What changed?

[Artie]

This topic came up on another thread, and it got me curious. How many of you had ideas in massage school that completely changed once you went into practice? For example, did you intend to work in a spa and then end up specializing in orthopedic masage instead? Did you plan to work part-time and end up transitioning to full-time rather quickly? Did you mistrust energy work and then later, discover you had a gift for it? What preconceptions ended up changing for you once you were "in the field?"

 

[Katelyn F]

When I started school, I thought that energy work was quackery. I went with an ego and had the attitude that I wasn't going to do any of that crazy stuff. When they started talking about grounding and doing activities to demonstrate energy I thought I was going to lose it and had to bite my tongue. Boy was I WRONG!!! My mind was quicky changed! I very clearly remember my first energy experience and how it changed my thoughts. Now, I am a total believer. I sometimes wonder why I ever thought it was crazy.

 

[Pompal 09.]

Had someone told me ten years ago that I would be doing energy work, I would have laughed at them. To me, it was voodoo. For that matter I had never even consided massage as a carreer until four years ago. Funny how things change with our views and our lives..... :massage:

 

[yehduniyameri]

How many of you had ideas in massage school that completely changed once you went into practice?

Completely! Plus, ideas we had before we actually got to massage school...

I was interested in energy psychology, but didn't know how to get started in it and didn't want to take a traditional psych program. Massage was something I had always wanted to learn anyway but it never fit into my plans previously... I figured it was "related", i.e. mind-body connection, etc, but planned for it to be just a stepping stone.

I also just wanted a job for a while after school, didn't want to start private practice immediately.

At school I learned that far from just being "related", working with the body can be the same as working with the mind.

And after graduating, I ended up starting my practice immediately... it was sooo hard to find a job in the SF market at first, I had to do SOMETHING.

I guess the whole experience could be summed up as a case of "getting what I needed rather than what I wanted".

 

[Marissa B]

Hmm, in all the exercises to determine a target market while in school, I thought it would be great to specialize in geriatric massage. For various reasons, I've moved away from that idea. I work on my grandmother and realized how hard it is for elderly to get comfortable on a massage table and how much harder it is on my body to climb around on a bed giving a massage. I love having people come see me at my office rather than going to someone's home or retirement home, and have been building my practice with people who can come to me.

Another thing that really changed was my resistence to chair massage. I finally swallowed my stubborness and took a chair massage class. This opened a lot of doors to chair massage opportunities and allows me to bring in money doing massage while my table practice is still growing and can't sustain me on it's own. I still like the focus and attention I can give clients better in a full body table massage, but chair massage is a great experience doing massage in a totally different setting for a WIDE variety of people!


I love this:

At school I learned that far from just being "related", working with the body can be the same as working with the mind.

 

[jlyn]

Thanks Seebs... can't take credit for it though, Bruce Burger said it

 

[-~~Rain~~-]

"Real Job" Burnout

I started out working information technology and reached a level of complete burnout after 10 years. I re-introduced myself to becoming a massage therapist about the time I started dating my now husband who is a massage therapy - who I had ironically slightly influencing toward massage also ten years ago.

We have had some adjustments that have not allowed time for me to yet get my private practice (such as relocating twice) to what I would like it to be but I'm enjoying the experience.

 

[Raven]

When I was in school I absolutely HATED giving a massage in a side lying position. I vowed that even though I wanted to do pregnancy massage that I would just get a pregnancy massage table and wouldn't have to worry about side lying. That was until I really gave it a shot on real pregnant women (instead of giving it to fellow students) and I have fallen in love. In fact my husband laughs because often times if we are at home and he wants a massage while watching t.v. I will get him set up in a side lying position because I love it that way the most

I haven't tried approaching any of my non pregnant clients with the idea, but I am so happy when a pregnant mama comes in and I can do the massage that I so detested in school

 

[Lovely Laura]

Michelle, I find my guys with lower back pain like a lot of those same moves that help the pregnant women. *shrug* Plus it's great for when they want you to work around the scapula!

Oddly enough I thought I was going to be in private practice, maybe even working from my home because many MTs in my area do. Little did I know I'd spend most of the next 10 years in the day spa business! :shock:

 

[Boo Boo Kitty]

I waas totally going to concuer the world of sports massage! Raven team here I come.

Yeah.... to much work! lol

Energy work was vodoo till I started feeling lines of energy pulsing through people. Hence my asian bodywork training.

We are always changing and revolving! Its great!

 

[Tru Champion 37]

I always had the idea to work on my own, and do mostly therapeutic work and Medical massage. I have worked in gyms, spas, chair events, outcalls, whatever was there to pay the bills, but ultimately I had the idea in mind, and I am finally there!

 

[Enma Ai]

This might sound funny but up until my first week of massage school I didn't think I could touch anybody. lol
I really had a phobia t102
even though I felt this way I knew I had to go through with massage school. I had been involved in natural health/ herbs for about 5 years before deciding to go to school.
Incase anyone is wondering, I don't have an issue with touching anybody now-a-days!

