pupils can improve their abilities and talents. These activities, however, require a permanent school fund. Without a reliable funding system, schools can't afford to prepare pupils for games or drive them to be involved in important academic tournaments. There are also educational institutions that shut down creative sections as a consequence of school funding issues.

There's a lot of approaches to remedy this issue. Concerned parents, students, and private individuals can team up to help keep resources flowing. Many exciting and unique fundraising activities are beneficial and enjoyable. If you're a parent, don't make school funding issues get in the way of quality education. Encourage your local community to participate and generate income for your local district school.

Below are a few excellent tips:

-Bake Sales, Fashionable Trinkets along with Custom-made Items

Selling goods whether they are food, accents or do-it-yourself crafts is a very common and effective way of raising finances. Bake sales are popular among mothers. Students and parents can easily coordinate with one another to sell cupcakes, cookies, and also other pastries. Parents can be in charge of preparing these while the pupils can sell them door-to-door. Proceeds from the acquisition will go to the school.

Garage sales are usually a good idea. Apart from marketing pre-owned items, you can even give personalized items like shirts, pens, and cups. Get a provider of blank t-shirts along with a good printer. Promote classy and amusing couple shirts simply because these are becoming preferred these days.

Utilize your artsy and business abilities by offering authentic artwork or hand-made trinkets like bracelets, necklaces, and earrings. Promote home-made crafts like aromatic candles, soap and massage oils. Be sure you read online do-it-yourself articles or find a professional which may help you.

Study your target audience first. By doing this, you'll know which products are sought after. When offering items, ensure you produce more profit as opposed to capital you have invested. If you're not, you would possibly wind up losing profits.

-Offer In-Demand Services

One good way of getting permanent school fund other than promoting items is actually by giving services. For example, check with the students cleaning solutions like lawn mowing, house cleaning, and baby-sitting for a decent fee.

Car washes really are a well-liked gimmick among high-school pupils. One other unique fundraiser is having an auction or movie night. Auctions entail fraternity and sorority houses auctioning off members for a pleasant date. Movie nights, however, entail renting an area and playing a film for a certain rate.

-Concerts and also other Performances

Try setting up a show. Talent shows, musicals, and plays where students present their skills in the stage. School funding issues won't be a problem because you can easily generate cash through ticket sales.

Make certain everyone knows about your event. Set up posters and ask local papers, radio programs, and TV stations to bring up your event. Look for websites on the internet giving unique solutions to have permanent school fund. Post classifieds and make use of social networking sites like Facebook, Twitter and MySpace.

Without fundraisers, tuition will certainly increase, causing a number of departments to dissolve. Prevent this by continuing to keep extra-curricular activities alive. Sponsor fascinating fundraisers to guarantee a successful outcome.

You've gone to school, you have been praised during your medical internships and you know you are now ready, willing and able to take your physical therapy career to the next level. A great start, but this determination alone will not guarantee that you will obtain the physical therapy job you want. You need to do great at your job interview.

How to Put Your Best Foot Forward
Whether you are trying to apply to a medical facility or plan to assist a family with an injured loved one, the same rules of landing a dream physical therapy position will always apply. Below are some tips that can help you land a terrific job and get you well on your way to enjoying the rewarding aspects of your chosen profession:

1. Be confident, not cocky - the rule that applies in interpersonal relationships most certainly applies in the job arena. No one likes a braggart or a blowhard and that includes employers. At the same time, stuttering or acting nervous or unsure is not a good indication of how you would fare in a crisis situation. A healthy balance of self-assurance and calm are just what the doctor ordered.

2. Play up your strengths - if you have a brilliant track record with rehabilitating children or the elderly say so. Employers look for attributes that stand out and set you a part from the rest.

3. Supply references - and make sure they are reputable ones that will give you the glowing recommendation you are seeking. To that end, avoid references from unpleasant work situations. If that particular job comes up during the interview, refrain from trashing your former employer - you should simply imply that the job was not the right processional fit and move on.

4. Be personable - for example, detail what made you want to be a physical therapist. This is of interest to employers who want to ensure that you will be able to connect with patients in a way that builds and establishes long standing trust.

5. Provide a professional resume - Surprisingly, many employers are inundated with resumes that hardly cut the mustard when it comes to a professional presentation. You résumé will say a lot about you. Be thoughtful when preparing it. If for any reason you feel as if you can't do a good job, there are a number of resume writing services available that are affordable and get the job done right!

6. Arrive early - at least 10-15 minutes if possible. Being on time doesn't hurt and of course arriving late looks bad, but there is something to be said for appearing eager.

Above all, be honest and forthcoming. If you embellish or leave out pertinent job specific details, you will more than likely be found out. This, of course, will not look good. and your prospective employer may be put off.

