Are qualifications required?

[ArmyWife2010]

Hello, may sound like a silly question but do i need a qualification to practice massage in order get paid for my service?

I'm in my early fourties and male. i'm also aware that i may not get the right kind of custom as I only expect to massage my client's in a totally apropriate manner and not be called out to hunky men, etc.

Many thanks

PS: I'm Hindu male, does anyone think my better option may be to learn 'indian head massage'?

 

[Chewy Ivan 2]

In short, to practice on the public you should have insurance, and to get insurance you will require a qualification.

Practice without at your own risk.

Love and Reiki Hugs

 

[Jacobo]

Got to agree with Giles. Also, there is no reason why you shouldn't practice Indian Head Massage but we warned that you need insurance (and qualification) for that as well. But it is a wonderful therapy.

Love

 

[Vanilla Dynamite]

Hi MSG2004

Welcome to the forum.

At the moment you do not need qualifications in the UK to practice as a massage therapist and it seems to be that if you have not been formally trained then you seem not to be deemed as responsible for the therapy you give as opposed to someone who has undergone formal training and should therefore be competent and professional.

However it is important that you do not advertise yourself or claim to be qualified if you are not.

Insurance is optional in your situation but can be found online if you look.

 

[jenerinlee]

Interesting Paul. I know I'd rather have a massage from someone who is qualified though. Surprising how easy it can be to damage the body with the slightest pressure in the wrong place....

 

[flozrockz]

if im honest, i would not go to someone who wasnt qualified, like giles has said, damage can be done without even knowing it.

i would like to know that someone is taking it seriously by getting the qualification not just doing it for something to do.

no qualification = no insurance - on your own head be it!

 

[vwuwjdbu]

Hello Paul and everyone else

Thanks for all the help. i too am a bit surprised that you do not need to be qualified in order to practice massage and get paid for this without actually sitting any qualifications.

Thanks all, i wil search the Google for at home training courses for certification over the next few days and decided.

 

[Julie Hedden]

Hi Giles

I worked myself for several years without qualifications so I could fully develop my intuition before I took on the a&p etc. which gives you a different perspective on what you are doing.

Insurance and qualifications was not as important as your ability to do the job in those days.

I have also received some wonderful treatments from unqualified naturals and I must admit some appalling treatments from people with strings of letters after their name.

Just because someone decides that this or that is the correct way to teach and do things does not always make it necessarily so

 

[Marlena Searcy]

I know what you mean Paul and I'm sure you're aware that I'm coming purely from the point of view that with today's society you just can't afford the risk. It's too much of a blame culture out there.

Love and Reiki Hugs

 

[Pranil]

Keep em coming guys.

Thanks for all the input!

I know it's a difficult question to answer - but how much could i earn if i was avialable all the time and did an hours massage for 20 pounds - all help sincerely appreciated.

 

[Linus Upp]

No formal qualifications in math either eh????
I have a friend in the States who is a 'mobile' therapist in New Jersey - she does 5/6 treatments a day, 6 days a week - for around $1500 a week. She works 3 weeks, then has one week off, otherwise she suffers 'burnout'. She also had a few years working on Caribbean cruise ships - OK for the first year but she missed daylight after a while! The money, however, was extremely good. She invested in a lightbox for her cabin which helped.

 

[SMARTi3 - H0W U DURRiN!!!]

Those with no training may give a good massage in most circumstances, but how do they deal (or do they deal) with anyone with any kind of contraindication? Are they aware of necessary treatment adjustments to be made? To me this is the most important aspect of treating clients - treating each as an individual and knowing how to treat in each case.

I would also add that a home study course is probably not the best way to go (and it would be best to check if you can get insurance for whatever course you do). You will need lots of hands on experience. There is a lot written about such courses on these forums, so do a search, have a read and then make up your mind.

Lesley

 

[Cayna11]

Thanks Jaba!

