Articles about massage students & careers

[Pompal 09.]

I am looking for articles about massage students and careers in general. Specifically, I am interested in demographics, motivation, career longevity/satisfaction, that kind of thing.

I have been unsuccessful searching for this information myself online. I would appreciate any links you can provide.

 

[Eliundari]

For general information you could try the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos295.htm

 

[sk8erboy]

If you are looking for previously published articles, you can find facts and relevant articles at http://www.amtamassage.org - be sure to check the online edition of Massage Therapy Journal on that site.

The massage school I graduated from also has a publication with relevant info: http://www.nwhealth.edu/alumni/nwnaturally

Here is a back issue that features a short article on me (as a student ) on page 35: http://www.nwhealth.edu/alumni/nwnaturally/sum06.pdf

You may also find some good info on the ABMP and NCBTMB web sites. Hope that helps!

 

[Q u i n t]

Excellent! That is exactly what I need.

Now I would like some honest feedback from the real people out there. Sure, the articles and schools tell you all the best stuff about being a massage therapist. I know injuries and a short career (5-7 years) are two problems. What are some of the other negatives to consider before deciding on massage school?

 

[Alan G]

Perhaps you could provide us with some background as to what you hope to accomplish by getting this information and as to if you will be utilizing it for an article or something?

Also, are you a therapist, potential student or in some other field related (or if not --- how'd you get here, and what are you doing right now)?

Enquiring minds want to know...... t028

 

[Incense & Peppermints68]

Hee hee, I guess that information would be helpful. This isn't a site for psychics!

I currently work as a marketing assistant for Kraft Foods. I research category sales (cookies, crackers, ice cream) and design new product presentations for marketing managers. I love my job. But it is being phased out in March. And the job market in the northwest isn't good.

So I'm thinking about massage. Here's why. I've always been interested in natural healing. I helped my husband's plantar fasciitis by studying methods on my own. Plus I don't need to make a ton of money.

I like to read and get feedback from real professionals in the field before making decisions like this.

 

[MiakoSamuio]

Here's a good discussion of pet peeves:
http://www.massageplanet.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=11718&highlight=peeves

It's a bit more colorful than the articles you'll find in the trade magazines. :grin:

 

[Darn]

I'm thinking more about factors that can influence career happiness. For example, if someone asked me about the negatives about the marketing field, I would say:

Frequent layoffs and uncertain job future, conflicts due to reviewing to more than one manager, constant paradigm shifts that can be upsetting to some personalities, but interesting for others, and tight deadlines require frequent overtime hours

I kinda enjoy a high-paced, stressful environment requiring overtime. But it's a nightmare for others. It's not great for new mothers, for example.

 

[crissysmith4u]

Someone sent me a good list of factors to consider. Yikes!

Thank you!

 

[Mac]

Something is very strange here. I asked many people what the negatives are to a massage career. That includes real teachers, massage professionals, and web forums. The reason I asked is because I saw something similar for nursing. The negatives were so bad that the OP decided not to become a nurse. And so did I.

Only one person told me anything negative about massage . It was from this forum. They were too afraid to let anyone else see it, so they sent it to me via PM!

I love my job. And I can tell you what is good - and bad - about my job. Why is so hard for you to do the same?

 

[neoplop]

Something is very strange here. I asked many people what the negatives are to a massage career. That includes real teachers, massage professionals, and web forums. The reason I asked is because I saw something similar for nursing. The negatives were so bad that the OP decided not to become a nurse. And so did I.

Only one person told me anything negative about massage . It was from this forum. They were too afraid to let anyone else see it, so they sent it to me via PM!

I love my job. And I can tell you what is good - and bad - about my job. Why is so hard for you to do the same?

Those of us who are *here* are happy in our careers.

I work for myself. When I come across something bad about my job, I change it. No fear, I just don't have a list of negatives to review.

You asked for articles. Then that wasn't what you wanted at all ..... you wanted to hear from real people. But you want to hear what we hate about what we do. It's just not a fun game.

 

[FuryHUH]

Something is very strange here. I asked many people what the negatives are to a massage career. That includes real teachers, massage professionals, and web forums. The reason I asked is because I saw something similar for nursing. The negatives were so bad that the OP decided not to become a nurse. And so did I.

Only one person told me anything negative about massage . It was from this forum. They were too afraid to let anyone else see it, so they sent it to me via PM!

