Reflective Journal: Massage Practice Philosophy and Goals

This reflective journal assignment explores the student's massage practice philosophy and goals, as required for the Foundations of Massage 1 subject at Evolve College. The journal details the student's aspirations for their massage practice, emphasizing a holistic approach to patient care, incorporating physical, emotional, spiritual, and mental well-being. It outlines practical strategies to achieve these goals, focusing on professionalism, client-centered care, and continuous learning. The journal also includes a planned timeframe for professional development, explores professional opportunities in the massage therapy field, and researches the components of a sustainable massage practice, considering economic, environmental, and human factors. The student also details personal health strategies to support themselves as a practicing massage therapist, emphasizing the importance of nutrition, rest, and stress management. The assignment demonstrates the student's understanding of massage therapy principles, professional ethics, and the importance of self-care in the profession, citing relevant research to support their views.

Running head: MASSAGE PRACTICE PHILOSOPHY: REFLECTIVE JOURNAL
MASSAGE PRACTICE PHILOSOPHY AND GOALS REFLECTIVE JOURNAL
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

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Table of Contents
Goals and Aspirations:.....................................................................................................................2
Practical strategies:..........................................................................................................................3
Timeframe:......................................................................................................................................4
Professional opportunities:..............................................................................................................4
Research sustainability:...................................................................................................................5
Economic Opportunities and viability:........................................................................................5
Environment considerations:.......................................................................................................5
Human Considerations/ Personal Health Wellbeing:..................................................................5
Professional Development:..........................................................................................................6
Social Responsibility:..................................................................................................................6
Personal Health Strategies:..............................................................................................................7

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Goals and Aspirations:
I believe that human body can heal itself and massage is a way of facilitating self-healing
power of the body. I also believe that massage is a language, a sense of communication within
the body to help discovering own healing pathway. I want to treat individuals following holistic
approach involving and developing the person physically, emotionally, spiritually and mentally.
Values includes:
 Respect- I will respect my clients; whoever comes to me I will treat them with respect
and dignity irrespective of their culture, ethnicity, values, beliefs and preferences. I will
be focused on the client and respect their needs and requirements.
 Education: I will incorporate in my massage therapy the knowledge I have and also
empower my clients with knowledge regarding their bodies and what they should
preferably do in order to enhance massage treatment through physical exercise. I will
guide them towards achieving a healthy body with massage and other physical
awareness, and specific stretching exercises.
 Client focused: I'm going to make sure my clients experience makes them feel valuable. I
will provide my clients with a professional therapy region, a clean and secure atmosphere
and an experience that will make good impressions of Registered Massage Therapists.
 Listening: Health problems and worries are prevalent, but they all have characteristic
symptoms that cause them trouble or anxiety. As a massage therapist, I will listen to my
clients and gather as much understanding as possible to guarantee that an efficient
therapy plan is mapped to cope with these symptoms.

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 Results: I worry about feelings of my client better and discovering alternatives to their
health challenges just as much as they do. My goal is to discover the cause, then treat the
cause, therefore, my goal is to find out what works best for my clients.
Practical strategies:
Practical strategies that I will follow in order to bring my goals and aspirations into reality:
 Giving the best possible I can: I owe my customers the best I can do to offer them, to get
my complete attention and the complete range of my abilities to meet their particular
requirements. I will provide the best service and quality possible.
 Professionalism: I will keep my personal life and my problems out of the therapy room. I
am here for the client and I will serve them with quality treatment that will be client
focused and respect their views and beliefs.
 To advise and guide the client in the finest possible therapy, even if it is contrary to my
own interests and benefits. This implies referring or refusing a customer as suitable in
practicality.
 If necessary, I will set limits and never cross either my own limits or the limits of the
customer.
 Keeping everything private and never breaking the confidence they offer me. What
happens in the treatment space must be confined there, unless the customer expressly
allowed otherwise.
 For no reason whatsoever discriminate against a client; I will not judge, treat and
massage. When it comes to the views of other people, it is not my place to decide what is
correct or wrong. All individuals are equal and without exception should be treated
similarly. It's a fundamental human right to follow.

