Is Massage Therapy a moral profession?

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I am having trouble deciding whether or not to continue Massage Therapy classes. According to the norms of our culture, the school is well within moral parameters. It focuses on Western technique, as compared to Eastern modalities. I don’t have a problem with that aspect.
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 My concern, as a Catholic, consecrated to Mary, is, the modesty issue. I also have issues with the delay of some plans for me to quit my job and concentrate on my family and some other projects.  But, this would be a foundation from which I would start a home-based business.   

 I am not sure why I am having doubts, but, I am really struggling with whether or not I am offending God by this.  The Church is neutral on it, so long as it is done discretely.  But...

 Please give me your thoughts.
 
In all honesty, I feel that it is perfectly moral. Everyone is stressed out today and it seems that we get lost in the process of trying to live the way God wants us to quite often, or at least I know I do. Massage therapy allows you to help someone relax enough to possibly even hear God in their day. It was an occupation I thought about for a while but that I decided not to pursue, being instead called to special education. I know that some of my kids go through massage therapy to help them loosen up their muscles and joints and such, so I don’t think that anything that can help my students to feel better or to communicate better (some get arthritis, some are so spastic that they need a great deal of massage before they can get their tendons and muscles to loosen up and sometimes even the best therapies out there won’t help) is wrong or immoral in anyway. There are different ways you can go with your occupation, just pray about it would be my true answer, ask God and he will give you an answer. God bless you and yours!
 
Massage therapy is no more immoral that going to see a doctor. Massage therapy causes one to feel better, just as a doctor’s treatment normally causes one to feel better. Massage therapy may involve the removal of clothing, but a visit to the doctor may require this as well. A legitimate massage therapist does not try to induce sexual pleasure, but to help the body function better. I see no moral problems with massage. Of course, there are some illicit establishments that operate under the name “massage parlor”, but I assume that you are not talking about this type of operation.
 
Ceil-1 said:
Please give me your thoughts.
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Agreed with the other posters. It’s a medical profession and as such isn’t limited to the “modesty” aspect that goes with daily life. As long as you keep it professional (which I have no doubts you will) then there shouldn’t be a problem.

Be prepared to deal with propositions though. You may wish to work in an esteemed massage clinic since massage therapy as a home business and in less esteemed businesses has been known to be a front for prostitution. Either be ready to firmly tell someone NO, or work in an environment where it is clear that you’re a medical professional.
 
I get regular massages, and I credit my massage therapist for keeping me functioning. My back goes out regularly, which messes up my knees. I also thought once that my hip was out of place but it turned out it was because my back was out. My shoulder muscles are like rocks, my arms and hands become numb and basically I am a mess.
My chropractor and massage therapist work together to keep me in once piece.

Its not like you are laying there naked for the world to see. When she needs to work on my leg, she folds over the blanket to expose my leg. Then she puts it back, exposes the other leg, then puts the blanket back, etc.

When I need to roll over, she holds the blanket up like a shield and I roll over.

She is looking at you as a body part that needs to be fixed, much like a doctor does. She is concentrating on how the muscle feels, is it tight, does it have knots that need to be worked out, that kind of thing.

There is nothing immoral about a therapeudic massage.
 
Thanks for your replies. I am going to go ahead and do it. The school is a good one, and if I don’t do it, I will probably always wish I had. I just needed a little push, that’s all. 🙂
 
Ceil-1 said:
I am having trouble deciding whether or not to continue Massage Therapy classes. According to the norms of our culture, the school is well within moral parameters. It focuses on Western technique, as compared to Eastern modalities. I don’t have a problem with that aspect.
Code: 
 My concern, as a Catholic, consecrated to Mary, is, the modesty issue. I also have issues with the delay of some plans for me to quit my job and concentrate on my family and some other projects.  But, this would be a foundation from which I would start a home-based business.   

 I am not sure why I am having doubts, but, I am really struggling with whether or not I am offending God by this.  The Church is neutral on it, so long as it is done discretely.  But...

 Please give me your thoughts.
Click to expand...
I am a Licensed Clinical Massage Therapist here in Ohio I am also a male Therapist. I love my work, I am really into the body and how the muscles all interact…I love love love my work, and I thank God my wife suggested I enter into this line of work…what we do is a Gift…it is a Health Service,and it feels really really good…in our State your licensed by the Medical Board and you have to navigate some pretty intense schooling…there is a seedy side to every business…(almost)…our profession has been sullied by the sex sellers…just keep your eyes fixed on the Creator…say a prayer before your sessions realize this person, your client, is beloved by the Father… and go HEAL !! ;)…as far as the modesty issue…DRAPE DRAPE DRAPE 😉
 
Ceil-1 said:
I am having trouble deciding whether or not to continue Massage Therapy classes. According to the norms of our culture, the school is well within moral parameters. It focuses on Western technique, as compared to Eastern modalities. I don’t have a problem with that aspect.
Code: 
 My concern, as a Catholic, consecrated to Mary, is, the modesty issue. I also have issues with the delay of some plans for me to quit my job and concentrate on my family and some other projects.  But, this would be a foundation from which I would start a home-based business.   

 I am not sure why I am having doubts, but, I am really struggling with whether or not I am offending God by this.  The Church is neutral on it, so long as it is done discretely.  But...

 Please give me your thoughts.
Click to expand...
If they only want attractive females it could be a red flag. And men have been known to expect it to lead to sex in such a setting. 😊
 
In certain professions, one needs to be more on guard than you otherwise would be to avoid moral pitfall. For example, my massage therapist and I go to the same gym. Sometimes we encounter each other in the change room. It’s fine for me to change near her there, but at an appointment, she ALWAYS makes sure that I am fully dressed again before she comes back in.

Are there some massage therapists who are immoral? Of course. There are immoral doctors and nurses too. But for the vast majority of us, we’re just good folks trying to earn an honest living.
 
I’m told that massage therapy can be beneficial for pregnant women suffering from sciatica or other conditions. Anything that helps a woman struggling with a difficult pregnancy is a blessing in my book.
 
Okay there are certain times when people take the modesty ‘issue’ too far.

It’s not a sin, it’s a legitimite profession that helps a lot of people.
 
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