As you try to land your dream job, keep in mind that it may not happen overnight. Sure there are times when someone walks right out of internship into a plum position, but these instances are few and far between. By remaining both realistic as well as optimistic you will inevitably find the perfect fit for your career goals and embark on a fulfilling professional journey.

In different places around the world where many PTs resides and practice their profession will also mean that they have different value in terms of salary. How much does a PT make in different states of the US?

When you say you are PTs it will immediately meant to others that you restore strength, flexibility, and range of motion from injury or illness, which is precisely correct by definition of a PT profession. PTs treat patients who have difficulty with the movement or who cannot perform functional activities necessary to everyday life. A PT can make as much as $65,005-$75,670 annually in the US depending also on what state or city you work. Like in California a PT can earn from $52,649-$67,441 annually, in New York City, $57,265-$68,682 annually and in Texas, $54,771-$72,157 annually. Some PTs have their own offices, or work directly to the hospital, clinic, or care home settling.

Additional training can also increase the salaries for a PT. High paying skills for PT are those have skills in home health care, which allows work with the most severely; disable patients at their homes and also geriatrics, which is especially useful for managing conditions shown by growing elderly population.

Experience also determines the salaries for a PT. New to the profession earn $51,132-$61,368 annually. Those with five to nine years of experience make $59,706-$73,448 and with those with 20 years or more years of experience receives $65,341-$81,448 annually. The work is strenuous and may involve some physical tasks such as lifting, turning and stretching patients.

A fulltime PT professional receives the best pay where they earn high monthly pay packages irrespective to their locations.

The workplace contributes an importance in determining the salaries of physical therapies. The type of employer can affect both earnings and the number of job opportunities. The BLS reports that the offices of health practitioners, which include PTs, have the most jobs, with 35 percent of the total 174,490. Because of the large supply of professionals, salaries here average $75,760 annually. The highest pay is available in management, scientific and technical consulting services at $88,260 annually.

The job outlook for PT remains to be excellent. The salary packages are expected to increase significantly in the coming years as the demand for the services of the profession is increasing significantly.

The services of PTs are carefully enhanced to ensure the effectiveness and safety of the program for each patient. The skills are developed to ensure the quality of services the PT provides to each patient.

With the boom of online colleges there comes a debate: which is better traditional schools or online schools? While there will always be a need for traditional schools, I'm here to tell you that for some students, online colleges are the answer! Here are 5 reasons why online college can be beneficial for you!

1. Time

If you've ever attended a traditional college you know how hard it can be to manage your time. You have to juggle your classes, your job, and your family. With online classes you don't have to work around the schedule that the school sets you work around your own. Going to school doesn't have to totally change your lifestyle. You can now take classes in your free time, and go at your own pace without turning your life upside down.

2. Focus

There can be many distractions at school and at home but, at home you can just close the door. You just have to deal with it when you're at school. Some students find it easier to set up a quiet home office where they can study and focus.

3. Flexibility

Students that take online courses have more flexibility. Administrators, teachers, and counselors are more readily available to the student and are there to meet their needs. This can make taking classes easier with online resources. No longer will you have to make an appointment with a counselor, or work around your Professors office hours. With online schools you can email communicate with your teacher with just a click over the internet! How neat is that?

4. Access

Online Education allows students from across the country and the world get a quality education. Students in Arizona can take courses from Harvard or Yale. Students across the country that don't have access to a university now have the opportunity to get a quality education, from their homes! Online schools are breaking educational boundaries.

5. Cost

Last but not least! While the cost of tuition and books is about the same at traditional colleges and universities online colleges are becoming more competitive with their prices. Many fees that come along with traditional colleges are non-existent with online schools. No paying for parking, gas for commute, or a dorm room. School just isn't cheap and it never will be but with online schools you can check competitive prices and find an affordable school. You can also get financial aid to help you pay for tuition. Accredited online schools provide financial aid for their students and can help you along your way.

Getting a degree will make your life better. There's just no question about it. But how you go about getting your degree is completely up to you. Online schools provide the same amount of coursework, and you will receive the same quality education as if you went to a traditional college. For some students online courses are the answer! If you have to be in school to get your degree why not make your life easier by taking courses from an online school. You may just find that it works perfectly for you!

If you want to be able to learn this skill and then help others you will need to spend time attending a massage therapy school.

There are probably such training centers in your town. They are now present in most localities as the popularity of massage has increased. To work as a masseur you will need to acquire official authentic certification; without which you would not be able to offer your services.

It is essential to know a little about how to choose a suitable school. This is a slightly longer process today due to the increase in numbers. To start off, try to get as much information relating to the schools in your town.