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Timeframe:
For a specialist massage, a certificate IV in exercise therapy must be completed. Then, a
remedial massage diploma must be continued. One can also opt for an industry association. It
takes about a year for most coaching programs to finish. This program requires to participate in
workshops where different massage methods are taught. Workers must be licensed or certified in
countries with massage therapy legislation before they complete a licensed program and exercise
massaging. For a license, passing an examination is generally necessary. Therefore, it requires a
period of around 3 years to work as a full-fledged professional massage therapist.
Professional opportunities:
It was considered a luxurious need to go for massage therapy a few years ago, but with
evolving times and conditions, individuals from all areas are inclined towards this treatment.
With the growing amount of spa parlours, hotels, beauty centres, and health clubs have been
growing in demand over the years for the fully qualified massage and spa therapist professionals.
For being a massage professional, one has to complete a Certificate IV in Massage
Therapy, which will provide with vital relaxation massage methods, incorporating
neuromuscular methods and sport massage. It also includes massage company procedures and
practical clinical hours. Then, one has to continue training with a Remedial Massage Diploma.
This course gives a greater level of knowledge of the human body and the art of massage,
allowing to treat circumstances that are more particular and complicated. One can also choose to
enter a professional association like the Massage Therapists Association or the Australian
Traditional Medicine Society.

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Research sustainability:
Economic Opportunities and viability:
All who complete official programs and pass a professionally acknowledged examination
should have possibilities in countries that regulate massage therapy. However, until they can
construct their own client base, fresh massage therapists should expect to operate only part time.
Australia's average massage therapist wage is $97,500 a year or $50 an hour. Positions at the
entry stage begin at $51,924 per year, while most experienced workers make up $136,500 per
year.
Environment considerations:
The massaging environment should be safe and clean in order to maintain sterility and
promote hygienic massaging practice. Massage therapists work in a variety of private and public
settings, including private offices, spas, hospitals, and fitness centres. Some massage therapists
go to customers ' homes or offices to give a massage as well. Most massage therapists provide
their own sheets, pillows, table or chair, and body lotions or oils, particularly those who are self-
employed. The working circumstances of a massage therapist are strongly dependent on the
place and what the client wants.
Human Considerations/ Personal Health Wellbeing:
Massaging includes-
 Massaging the body's soft tissues, such as muscles, tendons and ligaments, to help
heal using a variety of massage methods to improve sport efficiency and deter
injury.

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 Administering relaxation medicines, improving circulation and relieving muscle
tension, evaluating and treating particular soft tissue dysfunction and offering
advice on rehabilitation.
 Use of other methods, such as acupressure or shiatsu, to help recovery in
evaluating the physical condition and case history of the client and to advise on
stretching exercises and relaxation techniques.
Professional Development:
Massage and spa therapy professional career offers economic safety and has great
potential for further future growth. A professional massage therapist may also operate as a self-
employed individual, or may work with a health club or hotel on hourly bases, or may even work
as a professor with any professional study-related institute.
Massage therapists operate in a variety of private and public environments, including
private offices, spas, hospitals, and fitness centres. Some massage therapists also go to the homes
or offices of customers to offer a massage.
Social Responsibility:
Jobs and corporate life are the primary causes of stress in people's life. Occupational
stress in health and community facilities causes a broad variety of important problems. One way
to cope with stress is massage therapy. Present studies indicate that workplace massage is a
suitable way to alleviate stress (Yousefi, Mirzamohamadi and Nazari, 2015). Massage therapy
can be a strong instrument for instant and efficient overall health modifications. As a massage
therapist, I want to provide customer-focused massage therapy by continually listening to my
customers and tailoring each treatment to their requirements to guarantee the best possible result.

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I will abide by the values and ethics related to massaging and I will do this in a friendly as well
as professional manner in a clean and safe clinical setting.
Personal Health Strategies:
 Nutrition is at its best in terms of self-care, given the fact that healthy nutrition, including
hydration, has a strong downward impact and it is usually accepted.
 Studies inform us that sufficient remainder gives us a riches of advantages, improved
behavioural work, clearer mind and a more comfortable atmosphere.
 Setting limits with customers may be difficult, particularly if the innate inclination of a
massage therapist is to provide care.
 Nutrition, exercise and stress – these items are often considered to be physical but also to
be part of our emotional and social wellness. It's how we create strength, retain a feeling
of mental growth and remain focused mentally — not just now, but for a lengthy time.

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References:
Kumar, S., Beaton, K. and Hughes, T., 2013. The effectiveness of massage therapy for the
treatment of nonspecific low back pain: a systematic review of systematic reviews. International
journal of general medicine, 6, p.733.
Wardle, J.L., Barnett, R. and Adams, J., 2015. Practice and research in Australian massage
therapy: a national workforce survey. International journal of therapeutic massage & bodywork,
8(2), p.2.
Wardle, J.L., Sibbritt, D.W. and Adams, J., 2013. Referral to massage therapy in primary health
care: a survey of medical general practitioners in rural and regional New South Wales, Australia.
Journal of manipulative and physiological therapeutics, 36(9), pp.595-603.
Yousefi, H., Mirzamohamadi, M. and Nazari, F. (2015). The effect of massage therapy on
occupational stress of Intensive Care Unit nurses. Iranian Journal of Nursing and Midwifery
Research, 20(4), p.508.