Massage therapy was already used by many leading ancient civilizations of long ago, as a way of treating various bodily aches, pains, and ailments. The practitioners of old were mostly just your common folk people who may have gotten their knowledge and skills from their forefathers, and passed on from generation to generation to preserve the tradition. In today's modern age, great advances have been achieved in the field of medicine, benefiting massage therapists in becoming well-versed professional health practitioners with the introduction of scientifically based methods of instruction and training.

Massage therapy is done by manipulating the body's parts, where the soft tissues are stroked, pressured, and/or squeezed. The applications tends to relax the affected tense muscles, unravels knots, treats and relieves involuntary and abnormal muscle contraction and cramps by improving and freeing blood flow to enable optimum blood circulation to happen. This also has a positive effect on the lymphatic system, stimulating it to release trapped toxins from the body, giving rise to an overall feeling of wellness.

Countries all over the world have their own licensing systems for massage therapy, and so does most states in the America. The federal government controls and regulates board exams and testing through an official approved institution and endorsed by the massage therapy associations to give the proper education and training to students.

In order to qualify for admission to enroll in the course program, students need to have completed high school successfully. A total average of 500 hours of class instruction, in addition with a monitored hands-on training will be required for registration. The course outline includes subjects in human anatomy, pathology, kinesiology, and physiology, before delving into the proper massage methodology and techniques, which will have lessons in history, theory, practical techniques, and including business management and ethics, and nutrition.

Massage Therapy has evolved into many varying techniques over the years, a few among the many are the common Swedish massage, sports massage, Thai massage, chair massage, and aromatherapy. With this in mind, students can choose to specialize in one or two methods, or choose the more general massage techniques.

Today’s massage therapy training is more comprehensive and intensive compared to what it offered a few years back, when the practice of massage was limited to only a few institutions like hospitals and massage parlors. Recent studies have showed the positive effects of massage to a person's overall health and well-being, the profession's rise and demand has almost practically skyrocketed overnight.