If it is possible then organize a visit to a few establishments. This will allow you to check out what resources they have as well as meet the staff. Instructors should be happy to discuss the training program with you and address any concerns you may have. Also see if you can speak with past students as they will be able to give you a truer picture.

Not every massage therapy school will offer the same courses. There are many different forms of massage available in this day and age. If you want you could choose a school that trains students in full body massage, Indian, Thai, hot oil, or crystal. Just be certain that if there is a specific type of massage you want to learn that the school you are checking out offers a program that includes such a discipline.

The price of the massage therapy training will also be important. The cost varies depending upon the intensity as well as duration of the program.

With numerous positive alternative health and wellness systems such as massage therapy, you can learn to manage stress and the side effects efficiently. Other alternative methods include yoga, breathing exercises and meditation.

Professionals and health care specialists have estimated that over 90% of the diseases happen due to stress. Stress is considered to be one of the major reasons of early aging, heart attacks and stroke. Not only does stress affect the respiratory, muscular, cardiovascular and central nervous system but even the lymphatic systems. Research has seen the effect of stress on the immune system by frequent infections, lower hormonal balance and decreased libido.

The best aspect about massage is the ability to lower the pain threshold by a few notches, decrease anxiety and improve sleep. It is essential for everyone to sleep for a minimum of 6 to 8 hours every night and an important biological process that aids, heal and rejuvenates the body. It has been seen that massage therapy improves blood circulation, is a quick and effective tool in treating insomnia, when massage is given just before sleeping.

Most of all illnesses overtax the nervous system resulting in tightness of muscles that cause stiffness, pain and inflammation. While its effect on respiration can cause shortness of breath that in turn leads to low levels of oxygen in organs and muscles. Low oxygen levels in the blood hamper the body's ability to heal and rejuvenate.

It has been seen that massage therapy provides improved concentration, enhanced energy levels and low fatigue. When you take sessions of therapeutic massage such as Swedish massage, traditional Kerala massage or deep-tissue massage as it can assist in addressing a variety of chronic health issues and pain management. In case of pregnancy, specialized massage is given by experienced massage therapist for manageable childbirth and short maternity hospital stay.

When you actually sit back and see the positive benefits of massage therapy, even when you take sessions along with prescription medication, it aids in reducing dependence of medicines, improves your body's immunity by better lymphatic flow. You'll be surprised by the fact that sports massage therapy is a routine used with professional athletes and sportsmen. Most of the sports injuries, atrophied muscles and stretched ligament are relaxed effectively with the help of massage and most of the pro teams have a certified massage therapist on board to ensure the sportsmen are relaxed and well even after strenuous workouts.

The skin is the body's largest organ and massage enhances the condition, tones and hydrates it. Most massage therapists use essential oils diluted in pure oil or other organic lotions as the skin absorbs them easily and are better choices than chemical-enhanced lotions.

Compared to ten years ago, there are far more Physical Therapy continuing education courses these days on the hip. One reason for this is our knowledge of hip movement and structural impairments has greatly increased.

We recently interviewed a Hip Movement Expert about Structural Impairments. Here are some of her responses.

Interviewer: A lot of surgeons these days are starting to focus more on the hips and especially structural impairments such as femoroacetabular impingement. We also know - well, I know through attending several of your courses - that we're more aware of variation in hip structure such as retroversions, anteversions, and things along those lines. Could you just share with us your thoughts? How do you incorporate all these different components (the structural, the movement) in to your assessment and treatment?

Hip Movement Expert: Okay. Well, I think structural impairments are critical to identify so that you don't mismanage that person's movement.

For example, if your patient had femoral anteversion and looked medial rotated and you tried to correct that medial rotation by saying" keep your knee pointing straight ahead", you would be pushing them way too far laterally, potentially irritating their hip joint instead of helping it.

I think when surgeons talk about anteversion and retroversion often they're talking about the acetabulum. When physical therapists talk about it a lot of times they're talking about the femur. And whether or not the two go together is not really clear.

Like if you have acetabular anteversion does that mean you have femoral anteversion? That's unclear. As a clinician you don't have x-rays at this point. You need to kind of look from the outside in, and what I recommend for the -versions is doing hip rotation range of motion as your first clue.

When you have a huge asymmetry that's probably at least 15 degrees different - in other words if you had 45 degrees of medial rotation and only 25 or 30 of lateral, that discrepancy makes me say, "I better check this out a little bit more carefully."

So, when I find a big asymmetry in one direction versus the other, that is my clue. I typically look at that in prone and then I'll put them in sitting and I'll see if that asymmetry persists. If it persists, it's been shown that often that is a fairly reliable way to determine a -version; either retroversion or anteversion.

Then there's the Craig's test which many people do. I don't know that it's very reliable, but it just gives you another sense, "Yeah, I really do think there's a bony problem here, therefore that's that person's neutral and when I'm asking them to move I need to have them move at their midpoint and not force them."