I love my job. And I can tell you what is good - and bad - about my job. Why is so hard for you to do the same?

I've seen many a discussion on this forum about the pros and cons of getting into massage therapy as a profession and I haven't seen anyone candy coating their reply.

Perhaps since this has been discussed at length in other threads, that is why you aren't hearing a lot of feedback to your post. Try a search on here and you will read plenty of varying opinions.

 

[Renee Z]

I thought I had done a thorough search on this site for negatives. Guess not! I'll try again.

Links to previous discussions are appreciated.

 

[Sommer]

Katrina, I'm not sure about "negatives" of being a massage therapist. I am still a student, so I might possibly be able to help more if I were busy practicing, but I'm nearly graduated and getting out in the real world some now.

To me, Massage Therapy is somewhat unique (or very unique!) in that we do not have to go to school for years and years in order to be working so closely with people in such a big way. For instance, like Doctors or various other kinds of Therapists. That is not a negative!, but I'm just saying that I think this profession is just different and hard to categorize as being one way or another, whereas some other more defined lines of work have a more universal framework to base an opinion of positive or negative to. Massage Therapy/Bodywork can entail so many different approaces and environments...home based, hospital based, clinic, spa, mobile, etc. The "picture" of a massage therapist can go from super earthy centered to very corporate.


I think becoming a Massage Therapist requires a considerable amount of self examination/awareness and growth which is not always (ever?) a pain free process. Mileage may vary on what degree of growth/awareness/change evolves for you, but we are working with people on an intimate level, so even if you take your approach to work as a MT very linearly (I'm thinking very outcome based? focusing more on mechanical issues and stuff?) you are still working closely with people...people who are needing our presence and focus. Not a job you can sleep through at the desk (although massaging can be very relaxing for the therapist too!) I don't see this as a negative at all, it's really a reward to me, but someone somewhere might see it as negative if it doesn't fit for them? So this might be some of the difficulty. What is "negative" to one person might be a draw to another.

I think it's important as a MT to love or at least like what you're doing because since we're working with people and they typically come to us for help of some sort, I think that's what people deserve from us. If you don't like what you're doing people can feel it, and it does not feel good to anybody involved. Goes for any job, but when working directly with people I find it highly important. So I'm glad you're making an informed decision. I have done a loads of browsing here and there are plenty of threads discussing the realities of being a Massage Therapist in lots of different venues and with a lot of varied perspectives. It could be helpful just to browse and click on some titles that catch your interest or curiosity. It might not have "negatives of being a Massage Therapist" in the title (in fact probably won't!!!) but there's a plethora of reality on this site!! Have fun!

 

[blueprint101]

Actually the bls statistics are really inaccurate. There are more accurate ones.

http://www.massage-career-guides.com/massage-statistics.html

Julie

 

[KLH]

Katrina, it sounds like you are currently an employee so you have a guaranteed paycheck - at least in between those frequent layoffs.

Now I don't live in an area with resort destination spas. So the only employee situations available where I live are pretty much being employed by a gym. But MOST therapists need to be their own boss and find their own clients, there simply aren't very many employee positions available, and those that are available want people with at least 2 years experience. This is definitely a difficult stumbling block for people straight out of school. And we do have a school in town that graduates a few dozen new therapists every year. NOT HAVING A PAYCHECK is definitely an issue you have to decide whether you can deal with. Cash flow is not necessarily going to be smooth or reliable. With all the Massage Envy clones opening up everywhere, maybe there is more work for fresh meat than there was when I graduated but realize that that is typically a $15 per hour part time job with no benefits.

All this is a roundabout way of getting to the point that if you are not experienced in being an entrepreneur, where you are responsible for ALL ASPECTS of the business, not just one facet as is the case with most employees, with all the necessary skills in finding clients, maintaining client relationships (getting rebooks reliably, etc.), handling bookkeeping and taxes yourself, etc., there is a large learning curve you will need to traverse between graduating with qualifications to begin working, and actually being profitable. If you have already been an entrepreneur in another field, as I had, the learning curve will be shorter, but will still exist. In my case, it involved differences in where and how to find clients for personal/health services as opposed to finding clients for a business service. I think very many people graduate from massage school insufficiently capitalized for working without making enough money from the work to actually pay their living expenses (rather than just the bills for the business) for the first few years. It is starting a small business, and the same issues apply that result in the dismal statistics for survival of new small businesses in any field.

