Whether you're recently retired or a stay-at-home mom, training to be a chair massage provider can be a way to have flexible working hours and be your own boss.
"Our Chair Massage course is for anyone who is interested in providing massage services," says Kathy Bell, Director of Education at Integra College. "Graduates can work from home or take their portable massage chair out into the community, to seniors' residences, workplaces, farmers' markets, or even public events like festivals."
Among the people who have found the chair massage training beneficial are stay-at-home moms.
"Very often, stay-at-home moms have free time between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.," Kathy explains, "and they want to do something meaningful and still be home later for their kids and families. Becoming a chair massage provider is the perfect way to operate a small business on your schedule, where you want, and with the clients you choose."
With a maximum class size of 12, students work through a 20-hour online component and then benefit from six days intensive training in the classroom.
"The classroom time is spent learning three massage routines and is a very important component of the course," says Kathy. "Students are then required to develop their skills by providing massage services to 20 people. The last massage is videotaped and uploaded for evaluation, rather like a final exam."
The chair massage course is certified and was developed by Integra College founder and president, Bob Hanley.
"Chair massage is a completely portable service," explains Kathy, "and it's an excellent way to encourage health and wellness in your clients. Seniors especially respond positively to massage; that type of touch can be extremely beneficial to their emotional well-being."
As part of the Chair Massage course, students also receive access to the Business Start-up Kit to help them with the tasks needed to run your own business: how to market yourself, advertising, and getting new clients.
"What Bob has found over the years," Kathy says, "is that people who are very caring and empathetic, such as teachers, nurses, or caregivers, lack confidence in running their own business. The Business Start-up Kit offers support and guidance on setting up and running a home-based business."
Offered online, the Business Start-up Kit uses the same education platform as SFU online courses and provides a wealth of marketing and business development resources.
“The kit has everything we’ve learned over the last 13 years about building a successful chair massage practice,” says Kathy. “As a result, we save our graduates the normal trial-and-error that goes along with building a new business.”
For more information about Integra College and their courses, phone 604.475.8665, visit their website, or send them an email. The campus is located at 320-205 Newport Drive, Port Moody. Integra College can also be found on Facebook and Vimeo.