I had a young boy who tore his labrum being given lunges. He was very, very retroverted and he was being told "get your feet straight ahead, get your knees straight ahead, do these lunges." Then of course he tore his labrum and ended up with surgery.

So, if somebody had just respected his retroversion then he would have been able to do those exercises without any trouble. So, I really think that the -versions are important.

FAI, or femoroacetabular impingement, I guess my biggest suggestion at first would be a lack of hip flexion. So, if you flex somebody's hip, especially a young person, and they don't go past 90, or you feel a bit of a block, don't push it. That's the way they were built. You need to be mindful that most of the time hip flexion is going to be the direction that's blocked with impingement.

Then coxa vera which would be a sharper angle in the frontal plane. It's most often a woman with the wider pelvis and when they lay on their side their greater trochanter is fairly prominent. That gives me a sense that this person may just be built this way and then you have to kind of adjust their side lying positions accordingly. Or just even them crossing their legs they have to go a lot further than somebody who doesn't have that sort of structural problem.

So, that's just an example of three of them. I think some you look at by alignment, some you look at by range of motion, the -versions more with rotation, the impingements more with flexion.

My dad likes to say that getting old isn't for sissies. He should know, since he's 86 years old. As the baby boom generation heads into the latter portion of their lives, they are not taking this aging process lying down. Boomers are striving to stay active and in shape.

Baby boomers know that keeping active will enrich the quality of their lives and make the best of the extra years given to them by advancements in medicine. Not only will exercise keep the muscles toned and the cardio vascular system in top shape, studies show that it has a powerful effect on fighting dementia and Alzheimer's disease.

When selecting exercise programs or activities, mix up the routine to allow your body to rest and avoid repetitive motion injuries. Set your tennis racket aside and hop on a bike to add cycling to your assortment of exercises. Just remember to wear a helmet.

I bought a 300 page hardback book on how to become biologically younger in a year. The whole book could be summarized by one sentence: exercise, doing both aerobic and strength training and eating wholesome foods in moderation. It did have one of the best lines on aging that I have read, that you have to get older but you don't have to rot. Okay, I get it; aging bodies need exercise. To stay motivated, visualize yourself twenty years down the road as strong and vibrant but just a bit more wrinkled and grey, then contrast that with images of being frail and feeble. That second set of images proves to be very motivating.

One of the problems with going to the gym as we age is that exercise classes and equipment are geared for younger members. Before joining a gym, ask the staff if there are special classes or instructions for older members who may already have aching backs and joints.

Strong, conditioned muscles are better able to absorb the impact of repetitive motions without injury while improving performance. Performance is also improved with the proper posture and alignment that comes with good flexibility. Many people incorrectly think that physical therapy is just for rehabilitation after an injury or a stroke. As we age, tendons and ligaments become less elastic and are more prone to tears and injury. A therapeutic exercise program completed with a well trained professional can increase strength and conditioning of muscles and improve flexibility in order to avoid soft tissue injuries.

Working with a physical therapist for balance training will increase dexterity and reaction time for aging athletes and would also help aging boomers avoid debilitating falls.

In summary, stay active, vary your exercise program and consider consulting with a physical therapist to proactively work to avoid sports injuries. Enjoy your remaining years with gusto!

Every graduating massage therapy student when coming out of massage therapy school, still has to take their national certification exam in order to get their massage therapy license. This may sound like an easy thing, but you would not believe how many students simply don't pass their exam. Not passing their exam the first time, causes needless unnecessary expense, needless frustration and anxiety, and needless prolonging putting off getting your massage license and practicing massage therapy. Speaking from experience, and seeing so many others struggling with this ordeal, I want to give some easy, common sense advice that will hopefully help those needing to take either their MBLEx, NCETM, or NCETMB certification test.

First of all, don't think you can just waltz into the testing center without any preparation and think you will pass. Chances are you won't and the odds of that happening are very much against you. Secondly, always prepare before taking any exam, especially your certification exams. Always refresh your memory, go back and review what you learned in massage therapy school. If by some chance you don't do well preparing that way, get a tutor, a friend, someone or something that will help you prepare. Also, many students have been out of school for a while and this is where most graduates make the mistake. They wait to late to take the test while the information is fresh in their brains and then thing they can pass the exam after being out of school for 6 months or longer. That simply won't happen, I guarantee it. You must prepare to pass the exam.