 

[katie h]

Massagengel - You are not alone with your initial nervousness touching people...I remember thinking when I started school, "What am I doing?!!? My best friend since nursery school says I can't even hug people (she said this in third grade), how am I ever going to be able to massage people?!?"

Just funny...but I think that is what makes us great therapists is that we hold such reverence in touching people....

I got into massage because I wanted to be a Craniosacral Therapist...then fell in love with massage when I attended school...Thought I would be working in a integrative practice when I graduated from school - either medical massage or wellness center - really wanted to gear my work towards the chronically ill...

Two years in, I am working in a day spa and seeing of my own clients at home. I am working with chronically ill at home but am grateful for the more steady work of the day spa and the variety of clients I see who have some health challenges or none at all.

I am pursuing certification in Upledger's CST and Vodders MLD.

I have learned to adapt and be grateful and know that what I think I may need at the time may in actuality not be the best for me...I have learned to Trust in the Universe

 

[shealynn r]

Massagengel - You are not alone with your initial nervousness touching people...I remember thinking when I started school, "What am I doing?!!? My best friend since nursery school says I can't even hug people (she said this in third grade), how am I ever going to be able to massage people?!?"

Just funny...but I think that is what makes us great therapists is that we hold such reverence in touching people....

I was the same way
and I agree. I now am aware, respect and fully understand the importance of touch and even how we touch/hold a person.

I am pursuing certification in Upledger's CST and Vodders MLD.

We have a Upledger's institute here in Scotland. Have you started training? If so, how would you rate the training?
I was looking at several classes here and that one was on my list.
Sorry to highjack the thread.
:

 

[tatiana ooh ahh]

When I was first in school in NJ, I remember thinking that I never wanted to work in a spa. I had the idea that all that spas did was "foofy puff puff" massage and I wanted to do "real work." I also thought all spas were basically sweatshops for MT's, burning them out and then tossing them away for the latest bank of fresh graduates.

After graduating from NY, I found that only a few spas would hire me on a limited license. I am very fortunate to be working full-time in a spa that has made some notable allowances for it's providers, such as 30 minute breaks between sessions. By having the opportunity to work frequently on greatly varying body types, I am gaining valuable experience and improving upon my skills. And I am getting to do "real" work, with repeat clients and charting their treatment and progress. I've also gained a greater respect for relaxation massage as I have gotten older and dealt with the myriad ways with how stress manifested itself in my own life.

It's not where I saw myself, nor do I intend to continue to do spa work exclusively, but I am fortunate for the experience.

 

[IJR]

[We have a Upledger's institute here in Scotland. Have you started training? If so, how would you rate the training?
I was looking at several classes here and that one was on my list.
Sorry to highjack the thread.
:[/quote]

I have taken Craniosacral Therapy I. It was very good. The class was rather large but there were multiple instructors who supported the main instructor. The main instructor was an incredible teacher and presenter.

I have not gone on to the next class because they do recommend that you practice the 10 step protocol on your own for 70 hours before going on to the next level. I really want to accomplish this before the next level as well as complete reading the book for Level II.

The work though for me is just where I naturally feel I should be. I love to palpate the Craniosacral rhythm. Very cool.

If you are drawn to the work I would check out their website and get a couple of the books. One of my favourites is called "Lessons from the Sessions".

And sjidoulamt our stories are so similiar I had exactly the same feelings regarding spas and like you I have found one which values massage and understands to keep the clients happy you must not overwork the therapists. As well, I work with a therapist who has been one for seven years and practices NMT. While we all can give a great relaxation massage we also do great NMT and Myofascial - I have learned a lot too!

 

[rownak5]

i'm probably the biggest change around.... from not believing in energy work to becoming a reiki master.... to being a firm believer in massage envy to loathing the place and ready to start my own business. massage is my life, and it wasnt when i came out of school. i had no idea what to expect. i'm so grateful to have found the industry.....

 

[Bazra]

i'm probably the biggest change around.... from not believing in energy work to becoming a reiki master.....

Ditto on that one too............

 

[sasuke]

I've only been licensed for a little more than 6 months, but in that time I've already changed from having a holier-than-thou view of "relaxation massage" t018 to deciding that I really enjoy it! t038

I used to say "I'm going to do real, therapeutic massage, not just relaxation massage."

ALL massage has benefit, in one way or another.

 

[Pompal 09.]

During massage school, I also had the idea that I did not want to work in a spa and would prefer working in a clinical setting doing clinical work. Now, I do work at a spa and am fortunate that it is an amazingly organized professional atmosphere, and I appreciate the fact that I am always booked at least 80% and that I have an opportunity to work with many many different personalities and body types and learn to apply my training in many different styles.

Another point that no has yet mentioned is the financial feasiblity of having a career in massage therapy. During school I had no doubts in my mind that I would immediately be able to make what I was currently making in a corporate job ($35,000/yr). Boy was I wrong! But if there is one thing that I am determined to do, it is to figure how to do it.

The third point that comes to mind was thinking that choosing to be an employee as an MT was the same as being an employee in any other profession. In some ways, ok, it kinda is. But the reality I live is that whether I am an employee or an independent contractor or building a private practice, essentially, in all the details, I am running my own business.