5 Reasons to Learn Massage Therapy as a Flexible Career

There are so many reasons to pursue massage therapy as your next career move, from the opportunity it offers to help people maximize their health and wellbeing to being able to avoid spending your work day behind a desk. But one of the best reasons is the flexibility it offers as a professional path.

Flexibility in starting a program

Many massage therapy programs offer multiple start times throughout the year, meaning you don't have to wait until the fall, when a traditional school might matriculate new students, to jumpstart your career. If the time is right for you, a degree program in your area is likely accepting students to start within a few short weeks or months.

Flexibility in pursuing a degree

In addition to flexible start times, any massage programs cater to those who are juggling other life responsibilities, such as full-time work or parenting, by offering night or weekend classes. If you need to work, take care of kids or just juggle other life responsibilities while pursuing a degree, massage therapy makes a great option.

One of the most appealing aspects of massage therapy is how diverse the options are for practicing upon graduation. Some people enter the career because they have a yen to open their own business. According to the American Massage Therapy Association, 67 percent of massage therapists are sole practitioners, which comprises the majority of the field. However, many gain employment in a variety of other settings, including but not limited to:

• Business or corporate settings
• Medical or health care facilities
• Spas or resorts
• Cruise ships or airports

Some massage therapists have even gone completely mobile!

If the regular 9 to 5 schedule does not work for you or is just not your ideal lifestyle, massage makes sense. You can set your own hours when you begin practicing, especially if you run your own practice. Many clients may be seeking massages during non-business hours or weekends, if those are times that work better for balancing the rest of your responsibilities. Many practitioners find it a good fit for part-time work to balance another job.

Massage therapy often appeals to those who don't relish the idea of sitting behind a desk all day. It's a career that keeps you active — in essence, it improves your own health at the same time as you're helping others. Bonus! Also, if you run your own practice, you will have to spend some time marketing yourself, doing accounting and other various administrative and other tasks to keep your business running smoothly. However, that variety in daily work life creates another flexible dimension of massage therapy that many enjoy.