Massage Therapy School in Minneapolis, Minnesota
People in Minneapolis utilize massage for multiple purposes, including prenatal and postnatal care, injury recovery, and, of course, general relaxation. Here, too, there are organizations that recognize the value of massage for elderly and convalescent populations and for those at the end of life.
Prospective massage therapists don’t need to travel far to get their career going. The Minneapolis area boasts schools that prepare students for varied careers. There are shorter programs designed to prepare students to provide basic relaxation massage in spas and franchises and longer programs that can develop advanced clinical competencies and even provide transferable credit. Massage therapists can further develop their skills through continuing education. Different organizations will have their own informal training requirements.
Minneapolis massage practices reflect modalities taught in local schools. One will find Shiatsu well-represented here. Nationwide, massage therapists sometimes travel for training intensives or catch major providers when they are in town. They sometimes like to tout their status of being among the only providers in the area who have a particular specialty certification.
Top Massage Therapy Schools in Minneapolis
CenterPoint Massage and Shiatsu Therapy School offers students plenty of choices. The shortest option is the massage practitioner program — even this is 600 hours. The massage diploma program is 900 hours. In this program, the Swedish massage curriculum progresses to advanced therapeutic techniques and coursework related to special populations; the student also gets more advanced sciences coursework, including kinesiology. CenterPoint also offers a 900-hour program in Shiatsu. The CenterPoint Massage and Shiatsu Therapy School is accredited by the Commission on Massage Therapy Accreditation (COMTA).
Northwestern Health Sciences University is also COMTA-accredited. The school offers two certificate programs in massage as well as an associate of applied science. The shorter certificate program focuses on relaxation massage; it can be completed in as little as two trimesters. The certificate in therapeutic massage requires an additional trimester. The school touts its clinical partnerships.
LA Beauty School offers a seven-month program. Like CenterPoint and the Northwestern Health Sciences University, the LA Beauty School is a school member of the American Massage Therapy Association.
Minneapolis Massage Practices
Minneapolis boasts many massage studios and small wellness centers. Massage therapists may work with chiropractors or physical therapists. Conversely, they may find their home in spa settings, working alongside beauty professionals. Some studios, on the other hand, are all about massage!
Some businesses cater to a specific audience, even travelers dealing with discomfort, stress, and long layovers. Xpres spa advertised recently for massage talent for its Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport location. They noted that hires didn’t have to go out looking for clients – they would come to them! (They also touted a health compensation package, something not all businesses can do).
The following are among Minneapolis’ well-regarded massage practices:
InTouch Massage has eight massage therapists on their team. They have varied skill sets. Clients can search by modality (e.g. hot stone, deep tissue, sports massage) to find a therapist with the requisite expertise.
Popular Lyn Lake Chiropractic boasts five massage therapists, a fairly large team for a chiropractic office.
The Wellness Center has ten therapists performing bodywork and energy therapies. The facility also has a float tank on-site.
Hush Therapeutic Massage currently lists ten massage therapists. Hush massage therapists provide a basic relaxation massage and also Thai, Shiatsu, sports massage, and targeted therapeutic massage. Services may be covered by worker’s or auto insurance when prescribed by a healthcare provider.
Sabai Body Temple has global origins; the co-founders met China. The team has since brought several massage therapists onboard. The Sabai Body Temple boasts studio massage and signature treatments, incorporating comforts like warm poultice or Japanese incense and ginger towels. Studio massages are charged at different rates, depending on whether the therapist qualifies as experienced or advanced.
Self-Employment
Self-employment is common in the massage industry. Some are quite willing to go out looking for clients – as they enact their personal vision and seek their own healthy lifestyle. A practitioner may operate a massage therapy studio solo or with a partner; he or may bring additional massage therapists onboard. Total Solace, for example, has four massage therapists, one of whom is listed as owner.
Some practitioners specialize in sports massage and pain/ injury management. Jeromeo on the Loop has just two massage practitioners. Both count sports massage among their areas of expertise. One cites experience with many athletes, professional and amateur alike.
Franchises and Chains
The job seeker will also find franchises like Elements Massage. Zeel and Soothe massage therapists both provide massage on demand.
Massage Therapy for Special Populations
MyoCare Health Soft Tissue Rehab & Massage brings services to those who may not be able to travel for them. Long-term, senior care, and hospice are among the specialties. Pre- and postnatal massage is offered in hospital or home settings. The organization also provide sports massage and corporate/ staff massage.
The Society for Oncology Massage lists Abbott Northwestern Hospital – Minnesota Oncology Hematology among the hospitals that offers massage to its cancer patients.
Massage Therapist Earnings
The median wage for a massage therapist in the Minneapolis-Saint Paul area was $24.05 in 2017. The mid-range was $16.54 to $32.81.
Additional Resources
Minnesota Massage Therapy License Requirements
The Minnesota Chapter of the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA-Minnesota) provides resources to help practitioners build their skills and stay connected. Members may, for example, want to join the MN Community Service & Sports Team.
Continuing education opportunities are available from local massage schools. CenterPoint lists geriatric care, auricular therapy, advanced side-lying massage, and even foam rollers and mobility balls among its continuing education offerings.