It is summertime and for many that means “school’s out.” But many professional massage therapists are still “hitting the books” during the warm weather and throughout the year for that matter. For them, continuing education for massage therapy is ongoing. In today’s highly competitive marketplace, professional growth means staying current with the latest techniques and modalities and evolving industry research and standards. Taking continuing education classes for massage therapy also boosts client trust in dedication to keep learning and providing the highest quality service.
Besides meeting current consumers’ changing needs and expectations and targeting new target populations with specific health challenges (e.g., cancer patients), state licensing renewal requirements may require taking classes. The same goes for keeping professional Board Certification. Continuing education is generally a requirement for re-certification.
Benefits of continuing education for massage therapy
Enhancing skills and techniques: Staying ahead of the curve is no longer just a choice for professional massage therapists; it is a necessity. Clients expect exceptional results and that can require refining existing skills and learning about the latest techniques. Continuing education classes for massage therapy also enable learning new modalities and specialties to meet a range of client needs.
Adopt technology: Increasing demand for customization may mean going beyond current treatment plans and procedures to ensure that each experience uniquely meets a client’s needs. Here is where technology is coming into play.
· AI-powered massage chairs and massage tools can meet the body's needs and tailor the session accordingly. By analyzing research and clinical data, AI can suggest best massage techniques and length of sessions for specific conditions or injuries. Factoring in client preferences, medical history, and desired outcomes, AI systems can provide evidence-based recommendations to help make treatment decisions.
· Augmented reality (AR) integrates digital information with the user's environment in real time unlike virtual reality, which creates an artificial environment. Used as a massage technology, AR can overlay 3D scenes and sounds into the physical space. By doing so, AR can create an immersive calming environment to help clients relax thereby enhancing the overall therapeutic effect of the massage.
Deepen specialized knowledge: There is a trend toward specialization as the field of massage therapy grows. Specialization results in a deeper understanding of and ability in the specific needs of a demographic, such as seniors. Specialization expands expertise, boosts rankings in search and improves networking opportunities. Among the latest trends in specialization are:
· Assisted Stretching: Applies a range-of-motion movements to various parts of the body, literally “assisting” a client to stretch. It is for patients with mobility issues, or injuries that make regular stretching hard to do.[1]
· Myofascial Release: This type of gentle, constant massage is used to relieve pain emanating from the fascia, the layer of connective tissue that covers and supports the muscles. The goal of myofascial massage, which can be intense, is to relieve contracted muscles and restore motion.
· Prenatal Massage: Research shows that prenatal massage can reduce anxiety, decrease symptoms of depression, and relieve muscle aches and joint pain associated with pregnancy and improve labor outcomes and newborn health. [2] Prenatal massage employes various techniques of Swedish and deep tissue massage.
· Lymphatic Drainage Massage: This is a gentle form of massage to relieve painful swelling in arms and legs caused by lymphedema. The swelling is the result of lymph fluid that collects in the soft tissue because of injury, cancer treatment or surgery, and infection and genetic disorders.
· Medical Massage: Medical massage focuses on massage and bodywork treatments that treat specific conditions or injuries as diagnosed by a healthcare professional. A physician will diagnose and treat a patient’s illnesses and will incorporate massage therapy as a specific part of the treatment plan. Massage therapists trained in medical massage focus on applying their treatments to specific medical problems.
Keep up with research and changing healthcare practices: Today through organizations such as the Massage Therapy Foundation (MTF); National Institutes of Health (NIH), which is part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; and the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health Clinical Digest (NCCIH), massage therapists have access to an abundance of evidence-based research on the value of massage for physical health and wellness. Continuing education for massage therapy. Continuing education helps integrate scientific knowledge into your practice, to ensure techniques align with current best practices.
Learning is personally enriching
There are other benefits from continuing education for massage therapy besides advancing business:
· There is enjoyment in learning new things or new ways to do things.
· Learning new techniques and deepening knowledge of certain modalities is motivating
· Learning adds more knowledge to draw on when new situations arise.
Classroom or online education for massage therapy
Whether the goal is to add a new massage modality to the service menu or learn a new skill to improve a current service, there are countless classes through classroom instruction or on-demand online learning.
The availability of continuing online education for massage therapy makes career advancement more convenient and flexible. Online continuing education classes for massage therapy offer access to a wide range of courses to enhance your skills.
Continuing education workshops, and conferences also provide opportunities to network with peers, mentors, and experts in the field and share knowledge, insights, and experiences.
When it comes to continuing education for massage therapy, there is something for every style of learning and a myriad of courses to keep pace with the industry to grow professionally and satisfy client needs.
[1] “The Benefits of Prenatal Massage,” American Pregnancy Association, Accessed June 28, 2025. https://americanpregnancy.org/healthy-pregnancy/is-it-safe/prenatal-massage/
[2] “The Benefits of Prenatal Massage Therapy,” American Pregnancy Association, Accessed June 28, 2025. https://americanpregnancy.org/healthy-pregnancy/is-it-safe/prenatal-massage/