Overview
Letting someone know that you can give great massages may get you more dates, but you’ll eventually have to back up the claim with action. Learning how to give a massage will educate you about the muscles in the body, enrich you with relaxation techniques and endow you with the art of making someone else feel happy, relaxed and pain-free.
Step 1
Educate yourself about the different types of massage. There are over 80 types of recognized specialty massages, known as modalities. You may be attracted to learning about Swedish massage, which is typically a deep-tissue massage; hot stone massage, an Asian technique; or ayurveda, an Indian technique. Each type of massage has pros and cons, and many are centered on principles of spirituality. Choose which type of massage sounds appealing to you and dedicate yourself to learning all there is to know about the technique.
Step 2
Borrow a book on massage from the library. The books offer a comprehensive overview of the techniques, and provide pictures demonstrating the techniques so that you can become familiar with them.
Step 3
Purchase a massage video where you can see the techniques in action. Some helpful videos are “Massage for Professionals,” “Massage for Beginners” and “Basic Massage Therapy.” Viewing massage techniques with real subjects will give you a greater knowledge of the movements and tools necessary for your massage technique of choice.
Step 4
Enroll in a massage therapy program at a local vocational college. If you’re serious about learning how to give massages as a career path, you’ll need serious training in order to become a registered massage therapist. Licensure for massage therapy occurs once you have successfully graduated from an accredited massage therapy program and have applied for a license with your state.
Step 5
Practice your massage techniques on someone. The most effective way to learn is through applied practice. You’ll find that family members or friends are eager to get a free massage, even if you are just learning. Poll your subjects after the massage to ask what they did and didn’t like, to learn where you could improve in the future.
