20 Reasons Why You Should Not Choose Massage Therapist Profession

20 Reasons Why You Should Not Choose Massage Therapist Profession: Though massage therapist is a growing profession with great potentials, it is not for everyone. Just as there are good benefits of becoming a massage therapist, there are also many downsides to it.

In case you’re planning in going into the massage therapy profession, you need to know the downsides of it. In this article, we will be outlining some of the disadvantages of massage therapist and why you shouldn’t choose the profession.

1. The physical demands of the job can be hard on your body

As a massage therapist, you will need to be on your feet for many hours and always work with your hands. You need to use your hands to massage the body of your clients while applying some amount of pressure.

Standing on your feet and working with your hands day in and day out can be hard on your body. This can have negative health consequences on the overall well-being of your body. This is why before going into the massage therapist profession; you need to receive adequate training on how to withstand the physical demands of the job.

If you know that you’re not physically fit and strong enough to stand for long hours while working with your hands, you should consider another profession that doesn’t require such physical demands.

2. Your working hours are limited due to the physical demand of the job

As a massage therapist, you can’t work for as much as you want due to the physical demands of the job. While you may like to work for 7 hours in a day, you may end up working for only 3-4 hours due to the physical demands of the job. Because your working hours is reduced, you will not be able to make as much money as you want. You’re only limited to what your body and strength can take.

3. You may encounter a difficult work environment

If you’re working as an employee, you may encounter a difficult and hostile work environment. As an employee working for someone and with coworkers, you should understand that the work environment may be difficult and hostile by way of difficult bosses and coworkers.

However, you have the option to leave a hostile or difficult working environment and look for somewhere else to work. You can also set up your own massage spa and be your own boss.

4. You may encounter difficult clients

As a massage therapist, you should understand that you will likely encounter difficult clients. A lot of people that visit massage therapists are seeking help that they couldn’t get at home. Some want to feel good, some are looking for somewhere to calm their nerves, some want to feel the touch of someone else on their body, and many other reasons.

Some clients can be challenging, demanding, or downright annoying. You should be ready for difficult clients and know how to work with them. This is why you need to undergo training on how to be a professional massage therapist so that you will be able to face these challenges when they come.

5. Some clients may want you to do things that are unethical and unlawful

The massage therapy profession is a profession where you provide services privately to clients. It is just you and your client alone inside the massage room. Most clients take advantage of this to demand unethical and unlawful services. Some clients even go as far as asking for sexual favors from massage therapists. This is against the rules and laws guiding the massage therapy profession.

As a massage therapist, you may find this very annoying and abusive. You should be able to know how to curtail this kind of situation without embarrassing or insulting the client.

6. Unrealistic expectations from clients

Sometimes you will clients that come into your facility with unrealistic expectations. Some clients will expect you to solve all their issues completely. Some will even expect you to act as a doctor and take all their pains away. This will put you in a tight corner and under pressure because you are not able to cure them or rid them of their pain forever.

If you encounter these types of clients, the best thing that you should do is to explain to them how massage therapy works and how it can benefit them. They should know what to expect from you so that they don’t have unrealistic expectations.

7. Unruly and insulting clients

Apart from clients with unrealistic expectations, you may also encounter clients that are very rude and insulting. These kinds of clients are unhappy, rude and can insult you with very little provocation. They are hard to please and are always looking for any opportunity to dish out insults. You should be aware of such clients and always keep calm whenever you encounter them. Keep in mind that you’re a professional and your clients should always come first. Do not insult them even if they insult you. Always be calm and professional in when you’re dealing with these kinds of clients. Do your best to satisfy them.

8. Emotionally demanding

Acclimating to the emotional demands of most clients is difficult. Some clients will come to you with frustrations and complaints, oftentimes breaking down and crying inside the massage room and you may be confused about what to do. Some may have fought with their spouses or caught their spouses cheating, or at worse been served a divorce letter. They will come into your massage facility to find solace and answers to their emotional problems. You may find all these very emotionally demanding and may not know the right thing to say or do. Encountering this kind of emotional release day in and day out can be overwhelming and mentally exhausting for you as a massage therapist.

9. You may not be fulfilled

As a massage therapist, you’re in a profession where you work to make other people feel better. You’re paid by making other people feel better. Who then makes you feel better? You may be doing your job and making a living out of it but you don’t feel fulfilled and happy. A lot of massage therapists are unhappy and depressed. Apart from the unhealthy things they see and hear each day, they are exhausted physically and mentally. Some massage therapists also have low-self esteem as they feel they’re not doing so well for themselves.

