Massage Therapy School in Lansing, MI

Massage is turning up a lot of places in Lansing these days – in healthcare offices, in sports and fitness centers, even on the news as people become aware of the impact particular LMTs are making.

The Douglas J. Institute lists the following among the potential work settings: chiropractic and physical therapy offices, luxury resorts, spas, health clubs, and private practice. They even note spa ownership. Some massage therapists in the area do indeed own businesses that offer more than just massage.

Massage Therapy Programs in Lansing, MI

Lansing Community College offers a certificate program in massage. The program holds accreditation by the Commission on Massage Therapy Accreditation (COMTA). The day program can be completed in three semesters. Lansing Community College is a school member of the American Massage Therapy Association. AMTA lists Lansing Community College program hours as 736.

The Douglas J Aveda Institute (East Lansing) offers a 625-hour program that can be completed in six months. Accreditation is through National Accrediting Commission of Career Arts & Sciences (NACCAS). Students spend a lot of time engaged in real-world learning at the spa.

Additional Education Opportunities: Massage Schools in Michigan

Top Lansing Massage Practices

The following are among Lansing’s well-rated massage practices:

Creative Wellness lists 24 massage therapists; acupuncture is among the other services offered. One Creative Wellness massage therapist recently received a big honor: second place “Top of the Town” in 2018.

Advance Medical Massage lists seven massage therapists. Medical massage addresses specific issues in the client treatment plan. The menu includes other services like prenatal, combined massage/ reflexology, and “hot stone serenity”. Clients may opt for a relatively short (30 minute) session designed to release the bodily tension that contributes to migraine. Advance Medical Massage therapists are also willing to provide chair massage at events.

Therapeutic massage can be combined with many other medical or wellness practices. Massage may be offered in small clinics or studios that reflect the vision of founders and team members. Fox 47 News recently reported on a new East Lansing practice that combines primary care and psychiatric care and expects to include a number of other services, including massage therapy (https://www.fox47news.com/yes/michigan-psychiatric-and-primary-care-ribbon-cutting-ceremony).

Great Lakes Clinical Massage Therapy is located within a chiropractic office. One often finds one or more LMTs working out of a chiropractic office. Here there are six. The owner is a Licensed Massage Therapist who also holds National Board Certification. The focus is medical and clinical services.

Fitness centers are another potential workplace. Spartan Dance and Fit Center has a couple massage therapists on its team. Late 2019 found them advertising.

Lansing Massage Therapists in Business

Many massage therapists are in business for themselves.

Among the very small enterprises are Tree House Massage and Bee Queener Massage Therapy. The LMT behind Tree House Massage cites experience working with people with a number of healthcare conditions, including fibromyalgia and lupus. The price is by session length, with an extra charge only for add-ons like hot rocks; the “one charge” strategy is not uncommon among massage therapists who focus on assessment-based therapeutic massage.

The sole proprietor of Bee Queener Massage Therapy performs full-body massage, “focus hand” or foot massage, facial massage, and chair massage. She also has yoga credentials. She is certified in Kidding Around kid yoga. An adept massage therapist, she won third place in “Top of the Town” in 2018.

A solo practice may grow to include a number of others. Health and Harmony Wellness Center is a case in point, having seen a lot of growth in the past seven years. The founding LMT first set up shop in a chiropractic office. Her business took off, and she needed to take on multiple additional LMTs. She also added a business partner – her best friend. The business has moved more than once over the years. They’ve grown their services, too. They’ve got Reiki now — and they still have big plans.

Savvy LMTs are marketers as well as therapists. Some build their web presence and also maintain a high profile in the community. Gina’s Healing Hands Day Spa had the opportunity to go on The Morning Blend to talk about the opening of a second location (https://www.fox47news.com/entertainment/shows/the-morning-blend/gina-s-healing-hands-day-spa-ii-112318).

Sports Massage Specialization

Sports massage is a potential specialty area. It is common for massage therapists to have a dual focus on sports and pain relief. They are similar in that both involve the neuromuscular system. Athletes have multiple purposes for seeking massage: to manage and prevent injury, increase performance and yes, mitigate pain.

Some venues are so tough to crack that volunteer work is an experience and a badge of honor. The Lansing State Journal reported that a local massage therapist had earned her place doing massage at the Olympics (https://www.lansingstatejournal.com/story/news/local/2016/03/17/east-lansing-massage-therapist-named-olympics/81818780). This particular LMT already had four Olympics to her credit. Her day to day work was at Creative Wellness, which, the article noted, she co-owned. Her Creative Wellness bio notes some of her trainings, which include oncology massage as well as clinical sports massage, neuromuscular therapy, and myofascial release. As for sports massage, she had joined the AMTA National Sports Massage Team not so long after she began her massage therapy career.

Lansing Massage Therapist Salary

Massage therapists in the Lansing-East Lansing metropolitan area made a mean hourly wage of $18.05 in 2018. There was a big jump between the 50th and 75th percentiles.