Massage therapy burnout?

[Ashlie]

Hi, i was wondering if there are any registered massage therapists out there who regret getting into the job? I heard the money is good and the job is fairly simple and unstressful. The only downside is that it is physically strenuous and lots of people burnout or get tendonitis and other hand and finger injuries along the way. Apparently, RMTs have to get physical therapy treatments because they get too injured to work..

Do they teach you how to use safe techniques in massage school? Why do people still get injured? Which schools in Toronto are good for becoming an RMT? Are the one year programs sufficient to get jobs in clinics and spas?

 

[Another Massage Therapist]

Burnout unfortunately is still a big concern in the massage therapy field. There are many new techniques and styles of massage out there now that don't use finger and thumb pressure as much as "traditional" massage. You could explore fields like reiki, lomi-lomi, ashiatsu, thai massage, bamboosage, yogasage, myofascial release, cranial sacral work, etc! And that's just the tip of the massage iceberg, there are over 80 registered "modalities" or styles of massage. I encourage you to find schools in your area that often training in other techniques. You could also pursue a standard school and then take whatever continuing education classes you wanted. Make sure to check with your local massage board for more information also.

And to answer why people get injured, it's often from giving the "same massage" ie, using repetitive movements that don't use correct body alignment and using too much pressure on their joints. Sadly some massage therapists also do not practice what they preach, regular massage, stretching and exercise are vital to keep your body in a healthy and limber condition.

I wish you lots of luck along your journey, and if you have any questions please ask!!

 

[Sabeena]

Yep. I regretted it so much that after 5 years I got out of the business completely. I owned a spa and made good money, but overall it was too much work and hassle to be worth it.

You've heard wrong. The money is not good and the job is often stressful if you accept insurance or live in an area where filthy old perverted men demand happy endings all the time. If you open your own business, expenses eat up 50% of your income and for every hour of paid massage you must work at least 30 minutes more of unpaid work doing cleaning, laundry, billing, payroll, etc. I'm not familiar with how much employed massage practitioners in Toronto make, but in the US it's $15-$25 an hour. Keep in mind you can only work up to 25 hours a week. That's not a lot of money.

You heard correctly that the job is simple. It's so simple that it's dreadfully dull. If you enjoy a challenge then massage isn't for you. I even primarily worked on injuries and still found it to be one of the most dull things I've ever done with my time.

After 5 years I'm a burned-out shell of a person wracked with pain every day. I was a bright, happy, positive person who was excited about almost everything before this experience. Massage ruined my life and now I'm just trying to pick up the pieces.

 

[irenaaneri1980]

No offence but i'll just add please dont become a massage therapist just because the money is good and its unstressful.While of course those factors are important,please only become one if your really interested in making people feel relaxed and seeing a change in their physical,mental and emotional wellbeing.
A massage therapist is someone that should have a good nature and genuinly be interested in helping people-not just someone who wants an "easy' or simple job.
Ive recieved so many times rubbish massages from people that shouldnt even be in the industry-they have no interest in how their client feels,whether they are relaxing etc.Their minds will be absent or a million miles away,their touch is uncaring.clinical and unrelaxing or they will talk absolute rubbish like "smalltalk"
Who the hell want to go pay $50 or $100 or whatever so that the massage therapist can talk nonstop-you want quiet and relaxation.
Ive heard soem massage therapist whine that they dont feel comfortable unless they talk and theres talking-well then theyve gone into the wrong career in the first place.
Dont talk unless your client starts talking heaps and indicates that they want to talk.Being a massage therapist is not about you and selfishness-its about the cient and what they want.
Unlesss your wanting to be a massage therapist because of sincere interest in your clients needs then please DONT become one.
Theres other fairly unstressful jobs out there to go into like Floristry,or working in a clothes or makeup shop,or aerobics instructor or at the pools etc