Aromababe - contraindications - surely it's common sense?

Broken leg - do not massage.

Operation wound healing - stay clear.

Swollen joints, keep clear.

Osteoporosis - treat with care and check severity - etc -etc.

Any help re other situations other than those mentioned and skin conditions?

Thanks again all, very help!

Thank you,

 

[pzahzyrt]

If only it were that simple.

Unfortunately, there are many qualified therapists who cannot agree what is or is not a contraindication. Conditions such as cancer, epilepsy, diabetes, high blood pressure and (history of) thrombosis, can all be considered as possible contraindications by some therapists, although others may be happy to treat a client with such conditions.

Lesley

 

[Maryah]

to be honest there is only so much you can learn on a course or at college. formal training cannot give you the intuition and healing touch that you need. it also cannot fully prepare you for every circumstance or condition that you will encounter in your practice. you really learn how to be a good massage therapist on the job. but i find it slightly disconcerting that people might start charging clients with no formal massage training. let's face it, training provides you with the foundation upon which you then build. i mean, you might be a good cook but that doesn't make you a chef. i agree, there are bad therapists out there who have had formal training... but imagine what they'd be like if they had had no training at all?

i wouldn't be too concerned about money because you'll be disappointed. the first year is generally slow. concentrate on your development. if you are any good, the money will come.

good luck!

henry

 

[hiymuclt]

Another aspect of treating clients with no qualifications is the litigation culture we are now experiencing. If a client sued you for doing them harm during a massage, you are going to have quite a battle on your hands without insurance/legal backup etc that you would get with qualifications. Qualifications lead you to registration with the organisations such as Federation of Holistic Therapists or ITEC, BABTAC, etc. This gives you extra credibility in your profession.

Love

 

[(Foley) S]

Reading some of the replies to this question really begs the question what massage and other therapists did before so called official training, governing bodies and insurance came around in the last centaury.

Massage alongside many other natural therapies have been safely and successfully practiced for many thousands of years without any interference from governments etc.

Please do not misunderstand me because there is a place for official training but it cannot take the place of experience which has to be learned actually doing the job.

Just how many people give their partners/children or friends a massage without any formal training and just how many of the recipients promptly drop dead afterwards because the giver did not do a consultation etc.

IMO massage is one of the easiest and safest things to do, the only complicated thing which is a recent addition is the anatomy and physiology, this in reality does not improve the quality of the massage at all, it just allows us to communicate with medical professionals using their jargon when describing what we find beneath our hands.

 

[Andrew Ho]

contra-indications to massage,
Pregnacy under 3 months I personally perfer them to be at least six months pregnant
gross swelling
diabetes
excessive hairy areas
open wounds
broken limbs
menstrul cycle, the stomach is mostly avoided to prevent heaviness
Some say epilepsy to due to triggering on attack and being high up, on a plynth, may cause damage, esp, if a attack occurs.

Hope this helps, as the rest say its better to be safe than sorry, always cover yourself esp, when it comes to insurance purposes or liability, believe me I have seen some people will try anything to sue.

 

[SR26]

So you would never give anyone a head massage?



I always give my client the choice to have their abdomen massaged if they are menstruating. Most of them find it quite soothing, especially if I use a little chamomile essential oil - helps with any pain.

So, this is exactly my point, MSG2004. We all have different ideas and none of us are wrong, but training enables us to make informed decisions which we wouldn't be able to make without the knowledge of anatomy and physiology and different techniques.

I agree with Paul that our training is just a starting point and that we are on a course of lifelong learning, but without that initial training, our starting point is much further back.

Lesley

 

[troy j]

Remember that MSG2004 said he was a Hindu. Dont know about him personally, but in many Hindu families, massage is a part of daily life, therefore MSG2004 could have actually been practising massage since childhood. Perhaps an on-line qualification in his case may be sufficient? Unlike us westerners who in some cases had never even touched another human prior to doing a massage course.