WHAT IS SPA MANAGEMENT ?
What is Massage and Spa Therapy
Massage and Spa Therapy is a widely recognized profession with extended benefits. As life has become quite hectic and no one gets enough time to relax. Massage and Spa Therapy provides some kind of relief and comfort to people. There are massage, spa centres that have trained therapists to ensure individuals feel relaxed and refreshed. The massage courses include Hot stone massage, Aromatherapy massage, Deep tissue massage, Trigger point massage, ayurvedic massage, bamboo Massage while Western therapies, Bootcamp spa, Club spa, Day spa, facial are some of the spa courses.
Massage and Spa Therapy Course Highlights
Particulars | Values |
Branch Name | Massage and Spa Therapy |
Degree | Certification, Diploma |
Duration | Certification (Few hours- 6 months) Diploma (3 months- 2 Years) |
Eligibility | Certificate (Class 10th or 12th Diploma (Class 10th or 12th) |
Admission Process | Entrance Test/ Cut Off |
Course Fees | Certificate, Diploma (Rs 10,000 to Rs 85,000) |
Top Colleges | Kavikulguru Kalidas Sanskrit University, Apex Professional University, Sree Sankaracharya University of Sanskrit, Manipal academy of higher education, Global Open University, Ananda Spa Institute, School of Ayurveda and Panchakarma |
Career Options | Massage therapist, Spa therapist, Sports Masseur, Masseur, Ayurvedic Therapist, Sports Therapist |
Average Salary | Rs. 3 to 5 Lakhs (Per annum) |
Recruiting Companies | Taj, President, The Leela, Oberoi, Ramada Inn, Le Meridian, Novatel, Grand Hyatt, The Intercontinental, Orchid, Fariyas, The Residency, Four Fountain, The Body Spa, VLCC, IOSIS. Sereno, Talwalkars, The Club, NSCI, Garware |
Specialization
Students can choose their field from a variety of specializations. The Massage and Spa Therapy courses are available in different certificates and diploma courses. Candidates can go through the below-mentioned specializations of Massage and Spa .
Eligibility Criteria (UG & PG) of Massage and Spa Therapy
Candidates who are interested to pursue Massage and Spa Therapy courses in the most prestigious colleges and universities must fulfill the requirements. The eligibility of the certificate and diploma courses depends on the college to which a candidate is looking for admission. The eligibility criteria for the courses are listed below.
Eligibility Criteria Certificate Courses
To study Massage and Spa Therapy courses, candidates need to qualify for class 10th or 10+2 examination. Several colleges offered admission either on the basis of entrance test scores or through the direct process. We have mentioned below the following conditions which need to be fulfilled by the candidates to get admission into Massage and Spa Therapy courses:
1. Students should have passed class 10th or 10+2 from a recognized board or institution.
2. He or She must have attained above 50 percent marks in the 10th or 10+2 examination.
3. Certificate courses in Massage and Spa Therapy are mostly done on a merit basis.
Eligibility Criteria Diploma Courses
Candidates who are seeking admission to top colleges in India for Massage and Spa Therapy courses should have the following requirements. Some of the eligibility criteria points for courses are as follows.
1. Candidates should have completed class 10th or 12th from a recognized institution.
2. Candidates must secure at least 50 percent marks in the last board examination
3. Candidates need to appear for the college-level entrance examination.
Scope of Massage and Spa Therapy in India and Abroad
There are a variety of options available for those candidates who have done Massage and Spa Therapy courses. The massage and spa therapists can work as salaried employees, commissioned, entrepreneurs, and many more. The Massage and Spa Therapy professionals can launch their own massage and spa therapy salon or clinic. He or She can hire more practitioners and train more in the field. The demand for masseurs and spa therapists has been on the rise for the last few years. The hotels, clubs, spa centres have also started providing massage and spa therapies to the people. A person can charge an annual salary of Rs. 3 to 5 lakhs in the industry.
