ISO recommendations for NYC massage therapy schools

May 14, 2016 11:59 AM

My college-age daughter, who lives in New York City, is interested in studying to be a massage therapist. I offered to post here to see if any MeFites have recommendations for massage therapy schools in NYC.

Any comments on massage therapy as a career are also welcome!

posted by merejane to Education (3 answers total)

Has she met massage therapists about their work and how they make money? It was a high priced industry but now it is all about location and specialisation to make it pay. I know a recent grad of a California massage school who lives in New York City and she can only get $16-$20 per hour doing massages, there is a high markup with studios the therapists never see and they pool tips. She is trying to move to Boston. Building a clientele is difficult now in NYC because a lot of that self employed competition has the benefit of living with family.
posted by parmanparman at 2:05 PM on May 14, 2016 [1 favorite]

I know a couple people who did this years ago. Unless they've changed the certification process, it's two years of study and hard work. One friend got wicked tendinitis from the work in the school. Also, once certified you have to find a clientele and that's not as easy as you'd maybe think - unless you're already in a position to take advantage of that.

Both people no longer do it as work and I think they had both quit within five years of becoming certified.
posted by From Bklyn at 3:16 PM on May 14, 2016 [2 favorites]

Any comments on massage therapy as a career are also welcome!

Two previous threads:

Massage therapy as a career: learning and experiences!
Should I be a yoga instructor or massage therapist or..?
posted by lazuli at 3:56 PM on May 14, 2016