10. Massage therapists don’t earn so much

A lot of people think that massage therapists earn so much but this is not always true. A lot of massage therapists are earning just the minimum wage. Some even have to take a second job just to be able to pay their bills. You will only be able to make good money if you have your own massage parlor. If you’re working as an employee for someone you may just be paid the minimum wage or a little higher than the minimum wage. You can’t be rich or wealthy doing this kind of job, unlike the other high-paying jobs where you could amass so much money and wealth.

11. Income Inconsistency

Income inconsistency is another challenge of being a massage therapist. As a massage therapist, you have a flexible schedule and a downside of having a flexible schedule is that your income is often client-dependent.  This means that your income can fluctuate at times depending on the number of clients you have. This is especially true if you have your own massage parlor or you work on a commission basis. Also, the massage therapy industry heavily relies on seasonal tourism and events whereby you get more clients at specific periods of time. Most massage therapists make more money during summer than during winter.

12. It may be difficult for you to find the right place to work

Except you live in the cities and developed countries, you may not see a place to work as a massage therapist. Most people that visit massage parlors live in big cities and developed countries. This is because they can afford to spend their money on luxuries like going to a massage parlor to have a massage. People living in rural areas and small cities will likely not spend their hard-earned money just to get a massage. This is why massage parlors are very few in rural areas and small cities. As a massage therapist, if you live in rural areas and small cities, you may find it very difficult to get a place to work. Even if you open your own massage facility, you may find it difficult to get clients if you live in a rural setting.

13. People misjudge massage therapists

Even to this moment, a lot of people don’t respect massage therapists. They are usually misjudged and people see them as prostitutes. Some people think that they have sex with their clients inside the massage room for extra payment. While a few unprofessional massage therapists may indulge in this kind of unlawful practice, most professional massage therapists don’t have sex with their clients. As a massage therapist, you may face this kind of accusation.

14. Concerns about the cleanliness of clients

The cleanliness of clients is also a concern that could discourage you from getting into the profession. Massage therapists touch and massages the skin of their clients. They come in contact with their clients. The cleanliness of their clients is of great concern to them.

As a massage therapist, if a client is dirty or has a communicable disease, you have a high risk of contracting the disease due to the close proximity and contact. Also, if a client has bad body odor, you will most likely smell the odor since you’re in close proximity with the client.

15. It cost a reasonable amount of money to attend a massage therapy school

To be a professional massage therapist, you need to attend a good school of massage. It cost a reasonable amount of money to attend and complete a massage therapy school and be certified as a professional massage therapist. To practice as a professional massage therapist you need to complete an approved massage program, pass the MBLEx (Massage and Bodywork Licensing Examination), and then apply and receive a state license to practice. All these require significant amount of time and money. You need to be sure that you have the money to attend a massage therapy school and complete all the requirements.

16. You need to always be in your uniform

Just like doctors, massage therapists have their own uniforms. It is expected that a massage therapist should always be on his or her massage uniform when at work. If you’re the kind of person that doesn’t like to wear uniform of any kind, then the massage therapy profession is not for you. You should consider another profession where it is not mandatory to put on a uniform.

17. You may not like the working environment

Massage therapists have limited choices when it comes to choosing their office spaces and environments. If you’re an employee, you are expecting to work in any kind of environment you find yourself. You may need to go for home services where you will find yourself in environments that you don’t like. In such situations, you don’t have much choice other than to bear and do your job. This is another downside to being a massage therapist.

18. You don’t have control over your schedule

Massage therapists don’t have control over their time and schedules. This is especially true if you’re an employee working under someone. A client can book an appointment at any time of the day and expect you to be available. Some massage therapists even work on Saturdays and Sunday’s while some work late into the night.

19. You meet and interact with strangers daily

Massage therapists meet and interact with strangers on a daily basis. New clients come into your facility daily and you’re expected to relate with them and make them feel comfortable. Some clients may come into your facility and find it embarrassing to take off their clothes. As a massage therapist, you should be able to communicate with them and make them feel comfortable with you. This could be very tasking especially if you’re not a very social person and you don’t have good communication skills.

Conclusion

If you’re considering a career as a massage therapist, you should go through these downsides that we have explained and see if they are things that you can deal with. If you think you can deal with them and you have a passion to be a massage therapist, we advice that you pursue your passion regardless of the challenges that may arise.