If by some chance you don't know anyone that can help you, I would highly recommend getting a MBLEx study guide, a NCETMB or NCETM study guide. There are many great online study guides that are worth their weight in gold. I would choose an online study guide that comes on a computer program because the certification exams are taken on a computer. If you study on this type of study guide it will give you that test like feel that you will face come test day. In closing, always get a good nights rest before the exam day. Do not over analyze each question. Always go with your first gut instinct and remember to breath. Slowing down your breathing helps calms your brain and body just like massage does. If you do these simple steps, you will save yourself a lot of grief, time and wasted money by not passing the exam. Do these things and you should pass your exam in flying colors.

How does a shiatsu massage sound? Right about now, it probably sounds like a good idea. This type of massage is one of the many types available. The word "shiatsu" is a Japanese term for "finger pressure." That is precisely what is used in this case however, a variety of body parts may be used to create the pressure needed.

The benefits of shiatsu massage are many. Because it is a "whole body" system, it can help improve the overall fitness of the body which is achieved by stimulating the flow of blood. This massage can help your skin by stimulating circulation in the capillaries of your soft tissue. It also helps to stimulate the secretion of sebaceous glands to make the skin soft and supple, which in turn helps to reduce wrinkles. The symptoms of arthritis can also be minimized. If you suffer from migraine headaches, a this type of massage can provide relief. These headaches are most often caused by rapid widening and narrowing of the blood vessels in the head. Shiatsu can help by increasing blood flow and circulation in the body. A growing number of pregnant women are finding this therapy to be helpful during pregnancy as well because morning sickness and swelling caused by pregnancy are minimized.

The shiatsu massage provides a variety of health benefits in addition to relief of pain. It reduces toxins in the body from medication and anesthesia. The symptoms of stress are reduced as well as anxiousness and nervousness. Increased blood circulation and an improved immune system are other benefits. By increasing proper blood flow, your blood pressure can be decreased as well.

The key to being healthy is taking care of your body and mind. The shiatsu massage can help with both. The relaxing and calming effects can restore and bring a healthy balance to your body. When accessing deeper tissues, this type of therapy may be uncomfortable. This is the tell-tale sign of just what areas need addressing the most. With time, this will subside. In the end, you are left with a renewed sense of vitality and reduced stress.

The doctor tells me to go vegetarian for the course of the treatment and this proves to be no hardship as the vegetable dishes in India are absolutely luscious. In particular, the Kerala people cook everything in coconut oil and throw in a huge blob of coconut to boot. Vegetables cooked in a delicious cashew paste are also irresistible. I am wondering about the calorific value of all these dishes. Servings are huge so I compromise by eating half (or mostly three-quarters!). Two vegetable dishes that I find totally yummy are Thoran and Avial. However, Dr. Jayahari has already said not to have any coconut oil as I had an oily condition. This presents a problem. The hotel does not serve an Ayurvedic menu. I notice an advertisement for a restaurant nearby that claims to be the only restaurant at Kovalam Beach that serves Ayurvedic food, though I never visit it. This might be a problem - surely a hotel which has an Ayurvedic clinic attached to it should offer the appropriate food? So I can hardly feel guilty if I eat the coconutty dishes on offer. I am supposed to drink banana stem juice after each treatment. I never did find out what that was like as they never had any available. Apparently cucumber juice is a good substitute.

When you are brought up on sliced bread, it is easy to go crazy about the Indian breads. They are the best. Garlic naan, roti, fluffy parotta, stuffed breads, etc, the variety is endless. The breads are crunchy, fluffy, garlicky and spicy and absolutely luscious.

One of the best aspects of Kerala for a recovering sugar addict like myself, is that there is absolutely nowhere to get a pastry sugar fix. Overall I saw only one cake shop in the whole state. Generally, most meals end in fruit. Some of their favourite desserts are dishes made of vermicelli or red rice (Payasam) or carrot (Carrot Kheer). I think that pineapple is not a bad way to end a meal here.

I quickly become addicted to their wonderful spicy teas. Cardamon tea and masala tea are wonderful if you love spices. Masala tea is thick with spices including a liberal sprinkling of black pepper.

While I relish foreign food, my mother has a big problem. She is allergic to chilli so she suffers terribly. Even after intensive questioning and the waiters denial that there is any chilli in a dish, she would take a mouthful and have to spit it out. India is not the country for people with chilli allergies!

The next day I am given my treatment program for the next fourteen days plus an assortment of herbal pills and herbal liquid to be taken on either side of each meal.

The program comprises the foot massage, hand massage, Shirodhara, steam baths, oil and steam baths, massages with herbal powders, enemas, herbal purges, medicated ghee treatments and ear, nose and eye cleansing.

After four days of treatment my blood pressure has dropped to its best level in ten years - 120/80 and I am feeling very good. I am feeling supple, and can easily run my hands along the floor with unbent legs.

The doctor weighs me and I have only lost one third of a kilo! Not to worry, I must not go out on Sunday because that will be the big day when I have a purgative herbal medicine. I must not have breakfast and must stay in with heaps of toilet paper.

