Massage as a secondary job?

[Lorna]

Hi there

I am considering training, to learn to be a masseur, as a means to a secondary income.
Is ITEC a good qualification? how much is the course and how long the training?

I would be looking to provide professional relaxing massage to women. I would possibly consider men too.

I have nice hands, would aim to provide a professional and relaxing service. I have much experience of being massaged by women and men via sports and holistic therapies. Feel I can offer something unique as I'm a sensitive man who listens well.

Your thoughts please .....

 

[AverageJoe]

Hi Gareth,

I would say that ITEC is a Great starting point.
You will learn a massage routine (this varies from college to college) and also do Business Studies, Anatomy and Physiology and we have also done a 1st aid course which is I think, an ITEC requirement.
So, you can see, it will give you a great grounding in all of the skills that you will need to practice as a self employed (or employed) professional.
Once you have done the A&P and Business studies, any further ITEC courses will exclude these modules (since you've already passed) so the 1st course will be the hardest work load wise, but you will then be able to do add on courses - Indian Head Massage etc, much easier than the 1st course.
You can also do a VCTC but I can't tell you about that, as I am doing an ITEC in HM. Started in June, I love it, it is absolutely great, and I can't wait till I qualify in April next year.
There are 12 people in our class, and 4 of them are men, so although you probably do tend to get a few less men than women, it is not a problem on our course, and I guess it kind-a gives you a niche market if there aren't Loads of men doing it
Personally I chose a private college,which is part of a complementary health centre,on the basis that the tutors are there because they love it, not because they have to teach ... but that is my personal feeling, and I am sure there are loads of "community" colleges out there with great tutors too.
Have a good look at the ITEC website provided above and also do some searches in Google and on Healthy Pages, for ITEC, VCTC, Holistic Massage etc...
I am planning on doing another couple of smaller courses - starting level one EFT in October, so that by the time I qualify in HM, I will also have some other skills to offer, to ensure a wider customer base ... Still everyone says it takes time to build up your clients, but thats all part of the fun
Good Luck with whatever youchoose to do, and let me know if you have any questions!
Nikki x

Ps the course it 9-months to a year, although our college allows you to take it at your own time, so if you get too busy or life takes over, then it takes as long as it takes to complete it.
Prices vary Gynormously!

 

[WuzUp?]

Hi girls

many thanks for your 3 replies - a great help thanks.

Being a runner I came into massage as a client via sports massage for running, and since I run less now, have gone onto enjoy more pleasurable gentler holistic style massage therapy as a form of relaxation. Sports massage could be quite painful on tired legs, so the more gentler hoslistic / Thai / Indian head therapies that I have also enjoyed have been a relaxing contrast.

I'm in the pradicament of having a reasonably good career, still single, and being NEARLY able to afford my own place (1 or 2 bedroom flat or house) to buy at 39. Therefore as I see it, if I bought a flat / house with 2 bedrooms, and I gained an ITEC qualification, and other courses, I could gain a part time secondary income with a few clients.

Maybe if I trained for sports massage and holistic therapies then I could see the men for sports and the ladies for the holistic therapies, i.e., use the spare bedroom of whatever property I purchased.

thanks again

Gareth

 

[eclecticdoctor]

Being realistic, rather than negative, you could try a home based business, but it isa challenge for a male therapist to get females to come to his home. Maybe it's different in your area, but sports massage is usually done in a clinical setting, and would require quite a lot of networking in the sport area to be able to build up word of mouth. Running is often a solitary sport -have you any links to sporting clubs where once you get a couple of clients, word of mouth will probably be good? Have you got the time to network like that?

 

[CHATZILLA]

Hi Gareth

sorry to be more negative than your female respondents, but if you want to massage runners, I think that you will find the ITEC course inadequate (unless you have an unusually good tutor). An ITEC course will enable you to give a basic 'rub-down' after a hard race or long run, but it certainly won't enable you to deal with the minor soft tissue injuries which runners experience (calf strains, tight ITB causing knee pain, tight piriformis, etc). This has been discussed at some length in various threads on the 'sports therapies' forum: I would suggest that you read those threads and opt for a Level 4 course with one of the ISRM colleges or Active Health Group.

As far as getting started is concerned, I have built up quite a large base (as a male therapist) by word of mouth. But it definitely helped that I was already quite well-known in the local running clubs before I began my massage training (I had competed at county standard and had subsequently coached a group of runners at the local track). I'd suggest that someone who is known as an experienced runner will find it much easier to attract clients than someone who has never joined a running club.

Alan

 

[Kipifartieria]

many thanks for everyone to pointing me in the right direction training wise.

It's easy and enjoyable to reseach what therapists offer, but you've saved me time in researching the training on offer. It's something that I'm chewing over gradually.

Yes I'm a well known club runner in semi / temporary retirement from the sport.
I've had my own fame in my own neck of the woods

Incidentally, how much is insurance roughly for self employed? personal liability incase you accidentally injure someone and they sue you?

I have a serious yet light hearted view on life - to be completely serious would be rather dull.

I can see myself offering quality sports massage therapy services, I've been injured as a runner many times, and fully realise the immense knowledge and skills needed. Also a serious approach is absolutely essential.

I also, as it happensgrew up with parents on a West Kent nudist camp, (no I'm not a swinger) so given an aging and ever lonely population, I could maybe disceetly offer a few old dears a tantric rub down ...

 

[LivinLife4MySavior]

There have been earlier threads on insurance: I think that many therapists get their insurance through their professional association (eg SMA or ISRM). At least one contributor recommended Balens (who provide the insurance for ISRM) to therapists who aren’t members of a professional association.

I hope that your reference to ‘tantric rub-down’ was light-hearted ! You might find that offering tantric services invalidates your insurance policy !

Alan

 

[spider]

Thanks Alan for advice on insurance, yes I'm a relatively well known (heard of) west kent road runner, not too far from your neck of the woods. I'm a club record holder
But there is more to life than p.b.s

Yes of course it was light hearted, although Boards such as these gratuitously ignore the sensual side of massage for the sake of boring professionalism:
"let's pretend sensual massage doesn't exist"
whilst at the same time,during the liberal new Labour years (96 to present) a whole army of foreign practitioners have invaded these shores, touting ITEC and other professional qualifications whilst also offering more broad minded services if you know where to look.

Thanks for the helpful replies once again.