What does a person have to go through in the United States in order to become a licensed massage therapist? The prerequisite is, of course, getting the proper educational background. He or she should take full courses in massage therapy in a school recognized by the Commission on Massage Therapy Accreditation (COMTA). The required course work covers an average of 500 hours of study on physiology, anatomy, kinesiology, pathology, massage theory and techniques, hydrotherapy, clinical practice, first aid and CPR, sanitation, business, communication, ethics and legal issues. On top of this, he or she should have actual hands on experience in massage therapy.

Thirty eight states in the US require massage therapists to be registered, certified or licensed in order to practice. Such registration, certification or licensure is in turn offered in 39 states. Most states require massage therapists to be Nationally Certified in Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCTMB). This is achieved through the certification program and tests of the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork. One may also be certified by providing documented proof of specified amounts and quality of training and experience.

When a massage therapist is said to be registered this means he or she has attained a specified educational requirement. When a massage therapist is said to be certified this means he or she has attained specified higher educational requirements. When a massage therapist is said to be licensed, on the other hand, this means he or she has met the most rigorous process of all since this is the highest regulatory level.

Thirteen states in the United States accept the MBLEx certification exam given by the Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards. A large number of states also allow State Endorsement from another state, meaning the massage therapist has already been licensed in that other state. The requirement, however, is that the standards of the previous state in its written and practical examination is comparable to or more severe than those of the second state.

If the massage therapist has not been previously licensed in any other state, he or she must meet the minimum required educational attainments in the state and then pass the required written and practical examination in order to get a license. The required educational attainment may vary among states. In some states, holding a license in an approved health related field in that state has credited value and only a certain number of hours of course work in massage therapy has to be added. The approved health related licenses usually include those of a medical doctor, physical therapist, occupational therapist, registered nurse, doctor of chiropractic or licensed practical nurse.

The first thing you should do when you choose a therapeutic body massage clinic, therefore, is to ask for official documentation on the accreditation and training of their massage therapists. Do not even consider getting reflexology massage, Swedish massage, deep tissue massage, sports massage, back massage and even foot massage services from untrained persons who call themselves massage therapists. You may end up worse off than you were to begin with. You will certainly find the accreditation and training you seek from professional massage therapists if you go to a reputable massage clinic in Charlotte NC.

You may say that you and your partner have already been giving each other frequent intimate massages in private. Even if that may be true, it is still very different from the kind of therapeutic body massage services you will be receiving from professional massage therapists in Charlotte NC. While the intimate massage you share with your partner is undoubtedly pleasurable, professional therapeutic body massage given by massage specialists will also give you more specific health benefits.

With deep tissue massage, for instance, professional massage specialists not only make you feel good but actually locate the knots and kinks in your deep muscles. These are often caused by long held muscle tension. Massage frees up these tightened muscles, enabling oxygenation and lubrication. Flexibility and agility are improved, cellular health is boosted and the overall immune system is strengthened. As a result, you gain protection against various medical conditions and you also delay your aging.

With Swedish massage, you will not only experience relaxation in both mind and body but also improved circulation of the blood and lymph fluids, lower heart rate and lower blood pressure. This results in a host of benefits in terms of disease prevention and treatment. Of course, the relaxation it brings about also reduces stress and puts you in a state of calmness that enhances mental alertness and promotes clear thinking. Your mental and emotional capacity to handle each and every situation is increased.

Massage therapy’s psychological benefits result in a more balanced mental state and a more uplifted mood. It creates a positive energy that inspires more productive creative thinking and equips you to face and manage the pressures of life with grace and composure. This greatly improves your performance in your career and your relationships with other people. Even more important, it improves your relationship with your partner. If both of you are equally benefited by massage therapy in this way, you will come home to each other each and every day ready to offer the best version of yourself.

As your relationship is strengthened, you may want to think far into the future. You will want to maintain your good health for each other. As a result, you may find yourself eating better and exercising or going into sports. If so, make sure you are well prepared through sports massage therapy.

You will also want to stay healthy for the family you may want to build together. You might want to know that even by then, there is a type of massage therapy that could also benefit you. Pregnancy massage therapy has been designed to ease a woman’s pregnancy and help prepare for a problem free childbirth.

Try giving your partner gift cards for therapeutic body massage services from professional massage therapists in Charlotte NC and you might very well expect to receive a request for the same gift a year from now. Both of you will surely enjoy years of regular foot massage, back massage, reflexology, Swedish massage, deep tissue massage and sports massage. It will keep you healthy, fit and flexible enough to keep your love life active and going strong for the long term. Wouldn’t that be just wonderful for both of you?

The Fall 2008 online issue of Massage Envy Magazine states that stress-relieving massage also benefits the skin. It quotes dermatologist Valori Treloar, M.D. saying, “Stress worsens many skin conditions, so the anti-stress benefits are not surprising.”

The online magazine adds that massage removes toxins and improves circulation, resulting in healthier skin. Increased blood flow corresponds to better delivery of nutrients and more efficient flushing away of waste products, giving a rosy warm glow to the skin. Dermatologist Amy Newburger, M.D. says, “Massage promotes the health of the skin by getting more blood circulation into areas of the skin where they might not be getting the appropriate amount of blood circulation.”

Massage works well with the right skin care regimen. Murad Inc. has been a leader in the skin care industry for the last twenty years and founder Howard Murad, M.D. is an associate clinical professor of medicine at UCLA. Murad Inc. has partnered with the Massage Envy chain of massage clinics to deliver facial treatments in some of its locations. This was announced in the Fall 2009 issue of Massage Envy Magazine online.

According to Dr. Murad, there are four steps to healthy skin. These are first, to cleanse and tone; second, to treat and repair; third, to moisturize and protect; and fourth, to treat the entire body.

“Focus on cleaning skin in the evening to remove dirt that has accumulated throughout the day,” Dr. Murad advises. He recommends using a toner to finish the cleansing routine and get the skin ready for a moisturizer.

Author Stephanie Thurrott writes in the Fall 2008 online issue of Massage Envy Magazine that skin cleansing needs change according to the weather. In winter, the skin becomes dry and flaky while in summer, sweat proteins may clog pores if not properly washed off.

After cleansing and toning, Dr. Murad recommends treatment and repair according to the condition of the skin. He urges those with acne problems to try products with retinol, and those with wrinkle problems to try anti-aging products. Thurrott says creams and lotions with alpha hydroxyl acids are also effective exfoliants that can clear pores. They make the skin more sensitive to the sun, though.

Moisturizing and protection comprise the third step of Dr. Murad’s regimen. He suggests a sunscreen with a minimum of SPF 15. In Thurrott’s article dermatologist D’Anne Kleinsmith, M.D. of Bloomfield Dermatology Associates says, “I prefer that women use a moisturizer with a sunscreen rather than relying on their makeup to contain a sunscreen. When you apply makeup, you’re not going to apply a very heavy layer of the product, so the sunscreen coverage will not be adequate.”

The fourth step of Dr. Murad’s skin care regimen involves taking care of the entire body system through a healthy diet and lifestyle. He says, “Take an inclusive approach to health that addresses your needs topically through skin care, internally through diet and supplements, and emotionally through self-care in the form of massage, facials, meditation and interpersonal connection.”

So enjoy the benefits of Swedish massage therapy, deep tissue massage therapy and sports massage therapy from professional massage therapists for your body and your skin. Accompany your body massage therapy with a facial from the same massage clinic and spa in Clearwater, FL to round off your health and beauty routine. If you’re lucky, it will be the massage clinic that offers Murad spa facials.