by our College Data Analytics TeamMovement and Mind-Body Therapies majors learn the skills to teach relaxation classes, yoga, provide hypnotherapy, and other services that improve the overall well-being of others.
With classes in anatomy, physiology, psychology, herbalism, and other alternative medical techniques, students are able to help patients reduce pain and increase health. Professionals have the skills to work closely with others and increase therapeutic communication and balance between the mind and body.
Popular concentrations within this major are Movement Therapy and Movement Education, Yoga Teacher Training, and Hypnotherapy.
A major in Movement & Mind-Body Therapies explores Movement And Mind-Body Therapies And Education. Continue reading for the important information every movement & mind-body therapies major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering movement & mind-body therapies programs.
Nationwide, movement & mind-body therapies draws strong interest, with 575 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Movement & Mind-Body Therapies Schools ranking analyzes these 20 schools to determine the best overall colleges for movement & mind-body therapies students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of movement & mind-body therapies programs later in this article.
Coursework for Movement & Mind-Body Therapies build a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations movement & mind-body therapies graduates commonly enter.
Students who major in Movement and Mind-Body Therapies have strong interpersonal and communication skills. They work closely with patients and must facilitate open and honest therapeutic communication so they can resolve tension and increase positivity. Students should also have good customer service skills and trustworthiness so patients are comfortable and are able to relax.
A degree in this field can lead to either a full time or part time job in a variety of locations. Some professionals work in medical offices while others find jobs at health clinics, spas, or gyms teaching movement classes or providing relaxation services.
While some areas of Movement and Mind-body Therapies require a bachelor's degree, others, such as yoga, only require an associate's degree or certification. If you are interested in this career field, you should research the position and ensure you are obtaining the ideal education.
The skill set emphasized by a movement & mind-body therapies program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
According to O*NET, a movement & mind-body therapies major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several movement & mind-body therapies degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 6 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 74 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 51 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 436 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 6 |
People currently working in careers related to movement & mind-body therapies tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 47.1% |
| Master’s degree | 31.3% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 7.1% |
| Doctoral degree | 6.2% |
| Post-doctoral training | 5.2% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 1.1% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 1.0% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.9% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 0.1% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 0.1% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in movement & mind-body therapies careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Movement and Mind-Body graduates work in gyms, health clinics, spas, alternative medical offices, and other locations that require the services of yoga instructors, hypnotherapists, and other professional mind-body therapists. This field is growing at an average rate, providing job opportunities to students after graduation.
Studying movement & mind-body therapies opens doors to numerous career paths. These are some of the most common occupations related to movement & mind-body therapies.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to movement & mind-body therapies.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Music Therapists | 3,083,788 | 4.9% |
| Therapists, All Other | 2,758,134 | -2.9% |
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,335,407 | 10.7% |
| Art Therapists | 715,793 | 1.6% |
| Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors | 35,993 | -1.5% |
Federal data tracks median earnings of movement & mind-body therapies graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Earnings tend to climb as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $26,390 |
| 4 years | $24,770 |
| 5 years | $33,461 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for movement & mind-body therapies graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers movement & mind-body therapies grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Therapists, All Other | $121,750 |
| Music Therapists | $71,670 |
| Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors | $54,441 |
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | $46,663 |
| Art Therapists | $40,748 |
With 20 different movement & mind-body therapies programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased movement & mind-body therapies school rankings to help you.
If you are interested in movement & mind-body therapies, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Hypnotherapy/Hypnotherapist | 399 |
| Yoga Teacher Training/Yoga Therapy | 98 |
| Movement Therapy and Movement Education | 75 |
| Movement and Mind-Body Therapies and Education, Other | 3 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
