Hard on the wrists?

[earthward]

Rather than shadowing a massage therapist whose opinions & experiences are subjective, I recommend attending an "Introduction to Massage" workshop at a local massage school.

There is one next month that I'm planning to go to....

Life is too short and complicated to do work that you hate.

couldn't agree more...

[JasonE]

Schools do have something to sell, and many local working massage establishments have territory to maintain - some don't like competition and wouldn't hesitate to scare potential students off. I'm always amazed when a potential student calls me and is afraid to tell me that they have to have a receipt for school to prove they've had a professional massage before classes start. Usually several others have already turned them down - they are learning to call another town for an appointment.

I have a business to run, but I am always happy to provide honest feedback and guidance to those who are considering entering the profession. There is plenty of business to go around, and I think there is plenty of room for new practitioners to enter the market. On the other hand, bodywork isn't for everyone, nor is there a single school that is the best for all prospective students. Some people need to think twice before pursuing massage, and EVERYONE should choose their massage school carefully, basing their choice on factors other than price and convenience.

I wouldn't let an untrained person "shadow" at our business, but I would be happy to show them some "behind the scenes" aspects of the work and discuss what it's really like. Someone considering entering the profession should absolutely get a real massage before money down on school, but I don't think schools should make it a requirement. That said, I agree with a local school's decision to turn away some prospective students that wanted to learn how to give massages without ever receiving the work (not even in class).

[jasond]

I can give you my perspective. Learning to do a massage with good mechanics is extremely important!!! I've hurt my wrists by doing poor mechanics, and recently I strained my thumb by over using it. That being said I really enjoy doing bodywork part time. The three rules I go by when I remember to is:

1. Don't hurt your client
2. Don't hurt yourself.
3. Do your best.

Bodywork is one of the most challenging professions you'll ever get into, but possibly the most rewarding also.

Jason

[Snackdaddy]

I have more agreement with OUCH than I'd like to admit. It's been a tough road, but I'm not in management or ownership.

To the original poster, some alternatives to Google that may meet your needs, interests, and concerns:

----Rossiter. From the Rolfing tradition, connective tissue stretch work done with your feet. I was supposed to take the workshop this past weekend, but it was canceled. Drat. It will happen for me soon.

----Rolfing, obviously.

----Active Release Techniques, from Dr. Mike Leahy of Colorado. God-awful expensive, but super work. I had the upper body seminar back in '96. You'll want to be the hands-on guy at a chiropractor's office.

----Thai massage. Super duper. I had that workshop this past weekend in lieu of the Rossiter training. Wildly popular these days, and easier on the hands and arms that traditional deep tissue massage work.

----Pilates intstuctor training. I've had mat and reformer instructor training from the people at Stott pilates. They are first rate. Again, pricey, but very good earnings potential.

----Yoga intructor? Feldenkraus (sp?) practitioner? Other movement therapies or such?

SIDE NOTE TO THE LMT'S: My own attraction to yoga, Pilates, and Rossiter is the active INVOLVEMENT of the client in his/her own self care. No more hearing, "please fix me" from overweight, inactive golfers who actually don't understand why their backs hurt. Truly, change comes from within. It's also interesting to see my career path follow that of one of my massage mentors from my original massage school (he went big-time Yoga).

[sillypup]

massage isn't for everyone. above all else, take care of yourself so you prevent injuries. it's not just body mechanics. it's also learning variety of techniques and strokes of manipulations so you won't do routine massage that can get repeatative. it's also learning how to do proper warm up before and after massage. it's also learning how to de-stress and relax those tension buildup from long hours of massaging in a day.

the good therapist in this field knows that it's important to take care of one's health and apply what they know to themselves. I hear so many therapist complain about their aches and pain. i tell them to self massage but they give excuses saying it's not the same. weh weh. so they get what they deserve from not taking care of themselves.

it's one of those field that is about passion. i find most people get into this field due to thinking it's big bucks. only big bucks if your the owner hiring therapist or your own business. don't expect much in monetary reward when you start. since society's laws still isn't accepting massage , it's still in it's infancy to be mainstream. that's why most people think it's luxury and pampering. the elite who control the laws of society don't except us yet but see us as prostitutes. not to say that the general public don't accept us. they do. they have gone through western medicine of drugs to deal with their chronic pain without success and I see many search alternative ways like massage. only problem is we aren't widely accessible yet referring to clinical therapist that do real massage not pampering massage. face it. there just isn't many great therapist around to get mainstream public thinking it's preventative health care yet. it's getting there slowly though as more of us clinical therapist fight the hard fight to stay in this field. of course the factory ways of massage school don't do a good job training good therapist with massage business mentality.

