Want to augment practice - what to do?

[Katharine K]

Hi

I have been praciticing for a few years now and would like to add something to my practice. I honestly cant see myself doing just massage therapy for another 20 or 30 years :shock: and would like to study/learn something which would complement my existing practice...

Any ideas? I was thinking about pilates (VERY expensive to train in my country) or chiro... what are the other options which go well with massage?

thanks!

 

[ahtub]

Off the top of my head:

-Aromatherapist
-Holistic Health Counselor
-Nutritionist
-Homeopath
-Naturopathic doctor
-Acupuncturist
-Herbalist

 

[Angelhil]

Want to augment practice - what to do?

... (VERY expensive to train in my country) or chiro... what are the other options which go well with massage?

thanks!

I saw that you are from South Africa. Will try to come up with some other ideas and drop links in here, as I find them.

By the way, back in the early late-80's to early-90's I sent a lot of books over to the "new" chiropractic college by boat to help their new library get off the ground... such a long time ago (they were very heavy and had to travel that way) ---- "Technicon-Natal" I think it may have been called. Is it still around?

 

[kid dynamite]

Depending on your spiritual/religious belief system
you might consider a ministry training which would enable you to become a spiritual counselor.

Other Considerations:
Becoming a teacher at a Massage School
Life Coach
Hypnotherapist
Yoga Instructor

Or in the beauty care end of our field there is always the option of taking various spa services training, which don't
require nearly as much physical wear & tear as many other massage techniques.

Consider energetic healing training in Jin Shin Jyutsu, Reiki, Polarity, Cranio-Sacral, Sacred Sound Healing, or
others which are traditional healing arts in your region.

It seems training everywhere is expensive, but it is an investment in yourself & your business, not to mention your future. Let us know what you end up doing.

I'm currently looking at a variety of options myself, and thinking about the best path to take as well. After about 20 years doing what I do, just as many other long term
practitioners, you need to start thinking of a variety of
possibilities.

Best of Luck

 

[DonkeyDiddler]

I always thought becoming an estitision (sp?) would compliment massage. I know someone that does both and she says people come in for facials all the time and then stay for a massage. Plus, doing facials you can sit down and not wear your hands out as much.

Just my .02

-twonyx

 

[slugger]

Want to augment practice - what to do?

By the way, back in the early late-80's to early-90's I sent a lot of books over to the "new" chiropractic college by boat to help their new library get off the ground... such a long time ago (they were very heavy and had to travel that way) ---- "Technicon-Natal" I think it may have been called. Is it still around?

I am not sure about the technikon... I think that it has been absorbed into the University of Kwazulu-Natal but I am not sure!

 

[Pompal 09.]

which don't
require nearly as much physical wear & tear as many other massage techniques.

Thats actually the essence of my dilemma. I love massage but I think that in the long term I would benefit more by having some kind of variety and bring in something that is not quite so physically demanding.

Massage is my 2nd career... having worked in Psychology for many years... I dont want to go back into 'the mind' :undecided: again and am looking for something which is closely linked to massage and is in the physical field... if that makes sense!

I would love to hear what you decide to do!

 

[Arkane Steelblade]

I always thought becoming an estitision (sp?) would compliment massage. I know someone that does both and she says people come in for facials all the time and then stay for a massage. Plus, doing facials you can sit down and not wear your hands out as much.

Just my .02

-twonyx

In my country we are not even permitted to work on the same premises at beauty therapists or somatologists (which is what I THINK we call them here now!!!) so I dont think that,that is an option for me sadly. Its a real pity actually because my friends in the beauty biz make 5 x I do because of all the products they sell. (and yes, our conncil prohibits the selling of any products by massage therapists!)

 

[Dads boy]

Want to augment practice - what to do?

Hi

I have been praciticing for a few years now and would like to add something to my practice. I honestly cant see myself doing just massage therapy for another 20 or 30 years :shock: and would like to study/learn something which would complement my existing practice...

