• What is it like to be a Massage Therapists?
• Where can I work?
• What do I need to get my license?

We will try to answer some of these questions for you on this page, however, feel free to call us at 847-673-7595 with more questions! Our new classes are about to start, so reserve your spot now.

In our fast-paced society, relaxation treatments and techniques are in demand more than ever. If you’ve ever had a massage, you know exactly how rejuvenating the experience can be. Beyond being a relaxing experience, however, massage therapy is now widely recognized as a credible healing modality in many hospitals, clinics and health centers.

Today, massage therapists play an important role in caring for a variety of medical issues, from rehabilitation of injuries to clinical depression. Their role is to listen to their clients’ needs and provide a massage experience to treat these issues.

What does a massage therapist do?

Massage therapists can work in any number of environments, from health clinics to private practices. On the job, most massage therapists generally have a variety of duties:

• Creating a soothing environment for the client
• Discussing the client’s needs (pain relief, stress relief, etc.)
• Providing the massage necessary to alleviate the client’s issues
• Checking in regularly with the client throughout, to ensure comfort
• Respecting each individual’s privacy and comfort levels
• Keeping track of regular clients’ progress

You can also choose to practice specialty massage, like Asian bodywork or medical massage, which are both popular. Asian bodywork massage focuses on using hand and finger pressure to influence the body’s energy channels, while medical massage is based on specific, outcome-driven treatments.

What education or certification will I need to become a massage therapist?

Before you can work as a massage therapist, you’ll need to enroll and complete a massage therapy program at European Massage Therapy School. Our time-tested and challenging 610-hour training program takes between nine and eleven months to complete and will prepare you to take your massage therapist licensure exam (MBLEx). Once you pass the test, we help you apply for your Illinois Massage Therapist license and get you ready for your new career.

• Spas: A spa environment is one of the first places people think of when they’re craving a soothing massage experience. Massage therapists “stage” their work space so it’s comfortable and inviting for the client. The goal of the massage therapist is to make the client feel transported to full relaxation mode.
• Rehab clinics and hospitals: In a rehabilitation setting, your massage methods will focus on soothing and healing injuries. For instance, if someone is recovering from a knee injury, you would use massage techniques meant to relieve pain and restore mobility.
• Hotels and resorts: What better time to relax and refresh with a massage than on vacation? For many people, vacation is a time to splurge on luxuries, so massage therapist will often enjoy a steady stream of clients. However, it will be rare to build long-lasting relationships since clients are only in the location temporarily.
• Health and wellness centers: As the shift toward natural healing methods continues, massage therapists can fill a needed role. Patients who don’t want to take medication may come to a health or wellness center for massage treatments to help aid anything from muscle injuries to headaches to anxiety.
• Self-employed private practice: Another great option is to start your own massage therapy practice. This route requires an entrepreneurial spirit and hard work to get things off the ground, but the benefits include choosing your own hours and getting to keep all the profits.
• On-demand massage therapy: This is the newest trend in massage therapy, sometimes called “Uber for massages” where clients are using smartphone apps to request on-site visits from licensed therapists.

Interested? Our new Day and Evening classes are starting in early October, and our Weekend Class has just started (there are a few seats still left)