Massage therapy is something that can benefit people of all backgrounds and professions. Whether a person works in a physical demanding job, such as construction – or an office job that involves a lot of sitting and stored up of tension in the body – a regular massage therapy session can make a huge difference in the way that person feels. The many health benefits of massage therapy have been extensively studied and documented by leading health organizations, such as the Mayo Clinic and many others.

But what if you’re on the other side of the equation? For massage therapists, the day-to-day practice can be very tiring, and can leave you with a lot of soreness of your own. That’s just the nature of using your own hands and strength to provide healing therapy for someone else. In fact, massage therapy patients often wonder if (and how often) their massage therapist is on the receiving end of a massage. For a lot of professionals, the answer is: Not often enough!

As a massage therapist working in the field, it’s important to respect the physical demands of your job, and to be proactive about your own health and wellbeing. After all, a massage therapist who is hurting and sore all the time will not be able to perform their job at a high professional level. So what can therapists do to keep themselves strong, healthy, flexible and loose?

1. Yoga

Yoga is a wonderful restorative practice for any professional that involves a lot of standing and physical work. Our instinct is often to lay on the couch and relax – and of course there are wonderful benefits to this too, in moderation – but a 30 or 60 minute yoga session can really set us up for a relaxing evening and a good night’s sleep. Yoga helps not only the muscles, but the internal organs and circulatory system as well.

2. Sleep

Getting a good night’s rest is important for any professional – all the more so with massage therapy. When you’re well rested, your movements are steadier and your mind is clearer – both important to delivering great massage therapy services.

3. Diet

Massage therapy is a professional that requires a lot of self-care across the board. Maintaining a clean diet is one of the pillars of self-care. It leads to better overall health and better performance in a job as physically demanding as massage therapy.

4. Massage!

The same benefits of massage therapy that we bring to other people every day are also there for us! Massage therapists need to schedule time for their own massage therapy in order to experience the benefits and remind themselves what it’s like to be on the receiving end of a good therapeutic massage.

Choose the right massage therapy school

Some of you reading this might actually be looking to get into the world of massage therapy. If so, it’s worth mentioning that the school you choose can have long-term effects on how healthy you’ll be out in the field. The most reputable massage therapy schools out there put extra thought and care into teaching their students effective self-care methods, and how to deal with the physical rigors of treating clients regularly.