Any ideas? I was thinking about pilates (VERY expensive to train in my country)

Hi. I am adding this information to this thread, because I honestly can't find another "Pilates" thread that compliments my info. If anyone knows of a better thread, please let me know and I'll transfer this info there too.

I have recently been doing a good amount of work on some pilates instructors in my area. I am finding that there are a few different schools of thought and ways to learn and teach pilates. Not unsimilar to massage therapy.

Recently I was made aware of the following pilates school and thought it may be of use to someone (I know you are on the southern west coast of Afrika, living_the_dream, but maybe you will come to the US someday and this will be important --- we never know!). As my client put it, this teacher training is more along the "montessouri school" type of teacher training. More of a "think outside the box" but within the framework - hands on - type school. She said it is definitely structured differently than regular pilates training.

The school is in San Francisco - A Body of Work http://www.abodyofwork-sf.com/ -- Jean Sullivan, owner and director. They have ITT (Integrated Teacher Training) and I think Madeline Black of Studio M http://www.madelineblack.us/ is the one who heads this up... but I may have incorrectly written that when I got the info.

There are also (a small list that I have learned about so far -- I am sure there are plenty more out there!):

• Stott Pilates - http://www.stottpilates.com/education/index.html
• Fletcher Towel Work - http://www.regonline.com/builder/site/Default.aspx?eventid=733579

 

[Just Want To B Me]

Want to augment practice - what to do?

I would suggest that a good compliment to massage therapy is Craniosacral Therapy. It is gentler and saves the hands and can be used well in conjunction with massage to balance internally.

Other good compliments to massage are Structural Integration. You could also consider learning something such as visceral manipulation or specific and specialised abdominal massage such as Chi Nei Tsang, The Arvigo Techniques of Maya Abdominal Massage or the detailed abdominal massage courses with Marty Ryan through Love Your Guts Seminars.

I started my practice with just craniosacral therapy and sports and remedial massage and then slowly added ATMAM, Marty Ryan courses, Orthopedic Massage courses and this has finally culminated in my training as a Rolfer at the European Rolfing Association.

Good luck with whatever you decide.

 

[Peppe]

Want to augment practice - what to do?

Hi

I have been praciticing for a few years now and would like to add something to my practice. I honestly cant see myself doing just massage therapy for another 20 or 30 years :shock: and would like to study/learn something which would complement my existing practice...

Any ideas? I was thinking about pilates (VERY expensive to train in my country) or chiro... what are the other options which go well with massage?

thanks!

I've found myself in that conundrum. Hats off to the people who can, but I can't sit in a room silently for long periods of time just doing the same ol' Swedish/Deep Tissue combo. I have a definite nurturing side, but that ain't it

So I had 3 basic options, each with their own pros and cons... (I've done all 3--LOL--and they all worked for me at some point)
1. Take different classes within the massage therapy realm. People above mentioned a lot of great options. My two most useful classes were Neuromuscular Therapy (NMT) (a long program, maybe 6-9 months at 1-2x/week is a good length) and Hot Stone massage, because I ended up incorporating BOTH into every massage, which added both variety to my work AND a way to set myself apart from the rest, as I was incorporating techniques that those around me didn't, and I could solve issues with aches and pains that others around me didn't. I also thought my Pediatric massage therapy class was pretty cool. Pro: relatively inexpensive, and it's still massage therapy, so it's a known quantity. You can learn something completely new and take a whole new direction for the time invested in a single weekend, costing as little as $90. Con: the technique may not turn out to be what you expected or wanted, or it may have limited application in actual practice, so you may end up back at Square One.

