Body Massage as a Massage Therapy Course
Consumer confidence in body massage is at an all-time high, and the numbers prove it. Forty-seven million Americans reported they'd received a massage in 2005, according to a survey conducted by the Opinion Research Corporation. Seventy-three percent of the survey respondents also said they'd recommend massage therapy to others.

In order to become part of the growing, rewarding field of massage therapy, and begin providing body massage to the increasing number of people who need it, you will need to take a massage therapy course.

A typical massage therapy course can last anywhere from 100 hours to 1,000 hours, depending on your state and local requirements. The average massage therapy course is around 500 hours. Throughout most of the United States, you will need to log a specific number of hours in a massage therapy course and hands-on clinic, and take a state or national exam, in order to be licensed to perform professional body massage.

Your massage therapy course will likely consist of classes on anatomy, physiology, kinesiology, business, ethics, and hands-on training. As you get further into your massage therapy course, you may decide to specialize in a certain type of body massage, such as shiatsu or reflexology. In this case, specific training in your preferred form of body massage will be required.

Despite what you might think, it is possible to complete a massage therapy course through online learning. If you're not up for attending classes on a traditional campus, check out online programs that offer classes in body massage, and find one that fits your lifestyle and budget.
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