As for conflicts due to reviewing to more than one manager, you don't have that, but in a sense every client is your boss - you just have the ability to fire a boss that isn't working out (but not without consequences).

As for paradigm shifts, they still exist, but this field has room for people operating at a very wide spectrum of intellectualization. At the more clinical end, it is the same need to keep up as in most white collar jobs, but there are many people that operate successfully from a very intuitive energetic basis. Regardless, if you live in a state with licensing, you will need to pay larger fees than RNs do (who make more per hour on an employee basis) for CEUs that may have very limited relevance to your practice.

A cynical person might observe that the best way to make money, if that is your orientation, from massage therapy is to profit from the growth of people interested in learning massage therapy or from those early in their career. Pay attention to the stats of how many people LEAVE the field each year. It's generally due to business issues, or injury - not disliking massage therapy itself.

Something that is critical that wasn't emphasized enough in my own training is your own personal energetic (on top of just physical conditioning) maintenance. Massage therapy is a somewhat athletic career, and you have to be in good physical condition to be able to effectively deliver a number of sessions in a day. You have to be very proactive in your physical conditioning (just as any other athlete) to prevent repetitive strain injuries, which do in many therapists' careers. You also need to learn how to manage your "energy" (however you want to term that) so that you don't get drained by clients, so that you don't pick up their conditions - boundaries are a big learning curve in the new therapist phase. I find either taiji and qigong or yoga on a regular basis to be essential to keep my energy up and healthy.

Hope this helps,
Joan

 

[eldo rocks]

Joan, your post was very helpful to me! And I really like your website too!

healingtime

 

[taryn]

Katrina, when I started massage school, I was the epitome of what is disliked by many experienced MTs (no offense to anyone). I had never had a massage, never been in a spa, never talked to anyone who did bodywork for a living. I had no idea what I was going to do after graduation, how much I could expect to make, the various opportunities I could pursue or even how much was charged for massage locally. I didn't know enough to research schools or check into anything like that.

I spent 17 years working at a hospital, moving up from relief to management. I then went to work for a local family medical practice. Loved the docs, loved the patients, didn't want to do what I was doing for the next 30 years though. I had no idea of any job outside of an office. When my dad died and we sold his house, I had a little money, just enough to maybe pay for some training, or take some time to look for something I really *wanted* to do. One day I saw an ad for a local vocational school starting a massage program. And I said "That's what I want to do!" My family thought I was absolutely crazy. I went down and signed up for school, gave my notice at work and then spent a week thinking "OMG, what have I done????"

3 years later, I do not regret it a bit, it is the best thing I ever did. I love what I do and am doing what I love. I love the human body, working on it every day I am still in awe of it. I love the relationship I have built with my clients, being their confidant of sorts, making them feel better, working with them. I am very fortunate in where I work too, as it is a perfect fit for me.

The upsides are: being able to be MYSELF at my job (I couldn't at the doc's office and it was hard on me). Being able to dress the way I want, work barefoot, setting my days and hours, being a free agent in that room. It is so hard to describe to people just how much I enjoy what I do. I wish I had the money to take a CEU every month, just to be able to learn more and more. The connection I feel with other people in this field who feel the same way is amazing. The place I work is filled with such positive energy that it a joy just to walk in the door each morning.

The only *only* downsides, in my opinion, were: not knowing how much work it was going to take to build a clientele (you never stop marketing yourself!) and the unsteady pay especially in the beginning. I don't have paid vacation or sick days, last week when I had a nasty stomach bug, I didn't make any money for 2 days. Some planning and saving bit by bit has helped me weather those times. Last summer, a generally slow time anyway, was made worse by the high cost of gas. You just have to learn to roll with it. Quite honestly, those are the only negatives for me.

 

[MargieY]

Much thanks! Most of you were very helpful.When I don't appreciate someone's approach, I respond with courteous silence. But hey, that's just me.

Great information, Joan!

I've always had a steady paycheck. You've helped me consider how everything would change during the business building phase. Especially in hard times like these. I also tend to neglect my body at times, so that would definitely have to change...

 

[tales06]

Much thanks! Most of you were very helpful.When I don't appreciate someone's approach, I respond with courteous silence. But hey, that's just me.

Great information, Joan!

I've always had a steady paycheck. You've helped me consider how everything would change during the business building phase. Especially in hard times like these. I also tend to neglect my body at times, so that would definitely have to change...

t017

Who was rude?

Glad you got the info you were searching for though!