2. Branch into a different field - personal training, certified nutritional consultant, yoga, etc - people above mentioned great ideas. If you decide on something like DC (chiro) or ND (naturopathic) in the US, be very sure you want to pursue that avenue with all of your heart. Those educational programs are just as expensive as medical school, and take just as long. They require quite a commitment and you really have to be sure you want to go through them. Also double-check the scope of practice for DC or ND in the area you want to practice in; it can vary. DCs in Oregon and Oklahoma can do minor surgery; Some DCs in New Mexico can dispense certain prescription drugs; DCs in Michigan can't even adjust wrist or ankle joints - spine only. DCs in NJ (I think) can't give nutritional advice. DCs may or may not lose the right to practice in Brazil, where the PT lobby is strong. NDs require licensure in 11 states. NDs in TX aren't licensed but can operate so long as they don't claim to diagnose, treat, adjust joints, or alter a patient's medication. A few years back, NDs in FL were scurrying to go to DC school when the authorities start rounding them up and charging them for practicing medicine without a license.

Other fields to consider that I don't think have been mentioned yet are PT (Physical Therapy) and nursing (either RN or LVN), or midwife (CNM/PRM) or doula. These fields also require long-term training (PT school is 3 tough years and I believe you have to write a thesis) but an LVN can be had in 15 months. Pros of option #2: You can get awesome training, a wide skill set, a whole new title and niche, and usually, a bigger scope of practice. Cons: school can be loooong and pricey, and there are no public DC schools that I know of, although there are for PT and RN/LVN. I'm not sure about ND. These programs take quite a commitment (I'm a DC myself, and our instructors who were MDs were telling US that they felt for us because THEY had it easier in MD school than we did in DC school! My health was essentially wiped out from the stress and I've been told by others--and I believe them--that it's going to take several years to recover. Would I do it again? Absolutely. Would I make a few changes? Ohhhh, yeah.) I don't want to scare you or dissuade you from following a dream; I just want to make sure there are no mistakes about what this really entails.

3. Use your current skill set, but for a different purpose or niche. I discovered this quite by accident. By the time my uncle's cancer had been diagnosed, it had spread too far. It was a very aggressive form of throat cancer and it was completely resistant to both chemo and radiation. He was designated "terminal" and given 1 to 3 months. One day, about 2 months before he died, we (my uncle, my parents, my husband, and myself) were all watching a movie and I had to get up and get some water. On the way back I got this urge to just lay my hands on him and come what may. So I stood behind him and ended up massaging his shoulders, being careful not to disturb the heavy-duty feminine pad taped to his neck to cover what was now a very open wound. It was through this experience that I learned that doing oncology massage would hit a soft spot in my heart because these people so desperately need caring touch. Pros: Free! No time or financial commitment required. You don't have to stop working. It just takes a little creativity, so schedule your own private brainstorming session. Cons: you're still in the massage therapy realm; any change or fulfillment you gain that you didn't have before is up to you (which can be said for any of the options, I reckon )

Hope that helps? Or did I just add to the mud? LOL
Hugs,
~Jyoti

 

[mpleo91]

Want to augment practice - what to do?

Reflexology... or did Dragonflies already mention that?

 

[Pompal 09.]

Want to augment practice - what to do?

Try a therapy in which you would work with your entire body, or your feet.
I just recently picked up Ashiatsu as another therapy type to add to my list of services.
Thai massage may be another one that would fit into your category of not being just massage therapy.

Ashiatsu is a great form of work that will help save your hands while giving the client the deepest massage possible.
I don't know what resources you have avaliable to you, but I studied through
www(dot)deepfeet(dot)com/about.htm (dunno if I should post links??)
Im looking to go further with this, as well as go into her ashi-thai course.

Other complimentary therapise I've encountered have been Equine or animal massage and some form of structural movement (of which I can not remember the name) Therapy.

Dont give up hope, there are many different modalities out there, and many complimentary therapies as well!

 

[Spunk!]

Want to augment practice - what to do?

I would also encourage you to look into Cranio-Sacral as Sarah mentioned.
And look into Barnes Myofascial Release.

For advanced work in both modalities you do quite a bit less of the physically demanding work.
And with your psychology background, you would find it very easy to dialog with the client to help in unwinding and with emotional release.

Check the Upledger website and Myofascial Release website for info on seminars - both have international listings.