one major thing is have a back up plan. massage is not a stable career until you generate enough clients for your business which can take few years to several. that's if your lucky to have your own business. if your working for others, well, that for sure isn't stable as you have no control of clients and how the business is run to generate clients. not to mention the high cost of a middle man that makes less frequent visit from clients. this is a tough road, i kid you not. especially if your starting from scratch by yourself and have no business/social network help or support financially or from peers. always think of yourself as being self employed even if you work for others. why? because it's a service interaction face to face field and you still have to do all your homework in building up your skills, people skills and keeping clients, sales and marketing. etc... even though the owner help you do all the paperwork and reception stuff.

one last suggestion from a wise teacher I had in high school. explore life in all areas to find your passion career. you can always come back to something you've done before but explore so you have variety of life experience to know that it's your passion for that career. if you don't have free time to explore due to finance, explore things as a hobby a little at a time. no one works 24 hrs nonstop. it's best to live life where you don't regret doing what you love with less pay, rather than making lots of money with you being handicap in bed due to that high paying job regretting in your old days. basically, your health determines your quality of life. and having a passion career affect one's life positively. hardship is good but not when it compromise your pleasure of health/life.

[earthward]

the elite who control the laws of society don't except us yet but see us as prostitutes.

haha... interesting!

----Pilates intstuctor training. I've had mat and reformer instructor training from the people at Stott pilates. They are first rate. Again, pricey, but very good earnings potential.

----Yoga intructor? Feldenkraus (sp?) practitioner? Other movement therapies or such?

good ideas... I'll look into those... I really want to study bioenergetics but I think you have to have a master's degree in psychology.. Rolfing isn't taught where I live.. I know someone that went to Colorado to study but he got a massage therapy degree first. Since I don't want to leave home yet (just starting to put down roots after being away for along time) I decided that the MT education is the most appealing option and could give me a foundation to build on ... I'm looking at as many options as I can though...

[/quote]

[TouchofGrace]

In response............I can't say that I am making a fabulous living as an LMT, but I also can't say that I work at it extremely hard either. I can say I spent many thankless years as a grunt in electronic assembly, and I felt my soul was being slowly extracted from my body...........beginning my massage practice, I believe, literally saved my life.

I would continue to do massage even if I won the lottery tomorrow. It's been the one thing in my life that consistently gives me peace and satisfaction, and makes me feel like I have a purpose. I've had my ups and downs with it, the creepy perverts, slow times, financial struggles, minor injuries, a few clients here and there that are really really annoying.........

I've also had clients that individually rallied around me when I was diagnosed with cancer, doing everything from taking my outdoor potted plants home with them to water them for two weeks when I had emergency surgery, to bringing me home cooked meals and doing my massage laundry one week as a treat! My clients are, for the most part, really really nice people.

The kindnesses and the sweet gestures far outnumber the obnoxious few, and that has always been consistent. I have never done work that makes me laugh so much, and makes me care so much. I'm defiantely not a poster child for monetary sucess because I haven't mastered that yet.......but I definately like and enjoy what I do, and for me the flip side doesn't begin to compare.

For me..........taking that first step towards beginniing my massage career was a life changing journey, and I don't regret it in the least. It's the best thing I've ever done with my life.

Ouch, I'm so sorry it's been the opposite for you. I hope you can find a niche that brings you sucess and enjoyment. Life is too short and complicated to do work that you hate.
savannah

I know this is an old post, but for whatever reason, I've had Savannah on my mind this morning and set out to find some of her posts that always brightened my day. I don't think it's an accident that this one is the first one I opened. This is what massage is all about...

[GreenDragonfly]

I know this is an old post, but for whatever reason, I've had Savannah on my mind this morning and set out to find some of her posts that always brightened my day. I don't think it's an accident that this one is the first one I opened. This is what massage is all about...

I miss her too. Thanks for bumping this thread.