If you are interested in taking massage courses, you may have discovered that finding the right one is a bit of a daunting task. Massage therapy comes in many different styles and labels, each purporting to be better than the other. In China, it has an unbroken development for over 5,000 years and is taught and practised in medical schools as part of a health maintenance curriculum because of its proven benefits. In Australia alone, massage courses come by the thousands, especially in major cities like Brisbane and on the Gold Coast. So how exactly do you choose the right one? In this post, I would like to make things easier for you by giving some tips on how you can choose the right massage course.
Determine Your Budget
The first thing that you should consider is how much youre willing to spend on the course. You have to remember that private institutions are generally more expensive compared with government-funded institutions and some courses are billed by the hour. If your intention is to get a degree in massage therapy, you should remember that you will need to pay for dozens of hours, so it can become very expensive depending on the type of institution and courses you choose. On top of that, there is the equipment that you need to buy, so check with the school regarding their requirements. On the positive side, the benefit of attending a private institution is that they generally have better equipment compared with government-funded ones. Since there are fewer students, the quality of teaching is preserved and the instructors can give you more attention. The idea here is that, you have to pay for the quality of teaching that you get.
Take a Look at Your Schedule
The next thing that you should consider is your schedule. You have to consider regular obligations such as work, time with family, club meetings (including religious commitments) and how they may affect your studies. If you are a single student, you may still need to work part time to earn extra money. There are massage courses that are offered during weekends which are worth considering if they fit your schedule better.
Look for an Accredited Educational Facility
Since most massage therapists are also required to take a national exam to get a government license, you need to make sure that the school youre interested in is accredited. Often, you will not be granted a license to practise your skills if the school where youve studied is not accredited, so do be careful.
Ask for an Organised Syllabus
Since you need an overall idea regarding what you are going to be learning, you need to see a clear and well-organised syllabus. Perhaps the most important part of any massage course is the hands-on practise session, so this should be included in the syllabus as well. In most cases, students practise on themselves, but its also good to practise with actual clients so that you will have a good idea about how you can deal with them.
Finally, you should talk to the instructors and find out their expectations of the students. Since learning is not only limited to the classroom, ask them if they are available outside class hours for discussions and other concerns. Look for courses which provide students with support both inside and outside the classroom.
These tips will make it easier to find the massage course that is right for you. Good hunting.