Course Subjects
The syllabus of the Massage and Spa Therapy courses varies from college to college. Following is the list of topics covered by the different colleges and universities. Below is the syllabus of the Diploma in Spa Therapy:
History of Spa | Introduction of various types of Spa |
Hotel Spa Resorts Spa Club Spa Cruise ship Spa | Day Spa Destination Spa Medi-Spa Airport Spa |
Anatomy & physiology | Holistic Spa therapy |
Theory & Practical | International Therapies |
Swedish Massage Aromatherapy Thai Massage Hot Stone Therapy | Deep Tissue Massage Body Scrub & Warp Reflexology Spa Facial Zen Meditation |
Careers in Massage and Spa Therapy
Students who have done Massage and Spa Therapy courses can get lucrative job opportunities in hotels, clubs, spa, and massage centres. A student can choose from a variety of profiles and roles. Below are some of the job positions available for the students.
Massage Therapist | A massage therapist is a professional who guides clients and helping them to choose from a variety of massages that would benefit them. They perform massages to the customers as well. |
Masseur | A person who works at a massage parlour. They apply oils, creams to the client’s skin to remove pain, stress, muscle problems by massaging. |
Sports Masseur | Commonly known as a sports massager or sports therapist provides advice or guidance for activities like managing muscle tissues to release tension, reduce pain, ensure timely recovery during sports under the supervision of a medical doctor or a physiotherapist. |
Ayurvedic Hospital Therapist | Those professionals who specialize in ayurvedic massages and other therapies provides a significant part in the healing process in ayurvedic hospitals. |
Upcoming trends
It takes a lot of time, effort to earn a reputation in the massage and spa industry. Earlier, the domain was restricted to a few people but now the time has changed as more people are taking up this course. The industry has witnessed massive growth. Hotels, clubs, and other business outlets have included Massage and Spa Therapy centres for customer satisfaction.
Job Profiles and Top Recruiters
The Massage and Spa Therapy industry has fully changed over the years in India. The demand for trained therapists has seen considerable growth. Top hotels, clubs, spa, and massage centres are employing individuals who have done experience in the field. Some of the top recruiting companies are:
President
The Leela
Oberoi
Le-Meridian
Novatel
Grand Hyatt
The Residency
Four Fountain
The Body Spa
VLCC
IOSIS
Sereno
Talwalkars
NSCI
Average Salary
The salary depends on the experience, skills, and techniques in Massage and Spa Therapy courses. A candidate who works at a massage parlour or centre skills that will help employers to grant a handsome salary to the spa therapist. Candidates can go through the list with their average salary for the job:
Careers | Average Salary (Per annum) |
Massage Therapist | Rs. 3.0 Lakhs |
Sports Masseur | Rs. 2.40 Lakhs |
Ayurvedic Therapist | Rs. 3.07 Lakhs |
Spa Therapist | Rs. 4.20 Lakhs |
Required Skillset for Massage and Spa Therapy
Massage and Spa Therapy is considered to be an art. There are specific skills necessary for candidates who want to make their career in the industry. Some of the essential skills required for massage therapists to serve customers in the best possible way:
Interpersonal Skills | Time Management Skills |
Communication Skills | Service Orientation Skills |
Active Listening Skills | Decision Making Skills |
Course Curriculum for Massage and Spa Therapy
The Massage and Spa Therapy courses primarily deal with the spa therapy introduction, personality development, basic communication skills, posture and yoga, customer relations, and many others. During the diploma and certificate courses in Massage and Spa Therapy, the essential components covered under the course are:
The course trainee will practice different massage methods, facial, skin, hair treatments. It involves Thai massage, hot stone therapy, Balinese massage, Shirodhara, Potli massage, and others. The students learn spa product knowledge, sales, marketing as per the skin type.
The students carry out skin diagnoses using mapping techniques, identify the different body parts, joints, muscles, bones for spa therapy. It will also enhance the skills of Ayurveda, essential oils, career oils necessary for therapies.
Top Massage and Spa Therapy Colleges in India
Several colleges in India offer Massage and Spa Therapy courses. The admission process to these colleges is based on merit and sometimes a direct process. The tuition fees vary from college to college. Here is a list of colleges offering Massage and Spa Therapy Courses at various levels::
Kavikulguru Kalidas Sanskrit University, Nagpur | Apex Professional University, Pasighat |
SSUS Kalady | MAHE, Manipal |
Global Open University, Dimapur | Ananda Spa Institute, Hyderabad |
School of Ayurveda and Panchakarma, Kerala | ISAS International Beauty School, Pune |
VLCC Institute Beauty and Nutrition, Haryana | Orane International, Mohali |