Day four introduces an interesting treatment. As per usual, I have an all over body (foot) massage, a head massage and a manual massage. Then a portable cooker and wok is brought bedside. The wok is heated and the masseuse places a tied up bulging bag in the wok until steam rises from it. Before I can argue, she pounds my back vigorously with the hot bag. As she bashes away she tells me that the contents are green leaves which 'are good for losing weight'. She reheats the bag and sometimes it is a little too hot but what to do? It is after all, for my own good!

Afterwards, I decide to go down to Kovalam Beach and see what is happening down there. I have hitherto avoided it as I have to walk down about five flights of very steep stairs and then negotiate a narrow path that winds through the back of all the holiday resorts. Kovalam Beach is the most famous beach in Kerala, having been discovered by hippies years ago, but now it attracts travellers from all over the world. The water looks very inviting - but not so the unattractive black sand. I have been told that many overseas beaches have dark sand and here is a case in point. The surf looks very inviting but I notice no one sitting on the sand. The beach is littered with beach beds and umbrellas which are obviously for hire. Yes, a fellow sidles up to me and offers me use of a bed for 150 rupees. This would be open to negotiation but I just nod. Not today.

Immediately I am accosted by a host of beach vendors. Bongos are banged in my face - would I like to buy drums? No? But for my children? For a friend? No? But these are the best drums in India! Bang! Bang!

How about a pineapple? How much? 100 rupees.

"One hundred rupees!" I shriek. "That would be $2.50 in Australia and I just can't believe that they would cost that much here!"

"But they are very sweet, very juicy, Indian pineapples!"

"Well I don't want them at that price." I'm now thinking that a nice juice pineapple would be a yummy lunch. Maybe they've been sun ripened rather than gassed in the Woolies warehouse.

"Then 90 rupees?" she asks.

"No, I'll pay 50 rupees, and that's too much anyway," I say curtly.

She looks insulted and brings down the price to 80 rupees.

"No, don't want it," I bark and then turn on my heels.

I've walked a few metres when she runs after me. "Seventy rupees?" she begs.

"OK, I'll pay 60 rupees but that's my final offer!"

She smiles a toothless smile and happily hands me the pineapple.

It was indeed very juicy but I later discover that the locals pay twenty rupees for their pineapples!

Next I am accosted by a man selling kaftans/ shifts/ wrap arounds.

"No, I don't want to buy anything."

"When are you leaving?" he asks.

"In two weeks' time."

Pointing to himself he says confidentially, "My name is Johnny Be Good. You must remember my name. Don't go to anyone else. You are my customer now."

I promise not to succumb to any other kaftan/shift/wrap around salesperson. Johnny Be Good will be watching.

The amazing thing is that another day I see the same salesman and he reminds me of our conversation. He actually remembers when I said I was leaving. A German lady walks by and I mutter under my breath to her. She laughs and says that the beach hawkers look at tourists in a different way to us. "They scan us in just like a computer," she says. "Even if you come back in two years' time they remember you." I believe her as time and time again I am amazed by their phenomenal memory of every critical detail - firstly my appearance, then the exact day I will be leaving and also the items on which my greedy eyes alighted. They are human computers.

I am accosted by another kaftan/shift/wrap around salesperson.

"My name is Shridda? Can you remember that name? Repeat it for me!"

"Shridda."

"Well, you want to buy a lovely dress?"

"No thanks."

"When are you leaving?"

"Two weeks' time."

"Then you come back and only buy a dress from me - Shridda. OK? Promise?"

"OK."

We shake hands on it but I'm now beginning to worry about my easy promises. What will happen if I reneg and buy off Johnny Be Good or someone else?

Another tourist tells me what happens. She bought a wrap around off someone and another salesperson to whom she'd given her promise, ran over and the two vendors almost come to fisticuffs. How stressful was all this!!!

And so it goes on. Drum sellers, kaftan sellers, fruit, bead and ring sellers, card, puppet and CD vendors, all vie with one another to win customers and create goodwill. Even looking in a shop window is torture. I do not know how they do it but the exact instant you peer in at the window display, a head pops out the door. "You want to see inside? I have very nice things inside."

Of course we all know that once inside there will be no easy escape.

It is looking like a trip to the beach is not as pleasant as one would hope. The thought of having to dodge all those anxious faces on a regular basis is too horrible to contemplate.

And beware the hand that comes out to greet you. I make the mistake of shaking hands with a proffered hand and suddenly I encounter a vice-like grip that hauls me in! I have to struggle to escape the trap.

