General relaxation massage should not hurt. Most energy-related therapies are painless, except acupressure or shiatsu, which may access painful points. In any case, the client needs to let the therapist know if the pain is more than he or she cares to tolerate. Hagar the Horrible once told his doctor he was feeling terrible and asked him what to do. What a massage therapist can earn depends on a number of factors, chief of which are where you live and work, and whether you are in private practice or are employed by someone.
Potential employers range from sports clubs to health professionals' offices to cruise ships.
The long-range earning potential is probably greater in private practice, whereas employment has the obvious advantages of immediate and reliable income, as well as the other securities of employment. This is indicated by the rapid growth in the number of massage therapy schools that continue to open, as well as the growing public interest in alternative health procedures.