More and more individuals are beginning to adopt massage therapy as a part of their regular self-care routines. As such, becoming a massage therapist is becoming an increasingly attractive career path.
There are many benefits to becoming a massage therapist. It allows people with families to be able to choose a flexible time that works for them and their family. It’s a skill that allows you to work almost anywhere in the world. But most importantly, being a massage therapist is a career which involves making other people’s lives better.
To find out more about massage therapy, we spoke to City Lit’s Head of Health and Wellbeing, Alan Billington. Alan is an accredited therapist and experienced practitioner in the field. He regularly combines his practice with training. As such, Alan along with his team have trained hundreds of students across the years at City Lit. We were excited for Alan to share his experience and provide tips for becoming a massage therapist.
When did you become interested in massage therapy?
I would actually be considered a late bloomer to the field of massage therapy. I was well into my thirties when I started training. I became interested in massage therapy following experiencing various treatments for myself. I had such positive experiences with the therapists that I encountered. I was really taken by the outcomes of treatments and what I was learning along the way about the body. I guess you could say I was inspired! After much consideration, I decided that this was the career path that I wanted to pursue. I saw this as a way to give back.
What route did you take to becoming massage therapist?
I took a massage course at my local Further Education Collage. The course ran over a period of 4 months, and included modules on anatomy, physiology, and pathology. Initially, for me, it felt like learning a whole new language. I’m dyslexic, so I did struggle a bit. But the course tutors were really supportive. Retraining at 35 was difficult, however, it was very worth it!
I would recommend beginning with a taster or access course. They provide such a great foundation for learning.
What does a typical class session involve on a massage therapy course?
As with any course of this nature, there is a strong emphasis on putting theory into practice. This means that a typical class will begin with theory, which will be followed by practical skills. The theory will really help you to gain a good understanding of the anatomy and physiology of a person’s body. Learning about disorders, diseases, and injuries (pathology) really gives you a good grounding and competency when it comes to determining treatments, including whether you can give a treatment.
Do people need prior experience in order to embark on a massage therapy course?
Whilst there is no specific prior learning that students are required to have, I would recommend beginning with a taster or access course. They provide such a great foundation for learning. They also give you enough of a taste (information), to decide if progressing to an accredited course is really what you want to do.
What personal attributes do you need to be a massage therapist?
Massage therapists who have a genuine passion for the work they do, tend to demonstrate a high level of integrity and professionalism. These are therapists that care about helping their clients to resolve the problems that they come with. They can do this because they have good communication skills, and they are empathic.
Alan Billington speaking about the Covid-19 pandemic for the City Lit Awards in 2022.
How do massage therapists build a client base?
As a course provider, we have links with probably around 40 different charities and hospitals, which provide volunteer opportunities for students. This is a good starting point for beginning to build a client base, aside from self-promoting. We also have partnerships with organisations that employ therapists or offer self-employment opportunities. This allows many of our graduates move directly into employment or self-employment, giving them a platform to build a client base.
What are the benefits of studying massage therapy at City Lit?
At City Lit, all our tutors are practising therapists themselves, offering courses from complete beginner to accredited level. This provides students with access to live industry knowledge and expertise.
In addition, we have a conducive, dedicated, purpose-built Wellbeing Centre right in the heart of London, where all of our courses take place in-person.
City Lit provides all of the equipment for our massage students, including towels, oils, wipes and gels and has a close relationship with the awarding body, the ITEC.
The College also hosts the UK Massage Championship every year, which is well worth a watch if you make the trip down to Covent Garden!
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