Taking a walk out the front of the resort is not much better. There is a long winding road that winds down a very narrow street lined by little shops. Unfortunately, one of those shops happens to be a tailor who, having once dragged me into his shop to inspect all his materials, has now well and truly 'scanned me into his database' and races into the street to accost me every time he sees me in the vicinity. I made the mistake of idly enquiring as to the price of a pair of trousers for myself. Well of course I would have to select a piece of material for a quote. Already I was feeling the pressure. I casually pointed to a piece at the top of the pile. Oh, that was a very expensive cotton so it would cost more than the other pieces! Why hadn't I picked the piece below it? Drat. The tailors critically eye my fat legs, all the while jabbering away, until finally they say it will require two and a half metres due to my size and it will cost 1200 rupees ($30). I shrug. I didn't want trousers anyway - it was only an idle enquiry. I guess $30 is a pretty good price for a pair of slacks but then I would rather have a piece of material that I really like rather than one from a pile in their shop. But it does make me think that next time I will go back with a suitcase full of all those scraps of material that have been sitting in my cupboard for years. Then maybe I could shop around for the best price. Probably the best price is not to be found in a tourist resort!

Maybe I will just stay indoors and watch cable television.

Sunday arrives. I do not have breakfast and dutifully arrive for my purging. I am given a hand massage, followed by a steam bath. The steam bath is a large wooden box sitting alone it a little room. The room is already full of steam and a eucalyptus scent. I climb inside and the box is closed up on me so that only my head pokes out the top. I wallow in the steam, feeling uncannily like an actor in a scene from Thunderball.

Talking about Thunderball, I have just remembered something that I was told by my neighbour in the plane at our Singapore embarkation. She was the last person on the plane and was visibly disturbed. She told me that she had been delayed due to the fact that she had had a problem at customs due to a snowball, of all things. As you know, you can only take the most minuscule amount of liquids on board an aircraft these days. She was terribly upset as a snowball her son had given to her was confiscated due to the liquid therein! And while I am on the topic, take care because if you buy duty free alcohol and you have a connecting flight, you will almost certainly lose the alcohol as it is now too late to put it in checked in luggage and you cannot carry it on the plane. Apparently a man bought a number of bottles of expensive cognac at the duty free shop and when he changed planes, they were taken off him. He nearly had a nervous breakdown over the issue.

Anyway, back to Ayurveda. Every pore cleansed, the doctor takes me to my room where he watches me drink a bitter herbal concoction. He tells me that the herbs are so strong they can dissolve bone. Hence, all the nasties that have been lurking in the twisted depths of my colon will be dissolved and flushed away. It will take three quarters of an hour to take effect and sure enough, at the appointed time I find myself gagging. I am simultaneously stricken with a desire to vomit and to go to the toilet. However, the next day the scales give a very good result. I have lost four kilos! And of course, I have thoroughly cleansed my large intestine. All those nasty bits and pieces that have been sitting half digested for years are now floating in the Ganges.

Your risk of falling increases with age. About a third of people over 65 and about half of people over 80 will fall once this year. There are lots of causes for this. Vision problems are one common culprit, as are other types of medical conditions, including low blood pressure, neurologic conditions, or muscle weakness. Sometimes, the reasons for falls are much more direct, as is the case with hazards in your home. Nevertheless, even in those kinds of instances, the consequences of falls can be devastating. Physical therapists can help you deal with those consequences as well as reduce your risk of falling in the first place.

One thing your physical therapist will do for you is help you determine, and then reduce, your risk of any further falls. A vision test is part of this process, as is a home safety assessment. A general review of the rest of your medical history will also be performed, including a look at what medications you're currently on. If you're on more than four, that alone can increase your risk of falling. Once this assessment has been performed, a personalized program of therapy will be put together for you. A physical therapist with experience treating people with neurological conditions will be particularly adept at this.

Balance training will be a part of that program. Single leg standing is one simple exercise that can help you improve your balance. Walking and moving in general form another key component. Of course, it won't just be any old walking and moving. Dance steps, figure eights, walking in circles, and even obstacle courses could all be utilized. Next, up, we have "dual task" training. This is learning to do more than one thing at the same time safely. The goal here is that you will be able to maintain your walking speed while engaging in other tasks, such as carrying groceries or engaging in a conversation.

You don't just need to be able to balance yourself while you walk, though. You also need to build up your strength. So, your therapist will also guide you through exercises designed to help you do just that. Not all of your therapy needs to be administered solo, either. There are also several community programs your therapist may encourage you to be involved in. In addition to helping you reduce your risk (and fear) of falling, these programs will provide you many wonderful opportunities for additional socialization and support.

If you or a loved one has been injured by a fall, or is at risk of falling, contact a physical therapists to see how they can help.

About fifteen million Americans require asthma management through physiotherapy programs. There are several medical and physiotherapy treatments which have been successfully employed to manage asthma issues. Recently, there have been concerns raised over the use of some questionable treatment.

