The Perfect Combination of Massage Therapy Classes and Aromatherapy

Aromatherapy for Massage Therapists

Aromatherapy is the use of essential oils and other aromatic botanical compounds to improve a person’s sense of well-being or mood. It may employ massage oils, or other topical applications that use essential oils, or it may involve inhalation of aromas.

Essential oils and other botanical compounds can enhance the massage therapy experience.

Aromatherapy is believed to stimulate the limbic system of the brain through the sense of smell. The limbic system is responsible for emotions and memories, and aromatherapy can be used to help a person feel more relaxed or more energized. While there is little rigorous scientific study of aromatherapy so far, some preliminary studies have shown encouraging results.

How Aromatherapy Complements Massage Therapy

When aromatherapy is delivered via massage oil, the relaxation or energizing effect of the massage can be heightened, and there are a number of ways to do this. Some massage therapists offer brief facial massages with aromatic massage oils that nourish the skin on the face, neck, and shoulders. Others may simply use an aromatherapy diffuser to enhance the ambiance of treatment rooms and make them more soothing and welcoming to clients. When aromatherapy training or seminars accompany massage therapy classes, massage therapists can learn how to create exactly the right treatment atmosphere, whether for relaxation, healing, or rejuvenation.

Low Key Retailing Can Boost Massage Therapy Practice Income

Some massage therapists who use aromatherapy also offer some of their aromatherapy products for sale to clients. This can be a low pressure way to boost revenues, particularly if a client remarks about a massage oil or diffuser he or she likes. When you use the products you sell, you increase clients’ confidence in the products, and when clients take these products home, they’re reminded of your services every time they use them. Massage therapy classes that include information on aromatherapy and the business side of massage therapy practice offer massage therapists excellent options for enhancing their practices and their incomes.

Meeting Specific Client Needs With Aromatherapy Products

Attending seminars and learning about the properties of various aromatherapy products including massage oils and diffusers can add to what is learned in traditional massage therapy classes. Massage therapists have to be particularly tuned in to their clients anyway in order to provide the best treatments. With aromatherapy training, you could, for example, use a cooling muscle gel on your client who is training for a triathlon, or turn to a calming essential oil blend for the client who is under stress and needs help relaxing. Aromatherapy is great, but personalized aromatherapy along with massage therapy is even better.

Understanding Photosensitivity and Possible Allergies Is Important

Though problems with aromatherapy products are rare, it’s a good idea to ask clients about any plant allergies they may have. A client who is allergic to pollen may be sensitive to essential oils that come from flowering plants, for example. Photosensitivity is another property of some aromatherapy oils that make the skin more sensitive to ultraviolet light. For example, cedarwood, mandarin, and patchouli should be avoided as massage oils before clients will be exposed to strong or prolonged sunlight – something massage therapists working in resorts or outdoor sports clubs should take into account.

Enriching Massage Therapy Training With Other Modalities

Aromatherapy isn’t the only complementary technique to those learned in traditional massage therapy classes. Learning about other treatment modalities like acupressure, chair massage, hot stone therapy, or lymphatic drainage helps aspiring massage therapists be prepared to build a larger, more diverse clientele. Massage therapy can be the perfect career for the person with initiative who loves directly improving people’s lives on a daily basis. Learning complementary therapies like aromatherapy can help the massage therapy do that even more effectively.

Southern California Health Institute (SOCHi) can prepare you for a massage career that is both satisfying and rewarding. We also offer a variety of workshops and seminars that enrich massage therapy training with treatment modalities like aromatherapy. The goal at SOCHi is to train highly skilled, compassionate massage therapists who are tuned into client needs and understand complementary therapies that improve the client experience. If this sounds like a career that would suit you, we invite you to apply for admission and take that first step toward an exciting career.