Massage Therapy School in Columbus
The Columbus, Ohio area offers massage therapists the opportunity to specialize in any of quite a few areas, for example, clinical services, sports massage, or spa services. LMTs here can pursue very specialized training and then put it to good use.
Massage therapy has a presence in the healthcare community. Some massage services in the area are even covered by insurance. Healthcare providers may prescribe massage by the unit.
More often, of course, people self-select and self-pay. It’s still about wellness, and practitioners look far and wide for innovations that help people feel better. There is, for example, more than one practice in the Columbus area that is making innovative and therapeutic use of heat.
LMTs may own businesses and operate them solo or with other employees or contractors.
Popular Massage Schools in Columbus, Ohio
Columbus State Community College offers both certificate and associate of technical studies options. Students, moreover, can select either of two associate’s degree options: advanced techniques or entrepreneurship. Some advanced technique courses focus on massage for individuals with very serious illness. Students who enroll in the Nationwide Children’s Hospital Advanced Studies course participate in the care of children at Nationwide Children’s Hospital. Another course provides an introduction to oncology massage. Students can go in very different directions with their advanced techniques, opting for courses like hot stone massage, trigger point therapy, and sports massage.
The American Institute of Alternative Medicine offers a 750-hour program that can be completed over the course of a calendar year. The school specializes in neuromuscular therapy, an in-demand modality, and touts its status as Central Ohio’s oldest massage therapy program. The American Institute of Alternative Medicine also prepares acupuncturists and nurses.
Daymar College offers a medical massage program. Accreditation is through the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges. The American Massage Therapy Association lists Daymar College program hours as 900.
Massage Therapy in Healthcare
This area is home to some well-known integrative health centers.
The Center for Integrative Health and Wellness at Ohio State, a member of the Academic Consortium for Integrative Medicine and Health, boasts therapeutic massage among its patient services. Here a range of modalities may be offered as therapy: myofascial release, neuromuscular therapy, deep tissue massage, and trigger point. The Center for Integrative Health and Wellness calls its gentle Swedish massage ‘Swedish massage flushing’, noting that it can release toxins and increase oxygen in blood. LMTs may be involved in other aspects of treatment, including educating patients on active and passive movement.
The Ohio State University Medical Center was among the organizations advertising in 2019.
The Philip Heit Center for Healthy New Albany also includes massage among its integrative services. Research for Wellness notes that it is a partnership forged by a number of entities, among them, Nationwide Children’s Hospital.
Chiropractic offices are a popular source of integrative services. In 2019, one will find a number of chiropractic offices advertising for massage therapists.
Some practices take a multi-disciplinary perspective on rehabilitation and physical medicine, including physicians as well as complementary health practitioners.
Massage therapists may maintain professional ties with multiple organizations in the community. One will find some senior living and rehabilitative facilities in the region offering massage services.
Best Massage Practices in Columbus
The following are among the city’s popular massage practices:
In the Bag Massage has 11 LMTs on its team. They have a variety of advanced trainings and certifications, including prenatal massage, lymphatic drainage, and deep tissue/neuromuscular/ trigger point. The practitioner’s bios note (in fairly large letters) just how long they have been with the practice. There are some noted as 2018 or 2019. One has been on the team since 2006.
The Body Ache Escape Massage Center in Pickerington currently has nine massage therapists on its team, including the owner. Among the specialties available is Rejuevaheat Massage, which uses an infrared heat mat. The Body Ache Escape blog provides readers with various little health tidbits, from bodywork to the therapeutic effects of music or pet ownership.
Touch Therapy Massage in Bexley also lists nine LMTs. They have different specialties; one is noted as pain specialist and lead. Some massage therapists are credentialed with insurance providers.
LifeSpa is located at Life Time Fitness, a large facility in the Easton Town Center. The spa can accommodate small parties as well as provide individual services like relaxation massage, sports massage, and prenatal massage. Life Time was among the organizations hiring in early 2019. The organization was seeking someone who would stay up-to-date on professional certifications and industry trends; two years of experience was a preferred qualification.
Elements Massage in Hilliard enjoys a 4.7 rating on Google. This is based on 169 ratings – franchises tend to do a lot of business.
Massage Therapist Earnings
Massage therapists in the Columbus metropolitan area earned an average wage of $17.32 in 2017. The median was $14.07, with those at the 10th percentile making $9.06 and those at the 90th percentile making $29.61.
In 2019, nationally advertised positions tend to be at the higher end of the range — or above it. Massage therapists earnings are complicated. One massage practice, advertising an especially wide range ($17-$50 an hour), stated that the hire would receive a base rate for doing non-massage tasks like laundry and higher rates for massage hours. Another posted a range of $30 to $60, stating pay would be determined by massage commission and tips, with the possibility of performance-based bonuses. Another advertised a rate of $23 to $28, with commission and bonuses above and beyond this. Yet another advertised a starting rate of $23 plus an unstated rate for “down time”. The number of hours is of course a consideration. Some practices advertised that they were able to provide a mostly full massage schedule.