The Huntsville massage therapy scene includes many small practices and studios. There are some signs that massage is entering the mainstream here as a wellness practice. The University of Alabama-Huntsville offers services such as biofeedback and chair massage at its counseling center, thus offering students who have school and life challenges additional tools to stay grounded.
An internet search reveals many sole proprietors practicing massage in the Huntsville area. They advertise a range of modalities besides traditional Swedish relaxation massage, for example, Thai yoga, hot stone, prenatal, cupping, myofascial release, and medical massage; medical massage therapy may be customized for different parts of the body.
There are also a number of small establishments where multiple practitioners work together. Huntsville massage therapists have different work setups. A massage therapist may rent space, work as a sub-contractor, or work as an employee. Bios are printed online. Clients may select their preferred LMT. Journey Therapeutic Massage, on the other hand, notes that massage therapists who are under their auspices may be either employees or self-employed professionals who are renting space.
Some massage therapists team with other healthcare professionals such as chiropractors. Deep tissue and neuromuscular massage are among the modalities that may prove useful in a chiropractic setting. Massage therapists may work alongside health professionals from various disciplines. Some school go beyond the minimum hours. Northeast Alabama Community College Rainsville offers students the option of completing a short-term certificate program or taking a longer program in spa and salon management that includes the required therapeutic massage coursework.
The Massage Therapy Institute Decatur provides a hour curriculum that includes hours of specialized massage subjects, including sports massage, myotherapy, and infant massage. The current owner is a former graduate of the school, a cancer survivor, and a proponent of integrative mind-body healing. Some local massage therapists are trained to work with cancer patients. In the Huntsville area, oncology massage may be offered in a small practice or spa setting.
