Every year hundreds of students join massage programs in hopes of becoming full-fledged RMT’s. For 2 years they essentially eat, sleep, and breathe massage therapy. Student massage therapists are often misunderstood so we’re here to set the record straight on what a client should expect from a student therapist and how our clinic approaches student massage appointments.

What should I expect from any student massage therapist? 

Communication. Instructors work with their student therapists on these skills so they can offer the best client interactions. Student therapists should show confidence and ask questions about health, anatomy, pain level, and general lifestyle in order to get a well-rounded idea of how they can help their clients. 

Knowledge in Anatomy. The body has 10 major systems. Massage students must study muscles, tendons, ligaments, and connective tissue. What might surprise you is that students must learn about the other 9 major systems: skeletal, nervous, endocrine, cardiovascular, lymphatic, respiratory, digestive, urinary, and reproductive system.

Relaxation and therapeutic massages. In a few short months, any student massage therapist should have learned how to give a full body massage. This includes relaxation massages that focus on stress reduction and therapeutic massages with the purpose of treating a health condition.

What can I expect from the student therapists at 4 Elements Massage Clinic?

Our student therapists must be enrolled in a massage program and have completed at least 1 year of schooling. Students must also take additional training before booking clients. Each student therapist works with clinic educators to help hone their skills, learn new stretches and client exercises, and advanced techniques in relaxation, therapeutic, deep tissue, sports massage, and prenatal massage. Both our students, Maria & Kyle have worked as Massage Therapists overseas and have extensive knowledge prior to enrolling in the massage therapy program.

7 Student Massage Myths 

1. 1. They’ll hurt me. Student therapists are trained to ask questions and how to read a client’s body language to ensure their client is comfortable and not in pain.  
   2. I won’t feel any relief after my appointment. A variety of techniques are learned throughout a student therapist’s training. Easing tension and improving the way the body functions are a top priorities in any massage appointment. 
   3. The quality won’t be very good. It’s true that massage styles vary from person to person. Student therapists must meet our standard of practice at 4 Elements Massage Clinic. 
   4. They don’t know what they’re doing. In Alberta, student massage therapists must undergo 2200 hours of training, minimum, in order to get registered. They learn how to use hot packs and ice for treating new or old injuries. Herniated discs, ankle sprains, muscle strains, scoliosis, arthritis, fibromyalgia, multiple sclerosis, and headaches are just a few among many health conditions taught. 
   5. I can’t use my health insurance for student massages. Some health spending or wellness spending accounts will accept student massages. Each wellness spending account has different guidelines  
   6. A supervisor will check in on my appointment. A massage educator or manager is onsite when a student therapist is working but you will never be interrupted by random check-ins by a supervisor during your massage appointment. 
   7. Student massages are the same price as a registered therapist. Student massages are very cost-effective, between 40 – 50% less than an RMT price. 

All in all, there are many positives about a student massage therapist. You can even combine seeing a student massage therapist in between your regular RMT visits to make your massage health benefits last a bit longer. For more information, check our next blog or call us at 403-942-4010.