Massage therapy is an amazingly versatile, portable career choice for people who are looking for a way to apply themselves to meaningful work. It’s the perfect solution for people who are looking for an altruistic career path, as it helps reduce stress, relieve aches and pains, and even elevates your overall mind-body experience.
Study massage therapy abroad and you’ll have a whole army of oils at your disposal.
That sounds pretty lofty, but have you ever had a full-body massage complete with a cool towel doused in lavender essential oil, wind chimes singing softly, their gentle tones pulsing through the air, totally enveloping you in complete and utter tranquility? Hmm, sounds like you need to get into massage therapy.
Enrolling in a massage therapy study abroad program is a great option for people interested in a variety of bodywork-related careers, such as physical therapy, kinesiology, and even yoga. Massage therapy and related programs help deepen your understanding of how all the systems in the body are interconnected, giving you a better toolkit to incorporate techniques for soothing tense muscles and releasing tightness in tendons.
Massage therapy summer programs are a great option for people looking to get certified as quickly as possible, and off to work!
Why study massage therapy abroad?
The best massage therapy schools in the world are the ones that allow total immersion in the art of massage. That’s why you need to study massage therapy abroad! You’ll get the time and space to fully dive into the subject while exploring another culture while you’re at it.
You’ll also be exposed to the cultural nuances of massage if you study abroad; Thai massage, for example, looks and feels very different than a Swedish massage. You get the chance to narrow in and focus your skills, and become the massage therapist you were meant to be!
Bonus: It’s often cheaper to study massage therapy abroad, rather than at home—program fees and cost of living combined.
7 international massage therapy schools & bodywork programs
Editor’s note: In light of ongoing events due to COVID-19, please reach out to individual providers to confirm program dates for summer 2020 and beyond.
1. Costa Rica School of Massage Therapy
If you’re going to sign up for a massage therapy study abroad program, you need to think about the country you’ll be spending time in. Let’s talk Pura Vida. Costa Rica is the ideal place to get study massage therapy abroad because the cultural cadence is relaxed and welcoming—an ideal atmosphere for massage!
Costa Rica School of Massage Therapy (CRSMT) offers the perfect blend of scientific modalities with spiritual cohesion, making the 600- or 700-hour certification your ticket to a blissful career in massage. During your four-month intensive program, you’ll have the chance to relax on the beach, explore lush green jungles, indulge in amazing food, and soak up that sweet sunshine.
2. Physical Therapy Internship in Vietnam
Integrating massage techniques and knowledge is extremely helpful for physical therapists. Since there is a lot of overlap between the two professions, you’d be wise to dabble in both. If you have some background in physiotherapy or related studies, check out this program in Vietnam.
You’ll get to work with children and teenagers affected by chemical warfare in rehab care centers, learn directly from experienced physical therapists, and learn how to diagnose and treat the disabilities you observe. Check Projects Abroad’s website for more information!
The beauty of Vietnam lies in its contrast: bustling vibrant cities full of noise and traffic are a sensory explosion. Yet just around the corner, you’re met by bucolic countrysides of rolling hills and multitudes of rice fields etched into vibrant green landscapes.
3. Undergraduate and Graduate Degrees in New Zealand
Dive into an immersive bodywork program on the island that transported us all to Middle Earth. The country is full of adventure, sublime beauty, and fascinating indigenous culture. Take time to understand the people of the place you’re living and learning in, and your studies might not feel like work at all.
Studying exercise science and kinesiology gives aspiring massage therapists hands-on experience with physical therapy skills, and a chance to explore nutritional studies for a more well-rounded understanding of the human body.
4. Semester Abroad: Sports & Physiotherapy
Health and fitness are integral to massage therapy, so this 15-week program in Bali seemed an appropriate contender on this list.
Along with weekly lessons in physiotherapy, StudyInBali will take you on excursions that expose you to Bali’s unique culture of wellbeing and traditional healing methods.
If you’re interested in studying massage therapy abroad, getting a taste of Bali along the way is a great opportunity to integrate a variety of wellbeing techniques from around the world into your practice.
5. Yoga Teacher Training
Massage therapy, meet yoga. Yoga, meet massage therapy. Oh wait, you’ve already met? You’re actually lifelong friends; inseparable companions?! No wonder you get along so well.
This 200-hour teacher training at Pranava Yoga in Bali is the perfect place to deepen your practice, enhance your yogic skills, and give you inspiration for your own classes.
You’ll get a deeper understanding of bodywork by moving yours in powerful and fluid ways. Did we mention you’d be in blissful Bali? Bali, the home of ancient Buddhist relics, sprawling jungle-dream worlds, and endless tropical beauty? No? Now we did.
Yoga teacher training is the perfect complement to massage therapy summer programs, and a great way to extend your international educational journey.
6. Wellness and Traditional Healing in Sri Lanka
Integrative health techniques are key to fully understanding bodywork. Ask any massage therapist, and they’ll tell you a holistic attitude is the only attitude. That’s why you should broaden your mind-body awareness with this Wellness and Traditional Healing program in Sri Lanka from Projects Abroad.
You’ll be signing up for an authentic adventure that allows you to take a break from city life and soul-crushing modern stressors. Let yourself melt into the zen-state of Sri Lankan culture. Learn about ancient ayurvedic medicine; the properties of spices, herbs, and tea; yoga; and meditation.
7. Holistic Health and Wellness in Asia Summer Program
If you’re interested in alternative health and wellness, this 3-week course in Thailand is the place to be. You’ll learn how tai chi, yoga, meditation, reiki, and even Japanese traditional forest bathing can combat modern health issues.
These bodywork modalities are perfect complementary trainings for an aspiring massage therapist, and a great excuse to explore the entire country of Thailand, from north to south.
Experience the welcoming charm of Thai people, discover the tranquil peace of the Buddhist society, and immerse yourself in mindfulness-based therapies and holistic health.
Not sure how to pick? Compare these programs side-by-side for FREE with MyGoAbroad
Get qualified and explore the world with massage therapy study abroad!
Who wouldn’t want a relaxing career like this?
The best massage therapy schools in the world are the ones that highlight the mind-body connection, and incorporate a holistic attitude towards wellness. If you want to understand the body, you need to get in touch with the mind. If you want to keep the body healthy, you need to unite the experience with a mindful approach.
While integrative medicine and holistic techniques are the perfect way to advance your career in massage therapy, the same can be said about other bodywork professions. Massage therapy and physical therapy are complementary health practices, and by exploring multiple fields, you’re giving yourself a better toolkit to serve clients with. You’ll be able to offer a variety of supplemental health techniques.
International massage therapy schools take you on an educational and cultural journey. If you’re looking for a portable, fulfilling career, you’ll find it in massage therapy. Study abroad to expose yourself to a wealth of cultures, and an experience you’ll never forget. Get in touch with massage! If it feels right, it probably is.
Browse ALL Massage Therapy Study Abroad Programs on GoAbroad.com
This article was written with help from the Costa Rica School of Massage Therapy. CRSMT aims to produce well-rounded students with strong foundational knowledge of the practice of massage therapy. CRSMT students will be well-equipped to pass the United States National Licensure Exam for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork and the Federation of State Massage Therapy Board Exam.
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