Some physiotherapy clinics insist asthma can be controlled through physiotherapy programs. Syptoms like breathlessness and wheezing can apparently be alleviated by physiotherapy. Massages are also said to relieve the same symptoms in both young and old patients.

Acupuncture has also been used as an alternative treatment method to alleviate asthma symptoms. Interestingly, this technique has actually been beneficial for asthmatics.

It has been proven that acupuncture boosts the immune system to fight diseases better. This is an important criteria for asthma management. Common colds or influenza only worsen an asthmatic's condition. Acupuncture, if it reduces the chances of catching a cold, is definitely advantageous in such situations. However, acupuncture has yet not been accepted as a stand-alone treatment and is used only in conjunction with other established methods of asthma management.

There are other methods used by acupuncturists in asthma management such as burning herbs over the acupuncture points, giving the patient specific massages, or using breathing exercises. These treatments, again, have not been proven useful.

Asthma treatments are also carried out by chiropractors who rely on spine manipulative methods. This treatment method has received mixed responses. A study was carried out with two groups of asthma patients. One group was given fake manipulations, while the other group was given actual spinal manipulations. The results showed hardly any difference between both groups. According to these results, chiropractors cannot really help asthma patients with their treatments.

Another study on chiropractic treatments was also carried out. The progress of 81 asthmatic children at a chiropractic clinic was followed. The study showed that children undergoing the treatment had 45% fewer attacks and 30% of the children could reduce the amount of medication they had to take to control their asthma. Because of these two conflicting studies, it is undetermined if chiropractic treatments are actually useful.

For physiotherapists who want to continue in asthma management, there is a specialty certification. They can be trained to become Certified Asthma Educators and deal with patients. There services are paid for by Medicare and Medicaid.

It has been propounded that asthma patients who have been hospitalized should undergo physiotherapy. Asthma patients who were made to do motion exercises during their hospital stay, on average remained hospitalized three days fewer than patients who were not given exercises.

Traditional physiotherapy however faces a problem of dehydrating asthma patients. Asthmatics can be seriously affected by dehydration, which occurs faster for them. Sometimes it may even induce an attack. As a result, physiotherapists must keep this in mind when giving exercises.

There are several methods available to treat asthma, and they may be valuable, but physiotherapy also has a toe-hold in the field of asthma management. However, as long as they can't be proved useful, it is better to use alternative methods in conjunction with traditional management methods.

Massage is a kind of therapy that uses touch as a sense to relax the various muscles of human body. The main idea behind massage is that it helps reduce stress, relieves pain, helps tackle injuries of sports and enhances good feeling and overall health. The United States has various types of massage therapies. Massage therapists are professionally trained in all aspects of the therapy.

There are more than thousand schools that impart training in massage therapy in America. If one wants to become a therapist, he has to undergo proper training. To get a license for acting as a massage therapist there are various requirements that differ from state to state. As requirements vary a therapist is supposed to learn what is needed by their state. There are some eight states that do not have any formal requirements to act as therapists. However the profession could be regulated by localities.

In case you reside in a state that calls for a minimum basic educational qualification for becoming a massage therapist, you will have to pass licensing tests and certifications after you obtain your degree. Massage therapy is more suited to people who like to be amidst other people and talk to them. People who are introverts and shy might not be successful therapists. If you have good public relations and interpersonal skills it will help you to grow your clients and thereby more income.

Normally a high school diploma is needed for getting admission to any massage therapy school. For becoming a massage therapist, few courses that a student can undertake are physiology, anatomy, study of body mechanics, human organs, ethics, business management and practice of techniques.

If you are a massage therapist, there are plenty of opportunities for you in various business fields apart from your own practice. Businesses like hotels, physician's offices, health clubs, hotel salons, nursing homes, chiropractic offices, hospice agencies, home health and hair and beauty salons. A professional massage therapist who practices full time can see up to twenty clients a week.

The massage therapist must stay injury free by applying upright body mechanic techniques. It is a physically demanding profession. So it is not easy for a therapist to attend to too many clients per week. The practitioner must monitor their schedules and physical exertion levels in a proper way so that they stay active in their profession for years.

The opportunities for a massage therapist can only rise as the healthcare sector is expanding fast. There is a lot of emphasis these days on reducing stress and exercising for maintaining good health. Due to this reason massage therapy is quite in demand as it provides several therapeutic benefits. It is easy for a massage therapist to earn about $8.00 for an hour on the lower side and as high as $33.00 on the higher side. This however varies with the region and workplace.

A person seeking a part-time or a full time employment can look at the option of becoming a massage therapist. The work environment could be helping and job satisfaction could be really high apart from helping you stay in touch with people.