7 Myths About Massage Therapy: Dispelled.

Can you believe it? Some people still believe that doctors and massage therapists are at odds and that massage is “only for those who don’t believe in modern medicine”. The reality is, these ideas are simply not true. We know the truth about massage therapy, and we want to dispel the top 7 myths that we encounter about our craft.

1. Massage is for Relaxation ONLY

While massage therapy can be used for relaxation, it is not the only purpose. I bet you can think of a few sports teams that have an on-call massage therapist. Sports massage therapists can help athletes with pain relief and injury recovery. Massage therapy can also be used before or after games, meets, and matches to help create focus or to calm pre-game jitters.

2. You Can’t Have a Massage if You’re Pregnant

This myth is more than busted; there are several massage therapy techniques dedicated to helping those who are pregnant. Prenatal massage can help mom relax and rid her body of the aches that are often associated with carrying a child. Massage therapists can specialize in prenatal massage to better help their clients hone the power of massage therapy.

3. Massage Therapy Doesn’t Work for Babies or Children

If you haven’t caught on by now, you might be surprised to learn that massage is for everyone. Babies and children can see positive side effects to massage much like an adult. Massage can aid in sleeping, digestion, circulation, and pain relief. Like prenatal massage, therapists can specialize in infant massage.

4. The Effects of Massage Therapy Are Temporary

Regular massages can help long-term. Much like chiropractic work, massage can be preventative or it can help treat aches and pains that already exist. Muscle memory is a common term used to describe repetitive movement. You can undo uncomfortable movement by “teaching” your muscles the right way to move with massage therapy.

5. All Types of Massage Are the Same

Shiatsu, Deep Tissue, Swedish, these are all different types of massage. Depending on what effects you’re looking for, different techniques and types of massage can help you in various ways. Like each type of massage is different, each therapist is different. Specializations are common in this field, so find someone who caters to what you are looking for.

6. Massage Therapists Are Only Women

Anyone of any age, gender, or socioeconomic status can feel the benefits of a massage, and the fact of the matter is, anyone can be a massage therapist. You are not limited! If you’re interested in helping people feel better, consider massage.

7. It Takes a Long Time to Become a Massage Therapist

At San Francisco School of Massage & Bodywork, it can take as little as six months to learn massage therapy. Our schedules can offer opportunity to a variety of students who have a variety of schedules. If you’re interested in becoming a part of this fruitful industry, check out our Massage Program, and contact us for more information!

What are some other myths about massage therapy that you’ve heard? What were you surprised to learn? Make sure to share with us in the comments below!